Originally Posted By: bepperb
Is a Mazda5 out of the question?
never drove one. I will add this to the list.
Is a Mazda5 out of the question?
never drove one. I will add this to the list.
wagons sugestions, please
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Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: rjundi
Mazda 6 came in a wagon variant. Great car.
Subaru's are great if you have tough or steep roads but at the same time have head gasket problems($1200+ fix) at a high rate in the budget range you are looking at. I think they fall into a cool to have wagon so plentiful compared to others.
Another choice is Ford Taurus wagon I think made till 2003 or 2004. Probably owned by some fleet previously as no one really bought them otherwise.
Focus I would check out also. They had a good amount of room.
i started with focus wagon because they seem to have lots of room (reported 71-73 cu ft)
I'm open to other suggestions because i need (don't we all) the best bang for the buck.
I'm looking at some space and some family/kids utility.
reliability will be a plus also.
Pontiac aztek might foot the bill. Has a lot of U-platform Venture van bits. Doors swing open instead of slide on tracks. Ugliness drives value down.
Also consider a geezer owned cutlass ciera wagon with 50k miles. May have to go to Florida for one of these.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
Mazda 6 came in a wagon variant. Great car.
Subaru's are great if you have tough or steep roads but at the same time have head gasket problems($1200+ fix) at a high rate in the budget range you are looking at. I think they fall into a cool to have wagon so plentiful compared to others.
Another choice is Ford Taurus wagon I think made till 2003 or 2004. Probably owned by some fleet previously as no one really bought them otherwise.
Focus I would check out also. They had a good amount of room.
i started with focus wagon because they seem to have lots of room (reported 71-73 cu ft)
I'm open to other suggestions because i need (don't we all) the best bang for the buck.
I'm looking at some space and some family/kids utility.
reliability will be a plus also.
Pontiac aztek might foot the bill. Has a lot of U-platform Venture van bits. Doors swing open instead of slide on tracks. Ugliness drives value down.
Also consider a geezer owned cutlass ciera wagon with 50k miles. May have to go to Florida for one of these.
Malibu Maxx, Mazda 5, Mazda 6 Wagon, Taurus/Sable Wagon, Escape/Tribute/Mariner, Aztek/Enclave, would all likely work pretty well for you.
The Focus and Mazda 3 5-door would probably be OK, too, but a bit smaller than those listed above, and you would also do fine in a Camry/Accord/Altima/Fusion/Sonata/etc. sedan. The ex-wife and I had a Galant and a Mercury Tracer with a 3-year-old and a newborn, and never had problems hauling a double stroller and every other thing you need with two kids.
A first-gen (98-03) Toyota Sienna with documented oil changes every 5k or less would also work in your price range, especially if you plan on having a third.
The Focus and Mazda 3 5-door would probably be OK, too, but a bit smaller than those listed above, and you would also do fine in a Camry/Accord/Altima/Fusion/Sonata/etc. sedan. The ex-wife and I had a Galant and a Mercury Tracer with a 3-year-old and a newborn, and never had problems hauling a double stroller and every other thing you need with two kids.
A first-gen (98-03) Toyota Sienna with documented oil changes every 5k or less would also work in your price range, especially if you plan on having a third.
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That's a good question, having a third?
I was pretty well set with the Highlander and the Accord until number 3 came along. Now the Highlander is too small and we had to replace the Accord outright.
Also, consider if you are buying a house at some point having a not-trunklike cargo area is a huge positive.
I wish the Elantra touring sold in higher numbers. That's a good looking very functional vehicle. If the Matrix/Vibe had looked that good their sales would have been triple what they were.
My 4cyl 2wd Highlander get about 25~26 highway and 22~23 around town (rated 19/25). CRV's and Rav4's and Foresters and probably I4 Escapes get at least 10% better mileage than this. I point this out because there isn't really a mileage penalty of a crossover SUV vs a wagon. Admittedly there is a handling advantage to a lower center of gravity.
I was pretty well set with the Highlander and the Accord until number 3 came along. Now the Highlander is too small and we had to replace the Accord outright.
Also, consider if you are buying a house at some point having a not-trunklike cargo area is a huge positive.
I wish the Elantra touring sold in higher numbers. That's a good looking very functional vehicle. If the Matrix/Vibe had looked that good their sales would have been triple what they were.
My 4cyl 2wd Highlander get about 25~26 highway and 22~23 around town (rated 19/25). CRV's and Rav4's and Foresters and probably I4 Escapes get at least 10% better mileage than this. I point this out because there isn't really a mileage penalty of a crossover SUV vs a wagon. Admittedly there is a handling advantage to a lower center of gravity.
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We have owned three Subarus (2 Legacies, 1 2011 Outback). All purchased new. Have been very happy and have suffered none of the potential Subaru calamities.
Matched, exact tires are important for drive train maintenance/retention. 2.5L engines can have head gasket problems. Used the Subaru coolant conditioner and followed Subaru maintenance guidelines and had no head gasket issues in 152K miles.
Make sure the owner accomplished maintenance and proper tire rotations/tire maintenance within Subaru guidelines. Problem is that drive train failures due to mismatched tires, etc, don't always show up immediately. A private sale with maintenance records available might be the best way to purchase one.
Matched, exact tires are important for drive train maintenance/retention. 2.5L engines can have head gasket problems. Used the Subaru coolant conditioner and followed Subaru maintenance guidelines and had no head gasket issues in 152K miles.
Make sure the owner accomplished maintenance and proper tire rotations/tire maintenance within Subaru guidelines. Problem is that drive train failures due to mismatched tires, etc, don't always show up immediately. A private sale with maintenance records available might be the best way to purchase one.
I work for Mazda today (disclaimer) and lease from the company a new Mazda5 (with a stickshift, no less). Love it. Handles well and fun to drive. I second the notion to try a used 5. It's been Mazda's best-kept secret, as we sell 20,000 of them a year with virtually no advertising for it.
I'm a big guy who likes to sit bolt upright when driving, and I can do that in this car. First one I've had like that since I owned a Ford Festiva years ago (also a Mazda design).
I'm a big guy who likes to sit bolt upright when driving, and I can do that in this car. First one I've had like that since I owned a Ford Festiva years ago (also a Mazda design).
one time i had a 1959 ply wagon, with a chrysler 392 hemi. my dad tryed to race Pontiac GTOs, he could not beat them, dads wagon was pulling 1200 more lbs.
May also want to consider a Dodge Caliber.
Originally Posted By: pandus13
Originally Posted By: addyguy
4-cylinder Ford Escape.
Honestly, all they are is a 'tall' wagon. Very easy to load with a tailgate that lifts up.
2wd should be Ok for my area?
any possible problems/years?
Chicagoland has snow "5%" of the time? Since when?
Yes, the AWD on the Subaru comes in very handy. If you want a "taller" wagon find a good used Forester.
Around here $10K gets you a lot of choices in an Outback, a Legacy or a Forester.
Cheers!
Originally Posted By: addyguy
4-cylinder Ford Escape.
Honestly, all they are is a 'tall' wagon. Very easy to load with a tailgate that lifts up.
2wd should be Ok for my area?
any possible problems/years?
Chicagoland has snow "5%" of the time? Since when?
Yes, the AWD on the Subaru comes in very handy. If you want a "taller" wagon find a good used Forester.
Around here $10K gets you a lot of choices in an Outback, a Legacy or a Forester.
Cheers!
One thing to mention on Subaru Legacy/Outback is that the 2005-2009 generation has the best interior by leaps and bounds. They used an Audi A4 as design benchmark. I think the 2005-2007 Legacy wagon was a rarity for Subaru, good looking for a Subaru. Previous generation Subaru's used the 1991 Civic as design benchmark.
I may get blasted for this suggestion but does a PT Cruiser work? I know nothing of the quality of vehicle but it sure meets the low end of budget.
I may get blasted for this suggestion but does a PT Cruiser work? I know nothing of the quality of vehicle but it sure meets the low end of budget.
Yes
Pt Cruiser would work for him, he could even look at a GT with a stick and have a little fun.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
One thing to mention on Subaru Legacy/Outback is that the 2005-2009 generation has the best interior by leaps and bounds. They used an Audi A4 as design benchmark. I think the 2005-2007 Legacy wagon was a rarity for Subaru, good looking for a Subaru. Previous generation Subaru's used the 1991 Civic as design benchmark.
I may get blasted for this suggestion but does a PT Cruiser work? I know nothing of the quality of vehicle but it sure meets the low end of budget.
Pt Cruiser would work for him, he could even look at a GT with a stick and have a little fun.
Originally Posted By: rjundi
One thing to mention on Subaru Legacy/Outback is that the 2005-2009 generation has the best interior by leaps and bounds. They used an Audi A4 as design benchmark. I think the 2005-2007 Legacy wagon was a rarity for Subaru, good looking for a Subaru. Previous generation Subaru's used the 1991 Civic as design benchmark.
I may get blasted for this suggestion but does a PT Cruiser work? I know nothing of the quality of vehicle but it sure meets the low end of budget.
Honestly, I think the list would be shorter of possible vehicles to avoid. Work with whatever budget you have, and find the best deal. I think you are doing a smart thing by going with a station wagon. It is a shame there is such a strong negative stigma towards minivans; they really are a well-rounded vehicle to own. I would gladly rock one if it suites my needs. Good luck with whatever you decide to buy.
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I'd go try the Focus Wagons as I think they have more useable trunk space than any of subarus, or the Escape, and way more than the chopped wagons(matrix, mazda3, PT Cruiser, etc.) and probably have the cheapest running costs of almost any wagon. Take a trip up north a bit and you can even find them with a manual trans.
For pure family utility though, a minivan is the best. For a long road trip you'll have roof top carrier or a trailer on a 5 passenger wagon.
For pure family utility though, a minivan is the best. For a long road trip you'll have roof top carrier or a trailer on a 5 passenger wagon.
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