Mother's Day Vehicle Gift Guide

LASplash.com: Vehicles

Mother's Day Vehicle Gift Guide

By Splash Magazine Staff

2007 Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Outlander

This Mother's Day treat mom to the ultimate gift a new vehicle packed with technology sure to make her the coolest girl on the block! The all-new 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander is part of the crossover segment and comes equipped with the following hi-tech tools: a 30 GB HDD Navigation System, Music Server and DVD; outstanding safety features like an advanced dual front air bag supplemental restraint system with occupant sensors, standard front seat-mounted side-impact air bags and side curtain air bags; best-in-class 650 Watt Rockford-Fosgate Sound System; Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone Interface; FAST Keyless Entry. The 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander models are powered exclusively by a new 3.0-liter 220-hp aluminum MIVEC V-6 engine teamed to a six-speed Sportronic® automatic transmission (with magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters in XLS models). It will be the first PZEV-certified V-6 SUV offered in the U.S. The new Outlander is on sale in dealer showrooms now! www.mitsubishicars.com

2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

The all-new 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is a high performance vehicle that will make mom feel like a star! The Spyder features a 650-watt Rockford-Fosgate Premium Audio system with PUNCH® control and a six-disc, in-dash CD changer that can play MP3 CDs. The vehicle's automatic cloth top folds completely out of sight under a flush-fitting powered tonneau cover in about 19 seconds. The top's advanced multi-layer construction provides a full head liner and glass rear window for the quiet, snug interior feeling of a coupe when it is raised. Complete with an advanced airbag safety system, the Spyder combines exotic-looking interior design with long-distance comfort and safety. www.mitsubishicars.com

2007 Audi A3 S-line

Audi A3 Sportline

It'll keep you very safe courtesy of its ABS, two-stage airbags up front with seat-mounted secondary protection and curtain bags. It'll make you feel safe as well as snug in those supportive bucket seats that hold you tight in corners so you can concentrate just a bit more on that gorgeous sound emanating from the Bose soundsystem - which boasts two memory card or mp3 player hookups. Why doesn't every new car have this? For good measure it included satellite radio package.

Gas is reasonable at 23 and 32 town and highway, depending on your lightness of right foot - and all the dibbings including the $2,200 S-line package - a great deal for the leather, rims and trim/spoiler - as well as $3,300 for the manual box and the car's $1,100 technology package - light and rain sensor, Xenon headlights etc - takes the car up to $34,610 all in.

2007 Volvo C-70 Convertible

Volvo C-70 Convertible

The C70 takes a massive step forward for a company that struggles every day to keep up with the Schmidts sited below them in Europe, in terms of prestige and luxury and driving experience and now in this latest guise appears to have given its latest line exactly what it needed: a good kick up the rear-end, which Italian styling house Pininfarina duly gave it.

To all intents the back view looks almost exactly the same as on the Mercedes CL600 coupe, though, and I dare to say it, the line it holds with the front-to-back swoop that joins the raised uppermost tips of headlights fore and aft looks sportier, flashier and yet more reserved all at once.

The Volvo C-70 was quick and smooth through its five-speed automatic (six-speed manual) box at 7.2 seconds to hit a mile a minute 15.9 seconds to hit the quarter mile courtesy of its 2.5-liter five-cylinder that pushes out 218 horses. It moved well through corners and tight bends it was amply stiff enough and took rutted blacktop adequately for it being a convertible.

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe

Hyundai Santa Fe

Inside is all natty leather and the dials light up by way of an attractive blue back-light, giving the cabin an appealing glow during the day and especially at night. The stereo sounds real good and it was a joy to open the power windows and blast out some tunes while letting in some fresh ocean air at Manhattan Beach.

It's roomy in the back and up front, with head room at 39.6 and 39.2 front and back respectively, and legroom at 41.6 and 36.8 fore and aft and you'll be able to fit five small children or four grown up (but still) children in the back with ease, alongside most cargos in the 30.5 cubic liters of capacity in the back. Back seats folded flat it'll hold 77.7 cubic liters.

Power is good through the 3.5-liter V6 engine (on the SE, 2.7 V6 on standard) and ride is real good through the sister-model Sonata platform, and it'll easily pull a small boat trailer or suchlike (when its four-wheel ABS may come in especially useful), but really these vehicles are built for convenience and for a package that appeals to most sectors.

2007 VW Eos

VW Eos

Start with the 3.2-liter dual-overhead cam V6 that pushes out an impressive 250hp and 235lbs-foot of torque at 2500rpm that jolts into life when you press the power pedal and continues that acceleration all the way to the high revs when needed. Then connect that with the finest in German precision engineering to the smoothest of smooth 6-speed automatic box with overdrive and tiptronic shifting and you're getting somewhere close to a rather magical experience. Finally add the sports package with all that leather and luxury inside - and climate control that regulates cabin temps with the roof up or down - and the 17-inch rims and sport trim that lines the whole VW range alongside the famous VW badge outside and you're just about there.

It'll take you 0-60mph in about 6.9 seconds, more than quick enough, and it'll give you all the oomph you need to accelerate your way out of trouble on freeways where you'll be in the shade of much bigger, bulkier cars.

Safety in convertibles is obviously of prime importance and it's always been one of VW's strongest points. Though NHTSA ratings are not yet available, the Eos boasts all the front, side and head bags to keep you snug alongside side-guard door beams, safety roll beams and a trunk anti-trap device.

2007 Ford Edge

Ford Edge

It's bold, with the new horizontal front grille that apes its stablemate Fusion - a splendid car that deserves much more respect (and sales) - and looks that keep it far from coming across as a modern-day stationwagon, minimizing its obvious bulk without becoming barrel or slab sided. It doesn't look bland or computer-generated and with those 18-inch rims looks suitably bad-boy without being unappealing to school-run moms. That imposing grille becomes vertical on the badge-engineered Lincoln MKX to fit in with the sister brand.

And it's a new direction, obviously Ford is tilting its rather large cap in Lexus' direction, aping its crossover RX range by becoming a lower-profile people-mover that drives like a sedan, on a chassis developed by Mazda for its 6 range, while keeping a high beltline and short wheel overhangs, pushing the wheels to the four corners.

When you consider the starting price of the base model at $27,000, the whole package starts to look attractive. And if you follow customer satisfaction ratings, the Edge tends to come in at just about 8 out of 10, with high ratings for its outstanding warranty.

CarMD System

Car MD

Ever find yourself 500 miles into a road trip, with the Check Engine light staring at you? Standing at a used car lot with a slick salesperson trying to sell you a lemon? Wondering if the quote your mechanic gave you is fair?

If you're a car owner, chances are you've had one or more of these experiences -- so forget the boring tie this year and give Mom something she'll actually use (not to mention, appreciate). CarMD is a revolutionary, automotive diagnostic tool that empowers drivers to take control of their vehicles health by...

1) Giving drivers a fast, convenient way to monitor their vehicle's health.

2) Combining an easy-to-use handheld gadget with an unprecedented online database to give consumers the information that, until now, only their mechanic had.

3) Offering many uses and benefits -- from checking out a used car before buying to determining why the Check Engine light is on, as well as providing probable causes and estimated repair costs.

CarMD is now available direct to consumers for $89.99 at www.CarMD.com or by calling 888.MyCarMD (888.692.2763).

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