By Jordan Zucker ’16, Feature Columnist

Since arriving at Newark Academy in sixth grade, I have not once seen an article in the newspaper exclusively written about cars.  Sure, there may have been one about a dainty Prius here, or the Tesla Model S there, but there were never  any articles about “real” cars.  I realized in eighth grade or so that I had a voracious appetite for any kind of news from the automotive industry, and I began to think about the possibilities of writing for the school newspaper.  I knew that the school newspaper never really focused on cars that people would actually want to drive, or invest their time even looking at.  It was this gap in the newspaper that drew me to what I am doing today: giving news about cars, and my personal thoughts and opinions on them.

I am different because of the fact that I consider myself an automotive enthusiast.  You may ask, “But how can you be an enthusiast? You don’t even have your license!”  You are right.  I do not actually possess a permit.  But what draws me to cars is the sounds, sights, smells, and raw emotion that is associated with them.  Let me explain.  If you look at the car in the upper right hand corner, some could easily identify it as an Aston Martin, made famous by the “James Bond” movies.  This 1966 Aston Martin DB6 is a British classic, worth around $450,000 in the condition it is in, and could sell for higher if placed on an auction block.  The reason this car is valued at such an astronomical value is its alluring proportions, from the flared headlights, to the uncluttered body lines, all the way to the vertically stacked tail lamps.  Under the hood of this gorgeous machine, is a 325 horsepower inline-6.  Inline-6’s are regarded to be incredibly smooth engines, and have been used in cars since 1903, when Spyker Automotive built their “60hp” racecar.  When you combine the factors of a smooth but potent engine, lovely exterior styling, and an interior furnished in hand-stitched leather and wood accents, you begin to see the appeal of the enthusiast’s cars.  At Newark Academy, I have met a solemn few who have been inspired by machines like the Aston to purchase something along the performance lines.  What draws these students to performance cars is largely the same as what attracted people to the DB6 that went on sale almost 50 years ago: the passion of driving a car designed to be pushed to the limit by the driver.

A question can then be asked, “What relevance does this have in my life as a 17 or 18 year old driver?”

Many kids today at Newark Academy take the bus home, or carpool, but there are some who can drive a parent’s car to and from school everyday.  Then, there are the select few who have the privilege of owning a personal vehicle, all to themselves.  When parents are looking for a teenager’s first car, the top priority is safety, and any kind of technology to keep their child away from an accident.  This simple chart could help you decide what car YOU as a driver, might actually look forward to driving.

Boring	Fun to Drive
Why not to buy?: Parents generally buy either a Toyota Camry, or a Honda Accord, both of which have enjoyed wild success since their introductions in the 1970’s.  One thing that both of these cars lack is what is called “driving feel”, a term given to the amount of feedback a driver receives from the steering wheel of their vehicle, and how closely the steering inputs link to the front wheels.  The Accord and especially the Camry have a “poor” driving feel, as stated by Motor Trend and Car and Driver Magazine. The Camry and Accord are generally first car candidates because they are reliable, as well as being inexpensive and easy to maintain due to an abundance of parts.	Why buy?: Two good options for a first car, in terms of both safety and performance, could be the new Mazda 3 and 6. The new Mazda 3 comes in a hatchback (5-door) or a sedan (4-door), with highway fuel economy estimates pegged at around 40 miles per gallon. The Mazda 6 is a larger 4-door “family” sedan, but still achieves the same 40mpg number. The Mazda brand is one of the few automakers in the country that produces cheaper, reliable, safe, and performance-oriented cars, which are consistently reviewed with high marks from automotive magazines. Car and Driver Magazine listed the new Mazda 3 in its “10 Best” list, and the Mazda 6 garnered an IIHS top safety pick rating. Mazda also enjoys a reputation for some of the best resale values for used cars in the country, with some used cars selling for new car prices, according to Kelley Blue Book. For anyone looking to jump into a first car with some performance-oriented driving characteristics, I would strongly recommend Mazda as a brand to look into.