Life&Style. Back to school beers By Laurel Borrowman, Life & Style Editor elcome back, \ \ | gang! The dawn of anew semester is in the air, and you are about to get thrown to the wolves in some form or another. It’s inevitable, but here are two recommendations that can make this transition smooth, easy, and fun for you. First, remember that just because school is in, doesn’t mean that summer is out. Far from it! September can be one of the most beautiful Top five used cars under $5,000 By Chris Paik, Contributor ith the economic recession and growing student debts, most of us can’t afford even the cheapest new car on the market. Here is a list of quality, cheap- to-own used cars under $5,000. All of the vehicles on this list have a low total cost of ownership, factoring in purchase price, gas mileage, insurance, and the cost of repairs. Honda Civic/Acura EL, 2001-05 There are so many reasons to buy a used model of Canada’s most- loved compact car. It is reliable, well-built, fuel- efficient, and practical, 10 months of the year, with lots of sun, a refreshing crispness in the air, and the slow transition into autumn at the end of the month. Second, drink beer! Not too much, and the kind that’s delicious, seasonal, and/or local, because there are herds of it. Just because a six- pack of Bud Light costs $8 doesn’t mean you have to crumble to the corporate slugs and buy the first thing that’s there (remember, the girls in zero-clothing don’t come with it). Why not spend your waning dollars on something worthy? Craft making it an ideal car that will give you many trouble-free years of ownership. Some of the later model prices have now dropped below $5,000, which can be a great value if you buy a well-maintained one. If it were my money: If you can afford it, get the Acura EL. It’s basically the same car underneath and it has more standard features. Stay away from earlier Civics (2001-02) with the automatic transmissions, as they tend to falter. Mazda MX-5 Miata, 1990-2000 The MX-5 isn’t the world’s best-selling convertible sports car for nothing. It’s fantastically fun to drive, dead reliable, and cheap to own. Our budget gets beer is prevalent and cheap, and even tastier. I don’t encourage drinking to cope, but I do encourage pausing to enjoy something that’s sip-tastic, and if it takes the edge of first- week jitters off in the meantime, that’s a bonus. I’d recommend any of these delicious brews as readily as I’d recommend my other beverage of choice—dark black coffee—but we'll save that for next week when you need a wake-up call. Here are four 100-mile-diet approved brews worthy of your dwindling bank account. you into a first generation version (1990-97), which came with awesome ‘80s-style pop-up headlights. Just watch out for damage on the soft tops, which can cost up to $800 to replace If it were my money: Don’t even think of buying an automatic. Subaru Impreza, 1998- 2001 Subarus are awesome all-weather cars that are perfect for Vancouver’s road and weather conditions. Imprezas are easy to recommend and are a great, quirky alternative to your bread- and-butter Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas. Earlier Imprezas had head gasket problems, which can get expensive. Buy from owners with full-service history. While prices vary (as does availability: Parallel 49 brews have been flying off the shelves since their launch, so count yourself lucky if you find it), you should be able to find a sixer of these for under $12. Old Boy, Parallel 49, Vancouver: A nod to foggy London town, this chap tastes like chocolate, toffee, and caramel all at once. 5% Hoparazzi, Parallel 49, Vancouver: A pale gold lager, inspired by IPAs, with a citrusy hoppy aroma. 6% If it were my money: The 2.5RS model had 165 HP and came with sports suspension. They’re the most fun to drive and retain their value longer. Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe 2003-06 These cars are dull to drive, but are reliable transportation that are cheap to insure and run. Consumer Reports listed the Pontiac Vibe as a “good bet,” which is also reassuring. The Vibe is a near identical twin to the Matrix, making it a sleeper bargain. As with any Toyota car, make sure it doesn’t have the sticky accelerator problems. If it were my money: Buy an early model Vibe and benefit from the depreciation. Don’t get the AWD model unless you really need it. Raven Cream Ale, R&B Brewing Co., Vancouver: Not only has it placed twice in the World Beer Cup competition (taking home a silver and a matching bronze), but it’s won my heart on dozens of occasions. It’s chocolatey, nutty, and like the name says, creamy. 4.8% Ginger Beer, Phillips Brewing Co., Victoria: Finally, ginger ale for adults! Just like the name says, it’s gingery. Also, screw saki. Next time you feast on sushi, pair it with a 690 mL bottle of this for about $6. 57% Acura Integra GS-R, 1994-2001 The only reason to buy an Acura Integra GS-R is because it’s potent and it’s one of the sweetest handling front-drive cars ever made. It’s also a practical hatchback and still has that Honda sensibility. Finding a good one is difficult. Most have either been abused to hell, neglected, or disgraced with aftermarket kits and obnoxious mufflers. Find a seller who mollycoddled and parked it on a bed of peacock feathers every night. If it were my money: Buy the one with the least mileage and modification, and go have lots of fun.