I am thinking about getting a small "wagon-y" type car. Recommendations?

[crispini]

I don't know shit about cars so any direction you can point me in would help. I'd like a small car -- not a SUV -- with a hatchback. I need a little cargo room for groceries, etc. and I think a hatchback is just nicer than a trunk. I don't need a load of cargo room since I already own a beater truck. Other thoughts: reliable, and good mileage.

Any directions I should go in? Thanks much!

[GOPisEvil]

1. I have a Subaru Impreza wagon.

Love it. No other car has as many safety features for the price. I paid about $18k for mine about a year ago. The trade off, the mileage isn't the greatest due to the AWD. I looked at the Toyota Matrix too, because I wanted AWD to deal with the snow we get here sometimes. It was nice, but felt a little cheaper than the Subaru.

[crispini]

2. Thanks!

Will check it out! :D :hi:

[LeftyMom]

9. Second this.

I have a bigger Subaru, and I adore it.

[Lex]

3. I have a 2003 silver PT Cruiser

and it hasn't given me a moment's trouble. Just regular maintenance on it. Plan on keeping for a long time.




The shelf below can be easily removed, as well as the backseats can be completely removed:

[crispini]

5. They are cute, I'd forgotten about them.

Thanks!

[bluesbassman]

7. I have one too. 2002, about to hit 90K. No problems at all.

I got to haul my music gear. Taking the seats completely out (really easy to do) I can get a full stack bass rig and medium size PA in there. Really handy car. (Don't tell Midlo, but it's almost like a mini-van!)

Too bad Chrysler let it die. I think they could have updated it and kept it around, but alas it was not to be.

[Brickbat]

4. I know you said hatchback, but I would strongly recommend a Focus coupe.

Mr. Brickbat got one for a commuter car and it's awesome. The trunk is roomy (for a coupe -- it's great for groceries, and it passes the big test of getting two full bags of hockey gear into it) and the car is very comfortable (he's 6'3", I'm 5'10"). The mileage is outstanding. This is the fourth Ford we've bought since 2000 and we're very, very happy with all of them. I highly recommend a Focus.

[crispini]

6. Thanks, will check it out! :)

[marzipanni]

8. Click and Clack the Tappet Bros. have some useful information

on their "Buying" page-
http://www.cartalk.com/menus/info.html

[Ikonoklast]

10. Might I humbly suggest the new Wagon Queen Family Truckster.

Handles like a battleship, gets abysmal fuel economy, uglier than your first prom date, and is shoddily built.

Other than that, a great value for the money...even though it's twice as expensive as other vhicles in its class.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. I would wait for next year's Ford Focus if I could, but...

if you need a car now and can't wait...

All good choices-- reasonably inexpensive to buy and should be cheap and reliable to own:

Nissan Versa
Honda Fit
Toyota Yaris
Chevy HHR
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
Nissan Cube
Scion Xb

I'd still wait till next year, though, if could, for a whole bunch of neat new 2011 and 2012 cars. Like the new Ford Focus and Fiesta.

I'd also think long and hard about a 4 cylinder Ford Escape or Chevy Equinox-- smallish SUVs that have good gas mileage, especially the Equinox.

[Capn Sunshine]

12. Look at the "3" cars

Mazda 323 hatchback- here's an 05 that might run 5 gs


Or a BMW 3 series--here's a 1999 318i that might run about 5 gs as well

[Mopar151]

13. Depends

Money no object? A 2002 model is about $9K with the 2.5 L6 engine

Money an object, and a good domestic:

What my boys at Merchant's (Hookestt, NH) have on the lot - they have a huge leasing business (Red Cross is a customer - 3500 vehicles), and sell the choice ones on the lot. Good service department, easy to deal with. Good place to check out various models, get prices. If you want something from them, I can hook you up with a good salesman.

click for details
click for details
click for details

Year: 2008 2004 2008
Make: Chrysler Hyundai Kia
Model: PT Cruiser Santa Fe Rondo
Bodystyle: SUV SUV Station Wagon
Internet Price: $9,896 $12,677 $10,745
Mileage: 30,275 56,221 39,522
Transmission: Automatic Automatic Automatic
Engine: 2.4L I-4cyl 2.7L V-6cyl 2.7L V-6cyl
Fuel Type: gas gas gas
Drivetrain: FWD AWD FWD
Ext. Color: Brilliant Black Crystal Pearlcoat Gold Red
Int. Color: Pastel Slate Gray Unspecified Unspecified
Options: AM/FM radio AM/FM radio
Air conditioning
CD player
Cassette
Door mirrors: body-color
Driver door bin
Driver vanity mirror
Dual front impact airbags
Dual front side impact airbags
Front bucket seats
Front center armrest w/storage
Front cupholders
Front fog lights
Front reading lights
Heated door mirrors
Illuminated entry
Leather shift knob
Leather steering wheel
Overhead console
Panic alarm
Passenger door bin
Passenger vanity mirror
Power door mirrors
Power windows
Premium audio system

Bumpers: body-color
CD player
Compass
Driver door bin
Driver vanity mirror
Dual front impact airbags
Dual front side impact airbags
Front bucket seats
Front center armrest w/storage
Front cupholders
Ignition disable
Knee airbag
Low tire pressure warning
Occupant sensing airbag
Outside temperature display
Panic alarm
Passenger door bin
Passenger vanity mirror
Power windows
Rear cupholders
Rear door binsRear cupholders
Rear door bins
Rear seat center armrest
Rear split-bench seats
Rear window defroster
Rear window wiper
Remote keyless entry
Roof rack: rails only
Security system
Skid plates
Speakers: 6
Speed control
Split folding rear seat
Tachometer
Tilt steering wheel
Variably intermittent wipers
4 wheel disc brakes
ABS brakes
AM/FM radio
Adjustable head restraints: driver and passenger, rear w/tilt
Air conditioning
Anti-whiplash front head restraints
Bodyside moldings
Bumpers: body-color
CD player
Door mirrors: body-color
Driver door bin
Driver vanity mirror
Dual front impact airbags
Dual front side impact airbags
Electronic stability
Front bucket seats
Front center armrest w/storage
Front cupholders
Front reading lights
Ignition disable
Illuminated entry
Low tire pressure warning
Occupant sensing airbag
Overhead airbag
Overhead console
Passenger door bin
Passenger vanity mirror
Power door mirrors
Power windows
Rear cupholders
Rear door bins
Rear reading lights
Rear split-bench seats
Rear window defroster
Rear window wiper
Roof rack: rails only
Speakers: 4
Split folding rear seat
Tachometer
Tilt steering wheel
Traction control
Variably intermittent wipers

.
Rear split-bench seats
Rear window defroster
Rear window wiper
Remote keyless entry
Speakers: 4
Split folding rear seat
Spoiler
Tachometer
Tilt steering wheel
Trip computer
Variably intermittent wipers
4 wheel disc brakes

[rcrush]

14. i am extremely terrified of dolphins.

[crispini]

15. thanks everyone for all the suggestions!

as you probably guessed I went to bed last night .... :) but am looking forward to making a list with everyone's ideas and checking them out!

Probably not the very spendy ones though. :D