Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Help Me Select a Wagon
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I mean the engine is made in US, the alternator and fans are made in Japan (by Denso, Toyota's electrical parts manufacturer), the car is assembled in Canada, the rear suspension is German designed (and the company is German too), most cables are made in Mexico, so who can tell me who made my car ?!?!
I even saw "Bosch" written on a big part ... I don't even know what that was ... cars these days are so complicated ...
It's hilarious.
-juice
I budget for 7-8K, 3-4 year old as a second car (another one is 05 Accord). Inexpensive wagons are hard to find. We want pretty reliable, inexpensive to maintain (eliminating Volvo, VW) I’m thinking about FOCUS wagon, but it’s pretty rare in my area – Memphis, TN as well as Subaru (only one dealer). There are some Tauras or Saturn but are they reliable. What is your suggestion.
Try a Toyota Matrix or a Mazda5, both are really 5 door hatchbacks, but they'll do the trick for a small family.
Subaru has the Impreza, Outback Sport, Legacy wagon, and Outback wagon. Even a Forester might do the trick for you. That opens up some options since they aren't that common.
Focus wagon is quite roomy, even a Focus ZX5 ought to work.
What else? Suzuki Aerio can be had cheap.
-juice
I don't want much option except for Auto transmission.
Most subarus are probaby over my budget, I probably have to go older year to get them, then the maintainance costs could be high since there is only dealer in my town. Are subarus too complicate for most independent machanic shops?
Many suggests PT cruisers, but my wife and I think it looks horrible.
Matrix / Vibe would be a good choice, but they are relatively new models, may have to wait longer to meet my budget.
Any thing else, please
Different, yes. But what mechanic is not familiar with at least one Outback? They're so common now.
Earlier wagons included the Ford Escort and Toyota Corolla.
-juice
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
Actually some Vibes are close to 4 years old.
If I were looking in the $7k to $8k range though I would go with your initial suggestion. You could could get a 2 or 3 year old with 30K to 40K miles for that amount. Their reliability has improved greatly over the past couple of years. They also are very large inside for their size.
-Automatic.
-AWD or front wheel drive,
-Good crash test rating,
-Air bags,
-Good gas mileage (30+ hwy).
-Good mechanical/repair rating.
- Under $5000-$6000
Our preference is a wagon, unless there is a some other 4 door sedan that is just really great.
Suggestions?
Any and all input would be greatly appreciated. We have and have had toyota tercel wagon, 1988, for many years....they are great cars and actually have all the features that we want, except they do not have air bags and would not offer much protection in the event of a crash.
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
AWD and 30+mpg? (to be fair you do mention FWD) Good crash test ratings and under $6000?
You'll have to compromise on those, pick one or the other.
At first I was thinking 2006 Legacy wagon, which just got the IIHS Gold award for safety, tops in the mid-size class. But that's $22k or so. And you might get around 28mph highway, not 30.
Civic sedan was the other IIHS Gold winner, but it's a sedan only. And it's closer to $20 grand since it just came out.
The other Gold winners are the Ford 500/Montego and Saab 9-3, but we're going in the wrong direction as far as price goes.
For $5-6 grand, perhaps consider a '99 Forester. Those got Good scores in the IIHS frontal, just don't expect quite the same for side impacts because it didn't have side air bags back then (2003+). AWD, too, but mileage is 21/27.
Consider a used Matrix or Protoge5, both efficient little wagons. They won't meet your safety criteria, though, in fact even some newer compact models don't.
Check out the IIHS web site. Most of their data is for newer models, but some previous generation models do fairly well, perhaps Good or Fair in the important categories:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx
-juice
A 4-cyl Camry or Accord wagon wagon from the early 90's would do the trick, but most of the Camry's were V-6's and would use too much gas.
I would say your best bet is a mid 90's Corolla wagon. Great gas mileage - relatively safe for it's time (your budget hurts you here as the safest cars are the newest ones). I know they were made in '94, I think 1996 was the last year. The next generation did not have a wagon. These are well within your budget and you could get a very nice low mileage example.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1996/toyota/corolla/12012/review.html?tid=edmunds.u.prices.lef- tsidenav..12.Toyota*
For $400-450 (Corollas have small inexpensive tires) you can pick up a set of 4 snow tires on steel wheels and will do better in the snow than most AWD vehicles (at least those without snows) as you will be able to stop.
-Dudley
-juice
I figured we would have to compromise somewhere, given our budget of $5000-6000. With that in mind, I should say that having the best possible crash test rating within a $5000-6000 budget would take precedence over 30+ mpg hwy. And I thought the snow radial suggestion was a great one....so that opens up some possibilities. It would still need to be automatic, and good reliability rating is very important. I like the idea of a Toyota Corolla as well.
Another question.....even though we do prefer a wagon, are there some great choices out there that we are missing by limiting it to a wagon? Is there something better in a 4 door sedan?
-juice
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
One model in particular fits your criteria but can be difficult to find in good condition: a Subaru Legacy wagon from 1995-1999 with the 2.2l engine. That was a bulletproof engine, has AWD, gets close to 30mpg, and achieved good crash scores. For $6000, it will likely have around 100k miles, but this has been one of Subaru's best cars (from a reliability standpoint) and I would feel comfortable driving one for many more years.
Brian
We have heard a lot of good things about the Corolla, but, yes.....I don't ever remember seeing one for sale in our area anyway. Brian....were you able to find one via the internet? We kind of hesitate buying a vehicle in that manner, but if we could find one that is in our proximity, that would work. Are there some sites that you found that work better than others?
In an earlier post, someone mentioned the Chrysler Pacifica...does anyone know much about that vehicle? Mostly curious.....I think we are leaning towards the Corolla due to the combination of AWD, crash test, mileage and reliability....but I would like to research all options.....
I did most of my searching on Craigslist (.org), which has sites for dozens of cities, but is especially useful in the San Francisco area since that's where it started 10 years ago. Other good ones for searching is cars.com and vehix, although those two are mostly *dealer* vehicles as opposed to private party vehicles.
Brian
http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/default.aspx
From that list, a few of the models come as wagons:
* Audi A6 Avant
* Saab 9-3 SportKombi
* Subaru Legacy
* Audi A3 5 door
* Audi A4 Avant
* Chevy Malibu Maxx
Jetta and Passat wagons should come soon, as well.
With 80 lb dogs look for the tallest hatch, see if they fit comfortably.
-juice
1. Malibu Maxx SS
2. Audi A3 3.2T QUATTRO
3. Toyota RAV4
The Audi has advantage of AWD and a nice interior but costs _way_ more than the other two, and I really don't know if it will be reliable (Audi, and especially its parent BMW, do poorly on that) or if its resale will hold up.
The Maxx SS, has a revised engine from my '04 LS, and should have 1st year gremlins exorcised by now, but I hear the ride is like lead and am not sure of VVT engine's reliability (how are other GM engines with VVT holding up?).
Perhaps the Toyota is the safest choice given their track record. But this year's RAV4 is an all new design.
Comments?
My biggest concern is overall reliability and dealer backing. Gas mileage is also a factor. Also any feedback on new Audi and Toyota (JDPower has zip on either) would be appreciated.
If you can use the space, that would be my pick.
Otherwise, the SS sure looks a lot nicer now, and the extra kick won't hurt, plus it'll be several grand cheaper than the Audi. Bummer that Audi got rid of the free scheduled maintenance, eh?
-juice
If I got the SS, first thing to go would be those stupid 18" wheels and tires. They make the ride harsh and leave the car open to damage by our LA potholes. Good 17" forged wheels and TripleTreads or similar premium all season should work fine!.
So Audi dropped its free maintanance?
I assume that is going to add a whole bunch of cost to its ownership?
So is the web site wrong? Or does Audi plan a cut off date for this "perk" ?
A3. Great interior and driving, but how are they likely to hold up? Audi owners, what do you think
As for the Maxx, I'm not a fan of American cars, but I imagine it has a lot of space.
All 3 would drive so differently it depends on what you're looking for. After you drive them let us know your impressions.
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere
-juice
If you are open to it, a Matrix with a manual tranny will have better acceleration, better fuel economy, and will be less expensive.
Krzys
Magnum is RWD, do you see a lot of snow? Do you haul heavy loads, enough to make use of the extra torque? Do you like to sit in a wide seat and spread out? Will you tow?
Matrix has better visibility, efficiency, lower cost to own, but it's also smaller and won't do as well hauling a lot of weight (look at the engine's torque). If all you need is a practical little car, it'll serve you fine.
Be honest with yourself about your real needs, then choose, and you'll be happier in the long run.
-juice
I am not interested in driving a massive vehicle-- I do not want to drive a minivan and I most definitely do not want to be driving an SUV.
I'm quickly coming to discover that it seems no one makes the old fashion station wagon any more. Any time I ask about station wagons-- they either point me to something that looks like an awful lot like a massive SUV to me (high off the ground, boxy, horrible gas mileage) or is a sedan-type car but only seats five and the extra space in the back is simply extra cargo space.
Does any carmaker continue to make station wagons with a sedan-type body and three rows of seating? My mother drove a Ford wagon forever, but gosh she bought that well over ten years ago.
I really do not want to be driving around some monstrosity on the road. That's why I'm still driving a sedan with my three kids already.
Thanks in advance for all that could help.
Unfortunately car makers know they can get more profit if they jack a vehicle up and put some cladding on it. I think they are afraid if they make nice logical wagons, then people will buy them instead of more profitable SUV's.
Volvo and Mercedes still make third-row rear-facing seats in their wagons, but again, you probably can't put car seats in them. Also, if you have children in the third row, you have no place for groceries or cargo (another reason vans and SUVs are so popular -- there's room for people AND their stuff). I don't know if those wagons offer rear air, either ... my kids say our third row gets awfully hot in the summer with the only air coming out the front vents!
Sorry to disappoint you! I totally understand and wish things were different in the auto world!
Maybe try finding a good used model?
Freestyle probably comes closest to what you want. It's not an SUV, though it tries to look like one.
-juice
I also dislike SUV's, but I did try the Toyota Highlander Hybrid (so it's not as gas guzzling and better emissions). It's a car base, fairly small (boxy, though) and has a third row forward facing (with a little room for gear). You may want to try it too.
Not sure what I'm going to do!
Iris
-juice
-juice