Company's Experts Pick Their Favorite 'Hot' Vehicles in Ten Separate
Categories
COSTA MESA, Calif., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The editors at NADAguides.com
(http://www.NADAguides.com), a leading vehicle information website, today announced
their Top Vehicles of Summer 2006 choices -- winning vehicles chosen by the
editorial experts at NADAguides.com as their own personal favorites in ten
separate categories. A top pick was announced for each vehicle category,
including favorite new car, truck and SUV, classic car, RV, boat, sailboat,
personal watercraft, motorcycle/scooter and ATV.
Following is the NADAguides.com Top Vehicles of Summer 2006 list.
Top New Car -- 2006 Mercedes Benz SL65 (MSRP: $185,775)
Mark Perleberg, Lead Auto Expert at NADAguides.com, says the 2006 Mercedes
Benz SL65 is THE hot new car this summer season. "This is a must-have luxury
sports coupe," said Perleberg, "with 604-horsepower wrapped in exquisite
styling. This is edgy power and luxurious driving under one roof." One of
Perleberg's favorite features? "The way this car transforms into a
convertible in just under 30 seconds -- talk about convenience!" Luxury
amenities include a Bose sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control,
leather seats and alloy wheels.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-a )
Top New Truck -- 2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10
(MSRP: $48,505 -- Regular Cab, $52,710 -- Quad Cab)
What has 500 HP, 525LB-FT of torque from an 8.3 liter V10 Viper engine,
with a six-speed manual transmission and Hurst shifter? If you guessed one of
the many sports cars on the market today, you'd be wrong. Believe it or not,
it's the 2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10 -- simply put, the fastest production truck on
the road today. It's easy to see why this stunner was Perleberg's top truck
pick for the 2006 summer season. "Not only is there an enormous amount of
power housed under a uniquely-styled hood, this truck rides great and looks
great. This is a truck-owner's paradise." A sport-tuned suspension and
heavy-duty antilock braking system help this mighty machine handle excellently
in a variety of driving conditions.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-b )
Top New SUV -- 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (MSRP: $112,415)
A Porsche SUV would have been unthinkable a few years back, yet in typical
Porsche fashion, the company's been able to design an instantly recognizable,
stand-out-from-the-crowd sport utility vehicle. If that's not enough, how
does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds sound? It sounded pretty good to Don Christy, Jr.,
President and CEO of NADAguides.com, who loved this vehicle and made it his
top SUV pick for the 2006 summer season. "Horsepower rules and this SUV has
521," said Christy. "This is a land rocket in disguise. With a tap of your
right toe, this SUV slams you back into the driver's seat with amazing force.
This beast is a little pricey but I would sure like to take her for a test
drive -- maybe the Baja 1000?" The Cayenne Turbo S seats five, plus some
gear, and gets almost 15 MPG.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-c )
Top Classic Car -- 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 ($225,000 - $275,000)
The Boss 429 was one of the most rare Mustangs ever made. With only 859
manufactured -- two of which were installed in a Cougar chassis -- and a base
MSRP of only $3,826, it's easy to see why this beauty was the top classic car
pick of Steve Ferguson, Classic Car Editor at NADAguides.com. "Not only is
this a desirable collector car, this is the creme de la creme in a hot, hot,
hot muscle car market," said Ferguson. "If you can find one for sale, and if
you can afford one considering today's skyrocketing prices, I would buy it and
fast. This is a true slice of Americana and I would personally love to own
one myself."
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-d )
Top RV -- 2006 Winnebago Vectra 40 FD (Base MSRP: $245,917)
It's difficult to imagine a luxurious, larger-than-life RV easing
gracefully into crowded city streets, but the Winnebago Vectra 40 FD, with its
400HP Cummins ISL engine and touch pad six-speed transmission, makes driving
effortless whether you're navigating a nail biting Fifth Avenue or a
gently-winding Appalachian Mountain pass. And when you take a peek inside
this massive beauty, it's easy to see why the Vectra was this year's top
NADAguides.com RV pick for the 2006 summer season. "This is truly an
entertainer's delight," said Lenny Sims, Vice President of Operations at
NADAguides.com. "If you want to impress, the Vectra is the only way to go.
With spacious accommodations, a gorgeous electric fireplace, four slide-out
rooms, and a 30" flat screen TV in the entertainment center, this is more than
your standard RV -- this is a five star resort on wheels." Other top-notch
features include an ultra efficient Residential Central Air Condition system
mounted in the basement (to prevent sidewall streaking while operating quieter
than a traditional roof mount system), a six month subscription to Sirius
Radio with over 100 channels of radio programming no matter where you go in
the U.S., and, as previously mentioned, four slide-outs -- two slides in the
bedroom and two slides in the dining/lounge area.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-e )
Top Boat -- 2006 Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider (Base MSRP: $39,926)
If you're a water lover, then you'll love the NADAguides.com top boat pick
for the 2006 summer season. Judy Applegate, Marine Editor at NADAguides.com,
says her favorite pick this year is the 2006 Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider.
"Not only is this a great looking boat, it's roomy enough for 12 people," said
Applegate. "It's the little luxuries that caught my eye -- from the stylish
helm with attractive gauges and molded footrests to my personal favorite, a
transom wakeboard storage trunk with built-in rumble seat. It's easy to see
why I was thoroughly impressed." In addition to a bow ladder (another of
Applegate's favorites), the Rinker boasts an enclosed head, a sink with
pressurized water system, more-than-ample storage space and 260 horsepower.
"The oversized sun lounger is perfect for those long, lazy days on the water,"
said Applegate.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-f )
Top Sailboat -- 2006 Hunter 31 (MSRP: $79,990)
"Part of my college thesis was based on Glenn Henderson's Henderson 30,"
said Troy Heidemann, Assistant Marine Editor at NADAguides.com, "so I know the
designer and I consider him to be one of the best." Henderson's latest
addition, the 2006 Hunter 31, was Heidemann's top sailboat pick for the
summer, with good reason. "This is a boat designed with simplicity,
performance and comfort in mind. This is a next-generation family sailboat.
Not only are the accommodations roomy and inviting, the boat has simple
systems which means less maintenance in the long run." The Hunter 31 replaces
the ever-popular Hunter 306 and, according to Heidemann, the 31 is poised to
become even more popular than the model it replaces. "Not only is the Hunter
31 a great value, it's some of Glenn Henderson's best work."
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-g )
Top Personal Watercraft -- 2006 Kawasaki STX-12F (MSRP: $7,999)
And it was a unanimous decision between Applegate and Heidemann when they
announced their favorite 2006 Top Personal Watercraft pick, the 2006 Kawasaki
STX-12F. "This Jet Ski provides comfort and leading-edge technology in a
stylish, well-designed package," said Heidemann. The comfort? The new,
two-piece seat that's roomy enough to fit three riders. The style? The
digital instrumentation, a fold-down rear-boarding step, a handy reverse
thruster and new colors. The technology? Kawasaki's Smart Learning Operation
(SLO) designed to assist riders in mastering correct riding techniques. "The
STX-12F offers everything you could possibly want in a personal watercraft,"
said Applegate. "The engine is strong enough to pull a wake boarder. Couple
this strength with excellent fuel economy and you've got yourself a powerful,
stylish and economical, thrill-a-minute water machine."
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-h )
Top Motorcycle/Scooter -- 2006 Yamaha Morphous (MSRP: $5,199)
The scooter market is more than hot right now, so when we went looking for
a winner in this category, we had plenty of beauties to choose from. One, in
particular, edged out the competition. According to Valerie Rangel,
Motorcycle Editor at NADAguides.com, the Yamaha Morphous is sporty, fun and
just plain cool -- an obvious winner. "I live in California with my daughter
so our riding season is basically year-round," said Rangel. "I love
everything about this bike. From its futuristic, ergonomic design to its
more-than-ample storage space to its lockable trunk, LED taillights and dual
turn signals, this scooter was made for fun-in-the-sun with chic design in
mind." The Morphous' 249cc double-overhead cam is a fuel-efficient power
plant and its lockable under seat storage areas and dual turn signals (for
added visibility) are just some of the 'added bonus' features. "I'd love to
hit Pacific Coast Highway on the back of a Morphous ... it's that cool."
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-i )
Top ATV -- 2006 Honda TRX 250 EX (Base MSRP: $3,699)
Ready to hit the sand dunes of Mexico? Perhaps the open trails of the
California high desert? How about the backwoods of Pennsylvania? According
to Alex Lezama, Assistant Motorcycle Editor at NADAguides.com, don't hit the
dirt unless you've got the Honda TRX 250 EX, one of the most powerful ATVs on
the market today. So why was the Honda his top pick? "The TRX is versatile
for all skill levels, responds powerfully in virtually any driving
environment, and consistently outperforms the competition in tight situations.
I like the sleek look of the TRX and I love its power." Added features
include an exclusive 'no-stall' Honda SportClutch, a five-speed transmission
with reverse capabilities, electric start and two color choices -- red and
black.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060403/LAM059-j )
If you're interested in learning about virtually every new and used
vehicle available on the market today, log onto http://www.NADAguides.com for more
information.
About NADAguides.com
N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides (NADAguides.com) is the world's largest
publisher of vehicle valuations and specification information for new and used
cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs, as well as van conversions, limousines, classic
and collectible cars, boats, RVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal
watercraft and manufactured housing. The company's consumer website,
NADAguides.com (http://www.NADAguides.com), offers a variety of new and used vehicle
services in addition to valuation information. The company's management team,
including 30-year vehicle industry veteran Don Christy, Jr., who serves as the
company's President and CEO, is one of the most experienced management teams
of any vehicle data publishing organization. Throughout its 73-year history,
N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides has earned the reputation as the recognized
authority for vehicle valuations. Its website, NADAguides.com, is the most
comprehensive vehicle information resource on the Internet today.
SOURCE NADAguides.com
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