The weather is probably getting a little nicer where you live, soft spring breezes filter in through your windows, the first flowers are taking hold and beginning to bloom in your garden, while planning a summer vacation with the kids is probably less than two months away, but just because you pride yourself in being a responsible parent doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun behind the wheel.  Today, high-performance cars prove that it’s possible to not only drive a great car, but have some safe fun with the fam at the same time.

When choosing that fun car, remember that safe doesn’t necessarily have to mean “slow,” and that power, when coupled-up with all sorts of things – including the stability of an all-wheel drive - can incorporate a bit of excitement into even the dullest of daily errands.  Look, no matter what kind of driving you do, there are all sorts of vehicles which can meet your needs, as well as lot of great resources that parents can seek out when shopping for the perfect and fun – family ride.

• Talk to the Experts
Make certain your next vehicle purchase is highly regarded by independent organizations that test for safety and crash worthiness, like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also, look for manufacturers who are consistently listed on the IIHS’ “Top Safety Pick” lists.  A few automakers like Subaru, for example – are standouts for 2009 because they have at least one Top Safety Pick in every vehicle class in which they compete. The NHTSA awards 5-Star ratings to vehicles with the highest crash and rollover safety, so it really pays to do some research before you hit the dealerships.

• Consider Four Wheel Drive Vehicles
Don’t discard driving on all four wheels.  Take a look at a few four wheel drive vehicle selections.  In addition to good crash test ratings, note vehicles with full-time all-wheel drive and four-wheel disc brakes. These enhanced features, paired with a powerful engine, will actually contribute to safety and ensure that even simple acceleration into traffic or negotiating a tight freeway can be an awesome experience – all within the bounds of legal speed limits – and all while safely shuttling the kids around town.

• Power Points
There are also many vehicles with good ratings from the IIHS and the NHTSA which also offer powerful high-performance.  You might consider the Subaru Impreza WRX or the STI, the 2009 Nissan Rogue or the 2009 Toyota Matrix, a sharp little car with a lot of power, LATCH comes standard, and it scored 5 stars by the NHTSA in frontal driver, frontal passenger and side driver tests, and scored a 4 star safety rating in side rear passenger and rollover four wheel drive testing.  You might also want to consider the 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander, which scored extremely well in crash tests issued by the NHTSA and received 5 stars in frontal driver, frontal passenger, side driver and side rear passenger ratings.

To learn more about 5 Star Safety Ratings, click here to check out Safercar.gov.

Remember – Just because you’re a parent, doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to a little driving fun! 

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