You'd think with the heavy concentration of gift-giving holidays still clear in our memories, we'd have little need for yet another occasion to showcase our affinity for that special someone. The cynics among us consider Valentine's Day to be the most blatant of the so-called Hallmark holidays, while others view February 14th as a perfectly timed reminder of warm feelings during winter’s cold months. The latter may long for something as simple as a card or kind gesture, while others are more about the gifts. Regardless of which side your better half falls on, know that celebrating the day with nothing more than a smile will come back to haunt you. Trust us, we’ve been there.
Combining our car-geek mentality with a desire to keep you off the couch for the next several weeks, we’ve compiled this list of "Top 10 Cars for Your Valentine." To make our selections relevant for as many readers as possible, we’ve chosen vehicles based on five price points: up to $15,000; $15,001-$24,999; $25,000-$34,999; $35,000-$44,999; and $45,000 and above.
But we didn't stop there. Typically, folks think of the female side of a relationship on Valentine’s Day. But who said that guys can't receive gifts, too? And if you're talking about doling out cars, well, let’s just say that those of us with a Y chromosome have always found Valentine’s Day to be seriously underrated.
Think Valentine's Day gifts for her, and your mind might start envisioning chocolates, flowers, or any variety of items that are not appropriate for discussion here. Chances are you won’t be picturing a 2010 Toyota Yaris or 2010 Hyundai Accent. Those cars will allow your special lady to take a few of her friends out for a night on the town, will let her save more of her money at the pump, and will ensure any major repairs will be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty for several years.
But if she needs something in the sub-$15,000 field that delivers at least a splash of sex appeal, hop down to your local dealer and check out the 2010 Kia Forte (view photos) sedan. No, it’s not the hottest four-door to ever hit the street, but the Forte does provide style that belies its $13,695 sticker; a price that also includes an iPod jack, Sirius satellite radio, and six airbags.
He did say he'd like a garage full of Suzukis someday. Granted, he may have been referring to the brand's ATVs and motorcycles, but those machines won't carry a child seat. Worse yet, they'll lead to countless weekends away with the boys. No, with the 2010 Suzuki SX4 sedan he'll get something with that beloved "S" badge to park in the garage, and you’ll have someone to drive you to the craft store or Pilates class on Saturdays. Better yet, Suzuki's long warranty means he won't be spending all his money on repairs. And thanks to his new ride, your days of meeting the valet in an '82 El Camino are over. For that fact alone, handing him the keys to a new 2010 Suzuki SX4 (view photos) sedan might be well worth the $13,359 starting price.
