What makes a car good for dad? Practicality? Big trunk and back seat? Yeah, whatever. Sure, we dads want all that -- but more importantly it's got to be cool and it's got to be fun to drive. Here are loqu.com ten cars that I find particularly well suited to the demands of fatherhood.

NO.10  Chrysler Sebring

Bad fashion seems to be an inherent part of fatherhood. When I was a kid, my dad's cowboy boots and giant brass sunrise belt buckle were the bane of my existence, and don't even get me started on my grandfather's bolo ties. But now that my oldest son is within shouting distance of his teens, I find myself relishing the thought of embarrassing him with black socks, open-toed sandals and loud Hawaiian shirts. I don't care for the way the Sebring drives, but I do really like its groovy grooved hood and more-is-better interior design, which combines wood, leather and metal trim in a glorious hodgepodge. And if it manages to embarrass my kids, hey, all the better!

NO.9  Audi A6

Audi's hot-rod S-series cars have the fatherhood formula down pat: Take a sensible, family-friendly luxury sedan, then a) stuff in a monstrously huge motor; b) tighten up the suspension so it'll corner at speeds no sane person would dare attempt; and c) sprinkle with a healthy dose of manliness. Gentlemen of the jury, I present Exhibit A, the Audi S6, complete with a V10 engine related to the one found in the Lamborghini Gallardo. It ain't cheap -- but then again, fatherhood ain't easy, and the S6 makes a splendid reward.

NO.8  Dodge Charger

Let's say your wife vetoes the Challenger because it's too impractical. Hey, it could happen. In fact, it probably will happen. So what is a self-respecting dad to do -- hang his head and buy a Honda Accord? Despair not, fellow fathers: Dodge has our back! The Dodge Charger has four doors, a huge back seat and a big trunk -- in other words, it's practical. And aside from the magical styling, the Charger has nearly everything that makes the Challenger so special -- same stupid-huge V8, same (almost) interior, and same fun factor. The Charger may not be as cool as the Challenger, but it's still pretty darn cool.

NO.7  Honda Civic Si sedan

Who says becoming a father means turning into an old man? The Civic Si has the heart of a young person's car, with a high-revving 197 horsepower engine that can run with the best sport coupes. Yet its four-door body style makes it one of the most family-friendly sportsters you can buy. What's more, the Honda Civic is packed with safety features, including a body structure designed to withstand impacts from much larger vehicles, so it's just as safe as it is fun. Remember, though -- racing the engine to its 8,000 RPM redline sets a very bad example for your kids. Best to wait until after you drop them off at school.

NO.6  Nissan Altima

Looking for something a little more ordinary? The market is loaded with family-friendly mid-size sedans, but the slick and sporty Altima is my favorite. If you subscribe to the "Turn of the lights when you're not in the room!" school of fatherhood, then you'll be pleased with the Nissan Altima 2.5's four-cylinder economy and pep. If you're a big kid at heart, you'll probably prefer the V6-powered Altima 3.5 -- a muscle car in sensible clothing. Looking for eco-chic? No problem -- the Altima is even available as a hybrid.

NO.5  Pontiac G8

So let's say Mom controls the purse strings, and let's say Mom won't let Dad spend extra dough on something fast and cool. No worries, mate -- the Pontiac G8 GT delivers 361 grin-inducing horsepower for just under $30,000, about the same price as a well-equipped Toyota Camry or your average family-friendly-but-boring-as-whale-poop SUV. And who says the G8 isn't just as family friendly? It's got four doors, lots of interior space, and a big trunk, and if you can resist letting all 361 horses out of the barn at once, it'll actually return halfway-decent fuel economy.

NO.4  Infiniti G35

There's no question in my mind that the Infiniti G35 was designed by men with children. On the outside, it's a chic, sensible, luxury-oriented family car, complete with four doors and a decent trunk. Nothing for the domestic partner to disapprove of here, right? What they don't know -- and hopefully won't realize -- is that under the skin, the G35 is every high-tech Japanese sports car we dreamed of as kids. Infiniti is a division of Nissan, and the blood of the 350Z sports car courses through the G35's veins: It's brutally fast and viciously fun to drive. (Hint: If your wife will let you get away with a two-door, then run, do not walk, to the Infiniti G37 coupe -- it's even better.)

NO.3  Lexus IS F

"Excess" and "fatherhood" are two concepts that just seem to go really well together. Whether it's a little too much lighter fluid on the barbecue or a little too much steak sauce on the burgers, there's just something about being a dad that makes one realize that more is better. And no car better illustrates the Power of More than the Lexus IS F. The formula: Start with a regular Lexus IS -- which is a bit of a mommymobile, frankly -- then add more cylinders, more power, more noise, and lots more attitude. What do you get? An ode to over-the-top -- and a fantastic  Dad car.

NO.2  Dodge Challenger

What self-respecting dad wouldn't want to drive one of these? The new Dodge Challenger is more than just the coolest looking car on the planet -- it's what we dreamed about back in the days when we could only afford to gas up our Citations and Escorts in $5 increments, and when we spent our time wondering why, with full-time jobs and seemingly limitless funds, our own fathers would subject themselves to road-going comas like the Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus. The Challenger looks awesome, and with a 425 hp HEMI V8, it's got the stones to back up the styling. If you promised yourself you wouldn't turn into your own father, this is the car to have.

NO.1  Porsche Boxster

You've worked hard, you've established a home, you've raised a family... and now it's Porsche time. There are plenty of roadsters on the market, but there's just something special about the two-seat open-top Porsche Boxster that makes it the ultimate reward for years of hard work as a father. The Boxster isn't as ostentatious as a 911, as restricting as the Cayman or as pointless as a Cayenne. It's well balanced, well built, and exceptionally fun to drive. And there's an added bonus: If you drive a Porsche, your teenage son might actually still allow himself to be seen with you.

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