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Car Report: Cadillac ATS coupe has style; Ford introduces a new van

By Mike Parris

WASHINGTON — The Cadillac ATS coupe is fun to drive and has impressive styling.

I drove the Cadillac ATS sedan in 2013 and was impressed by the sporty fun-to- drive car. The new coupe is still just as fun to drive, and maybe a little more so, as the base 2-liter turbo-charged four-cylinder engine gets a little more grunt with a manual transmission. (There is also a 3.6 liter V6 that has some good punch and a nice sound, but it’s only available with an automatic, a real bummer.)

The styling is a high point. It’s very classy, yet still very “Cadillac,” with more of a new CTS front-end treatment.

The new coupe looks more aggressive than the ATS sedan, and it should, as it only shares one or two panels. Everything else is unique to the coupe: The Dockspot portable device inductive charging station, which wirelessly charges your devices, is a big addition, as well as Onstar with 4G LTE & Wi-Fi. It works well and I used my tablet to complete work while in the passenger seat.

A coupe should be fun to drive, and the ATS coupe delivers. My driving partner for the day had some nice back roads to explore, and it seemed the ATS, with the available Magnetic Ride Control, kept the car planted and more willing to be pushed with less body roll. You might want to test-drive an ATS equipped with the system and without it, and decide for yourself.

The front seats are comfortable, and the higher-level trim packages (there are four from which to choose) provide even nicer surroundings. Even the base trim level gets the handcrafted cut-and-sewn interior. Cadillac has really upped their game.

The 2015 Cadillac ATS coupe is available any day now, and will start at around $38,000. It can be had with either rear-wheel drive or AWD for year-round use.

Transitioning to the Transit

For more than three decades, the Ford E-series vans have been popular large cargo or passenger vans, but the market was mostly in North America. The new 2015 Ford Transit is replacing the E-series. The Transit has been around a very long time as well, and it’s already sold in more than 110 markets.

TRANSIT.JPG

The Transit takes over for the E-series and does a good job. (WTOP/Mike Parris)

The first thing I noticed is the size of the new European-looking Transit. It’s bigger than the outgoing E-series and has two size options, including the extended length and high roof model that’s tall enough for people more than 6- foot-tall to walk in the back.

Also, you get new choices of engines — the V8 and V10 engines are gone, replaced by a base 3.7-liter V6 with the option of a 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 from the F150 truck, or a new 5-cylinder turbo diesel that’s a good choice for economy and very quiet.

The interior is set up for work, has durable materials and a car-like dash similar to the Ford Focus with easy to use heating/AC controls, plenty of storage and a back-up camera available. I drove cargo and passenger versions of the Transit and found them very easy to drive; even the largest wagon with 15 seats was easy to maneuver.

All the cargo vans I drove had half a payload in the back, and the Ecoboost V6 and Diesel pulled like it was empty. Even the base V6 didn’t seem underpowered. The new Ford Transit, built in Kansas City, starts under $30,000, and it looks like a more efficient, and in some cases a much larger, replacement. It could be a good fit for larger fleets or a small business looking for just one van to do it all.

Editor’s note: Mike Parris a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event solutions for the purpose of this review.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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