The changeover to the new year is an annual opportunity to reflect on, reset and repair those things about your life that have, perhaps, gone awry. Why do we choose New Year's Day for this arbitrary exercise in self-betterment? Perhaps because we select New Year's Eve for our yearly exercise in drunken buffoonery and debauchery; there's nothing like a mind- and body-crushing hangover to inspire life-changing resolutions.
But while most of us pledge to better ourselves, few follow through. According to Psychology Today magazine, research shows that fewer than half of those who make New Year's resolutions are still sticking to them six months later, and only 10 percent manage their self-discipline for a full year.
Clearly, people need help to be more resolute, and MSN Autos thinks the answer lies in the car, truck or SUV they drive. Focus, resolve and self-discipline help, but they obviously aren't enough. So we decided to address seven of the most popular New Year's resolutions and identify the vehicles that could help you make them a reality.
Bing: Popular New Year's Resolutions
Resolution: Get fit, lose weight
Vehicle: Jeep Wrangler Rubicon | Price: $29,995
The resolution to lose weight and get in shape is a perennial, and perennially broken. That's because most of us think that the path to a leaner, fitter body leads to the gym, and let's face it, going to the gym is a drag. But what if you could get off that beaten path, far off? The Wrangler Rubicon is the ultimate off-road Jeep, and with 32-inch BF Goodrich off-road tires, 10.2 inches of ground clearance, locking front and rear differentials and a 4:1 low range, the Rubicon can take you to any path on Earth. Once there, you can hike, bike, rock climb — exercise that's inspirational, not obligatory. And doesn't exercise in the fresh outdoors sound better than another trudge through a routine in an overheated gym?
View Slideshow: Best Winter Cars for Every US Region
Resolution: Save money, manage debt
Vehicle: Ford Fiesta | Price: $13,200
There are less expensive cars than the Ford Fiesta, but few seem like a better value. Ford offers plenty of fancy options for those willing to pay extra, without cheating the base trim out of fit-and-finish details such as supportive seats, sound dampening and plenty of airbags for safety, although the base trim doesn't get standard power windows. Nevertheless, the Fiesta will save you cash in two ways. Its nearly 40-mpg fuel-efficiency rating keeps gas bills down so you can dedicate more of your money to pay off the small loan you took to buy this inexpensive, compact sedan.
See: New 40-MPG Vehicles Less Than $20,000
Resolution: Further your education
Vehicle: Porsche 911 | Price: $85,400
Technically, a car can't make you smarter. But you can educate yourself on how to drive it better. That's why Porsche created the Porsche Sport Driving School, which takes place at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. The school has one- to three-day courses taught by professional race-car drivers who teach you how to pilot Porsche's legendary sports cars aggressively around a tough track. Once you graduate, you are given official license to laugh at sports-car neophytes who fishtail their rides every time a curve gets too nasty. You, by contrast, will be heel-and-toe downshifting into turns in your 911, then blasting out of them with the skill of an expert. Such are the benefits of higher education.
