On your way to a beach vacation? I asked Jody Victor to give us some more info on the best cars for the beach.
Jody Victor: This list from msn.com gives the 10 coolest vehicles to take to the shore this summer. Here's the last five.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Pickup Truck - A Bose sound system with eight speakers and a noise-cancellation system that blocks outside noise makes this the summertime party-mobile. Short surfboards fit easily into the bed of the pickup, and if you push down the truck's mid-gate and back seats, you can slide in a longboard - or even a sailboat. throw an air mattress in the truck bed and attach one of GMAC's Sport Tents and you have a luxury beach camper van. Leather seats have individual heating and cooling systems for when the beach bonfire either isn't doing its job or is doing it too well.
Hyundai Accent - The price tag is the draw here, pure and simple. The 2-door Accent is one of the least expensive cars on the market. For $9,970, you can get a zippy beach car without any bells and whistles - no car stereo, no air conditioning. Those may seem like big sacrifices, but think of all the money you'll save for more Coronas or even a beach-house rental. If you splurge on anything with this car, let it be a sunroof to amp up the fun factor. There's enough legroom in the back to bring a few friends to the beach - as long as they're not beach-volleyball-player tall.
Mayback 62 - Riding in the back of a Mayback 62 is like having a poolside lounge-chair butler - the reclining seats have leg and foot rests, and 10 mini fans located in the seat cushions work to keep you cool. Each passenger also has a personal climate-control system and window curtains. A gigantic electro-transparent glass roof lets in the sun's rays when you're in the mood to sunbathe; with the flip of a switch it goes opaque and you're in the shade. Fruity summer cocktails can be mixed and stored in the refrigerator in the back-seat console. If you're in this car, chances are you're not driving - many Mayback owners opt for chauffeurs.
MINI Cooper - MINI Coopers decorated with racing stripes or British flags are a dime a dozen. But a couple of years ago, MINI struck a deal with Original Wraps, a company that does colorful, artistic vinyl wraps - think dashboards covered in polka dots, car doors decorated with flames. One of the designs they came up with has a surf theme (palm trees, waves ans sun) and another depicts a giant breaching whale. These scenes transform the MINI from a peppy but stodgy British driving machine to as fun and beach-worthy a car as any you'll find zipping along California's Pacific coast Highway.
Porsche Boxster - Plush leather interior, the option of Bose surround sound with no fewer than 11 speakers serving a small 2-seater cockpit, and up to 320 horsepower make the Boxster the best pick for driving on twisting coastal roads. In fact, the cockpit is so plush you might not even want to get out when you get to your oceanside destination. A ventilation system in the seats evaporates moisture and seat on hot days, and if it's too steamy outside you can crank the air-conditioning and keep the top on; the car comes with the option of hardtop or soft.
Thanks, Jody! We'll be checking these out soon!