Cars.com Offers Picks for the Best Tailgating Vehicles
August 29 2006 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
CHICAGO, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- With the 2006 football season
about to kick off, Cars.com has put together a Fantasy Tailgating
Team of the best vehicles to get you, your gear and your buddies to
the game. From a list of more than 75 contenders, Cars.com experts
picked winners in eight categories. Quarterback: The quarterback of
Cars.com's '06 Fantasy Tailgating Team is the all-around top pick,
and it had to show talent across the board: smart features, plenty
of cargo room, a decent stereo, comfortable seats, towing capacity
and a mess-friendly cabin. This year's winner: -- 2006 Honda
Ridgeline - Not as big as domestic full-size pickups -- but no
small fry, either -- Honda's refined Ridgeline crew cab pickup is
the perfect vehicle for your tailgate party. Nothing else on the
road features a watertight, drainable in-bed trunk that's this
large. It effectively doubles as a cooler; add that to the
composite cargo box with an optional locking cover, and there's
sure to be plenty of room for all the essentials. Offensive Line:
These picks have waist-high cargo beds that endure rain, hail and
unsecured Weber grills, yet they're always ready for next weekend.
-- 2006 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid - It doesn't make much of a
hybrid, but if you want to power a high-draw appliance, like an
electric grill, this is your sole choice. The Silverado has four
120-volt power outlets located under the rear seat and in the
pickup bed. The only drawback is the engine has to be running. --
2007 Chevrolet Avalanche - The Avalanche has tons of functionality
-- like an extendable cargo bed and self-draining storage boxes --
and it can seat up to six. Running Backs: These picks have zippy
handling and small dimensions to help secure that prime parking
spot, and their high gas mileage leaves you more cash for food and
drinks. Massive cargo dimensions and earth-shaking sound systems
aren't as important as innovative storage solutions and a cool
stereo. -- 2007 Dodge Caliber - This is a good new hatchback with a
stain- resistant cargo area and a liftgate that can shield you from
rain and sun. But the real tricks for tailgating include an
optional stereo speaker module that swings down from the liftgate
to aim backward, and a "Chill Zone" glove compartment that cools up
to four cans or bottles. -- 2007 Honda Fit - Despite its small
size, the fuel-thrifty Fit can accept some very big cargo thanks to
its flexible interior. If you need to take a break from the party,
fully recline the front seatbacks and kick back, or hook up your
iPod to the Fit's sound system with an available adapter. -- 2006
Mazda3 - The Mazda3 is quick enough to snag that elusive parking
spot -- and probably fit in it, too. The added utility of the
hatchback matches that of the other two running backs. Wide
Receivers: These vehicles can catch lots of cargo, people and more
cargo -- and they come through with plenty of seating, storage and
entertainment features sure to delight tailgaters. -- 2006 Dodge
Grand Caravan - The third-row seat flips backward for comfortable
bumper seating. When your pals are sitting on coolers, this is one
bench you won't mind warming. The Grand Caravan isn't the only
model with this feature, but it's the largest and best overall. --
2006 Ford Freestar - Like the Grand Caravan, the Ford Freestar's
third- row seat can rotate rearward for tailgate seating. There's
room for seven inside, and an optional DVD entertainment system can
keep the littlest of tailgaters occupied before the game. -- 2006
Mercedes-Benz R500 - If you want the ultimate comfort machine for a
lot of people, you can't beat the R-Class. Yes, it's just a gussied
up minivan -- so think of it as the Terrell Owens of its class.
Tight Ends: These vehicles have a good mix of cabin space and
scuff- friendly surfaces, and, because of their size, they can also
be easily parked. -- 2006 Honda Element - Don't worry about the
mess. The Element's floor and seats wipe clean. The combination
liftgate/tailgate provides sheltered seating, and the side door
opening is nice and wide for easy loading and unloading. Its floor,
which is 5.5 feet long when the rear seats are swung up and stowed,
can also provide a respite for those who have tailgated too much.
Plus, the Element is available with all-wheel drive, which should
make trips to playoff games in Green Bay a little less
hair-raising. -- 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser - The FJ is like a Swiss
army knife: It has a great stereo, suicide doors so five people can
travel to the game in relative comfort, and an easy-to-clean rear
cargo area that is deceptively large. It's also a serious
off-roader. Plus, if you pick one with a bright blue or yellow
paint job, all your buddies will be able to find you in the crowded
parking lot. The Defensive Line: These picks have monstrous
proportions that allow tailgaters to block the stadium view for the
poor saps nearby. -- 2007 Chevrolet Suburban - If you want to bring
nine revelers and provisions, you have to go extended. The Suburban
represents decades of refinement, and it shows in this new,
higher-mileage SUV. -- 2007 Ford Expedition EL - The Expedition is
comparable to the Suburban in most ways and allows tailgaters to
carry prodigious amounts of cargo and people. And it's got to be
better than a GM car for Detroit Lions fans who tailgate at Ford
Field. The Owner's Box: Tailgating potential exists, but the
primary point of this vehicle is to coddle occupants in luxury
before, during and after the party. -- 2006 Land Rover Range Rover
- The Range Rover has the classiest interior of any SUV, with
efficient, pollen-filtered air conditioning to isolate you from the
surrounding odors. If a blizzard hits, you'll be one of the
vehicles that can escape, without exposing yourself to that messy
snow. -- 2007 Cadillac Escalade - Late in the season, when
tailgating conditions can deteriorate, Cadillac's Escalade comes
through with standard front and rear heated leather seats and an
available heated steering wheel to keep things cozy. And with the
Escalade's standout styling and available 22-inch wheels, you might
even be mistaken for one of the players. Rookie of the Year: The
Cars.com rookie of the year is an all-new or redesigned model that
may not have all it takes to be quarterback, but is still a
legitimate tailgating option. -- 2007 Dodge Caliber Sometimes a
single feature drives a model into the end zone. For the Caliber,
it's the optional rearward-facing stereo speakers in the liftgate.
About Cars.com Partnered with more than 200 leading metro
newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com is the
most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a
new or used car. The site lists more than 1.8 million vehicles from
12,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties
to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online,
as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping
experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web
site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search
tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo
galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original
editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers
connect with sellers each month. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is
a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, (
http://classifiedventures.com/ ), which is owned by leading media
companies, including Belo (NYSE:BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI),
The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and
The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). DATASOURCE: Cars.com
CONTACT: Steve Nolan, Public Relations Manager, of Cars.com,
+1-312-601-5163 (direct), +1-630-310-2468 (mobile), Web site:
http://www.cars.com/ http://classifiedventures.com/
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