Autoblog

Research International USA's TRU branch has polled the youth of our country and discovered that they'd like a fun, stylish car more than anything (duh) -- namely the Mustang. Twenty-somethings posed the same question picked the Honda Civic above all else, mainly because they've had a dose of reality, and are now paying their own insurance and fuel.

So what exactly does this study say? As you mature, your experience leads to more practical decision making, perhaps? That there's a whole subset of spoiled brat high schoolers who have their insurance and fuel paid for and also expect that being handed the keys to a 3,500 pound wheeled liability is a birthright? Probably a bit of both, we suppose, but the fact remains that the Mustang is a flashy, fun car that even non-car people could point out in a crowd and undoubtedly has decent youth appeal.

The rest of the teens choices weren't earth shattering. Besides the Mustang, the cars that young drivers most desire are posted below the fold.

[Source: KickingTires]

Click above for a high-res gallery of us having fun in the Fun Cup

Our normal definition of "fun" doesn't involve making a last-minute trek across the soul-sucking expanse of I-5 in California... twice... in less than 12 hours... through a monsoon. But in our illusive pursuit of fun, that's exactly what we did to get some seat time in a Fun Cup car: a tube-framed, mid-engine, FRP-bodied track car that could be the next big thing in amateur racing.

About.com has its list of the top 10 fuel efficient cars you'd actually want to, you know, drive -- maybe even be seen driving. It should really be the top 9 cars, because the Acura RSX isn't made any more, and sadly, there are no domestics on it. For that, you have to go to this list, which includes the Ford Focus -- (when did the Focus stop being fun to drive?). And while we're happy about a list of frugal fun that includes the Porsche Boxster, um, when did 24.5 mpg combined start qualifying as frugal?

[Source: About.com]

It's no newsflash that Jeeps are fun, and that's the new angle the brand is taking to move iron at a pace faster than crawling the Rubicon. Jeep's most recent figures show a 15-percent gain in June from last year, so it's not like they're sitting on their thumbs, but Jeep's been listening to feedback from their often-rabid owner base, and the new tag line will read thusly: "Have fun out there. Jeep." Previous advertising campaigns have pointed up the exclusive club you join by being a Jeeper. "There's Only One," and "Only In A Jeep" send the message that Jeeps can do things that no other vehicle can do (besides, perhaps, Land Rovers, Hummer H1s, maybe even a gingerly piloted H2.) We tend to agree that no other vehicle offers the capability of a Wrangler for the money, nor the vast and supportive owner and fan base. Never before has Jeep offered so many models at one time than now, with their seven different flavors. There's the format that started it all, in the form of the Wrangler, and the line has been fleshed out to include larger and more luxurious models as well as smaller entry-level Jeeps.

Forget loading your trunk with 2 x 4s and sand bags, the AutoSock has you covered this winter. Scheduled to debut at the Specialty Equipment Marketers Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas this November, the AutoSock is composed of high-tech fabric that wraps around the tires of two drive wheels, giving drivers the traction they need to pull themselves out of snow and ice should they become stuck. It's good up until you hit 30 mph, so don't plan on any high speed runs while wearing your AutoSocks.

The AutoSock has proven itself in Europe already too, nabbing the prestigious International Grand Prix for technical innovation at Equip Auto 2005. The award was determined by an international jury consisting of 75 journalists from 21 countries, according to AutoSock. The pricing also seems pretty reasonable - $79 - $99 depending on the size of the tire.

[Source: Sports Car Market Magazine]