Help choose a car for college?

So, I'm leaving for college soon, and I might want to buy a car of my own. Right now I drive a standard Celica GTS, but it's not really mine (my dad will probs give it to my brother later.) I really know my cars and am somewhat mechanically inclined. I want a car that stands out among the rest, isn't "girly", and has decent reliability and pretty good performance. Preferably a sports coupe. There are many cars that I have considered, and I would just like to begin a discussion about some of these makes and models, to help me decide which ones I want to buy. The price range I'm looking at is around 7000 but that is elastic. Also they have to be standard because automatic is for wimps. I do live in New England so I'm also going to need suggestions on how to drive a sporty/muscle car in the snow (I know, sounds dangerous but I don't really want a truck) like winter tires or weights in the back? Feel free to start a discussion here ppl =D

Cars I'm considering:

circa 2000 Camaro (pref V8)

Older Trans AM/ Firebird ( this spawns a serious question about the reliability of older pontiacs, but I seem to be able to find older ones in good condition on craigslist easily OPEN FOR DISCUSSION)

Ford Mustang (any year) would like to talk to some owners

C4 Corvette (1989+) how is their reliability?

Cadillac CTS V6? (reliability/ fun to drive?)

Lexus Sc300/IS300 (how fun is it to drive? Good in winter or bad?)

Infiniti G35x (Discuss the quality of the AWD, reliability, etc)

Also throw in any other cars you feel like I might like, but I have to say I do have reserved prejudices against Hondas and Mazdas as well as Mitsubishis, and older Dodges. Feel free to support/refute those claims but I feel like Hondas are soulless, Mazdas are unreliable toys, and Mitsubishis have plastic transmissions. And old dodges are just ugly. All of these areas are open for discussion and feel free to suggest or argue anything here.

Frankly, I wouldn't own any American muscle cars, as they're pigs, and steer like one.

Another consideration is fuel economy. It's not like gas is ever going to go below $3 a gallon. So, while your choice of wanting stick helps you there, older cars with V8s so doesn't.

Quite frankly, none of the cars on your list are cars that I would ever wish to drive on any long term basis. But, perhaps we have different criteria for a car. If so, then search on, but pick something with some quality to it. And, something with some handling to it, not just brute power.