Campus Cruising: Cars That Make The Grade!

Students planning to head off to college over the next few weeks have been given some ammunition by AutoWeek, in their bid to convince Mom and Dad to buy them a new car. Owned by Crain Publishing, AutoWeek is one of the top car magazines read by auto enthusiasts. And what better time to release their “list of vehicles to send the kids off to college in” when the nation’s “cash for clunkers” program is about ready to kick off?

New Models You’ll Want To Consider

AutoWeek editors have voted and have come up with their list of top cars that students will want to drive off to college in. Besides these new models, the editors tempered their list by saying that “used cars will do the trick” perhaps to avoid the ire of cash strapped parents with no plans to buy new.

In any event, AutoWeek’s list is made up of the following 2009 and 2010 models:

–  2009 Hyundai Elantra Sedan
–  2009 Honda Civic
–  2009 Mitsubishi Lancer
–  2009 Ford Escape
–  2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid
–  2010 Kia Soul (pictured)
–  2009 Dodge Caliber SE
–  2009 Ford Focus
–  2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan

And what’s my opinion of the list? Not bad, though some of the models listed can easily top $25,000, which may be a bit of a stretch for most families. Noticeably absent were a number of the smaller, entry level models including the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, cars that can do the job as well.

Source: AutoWeek

Adv. — Are you considering the purchase of a house or a car during this recession? For consumers who have good or excellent credit, this may be the best time to jump in to the market. You’ll also want to make sure that your emergency income levels are consistent during these times as well as have a good food storage plan in place to keep those costs under control too.

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