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Which Car 'Type' Is Right for You?

Brian Walker

There's a car out there for every kind of person and personality, and if you can figure out what you're trying to accomplish with your new ride, shopping for it will be that much easier.

Here are a few suggestions for the best choice for any situation:

Best Bet for a First-Time Driver
Honda Civic

Teens might want to stop reading now, because you won't like what you're going to hear. Parents know that for a first-time driver the primary concern is safety. Insurance Institute for Highway and Safety spokesman Russ Rader says slower sedans are best bets for new drivers -- while SUVs and ultracompact cars, despite being popular with the teen crowd, offer much less protection and are far from good ideas for a first time driver.

	Honda Civic

The Honda(HMC) Civic (and for that matter much of Honda's car lineup) strikes that balance between teen and parent. Its 36 miles per gallon highway and high resale value make it excellent for the budget-conscious parent, and its consistently high crash test scores should help alleviate safety concerns.

For teens worried about image, the Civic is still compact and sporty enough to make them forget about those sports cars they were begging for.

Best Way to Get Around After Retirement
Ford Five Hundred

The older generation of drivers has a completely different set of priorities when it comes to car shopping than the teens have. Comfort and ease of use are the top things to look for, and you certainly won't find many senior citizens shopping based on the best sound system or top speed.

Enter the Ford(F) Five Hundred, soon to be renamed the Taurus starting with the 2008 model year.

Whatever the name may be, Ford has designed a cavernous full-sized sedan with all the amenities that older folks will love. The incredibly spacious seating is slightly higher than normal, offering not only a better view of the road but also easier entry and exit, without too much bending over or climbing in. Despite its large size and mediocre engine, the Five Hundred is easily handled and downright agile around corners. Additional options such as heated seats and backup sensors round out the package.

Best Way to Enjoy Summer Weather
BMW 3 Series

BMW's newest model in their well-received 3 series of cars is a slick drop-top perfect for that fun-in-the-sun drive down the highway. The 328i and its twin-turbo counterpart the 335i both sport a retractable hardtop (a BMW first) that allow the body styling to retain the looks that made the Coupe models such favorites.

	BMW Convertible

The 3 Series also features another first for BMW, a hydraulic system to open and close the roof, meaning that when the afternoon rains hit, you can be dry in just 20 seconds. With a base price of about $44,000 ($50,000 for the turbo), the 3 Series isn't exactly the most economical convertible on the market. But with BMW's looks and engineering, it's one of the best options for spending your summer on the road and under the sun.

Best Option for Saving the Environment
Toyota Prius

Going green is the biggest trend to hit the auto world in quite some time, and more and more drivers are making the switch to Earth-friendly cars. Toyota(TM) has six out of the 30 top spots on the latest J.D. Power Automotive Environmental ratings, making it the top manufacturer. The Prius is quickly becoming the flagship of the green car movement.

The newest models offer a shift toward the spaciousness and styling of tradition non-hybrid sedans, while its Hybrid Synergy system splits time between an electric motor and a gas engine that gets 48 city/45 highway miles per gallon.

Best Excuse for a Family Road Trip
Mercedes-Benz GL Class

Sometimes the whole family just needs to take a trip together. It used to be that hordes of soccer moms would pack up minivans full of kids and head off, but times have changed. The classic minivan has given way to the crossover design, which combines the family-hauling capabilities of a van with the comfort and style of an SUV.

The Mercedes(DAI) crossovers were designed to compete with other full-sized luxury minivan replacements from the likes of Lincoln and Cadillac, and the GL class proves the folks at Mercedes knew what they were doing.

	Mercedes GL Class

All three GL models (the 450, 550 and upcoming 320 diesel) have three rows to comfortable sit a family of seven, but Mercedes designed the auto on a sturdy single frame instead of the traditional truck-like SUV frame.

Best Help in a Crowded City
Mini Cooper S

For the daily driver trying to make it around in the big city, there can be no substitute for the instantly recognizable Mini. The Cooper S at its heart is a go-kart for adults, and you've likely never had as much fun driving through traffic as you'll have in the Mini. You'll be sacrificing spaciousness for convenience, but when weaving through urban congestion you won't mind giving up that SUV.

	Mini Cooper

The Mini's ultra-low design, stiff suspension and lack of any real weight mean everything from cornering to braking is incredibly quick and fun. Beating Hummer-wielding commuters to the last parking space is just icing on the cake.

Best Way to Spend Your Lottery Winnings
Aston Martin V8 Vantage

If an Aston is good enough for James Bond, it's more than good enough for the wealthy driver who wants to be seen.

More of a driver's car than the equally extravagant Rolls Royce or Maybach lines, the Vantage is a true exotic supercar steeped in tradition with a six-figure price tag to match. The sleek and sporty exterior is good camouflage for the inside, which is pure English luxury from the full-grain leather seats to navigation systems and high-end audio.

If you're going to pony up the cash, skip the Coupe and go the extra mile for the Roadster model, which will allow you to drop the top while you turn heads on the highway.

Best Way to Get off the Beaten Path
Toyota Land Cruiser

For the better part of a half-century, the Toyota Land Cruiser has been tearing up earth in the furthest reaches of the off-road world. So it should come as no surprise that any aspiring adventurer should look no further than the 2008 offering of the classic truck.

	Toyota Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser looks more like a high-end SUV than a mud-conquering machine, and it's priced like one as well. With a base price of $63,000 it may be out of the range of many recreational off-roaders, but for those willing to splurge a bit it is a dream.

The V8 engine produces over 380 horsepower to get through even the toughest parts of the jungle, and a dynamic suspension system can automatically adjust for better traction in mud or rock.