NADAguides.com Editors Announce Top Vehicles of Summer 2006

Company's Experts Pick Their Favorite 'Hot' Vehicles in Ten Separate Categories

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 3 -- The editors at NADAguides.com (www.NADAguides.com), a leading vehicle information website, today announced their Top Vehicles of Summer 2006 choices -- winning vehicles chosen by the editorial experts at NADAguides.com as their own personal favorites in ten separate categories. A top pick was announced for each vehicle category, including favorite new car, truck and SUV, classic car, RV, boat, sailboat, personal watercraft, motorcycle/scooter and ATV.

  Following is the NADAguides.com Top Vehicles of Summer 2006 list.

  Top New Car -- 2006 Mercedes Benz SL65  (MSRP: $185,775)

Mark Perleberg, Lead Auto Expert at NADAguides.com, says the 2006 Mercedes Benz SL65 is THE hot new car this summer season. "This is a must-have luxury sports coupe," said Perleberg, "with 604-horsepower wrapped in exquisite styling. This is edgy power and luxurious driving under one roof." One of Perleberg's favorite features? "The way this car transforms into a convertible in just under 30 seconds -- talk about convenience!" Luxury amenities include a Bose sound system, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seats and alloy wheels.

  

  Top New Truck -- 2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10
  (MSRP:  $48,505 -- Regular Cab, $52,710 -- Quad Cab)

What has 500 HP, 525LB-FT of torque from an 8.3 liter V10 Viper engine, with a six-speed manual transmission and Hurst shifter? If you guessed one of the many sports cars on the market today, you'd be wrong. Believe it or not, it's the 2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10 -- simply put, the fastest production truck on the road today. It's easy to see why this stunner was Perleberg's top truck pick for the 2006 summer season. "Not only is there an enormous amount of power housed under a uniquely-styled hood, this truck rides great and looks great. This is a truck-owner's paradise." A sport-tuned suspension and heavy-duty antilock braking system help this mighty machine handle excellently in a variety of driving conditions.

  

  Top New SUV -- 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (MSRP:  $112,415)

A Porsche SUV would have been unthinkable a few years back, yet in typical Porsche fashion, the company's been able to design an instantly recognizable, stand-out-from-the-crowd sport utility vehicle. If that's not enough, how does 0-60 in 4.8 seconds sound? It sounded pretty good to Don Christy, Jr., President and CEO of NADAguides.com, who loved this vehicle and made it his top SUV pick for the 2006 summer season. "Horsepower rules and this SUV has 521," said Christy. "This is a land rocket in disguise. With a tap of your right toe, this SUV slams you back into the driver's seat with amazing force. This beast is a little pricey but I would sure like to take her for a test drive -- maybe the Baja 1000?" The Cayenne Turbo S seats five, plus some gear, and gets almost 15 MPG.

  

  Top Classic Car -- 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 ($225,000 - $275,000)

The Boss 429 was one of the most rare Mustangs ever made. With only 859 manufactured -- two of which were installed in a Cougar chassis -- and a base MSRP of only $3,826, it's easy to see why this beauty was the top classic car pick of Steve Ferguson, Classic Car Editor at NADAguides.com. "Not only is this a desirable collector car, this is the creme de la creme in a hot, hot, hot muscle car market," said Ferguson. "If you can find one for sale, and if you can afford one considering today's skyrocketing prices, I would buy it and fast. This is a true slice of Americana and I would personally love to own one myself."

  

  Top RV -- 2006 Winnebago Vectra 40 FD (Base MSRP: $245,917)

It's difficult to imagine a luxurious, larger-than-life RV easing gracefully into crowded city streets, but the Winnebago Vectra 40 FD, with its 400HP Cummins ISL engine and touch pad six-speed transmission, makes driving effortless whether you're navigating a nail biting Fifth Avenue or a gently-winding Appalachian Mountain pass. And when you take a peek inside this massive beauty, it's easy to see why the Vectra was this year's top NADAguides.com RV pick for the 2006 summer season. "This is truly an entertainer's delight," said Lenny Sims, Vice President of Operations at NADAguides.com. "If you want to impress, the Vectra is the only way to go. With spacious accommodations, a gorgeous electric fireplace, four slide-out rooms, and a 30" flat screen TV in the entertainment center, this is more than your standard RV -- this is a five star resort on wheels." Other top-notch features include an ultra efficient Residential Central Air Condition system mounted in the basement (to prevent sidewall streaking while operating quieter than a traditional roof mount system), a six month subscription to Sirius Radio with over 100 channels of radio programming no matter where you go in the U.S., and, as previously mentioned, four slide-outs -- two slides in the bedroom and two slides in the dining/lounge area.

  

  Top Boat -- 2006 Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider (Base MSRP: $39,926)

If you're a water lover, then you'll love the NADAguides.com top boat pick for the 2006 summer season. Judy Applegate, Marine Editor at NADAguides.com, says her favorite pick this year is the 2006 Rinker 246 Captiva Bowrider. "Not only is this a great looking boat, it's roomy enough for 12 people," said Applegate. "It's the little luxuries that caught my eye -- from the stylish helm with attractive gauges and molded footrests to my personal favorite, a transom wakeboard storage trunk with built-in rumble seat. It's easy to see why I was thoroughly impressed." In addition to a bow ladder (another of Applegate's favorites), the Rinker boasts an enclosed head, a sink with pressurized water system, more-than-ample storage space and 260 horsepower. "The oversized sun lounger is perfect for those long, lazy days on the water," said Applegate.

  

  Top Sailboat -- 2006 Hunter 31 (MSRP: $79,990)

"Part of my college thesis was based on Glenn Henderson's Henderson 30," said Troy Heidemann, Assistant Marine Editor at NADAguides.com, "so I know the designer and I consider him to be one of the best." Henderson's latest addition, the 2006 Hunter 31, was Heidemann's top sailboat pick for the summer, with good reason. "This is a boat designed with simplicity, performance and comfort in mind. This is a next-generation family sailboat. Not only are the accommodations roomy and inviting, the boat has simple systems which means less maintenance in the long run." The Hunter 31 replaces the ever-popular Hunter 306 and, according to Heidemann, the 31 is poised to become even more popular than the model it replaces. "Not only is the Hunter 31 a great value, it's some of Glenn Henderson's best work."

  

  Top Personal Watercraft -- 2006 Kawasaki STX-12F (MSRP: $7,999)

And it was a unanimous decision between Applegate and Heidemann when they announced their favorite 2006 Top Personal Watercraft pick, the 2006 Kawasaki STX-12F. "This Jet Ski provides comfort and leading-edge technology in a stylish, well-designed package," said Heidemann. The comfort? The new, two-piece seat that's roomy enough to fit three riders. The style? The digital instrumentation, a fold-down rear-boarding step, a handy reverse thruster and new colors. The technology? Kawasaki's Smart Learning Operation (SLO) designed to assist riders in mastering correct riding techniques. "The STX-12F offers everything you could possibly want in a personal watercraft," said Applegate. "The engine is strong enough to pull a wake boarder. Couple this strength with excellent fuel economy and you've got yourself a powerful, stylish and economical, thrill-a-minute water machine."

  

  Top Motorcycle/Scooter -- 2006 Yamaha Morphous (MSRP: $5,199)

The scooter market is more than hot right now, so when we went looking for a winner in this category, we had plenty of beauties to choose from. One, in particular, edged out the competition. According to Valerie Rangel, Motorcycle Editor at NADAguides.com, the Yamaha Morphous is sporty, fun and just plain cool -- an obvious winner. "I live in California with my daughter so our riding season is basically year-round," said Rangel. "I love everything about this bike. From its futuristic, ergonomic design to its more-than-ample storage space to its lockable trunk, LED taillights and dual turn signals, this scooter was made for fun-in-the-sun with chic design in mind." The Morphous' 249cc double-overhead cam is a fuel-efficient power plant and its lockable under seat storage areas and dual turn signals (for added visibility) are just some of the 'added bonus' features. "I'd love to hit Pacific Coast Highway on the back of a Morphous ... it's that cool."

  

  Top ATV -- 2006 Honda TRX 250 EX (Base MSRP: $3,699)

Ready to hit the sand dunes of Mexico? Perhaps the open trails of the California high desert? How about the backwoods of Pennsylvania? According to Alex Lezama, Assistant Motorcycle Editor at NADAguides.com, don't hit the dirt unless you've got the Honda TRX 250 EX, one of the most powerful ATVs on the market today. So why was the Honda his top pick? "The TRX is versatile for all skill levels, responds powerfully in virtually any driving environment, and consistently outperforms the competition in tight situations. I like the sleek look of the TRX and I love its power." Added features include an exclusive 'no-stall' Honda SportClutch, a five-speed transmission with reverse capabilities, electric start and two color choices -- red and black.

If you're interested in learning about virtually every new and used vehicle available on the market today, log onto www.NADAguides.com for more information.

About NADAguides.com

N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides (NADAguides.com) is the world's largest publisher of vehicle valuations and specification information for new and used cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs, as well as van conversions, limousines, classic and collectible cars, boats, RVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and manufactured housing. The company's consumer website, NADAguides.com (www.NADAguides.com), offers a variety of new and used vehicle services in addition to valuation information. The company's management team, including 30-year vehicle industry veteran Don Christy, Jr., who serves as the company's President and CEO, is one of the most experienced management teams of any vehicle data publishing organization. Throughout its 73-year history, N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides has earned the reputation as the recognized authority for vehicle valuations. Its website, NADAguides.com, is the most comprehensive vehicle information resource on the Internet today.