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 In the past, an outdated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