Kelley Blue Book recently released the results of its annual back-to-school car-buying poll. Whether heading to high school or college, the 2006 study found that 43 percent of drivers ages 16-25 would like to arrive in a Ford Mustang, making it the No. 1 choice among younger drivers for the second year in a row. Parents, however, chose the Honda Civic as the car they would most like to see their child drive. Four of the top five picks were Asian manufacturers, including small sedans from Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda. Coming in at No. 5 on the parents list was the compact Ford Escape SUV. The Mustang ranked No. 8 among parents.

“As you would expect, parents’ primary concerns today revolve around safety and reliability,” says Jack R. Nerad, editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. “Young people look for vehicles they can personalize or one that defines their personality,” he says.

What 16- to 25-year-olds want to drive to school:

1. 2001 Ford Mustang 43 percent

2. 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse 37 percent

3. 2001 Honda Civic 34 percent

4. 2001 Jeep Wrangler 32 percent

5. 2002 Jeep Liberty 23 percent

What parents of 16- to 25-year-olds want their children to drive:

1. 2001 Honda Civic 43 percent

2. 2002 Toyota Corolla 41 percent

3. 2003 Nissan Sentra 13 percent

4. 2003 Mazda Protege 12 percent

5. 2000 Ford Explorer 11 percent

Source: Copely News Service