2002 auto all-stars

Car, truck, SUV suit college budget

The new year brings about new operating systems, new resolutions and, of course, new automobiles. After seeing what the Washington Auto Show had to offer and visiting nearby dealerships, I made my picks for 2002. I selected a car, truck and SUV under $25,000 that a college student will be confident driving.

The truck of trucks in 2002 is the GMC Sonoma SLS with 4-wheel drive, three door extended cab and ZR2 Highlander suspension. A well-equipped Sonoma is a great truck for a reasonable amount of money. The Sonoma has a 1,540-pound payload and can tow 6,000 pounds. Its 4.3-liter Vortec V-6 engine produces 190 bhp (horsepower) and 250 lb-ft of torque with a manual 5-speed transmission.

The bad news regarding the Sonoma is gas mileage, averaging 15 miles per gallon in the city and 18 mpg on the highway.

From the outside, the truck has a tough, ominous appearance due to a high, 7.5-inch ground clearance and large 15-by-7-inch tires. The interior is pragmatically styled and it seats three passengers, with the aid of a folding jump seat in the extended cab.

List price for the Sonoma is decent at just over $20,000. Competitors worth investigation include the Ford Ranger, the Toyota Highlander (one of Car and Driver's Trucks of the Year) and the Dodge Dakota.

The 2002 SUV of the year is the new Jeep Liberty with 4-wheel drive. The Liberty comes in two styles; the Limited, which starts at $23,000, and the Sport, which starts at $18,000. The Liberty Limited comes with a 3.7-liter inline 6 SOHC engine (single overhead cam) that puts out 210 bhp and 235 lb-ft of torque to a 4-speed automatic transmission. The Liberty Sport comes with a 2.4-liter inline 4 DOHC engine (double overhead cam) with 150 bhp and 167 lb-ft of torque, and 5-speed standard transmission.

The Limited tows 5,000 pounds, while the Sport only pulls 2,000 pounds. The Limited comes with more features, but the Sport has better gas mileage (19 mpg city/23 mpg highway). Basically, the decision between the Limited and Sport comes down to how you would use the SUV — for off-road driving or to follow the trend.

"The Liberty has excellent off-road capability with good on-road drivability," said Deborah Maggio of Hartman Jeep in Harrisonburg.

Other SUVs to compare this model with include the Chevrolet Blazer, the Ford Explorer, the Isuzu Rodeo and the Mazda Tribute.

The car of 2002 is the Acura RSX Type S. This is also a new model for 2002, replacing the Integra. Car and Driver magazine named the RSX a "Car of the Year." Although the styling could be more seductive, the RSX has a sporty look.

The interior is more chic and sophisticated than the RSX's cousin, the Honda Prelude. The interior amenities include sporty, body-hugging leather seats, a silver instrument panel with red lights and a well designed, carbon-fiber-esque dash.

There are two back seats, which might fit people as long as they are contortionist clowns.

Although the Integra appealed more to the female crowd, the RSX Type S is racer-capable.

Now for the kicker — the Type S comes with a Bose in-dash CD changer, complete with a powered subwoofer sound system in the trunk.

The RSX Type S comes with a 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine (intelligent variable valve timing and lift electronic control).

The light body is moved by a rev-happy engine that supplies 200 bhp and 142 lb-ft of torque that power the front wheels.

In the city, it gets 24 mpg, and 31 mpg on the highway. The Type S rivals the Toyota Celica GT-S with a 6-speed manual transmission that is easier to use.
The car has 4-wheel disk brakes and impressive 16-inch wheels. This car is easy to drive and enjoyable, starting at $23,000. Drawbacks include a lack of trip-o-meter and a high revving engine with high gear ratios. This car definitely needs that sixth gear for highway driving.

Comparison shopping?
Consider the Toyota Celica GT-S, Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, Volkswagon GTI VR6 and Chevrolet Camaro Z28.

Remember, this list only includes cars under $25,000. I would have included my personal favorite, the 2002 BMW M3 convertible, but it costs a little more than what most college students can reasonably afford.

If money isn't a concern, then go with the Aston Martin Vanquish for a mere $225,000. Good luck finding the right car for you, JMU.