2008 Column Cars That Go College by Tom Keer originally printed in Cape Cod Life

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CETTING AROUND # , & f f i * u $ ' q f f i * x r u Y s& * T f f i # f f i T f f i & r u $ p * f f i T & - r $ * r u ? f f i f f i r u * S

T-foret ilmn*; {-* H*:il-mT$*.gr* Parentswho find it easyto hand over the keys for aroundhometripsmayjust find that givingcarprivileges to theircollege-boundkids makesthem a bit more nervous.Choosing therightvehicleup frontwill saveheartburnlateron. Consider the schools environment. Stu-

Audi 46, BM\V 3 or 5 series,Chery Malibu Maxx, or Dodge Magnum are good options. They're conservative, yes, but they perform well, too. Plus, they've got plenty of room for friends and gear.

car choices not by how popular your

dents who travel long distances to and

child will be when he rolls onto campus,

Environmentally-Friendly

from campus are candidatesfor a car that

but by how few mechanical problems

These days the buzz is about Hybrids,

gets good gas mileage. If the college is in

he'll encounter along the way.

cars that have actually been commercial-

a rural area, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive is more practical. Review any special car features with your kids so they know how to operate them properly and can handle particular driving conditions. Finding a car for your kids may be as

ly available for nearly a decade. These

BUYINCA NEW CARFOR YOUR COLLECESTUDENT Reliabilltya Safety

gasGlectrical combos offer a variety of

There are a few mandatory features to

er driving uphill, regenerative braking,

that ultimate graduation present: frames,

and automatic start/shut-off features.

easy as looking in your own garage. Per-

airbags, and braking systems all go to

haps you've been puttering around with

keeping kids and their passengerssafe.

an older vehicle that they can borrow for

Once you settle on a car both you and

features besides cleaner driving and better gas mileage, including increasedpow-

the school year. In the past, an outdated

your kids like, you can check its safety

Tiend-Setting Justin timefor schoolisthelaunchof the Aquadafromthe UK-based CibbsTech

station wagon or sedan was the norm,

ranking at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap, a

nologies. It's a sporty sedan that also

whereas nowadays SUVs are the popular

site devoted to the promotion of safe

functions as a jet ski.

On second

hand-me-down. Fortunate are the kids

cars. To see which vehicles win points

thought, your kid is at school to study,

who get their parents' first cars, especial-

with

not to become the nextJamesBond.

ly those reminiscent of the days of smok-

Bankrate.com. Remember, standardized

ing jackets and pipes. Therei the occa-

tests apply as much to car purchasesas to

sional Tiiumph, Alpha Romeo, MCB, and

college admissions.

yourself some peace of mind and cover

Durability Forkidson thego,anSUV getsthenod.

changesat around 3,000 miles, tune-ups,

insurance

companies,

check

classicAmerican Mustangs and Firebirds, but also the Ramblers, Corvairs, and Dodge Darts. Your kids' roommates may thlnk this kind of car cool, but their professors will be the ones who are really

Before you hand over the keys, give

basic maintenance with your kids' oil

and tire rotations. Make sure they also

They have a lot of steel surrounding know how to change a flat tire, jumpyoung adventurerstrekking to remote start a dead battery, or handle emer-

don't necessarily make for good corner-

areasfor fishing,hiklng, skiing,camping, gency breakdowns. Toss in a set of or kayaking. All-wheel-driveslike the jumper cables and a roadside emergency

ing following a tailgate party.

SubaruOutback or 4-wheeldrive SUVs

envious. Jeeps are fun for school, but

Lacking an extra car at home, parents

kit before they head to campus. Heck,

will have to look into a used vehicle.

such as Toyota 4-Runners, Nissan you might even set up a reward program Pathfinders,or Jeep Grand Cherokees for good grades or smart driving, per-

Think practically. The car needs to be

stayon the road in tough conditions.

reliable and safe. CousumerReports'car

credit card.

review is an excellent way to begin a

Roominess

search' www.consumerreports.org. You'll

Your kids are bound to make plenty of

avoid frantic calls at midnight if you rank

new friends-and stationwagonslike the

www.capecodlife.com

haps a membership to AAA or a gas -TomKeer

TomKeerisaJreelance writerwbolroes iu Wellfleet C A P EC O D L I F E 1 3 9


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