IRVINE, CA--September 6, 2012: Football fans around the nation are gearing up in preparation for the new season, and for thousands of us, that's cause for a good, old-fashioned tailgate party. Whether you are rooting for your college team or have a favorite professional football team, pre-game festivities are often as important as the game itself. The football enthusiasts at Autobytel Inc. and its editors have crafted their Top 10 best tailgating cars in anticipation of this year's kickoffs and cookoffs.
“Tailgating has been a time-honored tradition among American sports fans, and anyone who's joined in the festivities will tell you there's nothing better than sharing a game over a beer and hot dogs”
These days, the best tailgating vehicles don't necessarily need to have a tailgate. What they do need is enough space to tote around a grill, food and beverages, chairs and maybe even a flat screen television.
"Tailgating has been a time-honored tradition among American sports fans, and anyone who's joined in the festivities will tell you there's nothing better than sharing a game over a beer and hot dogs," said Michelle Naranjo, editor-in-chief, Autobytel.com. "We understand that 21st century tailgating has become larger in scope and complexity since its humble beginnings, and the cars that made this list prove they're touchdown worthy."
Following are Autobytel editors' picks for the 10 best tailgate cars.
2012
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
The ZR1's hand-built
638-horsepower
6.2-liter engine is an instant party, and with 22.4 cubic feet of
cargo
space, there's ample room for a Hibachi grill, cooler
and folding chairs.
2012
Chrysler Town & Country
Need to keep covered while
tailgating? The Town & Country offers a set of third-row seats that
flip
and reverse so that you can sit in comfort, protected from the
elements.
With Uconnect wi-fi Internet service, this minivan provides a perfect
platform for streaming live coverage.
2012
Expedition EL
With 42.6 cubic feet of cargo space and the
ability to carry eight people, the 2012 Ford Expedition EL is
perfectly
crafted to stow all of your tailgate gear while comfortably seating
your
fellow sports fans.
2012
Ford F-350 Super Duty
Nothing does tailgating better than a
pickup truck. With a 110-volt/150-watt power inverter, the F-350 can
supply enough juice to power that flat screen TV you hauled to the
stadium.
2013 Ford Flex
Tailgate
in style with this seven passenger vehicle that sports rear bucket
seats
separated by a console equipped with a refrigerator.
2012 Honda
Ridgeline
Seemingly built for tailgate parties, the
Ridgeline's dual-action tailgate swings out to the side
or folds down to
extend the load surface. With an 8.5 cubic feet locking compartment
with
a drain hole under the cargo bed floor, you're
completely set for
storing ice and beverages.
2012 Jeep
Patriot
Thanks to its optional Boston Acoustics audio
system with articulating speakers built into the liftgate, the
Patriot
is a perfect tailgate vehicle for anyone seeking a mobile boom box.
2012
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
With an array of options for the
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, such as the Infinity sound system, Uconnect
mobile wi-fi or an attached Mopar Trail Camper, this vehicle is a
party
both inside and out.
2013 Ram 1500
With
the ability to hold up to 280 cans of your favorite beverages,
everyone
will surround the Ram 1500 during a tailgate party.
Don't forget, you
can keep those drinks on ice with easy clean-up thanks to the drain
plug.
2012 Toyota
4Runner
The 2012 Toyota 4Runner makes the perfect tailgate
vehicle with its cargo floor tray that slides out to create a
three-sided table for your tailgate party foods. Better yet, it holds
up
to 440 pounds which means, when the food is gone, you can sit down in
the shade.
