Powered by a 2.0L I4 engine paired with either a five speed manual or four speed automatic transmission, the Forte pulls down 156 h.p. and 114 lb.-ft of torque. For the driver wanting additional power, a 2.4L I4 with 173 horses will give the Forte more power than its archrivals, the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3.

With a bold look set apart by crisp lines, swept-back headlamps and a sleek profile, Forte exudes a confident stance that conveys motion both while cruising the highway and parked in the driveway.

With a wheelbase of 104.3 inches, an overall length of 178.3 inches, an overall width of 69.9 inches and overall height of 57.5 inches, Forte offers one of the roomiest interiors in its class with seating for up to five passengers. The Kia-engineered body achieves high torsional stiffness giving Forte better handling, smoother ride quality and greater refinement than its competitors, with a specially tuned suspension adjusted perfectly for responsive handling on curvy roads.

Forte comes with a standard four speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service². Standard on all models is an auxiliary audio input jack and USB port for connecting personal MP3 players. Standard Bluetooth® connectivity enables hands-free operation for compatible cell phones. For true audiophiles, the EX and SX packages also add a standard six speaker surround audio system and steering wheel controls.

EX and SX models offer a number of additional standard luxurious touches such as: power windows and door locks; remote keyless entry; air conditioning; map lamps; steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls; dual front and rear cup holders; and floor mats. Forte EX and SX models also include standard cruise control with an optional sunroof and leather-trimmed seats.

Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but given that the current Spectra starts out at around $14,200, Kia will likely keep the price of the Forte within that range. Typically, well equipped smaller Kia models retail for $15-17,000, well within the budget range of new grads.

Anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control are among the many standard safety items featured on every Forte model. Also standard is Kia’s comprehensive warranty program which includes a 10-year or 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year or 60,000-mile limited basic warranty, and a five-year or 100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan is also part of the comprehensive coverage program.

Car shoppers will also want to keep in mind the Kia Soul, a Scion-like vehicle that will go on sale this March.

Source: Kia Motors

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.

The 2010 Honda Insight: Will this be the car that green friendly grads embrace in coming years? The price is certainly right!

This coming Spring an all new Honda model will go on sale, a hybrid car with a familiar name: the Insight.

For Honda fans, the Insight name is familiar, having graced the first gas-electric hybrid car to ever be sold in the U.S., the first generation Insight, a two-seater that was long on fuel economy but short on good looks.

Honda kept the Insight around for several years but eventually replaced the model with the Honda Civic hybrid. However, the Civic hybrid hasn’t sold as well as its nemesis, the hybrid Toyota Prius, forcing Honda to go back to the drawing board and come up with a new model.

In advance of its global debut at next month’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Honda is already sending out photographs of what the car will look like. As you can see, it has a Honda face but a Prius tail, an interesting combination for this five passenger four door sedan.

Fuel mileage hasn’t been determined yet, but figures north of 50 mpg have been mentioned, better than the Prius. What’s more, the Honda Insight’s starting price will be in the $19K range, some three thousand dollars less than the Prius. For college grads who snag their first job and are looking for a new, affordable, and environmentally friendly car, the 2010 Honda Insight offers all of that and more.

Toyota has has some problems meeting demand for the Prius, so the Insight is good news for people who have been shut out due to lack of availability. Honda has a plant in Japan where they plan to produce 200,000 units annually with half of those models headed to the U.S. market.

Additional details about the 2010 Honda Insight will accompany the car’s official debut at next month’s auto show in Detroit.

Adv. – If you’re shopping for an auto loan, you’ll want to compare offers and find the auto protection you need to ensure that your investment lasts for many years.

Students attending school in an urban setting quickly find that having a car is more of a hassle than a help. Some schools forbid underclassmen from having a car on campus, reserving parking spaces for seniors and juniors and making other spots available to students who are high academic achievers. But, for the student who college is a virtual city unto itself, with no transportation network to speak of, having access to a car isn’t just ideal, but a necessity.

Now back to that family car your child is driving – is it in as good a condition as you would like it to be? Is it fuel efficient? Is it safe to drive?

You may feel that you have few options when it comes to providing wheels for your son or daughter, but you may have more choices than what you realize. Let’s take a look at three reasons why you wouldn’t buy a new car for your student, refuting each reason as we go along:

Too Expensive – Granted, finding any new car for less than $15,000 is a stretch, although the Smart ForTwo (pictured) at $12,200 definitely isn’t a budget buster. Recently, Nissan announced that they were beginning to offer a $9990 new car – the Nissan Versa 1.6 – a price that is some one thousand dollars cheaper than any new car available. Even with taxes, tags and other fees added, financing a $10,000 loan at 7% for four years means that your payments would be a very reasonable $239.46 per month. Compare that amount with what you already shell out for tuition and car maintenance monthly! Use an auto loan calculator to determine what you can afford.

Insurance Is Too High – True, your son or daughter will pay a higher rate for insurance simply for the reason they haven’t been driving all that long and they are young. But, if you include them on your policy, you’ll get a better deal. In some cases they may do better registering the car in another state and seeking lower local insurance. New York drivers pay some of the highest insurance in the company, but if your student attends the University of Oklahoma, then having them get their own insurance could prove to be more cost effective.

Maintenance Is Costly – Maintenance costs can drive up the cost of car ownership considerably, but with a new car the only maintenance needed is the occasional oil change, new wiper blades and tire rotation. Tune ups (besides a new air filter) can wait for 60-100,000 miles while most other expenses are covered under the car’s basic warranty which is usually three years or 36,000 miles. Likely, your student will be long out of college before major repairs are needed and by then they can trade in their starter wheels for whatever they can afford based on their salary.

Of course, for most families buying a new car for their student is cost prohibitive, especially if tuition, room and board, books, and college supply costs add up. Yet, what price can you put on peace of mind, safety, and convenience? Weigh all the facts first before making a new car purchase and go into any negotiating deal prepared to get the best price and for finding excellent auto financing.

To get back and forth between school and home, you’ve considered giving her your 2002 Sonata, but with more than 120,000 miles on the odometer, you worry that the car could break down, leaving her stranded, and vulnerable to whoever might come to her aid. A quality, late model used car with low miles sounds appealing, but there just isn’t much available for under $7500 let alone $10,000.

Well, college students who are in need of a vehicle are getting some help in the form of a cheaply priced new car. No, I’m not talking about the ultra-tiny two seat Smart ForTwo nor am I going to mention the Hyundai Elantra, rather the car with the lowest price on the market is now the 2009 Nissan Versa.

Yes, with a sticker price of $9990, the Nissan Versa 1.6 is the champion of low priced new cars, a model that Nissan says will go on sale later this month. With a 1.6L I4 engine producing 107 h.p. (paired with a five speed manual transmission), the bare bones Versa gets 34 mpg on the highway, just the kind of fuel economy traveling college students want.

It’ll be a bare bones model too with no air conditioning and few of the other creature comforts people want in their cars, but the price can certainly be right for the family who wants new, reliable transportation, wheels which can transports their sons and daughters to college and back without worry that the car will suddenly and mysteriously break down.

Nissan hasn’t said how many of these models will be made available from November 18^th forward and there is the matter of a destination/handling charge of $695. But, Nissan is also offering zero percent financing to qualified buyers, making the Versa one car that college families may want to consider, perfect or not.

(Source: Nissan USA)

Adv. — Are you searching for a new car? If so, please visit SayLending.com for information about automotive financing, including loans and lease options.

Elsewhere, some schools go to the other extreme and are virtual islands of higher learning, far from city life and operating pretty much as self-contained communities. For students living on or near the rural or suburban campus, private transportation is necessary in order to get to part time jobs or to other off campus activities.

One expense often not factored in by families who are sending their offspring away to college is the cost of transportation. This added cost can shake any budget, but it is an expense that needs to be taken into consideration, especially when no viable alternative is present.

If your son or daughter already has a car, you can help keep costs down by doing the following:

Keep Your Child On Your Insurance Policy — Even if your child’s car will be based out-of-state, it probably would be best for him or her to remain on your insurance policy. They’ll get the benefit of your established policy and won’t be pushed into a high risk category if insured on their own. Besides, in order to get local insurance, most insurers will require your student to establish residency in that state where they’ll have to maintain the car’s registration and pay property taxes. You can keep premium payments current, something busy college students often forget!

Get The School’s Parking Sticker — Most colleges require that students who have cars on campus get an annual parking sticker. Fees vary for this privilege but encourage your son or daughter to buy the sticker and to park near classes. If your child commutes to school and parks off campus, they risk damage to their car and their personal safety could be jeopardized. The safe choice is to park close in.

Give Her A Gas Card — A gas card or other charge card can come in handy for your child when away from school. Stick with a national brand’s affinity card to help her gain points every time that she fills up, which can be redeemed later on for cash back, prizes, repairs and maintenance, etc. Discourage the carrying of cash — with fill ups costing well above $50 these days you don’t want to make her a prime target for thieves.

Establish A Maintenance Schedule — Older cars need to have their oil changed more frequently and engines tuned, but not so with most late model vehicles. Planning regular maintenance when your child is home for winter and summer breaks will keep the car running great, but give a AAA or similar road service card to cover potential breakdowns. In between, encourage your child to visit Jiffy Lube or similar maintenance center once midterm exams are completed to give the car a quick check up and oil change.

If possible, you’ll want your child’s car to carry them all the way through college and help them start their new career. With student loans, apartment rent, and other expenses to consider, adding a car payment on top of that becomes burdensome, so remind your child that regular maintenance will extend their car’s life and give them dependable transportation for many years.

Your Late Model Find

For those students still needing or wanting a car, a late model used car is an option worth considering. For example, a three year old car has seen a significant chunk of its early depreciation fall off while still offering what should be a solid and affordable driving option.

To that end, we’re offering to you some tips on how to consider, find and buy your new wheels:

Do Your Research — which car should you buy and which one should you avoid? My favorite place to go for this information is Consumer Reports, an independent product-rating organization (and magazine) which grades all of the cars. Every year, in its April issue, the organization tells which used cars it likes and which ones you should avoid. View the free copy of this issue at your local library.

Shop Around — You can purchase a car from a private seller and find these people hawking their cars through newspaper ads and online sites. Craigslist and eBay Motors are popular places to shop, but always take care when buying a car online especially if the deal isn’t local.

Consider Certified Used Cars — Many of the automotive manufacturers are selling late model used cars and certifying them for sale after completing an exhaustive inspection process. The best offers are where the manufacturer offers a guarantee or warranty on the car, sometimes for as long as 100,000 miles.

Weigh Your Financing — If you don’t have the cash to pay for the car and still need one, then financing your wheels is an option. Although the best financing deals on new cars seems to be with the financing arms of the manufacturers, shopping around can reveal some low rates through your credit union, online marketer, and elsewhere.

Of course, if you spring for a used car have a mechanic check it out first before sealing the deal. Any car, no matter how well rated, can be abused extensively in just one or two years of driving. A trustworthy mechanic can give you a clear picture of just how well a car has been maintained.

References 

Auto Lending Guide 

Refinancing Your Car Loan

Should You Lease or Finance

Not that any of this should matter much, because most buyers who are looking for something new and cheaply priced aren’t too concerned where their car was built. Indeed, several models from Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Nissan, and Smart are priced lower. The advantage of the Ford, however, is that most of the parts are local meaning your maintenance costs should be lower.

With these important points I digress.

Now back to the Focus: this car isn’t the leader in its category, but it is worthy for consideration. First introduced for the 2000 model year, the 2008 model keeps the original platform but it has been reskinned, new suspension added, and the interior has been modernized.

Competitive Fuel Mileage

Best of all, the Focus gets 35 mpg on the highway (24 city), comparing favorably with other vehicles in its class. Other than the hybrid Honda Civic, the Focus’ fuel economy matches or exceeds the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, even the MINI Cooper. With gas prices above $3 per gallon, good fuel economy is a must. Only one engine choice is available: a 2.0L I4 which can be paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Two or Four Door, the Choice Is Yours

Available as a two door coupe or four door sedan, the Focus seats five passengers. Back seat riders will find legroom to be fair, but noticeably missing are headrests which have become standard in even the most economical cars. The split 60/40 rear seats makes carrying larger items a snap.

Front seat room is sufficient for the average sized adult and the dash is simply laid out with ample chrome and blue back lighting which improves the look over earlier models. Overall, the interior is anything but extravagant; then again this is Ford’s entry-level wheels.

Getting In SYNC

You may have seen the commercials for the Ford Focus which focuses more on its SYNC technology and fuel mileage above all else. SYNC is a popular hands-free communication system developed by Microsoft. Allowing the driver to call out the name of a song, SYNC quickly finds and plays it. With Bluetooth accessibility, SYNC wirelessly accesses your cell phone allowing you to make hands-free calls with simple voice commands in English, Spanish, or French. Although an extra-cost option, SYNC is proving to be popular with young drivers who crave its functionality. A standard CD/MP3 player with six-month complimentary SIRIUS satellite radio comes with every model.

Safety First

The Focus performed well in front crash testing, scoring a 5 out of 5 for both the driver and front seat passenger. All Focus models come with six standard air bags including dual-stage front airbags and two sets of side airbags protecting front and rear passengers. Anti-lock brakes with traction control is available on all models and a tire pressure monitoring system is standard.

Fully Loaded: 17 Grand

As of this writing, Ford is advertising that fully loaded Focuses are retailing for just under $17,000. However, if you take delivery of a Focus from dealer stock before March ends, Ford will knock $1500 off of the price of the car. For additional savings of $500, finance your purchase (or lease) through Ford and you can save more.

So, with a base MSRP of $14,300, you could drive a Focus off of the dealer lot for as low as $12,300 plus taxes, tags and registration. With SYNC as an option, my thinking is that you’ll opt for a slightly better equipped Focus than the strip model.

Additional Resources

The Power of Negotiation

Auto Purchase Loan (Calculator)

Should Your Lease Instead?

Photos courtesy/copyright the Ford Motor Company. 

Sending your adult student off to college means paying for their tuition, room, and related expenses while providing him or her with some extra cash to cover personal expenses and maybe a few dollars more for entertainment. For some parents another expense, transportation, is part of the equation which can sometimes come in the form of bus fares home or ride share money.

What if you want your son or daughter to have access to a car while on campus? Some schools do not allow freshmen students to have a car if they are living in a dorm, while others have no such restrictions. Regardless, finding, buying and maintaining a car is yet another expense. Let’s take a look at how you can find the right car for your student.

Off to School in the Old Buick

My neighbor’s daughter, Becky, took her parents’ 1999 Buick Regal with her when she went off to college in another state this past fall. Her dad is a weekend mechanic who keeps all of his cars looking and running great for many years. With 73,000 miles on the odometer, no doubt she has a car that will serve her well. For his part, Dad now has a spankin’ new Cadillac CTS parked where the Buick used to sit.

Finding and Buying a Car

Not everyone has an extra car to give away nor does every parent have the skills (or time) to maintain a vehicle. You’ve decided that your son or daughter should have a car, but you aren’t willing to part with one of yours. What are your options? You have quite a few including:

Friends, Family Members – A trusted friend or family member could be looking to trade in his car, but he knows what the dealer will give him wouldn’t be as much money as he could fetch on the open market. If it is a car you like and the price is right, why not buy from someone you know? Besides, he probably has kept all of the repair and maintenance records.

Program Vehicles — Cars which have been leased or rented out by companies such as Hertz and Avis are often well maintained, clean vehicles. Almost all are top of the line models and most have low mileage; some come with a warranty and first year depreciation is not a factor for the buyer.

Certified Used Cars — Auto manufacturers are increasingly standing behind their late model used cars and are certifying some for resale with warranties included. Not every vehicle qualifies, but that should be fine with you — you want your purchase to pass scrutiny and perform as expected. Of course, you could try your hand at the used car lot, but only if you’re like Becky’s dad who can spot a lemon before it is too late!

Go For New — You may even find purchasing a new car to be the best option for your family. With no “history” to it and years of dependable driving ahead, a new car can give you the peace of mind you need and the enjoyment your son or daughter seeks.

Lots of cars still retail for under $15k, including the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent and Elantra, Chevrolet Aveo (pictured), Kia Rio and Spectra, and other models. You get a full warranty and your student gets many years of safe, economical driving. SayCampusLife will be taking a look at a number of the value-priced vehicles available to you from time to time, so please check back in for more information.

Run A Damage Report

With any vehicle that is used, you’ll want to get all of the maintenance records you can and ordering a Carfax report can tell you if the car has a “history” you don’t want to deal with (flood damage, severe crash, etc.)

Finally, you’ll want to explore your financing options particularly if you want to keep the manufacturer’s rebate and finance your wheels elsewhere.

Having a car available on campus isn’t always a luxury — some students need access to a set of wheels, dependable transportation to carry them through the next four years of studying away from home.

Photo courtesy/copyright General Motors. Matt regularly dispenses automotive news, views and advice through his The Auto Writer blog.