CollegeBound Teen Magazine Online - Summer 2003 - Hitting (or Missing?) the Open Road

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Hitting (or Missing?) the Open Road

by Andrea Boyarsky

So you finally turned 17? Of course, the first thing you want to do is drive! Then again, you need a car -- and to get that, you need to convince good ol' mom and dad you're ready to hit the open road.

Before driving yourself into a ditch, listen to what Kelley Blue Book has to say (it's the "Bible" for buying new and used cars).

1. As much as you may hate it in school, do your homework on a car before your purchase. You don't want to get stuck with one that looks pretty on the outside, but is a lemon on the inside!

2. Make sure the car will keep you safe -- check its vehicle ratings on www.kbb.com. You can also check crash test results and rollover ratings, as well as the IntelliChoice Five-Year Cost-of-Ownership, which will give you the lowdown on how much your car will cost you after five years.

3. If you're considering purchasing a used car -- and "used" does not necessarily mean a tin can with wheels -- get it checked out by a service shop. The next step, if it's to be purchased from a private owner, is to print the private-party value from www.kbb.com and Kelley Blue Book's 27-point vehicle condition quiz. This will help determine the true condition and value of the car.

4. Never buy a car without giving it a test-drive first. See how well it handles, and make sure mom or dad tries it out, too. If they aren't feelin' it, you won't either. Trust your 'rents on this one -- even though you may absolutely love the car, the truth is, they do know better than you do when it comes to driving.

Heading for a Collision?

Okay, so you've passed your road test and are making your way onto the open road. Your music is blasting, you're in a 45 zone going 70, your best friend's sitting next to you, and your cell ringing -- life doesn't get much better. Until you hear this...

About 40,000 people are killed annually on U.S. roads, and 26 percent of them are teens, according to DuPont, the experts on car safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This makes car crashes the number-one killer of America's future, which is why DuPont is offering tips from Jeff Gordon, one of its hottest racecar drivers, on how to stay safe. Gordon puts it simply: Buckle up and don't tailgate -- it may sound like common knowledge, but by the looks of statistics, it's not.

DuPont also shows how technology works for us. Did you know seat belts save almost 10,000 lives per year? Consider that fact the next time you decide whether or not it's in style to buckle up. If you really want to be a winner, register and enter to win DuPont's Get Real and Win! sweepstakes. You could be the recipient of $500 cash, a $500 gift certificate to Amazon.com, an emergency car kit, and much more!

Next time you want to let loose the speed demon inside, just think about the statistics. If they don't scare ya', DuPont has stories of real-life kids who never thought it could happen to them -- until it did. Stay safe and follow the rules of the road, and you'll be the coolest kid around. For more info, visit www.dupontgetreal.com.

~ A.B.

Summer Special 2003

• The Great Adventure

• Hitting (Or Missing?) the Open Road

• Stay in the Mental Groove!