CarNerve

One of the biggest considerations in choosing a car for a young driver is safety (not to mention cheaper student car insurance). Here is a list of the safest cars for students (not ranked in any particular order).

1. Ford Focus
2. VW Passat
3. BMW 3 Series
4. Acura TL
5. Saab 9-3
6. Lexus IS
7. Subaru Liberty
8. Mazda 6
9. Honda CRV
10. Mitsubishi Nimbus
11. Subaru Forster
12. Mercedes C Class
13. Peugot 307
14. Chrysler Neon
15. Honda Fit
16. Audi A4
17. Toyota Corolla
18. Nissan Sentra
19. Mitsubishi Lancer
20. Mazda 3

While cheaper rates on car insurance are definitely a big plus when picking out a safe student car the biggest advantage to a safe car is of course still the fact that you can have some measure of confidence in the vehicle to get your loved one home safely and in one piece.

A few days ago the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its annual list of the safest passenger vehicles. While most of the names on the list are not surprising, there was one car company conspicuously missing: Toyota.

Ford and its Volvo subsidiary topped the list with six vehicles rated as a “Top Safety Pick.” Subaru and Volkswagon each had five top picks while Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy with four safety picks.

On last year’s list, Toyota and its Lexus and Scion subsidiaries dominated. This year, however, the insurance institute included a test to measure a vehicle’s roof strength in the event of a rollover. This requirement not only bumped Toyota off the list, but also dropped the total number of Top Safety Picks from 94 in 2008 to 27 this tear.

The insurance institute conferred a Top Safety Pick award on those vehicles that scored a Good rating in tests of front, side, rear and rollover protection. The vehicle also must be equipped with electronic stability control.

Here is the full list of Top Safety Picks:

Large cars:
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80

Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu (built after October 2009)
Chrysler Sebring 4-door with electronic stability control
Dodge Avenger with electronic stability control
Mercedes C class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30

Small cars
Honda Civic four-door (except Si), with electronic stability control
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza (except WRX)
Volkswagen Golf four-door

Midsize S.U.V.’s
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Small S.U.V.’s
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot with side torso air bags
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

New vehicle sales plunged in September, following two busy months of car buying thanks to the government’s cash-for-clunkers program. Now that the federal buyback program has ended, most automakers experienced a double-digit decline in sales as compared to a year ago.

General Motors announced its sales dropped 45 percent, and Chrysler reported a 42 percent decline from September a year ago. Ford fared a bit better with car sales declining only 5 percent from September 2008. However, Ford did register a 5 percent uptick in sales for the entire 3rd quarter, the company’s first quarterly increase in four years.

Overseas automakers were also hard hit in September. Sales dipped 20 percent at Honda, 7 percent at Nissan, and 13 percent at Toyota.

Korean carmaker Hyundai was the lone bright spot in the industry. Hyundai said its sales rose 27 percent in September. Due to its low priced cars, the automaker has been gaining sales momentum throughout the recession.

The federal cash-for-clunkers program generated almost 700,000 sales in July and August, bolstering carmakers. The program provided up to $4,500 in credits to consumers who traded in an older, inefficient vehicle and bought a new one with better gas mileage.

I’ve always loved Mini Coopers. For a small car they have a lot of attitude and just look like they would be fun to drive. Now there’s a company that makes custom wraps for your Mini to make it even cooler.

Mini Motoring Graphics, which is a partnership between MINI and Colorado-based Original Wraps, creates durable vinyl wraps for all models of Mini Cooper. They have badges, side panel wraps, roof graphics, and stripes. In fact, Mini Motoring Graphics has so many options they claim there are 5 million possible combinations of art.

You can even create your own one-of-a-kind wrap to promote a brand or just for your own self-expression. The possibilities are endless. The wraps are removable, photo-quality, and protect the vehicle from nicks and scratches.

Best of all, most of the wraps are actually affordable, ranging in price from $9.99 to $349, although a custom design will set you back more. You can check out the full line of wraps at Mini Motoring Graphics.

[via Trendhunter]