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Cars for the Holiday Season | |
If you want practical try the fresh-faced Saturn wagon. With a dynamic V6 engine, lots of room, and the ability to get almost 30 mpg on the open road, this is one vehicle that just keeps on giving. For example, the dent resistant side panels help give it one of the lowest insurance rates of any car, and the one year free OnStar service makes you feel warm and comfortable regardless of the situation. Prices start around $20,000. Especially interesting is the optional DVD entertainment center for the rear passengers. Great sound and headphones, too. Don’t forget the award winning dealer network. A great gift for the safety conscious family. Live where winter means snow? Try the Subaru Outback Legacy wagon. For well under $25,000 this spacious all wheel drive stalwart can get you to grandmother’s house under the most diabolical driving conditions. Next to having access to Santa’s sled, the Outback is the best vehicle for winter driving if you want the safety of a passenger car with its higher government crash requirements. If you want to treat yourself to a more upscale Subaru, the V6 model can be under your tree for about $30,000 with its more sophisticated hardware and interior treatments. Of course, if you want to get to a holiday event in a hurry, for about $25,000 you can own the rally inspired turbocharged WRX Subaru and pass everyone, including Rudolph, on your way. The 227 horsepower engine makes short work out of the speed limit so consider the most innocuous station wagon version if you value your driver’s license. These Subarus would be an ideal present for those who ski, live in the mountains, or enjoy the safety of all wheel drive. For the more practical, Toyota offers three genuinely sincere bargains for your consideration. The perky Toyota Matrix can be purchased from about $16,000 in base form to under $25,000 loaded with all wheel drive. A fun car to drive, the Matrix gets over 35 mpg on the highway and can transport all the food and presents in its flat folding rear storage area. A first rate consideration for those who are into sports, bargain hunting, or just don’t have any place for their stuff in their bedrooms anymore. Believe it or not, if $16,000 is too much, the Corolla from Toyota is yours for under $14,000. Completely redone, this is an exceptional vehicle with gas mileage above 30 on the highway and plenty of scoot under the hood. The trunk is extremely spacious and the ride is first rate. This is an ideal car for the college bound and it is difficult to argue with a vehicle Toyota states is the leading seller in the world. We recommend the LE version that is priced in the $15,000 range and includes some of the most popular options. Of course, for those who need more room, the very spacious Toyota Camry can be purchased nicely loaded for under $20,000. The thrifty four-cylinder engine and large fuel tank make it easy to go over 400 miles before refilling on unleaded regular fuel. The exterior treatment makes the Camry easy to mistake for the much more expensive Lexus ES 300 which is always a good thing. This is an ideal car for the young family who wants inexpensive transportation. Unless you are into leather, and we are not here to judge you, there isn’t much more a car costing twice as much is going to give you that this Camry does not offer. A great car for Mrs. Claus, too, because it is so safer and handles better than SUVs, is friendly to the environment, and has insurance rates considerably cheaper than many of its competitors. For the larger family, the best value is the Dodge Grand Caravan Sport ($24,275). It has the larger 3.3-liter V6 engine, superior handling package, and plenty of room for a large family. You can even expect gas mileage in the 22-mpg range or better. The ride is very good and the raised seating position is appreciated in thick traffic situations. The brakes are good and ABS is standard. You can also order side doors and a rear tailgate that open automatically. A member of our family owns the more fully loaded and more powerful Chrysler Town and Country version of this van and finds it much more appealing and practical than a SUV. In addition, the power rear hatch makes it easy for them to load the van even when arthritis becomes severe. Outside of the much more expensive and not nearly as innovative Honda van, the Dodge is our favorite. A perfect gift for the family who loves to do things together. Finally, for the person who has everything, BMW is offering its MINI. This cute and inexpensive vehicle puts a smile on the face of everyone while costing well under $20,000. In fact, the base model is under $17,000 and is currently the resale champion. You can customize this car, even adding an American or British flag to the top, without breaking the bank. Running on regular unleaded, look for gas mileage in the high 30-mpg range on the freeway. This is one car that can fit under the tree too due to its low height. You don’t have to go fast to have fun in the MINI, and it has lots of safety equipment as well has being able to out-handle most anything on the road. The Mini is a great gift for those young at heart or the mid-life crisis prone individuals. With low interest rates, these safety equipment filled vehicles could be the ideal gift that is friendly to the environment, a treat to the owner, and offers good resale should a family’s needs change. | |
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