Q: Our 9-month-old granddaughter will be living with us for nearly two years. We live in the desert, and her dad’s family has a history of skin cancer. We have to keep her exposure to the sun minimal and we think we should get a vehicle with rear sunshades to keep her protected during our sometimes long road trips. Our friends have an Audi with rear sunshades but I’ve seen no others. Are there some others?
A: Rear shades have been available on luxury vehicles for some time. Many Lexus and Audi models, for example have long offered them. Now rear shades are becoming more common in less expensive vehicles, too (though you’ll usually have to pay extra for an options package).
Among possibilities for you to explore (and this is not a complete list): most minivans (think Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna and Dodge Grand Caravan), and some sedans, such as Ford Taurus and Chrysler 300.
Actually, they’re more common than you might think. So if there are makes and models you’re interested in, I suggest you do a little research to see if you can get rear shades as an option.
Also, aftermarket sunshades are quite decent these days — much better than those flimsy things from a decade ago or so. So it’s possible you can outfit your existing vehicle or a new vehicle you decide you love but that doesn’t have the sunshade option. Check with the dealership to see if they have model-specific aftermarket shades for your make or model. Or you can go online — there are some purveyors that offer very decent shades at reasonable prices and with easy installation instructions.
If you search the Internet to locate some, be sure to type “rear sunshades for vehicles.” If you omit the “rear” you’ll get a bunch of those extendable sun blockers you put across the front windshield to keep the car from getting too hot while it’s parked.
Q: I’m ready to move up. Can I get into a small luxury car for less than $40,000?
A: Sure. Check out the Lexus IS 350, the BMW 320i, Cadillac ATS, Mercedes CLA and Infiniti Q50 to start. In most cases, to stay under budget, you won’t be able to add on any or many options.
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What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email [email protected].