Things have changed since the class of 1991 headed out into the real world. Then, five bucks bought about three gallons of 87-octane gas and a pack of generic smokes from the corner pizza shop. The selling price for my first ride, a 1979 Datsun B210 beater known as the Beast, was $550 (complete with rusted-out wheel wells and fresh chocolate brown paint). And my part-time, minimum wage-paying job at the local drug store (complete with blue smock and cheesy neck tie) barely satisfied the Beast’s thirst for petrol and my aching for cigarettes.

Now, with jobs, families and holiday trips to the in-laws (all of which contribute to the ever-receding hairline and high blood pressure, no doubt), $550 buys a month or two off your car loan rather than a whole vehicle. But, if you’re thinking that you can still get away with driving one of those cheap gems, just try explaining to your mother-in-law why her grandbaby is riding in something that cost less than your new television. I dare ya.

Thankfully, options are available which should keep everyone happy. There are a host of stylish large and midsize, four-door family cars that offer lots of cargo space, excellent fuel economy and varying levels of standard features. Some are even (gasp) fun to drive.