Vincent's Auto Reviews Top 10 Picks: Top 10 Used Car Picks for the New Driver

Vincent’s Auto Reviews Top 10 Picks: Top 10 Used Car Picks for The New Driver:

10.) 2008-2011 Ford Focus- $9,000-$14,000: The 2008-2011 Ford Focus features a cool exterior design with an even cooler interior design, plenty of technology features, including the Microsoft SYNC System and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and is available in both Coupe and Sedan styles.

9.) 2002-2006 Nissan Altima- $4,500-$14,500: The 2002-2006 Nissan Altima is a safe midsized sedan for the new driver. Featuring an optional Bose premium sound system, I4 or V6 power trains, automatic or manual transmissions, and great reliability, the Altima certainly isn’t your standard midsized sedan.

8.) 1996-2000 Honda Civic: $2,500-$6,000: The 1996-2000 Honda Civic is an economical and reliable vehicle for the new driver. With great reliability, great fuel economy, and a comfortable ride, there’s no reason to wonder why the Civic is popular with new drivers everywhere.

7.) 1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee: $2,500-$6,000: The 1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ is one nice machine. With excellent reliability from its I4 or I6 power trains, excellent customizability options, and two or four-door styles available in both two and four-wheel-drive, the Cherokee XJ is definitely an awesome vehicle that is fun-to-drive for the new driver.

6.) 2006.5-2010 Hyundai Sonata: $9,500-$14,500: The 2006.5-2010 Hyundai Sonata is a great car for a new driver. With either I4 or V6 power, a ten-year, 100,000-mile power train limited warranty, automatic (or manual) transmission choices, and three models to choose from, the Sonata is a reliable and economical midsized sedan for the new driver.

5.) 2001-2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser: $3,500-$15,500: The 2001-2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro-inspired five-door wagon or two-door convertible that is sure to please the new driver. Reliable, fun-to-drive, and sure to get looks everywhere you take it, the PT Cruiser will be an economical and fun-to-drive car for the new driver.

6.) 2002-2006 Toyota Camry: $4,500-$12,500: The 2002-2006 Toyota Camry is a great vehicle for the new driver. After twenty years, 80% of Toyota Camry cars sold is still on the road today, which shows the Camry’s reliability. Plus, with I4 or V6 power, cloth or leather seating surfaces, and plenty of room, your college-aged kid will enjoy this car a lot.

5.) 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler/Unlimited: $3,500-$14,500: The 1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler/Unlimited is the vehicle of choice for the new driver. Featuring I4 or I6 power, two wheelbase lengths, automatic or manual transmission choices, soft or hard tops, four-wheel-drive, and plenty of customizability options, the Jeep Wrangler and Unlimited are great vehicles, not to mention fun-to-drive vehicles, for the new driver.

4.) 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee: $2,500-$7,000: The 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ is safe, has plenty of room, offers reliable I6 or V8 engines, and rear or four-wheel-drive. Your college-aged kid will love to drive this Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) to college.

3.) 1998-2010 Volkswagen New Beetle: $3,500-$17,000: Ah, the 1998-2010 Volkswagen New Beetle. Available with turbocharged diesel, regular gasoline, or turbocharged gasoline engines, coupe or convertible styles, and a blast to drive, the New Beetle is one of the best vehicles for the new driver, not to mention fun-to-drive.

2.) 2001-2003 Toyota Prius Hybrid: $4,500-$7,500: If you’re able to locate one of this generation, the 2001-2003 Toyota Prius Hybrid is a great vehicle for new drivers with the claim to fame being fuel economy, thanks to a gasoline-electric hybrid power train and an automatic transmission. Your college-aged kid will love driving this economically-friendly vehicle.

1.) 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus: $3,500-$12,500: The 2001-2006 Dodge Stratus came in coupe and sedan body styles, which mean the new driver, will be able to locate the perfect Stratus for them. With I4 or V6 power (we recommend the V6 engine) and an automatic transmission, the Dodge Stratus (the coupe was based off the 2001-2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse Coupes), the Stratus is a reliable and spacious car for the college-aged kid to drive.

-Vincent D. for Vincent’s Auto Reviews

TRUCK REVIEW: 2001 FORD F-550 SUPER DUTY XL

TRUCK REVIEW: 2001 FORD F-550 SUPER DUTY XL:

            Introduction: When you think of trucks, one manufacturer comes to mind: Ford, and that’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about today. Ford introduced its new body style of commercial truck in 1998 as a 1999 MY (Model Year) vehicle: the then-all-new 1999 Ford F-Series Super Duty Trucks. The basic design of the Super Duty lasted up until 2004, while the truck received a minor restyling in 2005, and this design lasted up until 2007. In 2008, the truck received a full redesign, which was all-new inside and out. Let’s take a look at the 2001 Ford F-550 Super Duty XL Super Crew Cab.

            Exterior: From the moment you first take a look at the F-550 Super Duty, you can definitely tell it means business and doesn’t play games. From its large, “egg-crate” front grille, to its dual rear wheels, the F-550 Super Duty is definitely a “no-nonsense” truck. In XL trim, the truck being reviewed sports a black-painted front grille, chrome front bumper, and steel wheels that measure 19.5 inches in diameter. These wheels ride on size 225/70R19.5 all-season Black Sidewall (BSW) tires. Chrome 19.5-inch wheel skins that cover the steel wheels are available, though you can upgrade to 19.5-inch chrome-clad steel wheels if you desire them. The 1999-2004 F-550 Super Duty comes in three basic trim levels: XL, XLT, and Lariat. Add the XL Décor Group to the base XL and you get a chrome-finished front grille with black insert, and a full chrome front bumper. The F-550 Super Duty comes in wheelbases ranging from 148-201 inches, depending on which cab configuration and model you choose. The reviewed F-550 Super Duty was a Super Crew Cab with a 179-inch wheelbase. Regular Cab, Super Cab, and Super Crew Cab models are all available. Though the reviewed F-550 Super Duty has a flatbed installed onto it, the possibilities are endless when it comes to up-fitting a custom body onto it (the truck comes with a steel frame that is ready to have a body up-fitted onto it).

            Interior: When you step into the cab of the F-550 Super Duty, you’ll find it very utilitarian, with some convenience features that are either standard equipment or can be added onto the truck for an additional cost. Heavy-duty vinyl, regular vinyl, cloth, or leather seating surfaces are available in captain’s chairs or bench seats, depending on how you wish to have your truck configured. Heated front captain’s chairs are an option on the Lariat model. The A/M-F/M stereo is standard, though a cassette player, single-disc CD player, cassette and single-disc CD players, or a six-disc in-dash CD changer can be added for an additional cost. Either two or four-speaker sound systems are available, though only two speakers are available with the standard A/M-F/M stereo. All other stereos include four speakers. The standard two-speaker sound system in the reviewed model was of good quality, though the XL front doors do not have as much padding in them as the XLT and Lariat models do, so sound quality isn’t as good in the XL. Air conditioning is optional, and has a single-zone, manual control. The dials for the climate control are easy to reach and easy to grip, allowing for quick adjustment while on the road. The front bench seat adjusts, though only fore and aft, and the whole seat must be adjusted. Though the truck tested had roll-up, manual windows and manual door locks, a Power Package with two keyless entry remotes, power windows with one-touch front driver’s auto-down window, and power door locks with rear child door locks is available. Rear seat leg room in the Super Crew Cab models is adequate, and everyone can ride comfortably from job to job. The truck will seat anywhere from two to six passengers (the model tested sits six passengers with two bench seats), depending on the cab and seat configurations. The interior is consisted mostly of soft-touch vinyl surfaces, though the XLT and Lariat models feature either black lacquer interior trim or dark-finished faux wood interior trim adorning the dashboard and front and rear doors, respectively. The manual gauges are easy to read, especially at night (later upgraded with a digital odometer readout), and the dash lights are easy to see at night. The overhead storage console with trip computer as well as a front center flip-up console is both available options on the truck, though the truck tested didn’t feature these options.

Engine, Transmission, Payload, and Handling: The F-550 Super Duty came with two engine options: a 6.8-liter, 310 horsepower and 425 lb. ft. of torque Triton V10 or a 7.3-liter, 250-275 horsepower and 450-570 lb. ft. of torque Power Stroke Turbocharged Diesel V8 built by International (the T444E). A 6.0-liter, 325 horsepower and 570 lb. ft. of torque Power Stroke Turbocharged Diesel V8 built by Ford replaced the International engine in 2003, though the 7.3-liter engines are proven to be more reliable than the 6.0-liter engines. All engines can be mated to either a four-speed, shift-on-the-column automatic transmission, or a five-speed, floor-shift manual transmission (the tested truck had the automatic transmission option). Two or four-wheel-drive is available (the tested truck had the two-wheel-drive option). The F-550 Super Duty has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of up to 19,500 pounds, and can carry a heavy weight with deluxe springs and shock absorbers in the front and rear. Ride quality is truck like, as is expected of a truck like the F-550 Super Duty, though it is smoother when the truck is loaded with equipment. Fuel economy is not rated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for trucks of this class, though this truck equipped with the 7.3-liter Power Stroke Turbocharged Diesel V8 got good fuel economy. Engine reliability, especially with the Power Stroke Turbo Diesel V8 engines, is excellent, and trucks like this will last well over 400,000 miles.

            Summary: To sum up, if you’re looking for a work truck that will take a beating and keep on trucking (ha-ha!), look no further than the Ford F-Series Super Duty, specifically the F-550 Super Duty.

-Vincent D. for Vincent’s Auto Reviews