Monday, June 20, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Everything about cars
Owning a car is one of the biggest responsibilities that a person takes on as an adult, but there are cars that are good for starting teens and college students off with building credit and assuming responsibility. The vehicles listed below are cars that are considered good starter cars for college and high schoolers because they're considered cost-friendly for parents and gives teens and college age students the ability to learn what it's like to pay their own car note and to maintain something. This is also ideal because they're cost-friendly in terms of maintenance because they don't cost an arm and a leg to maintain. The following vehicles are considered excellent starter cars for teens and college students:
Ford Focus-This compact car which is the predecessor to the what was known then as the Escort is cost effective because it's priced between $14,000-$16,000 and gets about 35 miles per gallon which is actually pretty good for a compact car. The car seats 5 passengers and the cost will go up if you add on things like a spoiler and sunroof. It is cost effective for parents looking to buy their son or daughter their first car and needs something that will give them a note their child can pay for each month to not only build credit, but to learn responsible adult behavior in terms of owning and maintaining something.
Chevy Aveo-This car is the predecessor to the compact car of the 70s and 80s called the Chevette and it's been resurrected as the Aveo. This car is priced at about $12,000-$14,000. The car gets about 34 miles per gallon making it one of the fuel efficient cars on the market and a perfect starter car for a teen or college student who are new drivers and need a reliable car that's kind on gas and doesn't break the bank.
Chevy Aveo5-This is the hatchback which is priced about $10,000-$14,000 and gets an estimated 34 miles per gallon like its sister vehicle the Aveo sedan. This too is an excellent starter car for a high schooler or college student.
Chevy Cobalt-This is the predecessor to the long selling Cavalier and is priced at $14,000-$17,000 and gets an estimated 33 miles per gallon and is reasonably priced for new drivers since the cost won't break the bank making it a reasonably priced car that a teen or college student with a steady job can afford with little assistance from the parents.
Mazda3-This sporty 4 door car starts at about $14,000 and gets an estimated 32 miles per gallon highway and 29 miles per gallon in the city and has a high rating from the government for its safety standards.
Toyota Corolla-This long selling compact car starts at about $15,000 and gets about 32 miles per gallon so it's a reasonably priced starter car for college students.
Kia Rio-This compact car is reasonably priced starting at $11,000, but note that cars this size don't necessarily make them safe, but are decent starter cars for teens and college students. This car gets roughly about 27 miles per gallon city and 32 miles per gallon highway if the car is a 5 speed if it's a 4 speed it uses about 25 miles per gallon city and 35 miles per gallon highway. The car holds about 11.9 gallons of gas (do the math according to the cost of gas where you live and that will tell you what you'll roughly spend to fill the car up). Kia also has a 10 year, 100,000 mile warranty so this makes it economically friendly to not worry about a high maintenance bill if it's covered under the warranty.
Kia Rio5-This little sporty car starts out at about $13,000 and gets about 27 miles per gallon city and 32 miles per gallon highway (5 speed), 4 speeders are about 25 miles per gallon city and 35 miles per gallon highway and gets about 11.9 gallons of gas (do the math according to the cost of gas where you live and that will give you an estimate of what you would spend on gas). This model along with its sister sedan Rio is covered under the 10 year, 100,000-mile warranty.
Kia Spectra-This mid-size compact car is a nice starter vehicle for teens and college students because it begins at $13,000 and is an ideal car that's not going to break the bank and gets 23 miles per gallon city and 30 miles per gallon highway (5 speed), 4 speeders get 24 miles per gallon city and
Nissan Versa-This compact car starts out priced at $12,000 and gets an estimated 26 miles city and 31 miles highway making this an ideal car for a teen because it's not expensive and relatively good in size so it's easy on insurance.
Nissan Sentra-This long time selling compact car was a choice for those looking for a small car for a small budget. This newly updated version is priced at $16,000 and that doesn't include extras like spoilers, sunroof and other add-ons. This car gets an estimated 24 miles per gallon city and 31 miles per gallon highway.
Mitsubishi Lancer-This sporty compact sedan starts out at $13,000 and gets approximately 22 miles per gallon city and 28 miles per gallon highway. The fuel capacity of this car is 15.3 gallons (do the math of the cost of gas from where you live to determine the cost of what it would take to fill the car up). This is also a nice starter car for a teen or college student.
Scion xD-This compact car is reasonably priced starting at $15,000 and this model gets approximately 27 miles per gallon city and 33 miles per gallon highway with a manual transmission and automatic transmission is about 27 miles per gallon city and 32 miles per gallon highway. This is a practical car for a teen or college student, but note that Scions aren't safe cars so it's ideal to check the safety rating of the vehicle before buying.
Subaru Impreza-This is a good car that ranks high with government crash safety tests and starting price is about $16,000 and approximately gets 20 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway (manual), automatic transmissions get 20 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway. This is a good starter car for a teen or college student looking for something stylish and doesn't require a high amount of maintenance. The vehicle can hold 16.9 gallons of gas so the cost would be done according to the rate gas is going for to determine the cost of refueling.
Hyundai Accent-This small compact car is probably the cheapest car on the market for a plush price of $10,000 with a 33 mile per gallon capacity and this is a good starter car for teens and college students.
Hyundai Elantra GLS-This sporty little compact has a nice price tag starting at $13,000 and gets an estimated 33 miles per gallon. This is a nice car to drive for a teen or college student. This is a moderately safe car versus the sub compacts that are considered unsafe when consumer advocates had issued reviews.
These cars are ideal for teens to learn about responsibility and for college students who want to build credit through on time note payments and learning how to take care of something should consider these cars as potential investments. Parents would see this as ideal investments because they're price-friendly and are things they can give to their children as means to prove their level of responsibility. The prices as most know are just standard cost that does not include the extras that can run you between $200-3000 so always watch that and get a break down of cost for extras and select them carefully unless the dealer offers you certain extras with the car if you're getting a good price out the door.
College students should keep in mind that having a car note helps you to build good credit because it's essential to be able to buy cars again or do other things like buy furniture, a house or anything that requires a good record of credit and having an inexpensive car is a great way for college students to build their credit or repair credit if they fell on hard times and messed up somewhere. These are worth the money if you want save some money and build up credit to afford a bigger or better cars or other things. These are the kind of vehicles parents would not have a problem with buying their children if they can prove they're capable of making on time payments and not wrecking it. These are probably the better cars now because with rising gas prices some cars are not worth buying because they'll eat up more gas than what you would put in for a week's worth of driving. These are gas friendly cars that don't take a lot of gas, but can actually help you save a few dollars at the pump each week and still be economically friendly in terms of a decent price and a reasonable monthly note.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Public School Authorities
As an adult, the privilege of driving can almost be considered a curse. If you can drive, then you can do the grocery shopping, run all errands, and, of course, be stuck in rush hour work traffic for most of your waking life. However, when you turn thirteen you are now officially a teen and the chance to drive looms only a few years away. You beg to move the car in the driveway. You are aware of new car models. You plan your sound system, with little thought to the fact that in all likelihood you will be inheriting the family junker - a boring four door with a few scrapes - reminders of an older sibling. Years zoom by and suddenly you are fifteen with a permit in hand, eagerly begging for driving lessons. Living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you have plenty of driving class choices.
This article shall discuss three driving schools (located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area) in one lump sum, and then offer one exciting alternative school. Academy Driving, Alliance Driving, and Metro Driving all offer similar programs and prices to meet the driving skill requirements of the state of Texas. Generally geared towards ages fifteen to eighteen, the schools offer a 32-hour class phase, followed by a 14- hour car phase.
Two hour classes are probably one hour in a row too many for inattentive teens. Slumped at desks, they watch films showing the horrors of crashing, the dangers of drinking and driving, and driving skill movies. They might as well be watching The French Connection for the skill portion absorbed. Lectures, bookwork, and testing complete the classroom phase. Now eager to show their lead foot inclinations, students and instructors slide behind the wheel. Seven hours of observation and seven hours of actual driving are logged for completion of requirements. The schools do their job as mandated by the state, and in theory your teen should be able to pass the drivers test.
Nonetheless, how much is taken seriously? How thorough is the driving instruction? The new drivers are probably as skilled as any taught by parents throughout history. No one is truly prepared for that heart stopping freeway entrance at sixty miles an hour with trucks daring you to squeeze into a slot. Is the new driver ready to swerve properly for some equipment flying out of the truck ahead of him? These are the questions and situations answered for teens and adults at Texas Driving Experience (TDE). Located at the Texas Motor Speedway facility, in Justin, Texas, TDE is a unique company originally founded with the mission to teach real-life driving skills. This is the school to attend after passing required tests.
An eye opener for teens, and a refresher course for adults burnt out from highway miles, Texas Driving Experience instruction emphasizes non-stop hands-on full press driving skills. Using Mustangs and one-on-one instruction, the instructors have the students rev the car to full tilt and then screech to a halt. Braking skills on dry land and on a hosed down area are taught as true-life scenarios. Driving on a road coarse avoiding cones, the TDE instructors (these are men who currently professionally race cars or have in the past) are constantly discussing all aspects of the road and vehicle. Forget punching radio buttons and using a cell phone, your vehicle demands your attention at all times. This one or two day class keeps you busy, alert, and aware of the power of an automobile. If you value the life of your teen, the Texas Driving Experience is a good investment in his or her driving skills.
Everyone believes he or she is an excellent driver and that everyone else is an idiot. However, the daily traffic report and the sound of sirens tell a different tale. Driving schools churn out new drivers daily, armed with the requisite license. In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consider enrolling your teen in Academy, Alliance, or Metro for the mandated instruction, and then introducing your child to the real world of safe driving with Texas Driving Experience.
Academy 1 Driving School
1005 W. Harwood
Euless TX 76039
817-354-8799
Alliance Driving School
6420 Denton Hwy
Watauga TX 76148
817-581-4200
Metro Driving School
212 W. Bedford Euless Rd
Bedford TX 76053
817-282-6263
Texas Driving Experience
3535 Lone Star Circle Suite 118
Fort Worth TX 76247
817-430-4343
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