5 Good Cars for Tailgating
It's football season and that means the timeless American tradition of tailgating is in full swing. Here are five vehicles that would be good choices for tailgating. I sampled a wide selection of price ranges and decided that each should either have a tailgate or liftgate. Enjoy.
1) Honda Ridgeline: Honda's pickup hasn't been a success to say the least, but for tailgating, it doesn't get much better than the Ridgeline. Let's start with the tailgate itself, which drops down in a traditional manner and swings out RAV4 style. There's a lockable bin with a drain at the bottom that can be filled with ice. No cooler necessary.
2) Ford Flex: It's got a refrigerator built in for Pete's sake. It's got a house-style electrical plug. It's a got an entertainment system to watch a DVD of Super Bowl XLI. It's got a flat cargo floor over the folded third row. It looks way cooler than that guy's Explorer or that dude's Caravan.
3) Toyota 4Runner: This all-new model has a Party button. If that doesn't put it on this list, I don't know what does. Press the Party button and the stereo gets shunted to the trunk area, allowing you to divert AC/DC to the speakers that need it most. There's also a sliding trunk tray that makes loading and unloading 28 pounds of brisket and a 30 pack of Bud that much easier.
4) Honda Fit: For the budget tailgater, the Fit's an excellent pick because of its versatile interior. Drop the second row seats and you could stuff an entire Broil King in there if you wanted. Just because you don't own an SUV or truck, doesn't mean you can't tailgate.
5) Dodge Sprinter: It's -70 at Lambeau. It's 126 at Sun Devil. You're a hearty sort, but maybe some of your buddies don't dig tailgating when the weather outside is frightful. Well, why not bring along a vehicle big enough to double as your own personal mobile sports bar. It's big enough to walk around upright, install a couch, erect a table, carry a fridge and keep everyone toasty/icy with its climate control system. Best of all, think of all the Fat Heads you could stick to its sides. This is the ultimate fan choice.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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- James Riswick September 30, 2009, 3:00 AM
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- Car Buying, Ford, Honda, Toyota
What about Dodge Ram with Ram/Beer Box?
Dodge Sprinter? As long as we're including commercial vehicles, why not a Greyhound bus?
My '02 Odyssey's third-row bench seat flips backwards to face outward, allowing tailgaters to sit in supreme comfort while being shaded by the rear hatch.