user: News article: Pick the right car for every stage of life

No matter what your stage of life, there's an age-appropriate car for you. Or at least that's what we're being told.

But -- argh! -- how to choose? Well, the editors of Kelley Blue Book have culled what they think are the perfect cars for from teen-age to old age. From Pampers to Depends. From Red Bull to Metamucil. Hopefully, you get the idea.

"Let's face it, a road trip for a student will be a different animal than for someone in their retirement years," said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director.

Actually, KBB came up with 10 life stages, but here it's pared down to a manageable four. Here they are:

Student Years: 2012 Ford Focus. You're a student who longs for the open road. What to drive? Try the new Ford Focus. It looks cool, sports an upscale interior, rides and handles incredibly well and costs about the same as some of the more boring compact cars. For road trip duty we're inclined to suggest the five-door variant with extra cargo room, and not to be overlooked is highway fuel economy up to 38 miles per gallon (40 mpg for the sedan with SFE package). Remember students, the less you spend on your car, the more you can afford to drive to cool places. Class dismissed.

On the Prowl: 2011 Camaro convertible. It's Friday. You're young, you're hip and you're about to embark on a weekend road trip getaway with your closest friends, all hoping to meet someone special. But in order to be seen, you, like Rebecca Black, have a decision to make: Do you kick it in the front seat? Or do you sit in the back seat? If you're in the Camaro convertible, you can chill in either row and still grab the eye of the hottie in the next lane. And if you're behind the wheel of the 426-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8-enhanced Camaro SS, you can quickly chase down any car trying to play coy.

Young Family: 2011 Honda CR-V. When starting a new family, some tough decisions need to be made: Do we make the "man cave" the new baby room? Do we trade the IROC-Z for something more practical? Should we get rid of the cat? The Honda CR-V can't help with all the hard calls, but it deftly answers the transportation needs of any 2+1 family. Its high riding stance makes it easier to buckle in the baby, its fuel-efficient, 2.4-liter engine means fewer stops at the gas station and the available satellite-linked navigation can ensure smoothly guided trips to the nearest Disney property. And while it might not save the man cave -- or your precious kitty -- it will at least provide peace of mind for the budding new family.

The Golden Years: 2011 Toyota Avalon. Arthritis getting you down? Does every little bump in the road leave you reaching for the Flex-a-Min and Advil? The last thing you want on that road trip to visit the great-grandchildren is to be feeling stiff and achy from the expansion joints on the highway. The Toyota Avalon floats along the road, absorbing all of the potholes so you don't have to. In addition, it's easy to get into and out of, offers a massive trunk for luggage, and you can fit three full-size adults in back when you want to treat the whole family to an early-bird dinner special.

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