Yes, I did say ‘Best Cars For Sticking It To The Man.’ That’s right, if you are sick to death at toiling under the weight of The System, then make your next purchase a conscientious one and use your cash to fight back! Okay, okay, my fellow proletariat, perhaps I am being a little melodramatic, but the essence of my argument is the same – if you’re busy occupying Wall Street, then these cars for New Yorker types will be a useful little read for you. Whether you want to spend less money on gas, purchase a car pool car, or find something that just looks like a big ol’ rebel car, he are my picks for you.
Top Pick in Best Cars for Sticking It To The Man: Volkswagen Beetle
Let’s just start with the fun little fact that Volkswagen literally means “The People’s Car,” and has thus branded itself the vehicle of the masses. Additionally, the VW Bug (and van!) has a long history of being on the sidelines for protests and marches, so it’s not shy to head into contested lands or the fields of Woodstock, NY alongside of you. Just check out vintage photos of the Summer of Love, and you’re sure to find plenty of VW bugs standing happily by.
Fortunately, the updated Volkswagen Beetle hangs on to its iconic shape, but gets itself into updated condition for the new millennium. There’s even a new Turbo trim, which boasts a 2.0L-turbocharged engine and a spoiler, and has gotten great reviews for its performance and fun drivability. As if the car wasn’t fun enough to begin with. So grab your Peter, Paul, and Mary album and head to the dealership to free your Beetle!
First Runner-Up in Best Cars for Sticking It To The Man: Nissan Leaf
So, maybe you wrote your honors thesis all about how our dependency on oil is slowly debilitating our country, and now you’d actually like to drive one of the best cars for New Yorkers – you know, the ones that don’t use the priciest gas in the country. Well, then the Nissan Leaf is going to be your prime pick, because this little electric-powered baby uses no gas at all. That’s right, none. You just put it to sleep at night with a plug, just like your cell phone, and in the morning it’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to go.
Not only will you no longer have to worry about fueling the country’s economic decline by buying gasoline, but you’ll also feel better knowing that your car won’t be releasing emissions[3] into the air and destroying what precious little of the ozone layer remains. And that should be enough of a “Take that!” to the man to last you a few years’ worth of feel good.
Second Runner-Up in Best Cars for Sticking It To The Man: GMC Yukon Hybrid
Sometimes the best cars for protestors are not even cars at all. Let’s just say that you happen to run an organic farm in Upstate and own several acres of land that needs to be lovingly tended to. You’re going to need a vehicle with some towing power, and doing that without wrecking the environment or your checkbook is going to call for a big rig like the GMC Yukon Hybrid. It’s a beast of an SUV, so you can fit all of your organic seeds and hand-tilling equipment in the back, not to mention tow the tractor out of a ditch, since your city self will probably need a few tries before you get it right. The Yukon Hybrid gets 20 MPG city/23 hwy, which puts it in the excellent performance area when stacked up against other SUV’s in its class. And the good news is that you have plenty of room for all of your closest friends, their picket signs and bottles of water on the way to your next march in Washington.
