Top Cars for College Students-CarMax/Driver's Edge Pick Best for Safety/Reliability
08-21-07, 10:23 AM
#1
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Top Cars for College Students-CarMax/Driver's Edge Pick Best for Safety/Reliability
Top Cars for College Students; CarMax & Driver's Edge Recommend Best Vehicles for Safety and Reliability
RICHMOND, VA UNITED STATES
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- If your college
student's back to school list includes a car, you will want to know which
vehicles are recommended for young drivers. To help students and parents
find the best car, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer
of used cars, and Driver's Edge, a national nonprofit organization
providing youth driver education, have teamed up to recommend the top cars
for college students.
"It's pretty tough to come up with a list of cars that will satisfy
both parents and students," said Steve Tepper, chief operating officer of
Driver's Edge. "Issues of looks, cost, safety, and performance don't always
line up, but there are some great cars out there that fit the bill
safety-wise while still being a cool car to drive."
"Typically, parents' top priorities when looking for a vehicle for
their student are price, reliability, and safety, while young people may be
more interested in style, features, and performance," said Ron Costa,
regional vice president of purchasing for CarMax. "We recommend conducting
online vehicle research first and then finding a car retailer that provides
a transparent, customer-friendly, and easy car buying process."
This year's top cars recommended for college students that fulfill both
the parents' safety and reliability demands and the young drivers'
requirements for looks and performance include (In alphabetical order by
manufacturer. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is standard unless otherwise
noted):
-- Audi A4
-- Dodge Caliber (models with optional ABS)
-- Honda Civic
-- Hyundai Sonata
-- Kia Optima (models with optional ABS)
-- Pontiac G6 (coupe or sedan with optional ABS)
-- Toyota Corolla (models with optional ABS)
-- Volkswagen Jetta
-- Volkswagen Passat
-- Volvo S40 (four door sedan)
"When deciding on a vehicle for a young driver, safety has to be a top
consideration," said Jeff Payne, president and founder of Driver's Edge.
"Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for people under
24, outnumbering the combined deaths resulting from drug use, guns, and
other violence." Driver's Edge recommends that parents review crash-test
ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
when considering any vehicle, along with the advice and ratings of the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The cars on the list are recommended only for drivers who have at least
two years of practical driving experience. (Smaller cars would not be on a
list of cars recommended for true novice drivers.) Driver's Edge and CarMax
used the following criteria to select the recommended cars:
1) Each of the selected models scored at least a four star rating from
NHTSA for both frontal and side impact protection in each of the last
four years. Exceptions are the Dodge Caliber and the Pontiac G6, each
of which have only been available since 2007 and 2006, respectively.
2) Each car offers an array of active safety features as either standard
or optional equipment (e.g., anti-lock braking systems, electronic
stability control, traction control, etc.).
3) Cost, reliability, and vehicle styling have been considered, but safety
considerations weighed more heavily in determining the cars to
recommend.
"It's not just about choosing the 'right' car," Payne said. "There is
no five-star rating or safety device that can take the place of a well
educated driver. A lousy driver can make even the safest of vehicles a bad
place to be. That's why we also recommend that all drivers seek out the
proper training and learn the skills needed to help them stay safer on the
highways, whether it's attending a Driver's Edge event or investing in a
quality performance driving school."
About CarMax
CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2007 "100 Best
Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars.
Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 81 used car
superstores in 38 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around
four core equities: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality
vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended
February 28, 2007, the company retailed 337,021 used vehicles and sold
208,959 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information,
access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com.
About Driver's Edge
Las Vegas-based Driver's Edge is a Nevada 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. Driver's Edge offers a free educational program for young
drivers aged 15 to 21, teaching real life emergency avoidance and response
techniques and overall driver safety. This innovative program is taught on
an ongoing basis in Las Vegas, Nev., with annual national tours visiting
multiple U.S. cities each year. The program is funded entirely by corporate
sponsorship, public grants, and charitable donations. Please visit
http://www.driversedge.org for more information.
SOURCE CarMax, Inc.
RICHMOND, VA UNITED STATES
RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- If your college
student's back to school list includes a car, you will want to know which
vehicles are recommended for young drivers. To help students and parents
find the best car, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation's largest retailer
of used cars, and Driver's Edge, a national nonprofit organization
providing youth driver education, have teamed up to recommend the top cars
for college students.
"It's pretty tough to come up with a list of cars that will satisfy
both parents and students," said Steve Tepper, chief operating officer of
Driver's Edge. "Issues of looks, cost, safety, and performance don't always
line up, but there are some great cars out there that fit the bill
safety-wise while still being a cool car to drive."
"Typically, parents' top priorities when looking for a vehicle for
their student are price, reliability, and safety, while young people may be
more interested in style, features, and performance," said Ron Costa,
regional vice president of purchasing for CarMax. "We recommend conducting
online vehicle research first and then finding a car retailer that provides
a transparent, customer-friendly, and easy car buying process."
This year's top cars recommended for college students that fulfill both
the parents' safety and reliability demands and the young drivers'
requirements for looks and performance include (In alphabetical order by
manufacturer. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is standard unless otherwise
noted):
-- Audi A4
-- Dodge Caliber (models with optional ABS)
-- Honda Civic
-- Hyundai Sonata
-- Kia Optima (models with optional ABS)
-- Pontiac G6 (coupe or sedan with optional ABS)
-- Toyota Corolla (models with optional ABS)
-- Volkswagen Jetta
-- Volkswagen Passat
-- Volvo S40 (four door sedan)
"When deciding on a vehicle for a young driver, safety has to be a top
consideration," said Jeff Payne, president and founder of Driver's Edge.
"Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for people under
24, outnumbering the combined deaths resulting from drug use, guns, and
other violence." Driver's Edge recommends that parents review crash-test
ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
when considering any vehicle, along with the advice and ratings of the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The cars on the list are recommended only for drivers who have at least
two years of practical driving experience. (Smaller cars would not be on a
list of cars recommended for true novice drivers.) Driver's Edge and CarMax
used the following criteria to select the recommended cars:
1) Each of the selected models scored at least a four star rating from
NHTSA for both frontal and side impact protection in each of the last
four years. Exceptions are the Dodge Caliber and the Pontiac G6, each
of which have only been available since 2007 and 2006, respectively.
2) Each car offers an array of active safety features as either standard
or optional equipment (e.g., anti-lock braking systems, electronic
stability control, traction control, etc.).
3) Cost, reliability, and vehicle styling have been considered, but safety
considerations weighed more heavily in determining the cars to
recommend.
"It's not just about choosing the 'right' car," Payne said. "There is
no five-star rating or safety device that can take the place of a well
educated driver. A lousy driver can make even the safest of vehicles a bad
place to be. That's why we also recommend that all drivers seek out the
proper training and learn the skills needed to help them stay safer on the
highways, whether it's attending a Driver's Edge event or investing in a
quality performance driving school."
About CarMax
CarMax, a FORTUNE 500 company and one of the FORTUNE 2007 "100 Best
Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars.
Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 81 used car
superstores in 38 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around
four core equities: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality
vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended
February 28, 2007, the company retailed 337,021 used vehicles and sold
208,959 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information,
access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com.
About Driver's Edge
Las Vegas-based Driver's Edge is a Nevada 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization. Driver's Edge offers a free educational program for young
drivers aged 15 to 21, teaching real life emergency avoidance and response
techniques and overall driver safety. This innovative program is taught on
an ongoing basis in Las Vegas, Nev., with annual national tours visiting
multiple U.S. cities each year. The program is funded entirely by corporate
sponsorship, public grants, and charitable donations. Please visit
http://www.driversedge.org for more information.
SOURCE CarMax, Inc.
08-21-07, 03:57 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
And all the cars on that list I believe get pretty decent fuel economy.
08-21-07, 11:20 PM
#5
If this was a Forbes' list...... lol.
I'm surprised the Fit isn't there. It has a full complement of airbags, ABS and is spacious, economical and fairs well in crash tests... or do you guys not get the Fit in the US?
I'm surprised the Fit isn't there. It has a full complement of airbags, ABS and is spacious, economical and fairs well in crash tests... or do you guys not get the Fit in the US?
08-22-07, 03:57 AM
#7
Why? I think they are all pretty decent choices. I for one probably would help my son get someting a little more stylish than those cars (Aside from the A4) since I'm a car enthusiasts and car design and looks play a big role in cars I buy, but other than that as long as the car is safe and gets them to school its all good.
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08-22-07, 06:46 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Scratch the Caliber........IMO it is poorly built, with El Cheapo materials inside and out.
As bitkahuna says, though, in most cases, you will not have very many problems the first year...but this car, and its Jeep Compass brother, gives me the impression it will start to come unglued well before the average new car does today. The Pontiac G6 does not seem much better in some areas....its interior also has a lot of cheap materials.
As bitkahuna says, though, in most cases, you will not have very many problems the first year...but this car, and its Jeep Compass brother, gives me the impression it will start to come unglued well before the average new car does today. The Pontiac G6 does not seem much better in some areas....its interior also has a lot of cheap materials.
08-22-07, 09:14 AM
#10
No kidding!
Corolla and civics have been the king of student econo-cars
All of us had corollas when we were student. Bought my sister a civic to be different
What happened to:
1. scion shoebox
2. nissan sentra
3. mazda 3
How are the reliabilities of the vw jetta+passat?
Corolla and civics have been the king of student econo-cars
All of us had corollas when we were student. Bought my sister a civic to be different
What happened to:
1. scion shoebox
2. nissan sentra
3. mazda 3
How are the reliabilities of the vw jetta+passat?
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