Wagons besides the Subaru Outback & Forester?

[NewJeffCT]

Right now, we have two cars that are pretty small - a Corolla & a Prius. We want to get something a little bigger when we get rid of the Corolla, which is 8 1/2 years old and has 150,000+ miles on it.

However, we don't want to go too big or too expensive.

It seems the Subaru Outback & Forester are probably along the lines of what we like. The Volvo wagons are nice, but more than we want to pay. What are comparable cars to the Outback?

It does not have to be a station wagon - maybe the Nissan Murano, Toyota Rav-4, Honda CR-V, Chevy Equinox, Ford Fusion could be considered, too.

Any other ideas? We had a mini-van before the Prius, but don't need that much room.

[MrCoffee]

1. The Chevy HHR is a very nice ride

I loved mine before MrsCoffee totaled it, and chances are good that I'll have a new one soon.

[NewJeffCT]

6. Looks pretty good

and, it seems to get pretty good mileage.

[NoGOPZone]

2. Mazda 5

Shaped like a minvan but smaller. Can fit six people, or second and third row seats can fold to increase storage area. However, it doesn't come with all wheel drive as all subarus do.

[The empressof all]

17. I Love, love, love my Mazda 5

I love the sliding rear doors, the fact it seats 6 comfortably and that the seats can easily be flipped to carry longer cargo. I love that it's lower than our old SUV and minivans and I can get in without climbing up. I wish it had 4 wheel drive but other than that it's perfect for us. Are they still making them?

[NoGOPZone]

32. Yep, they're still around. nt

[hippywife]

3. Ford makes a station wagon.

We bought one at work for transporting our residents to their doctor appointments about four years ago.

My husband wanted a smallish car that got really good gas mileage but gave us enough room to haul camping gear. He got a Honda Fit. He absolutely loves it.

[NewJeffCT]

7. What is it called?

If you don't mind me asking?

[hippywife]

10. Sorry, I forgot.

It's a Taurus so I'm not sure they make that line anymore. I just looked at their website and they don't. They've gone to those crossover vehicles.

I do have a friend that has had a Subaru Outback for about three years and has been happy with it. Subaru also works to have little or no waste in their manufacturing process, so that's really good.

You might want to look at the Fit, though, too. The back seats fold down or fold back so either way you need them to go, you get lots of space to haul things.

[tabbycat31]

4. the forester is technically an SUV

but I would get one if I were you. I love my Forester

[NewJeffCT]

8. Where I am

it seems that if you don't have a minivan, you have some kind of wagon - either a Volvo or a Subaru Outback/Forester.

[old mark]

5. We recently bought a used Hyundai Santa Fe, our first SUV, even though a

small one. We really love it.

Its our second Hyundai, and we would buy another again - great company.

mark

[RT Atlanta]

9. Audi A4 Avant

I drive the 1999 version and have been real impressed with it.

Below are a few publicity shots of my ride:

[dembotoz]

11. nissan cube or scion xb

look pretty cool
there is a lot of stuff out there in the bigger than hatchback smaller than a mini van class
happy hunting.

[NewJeffCT]

21. Several years back, I had a Toyota Matrix

as a month long rental when my car was getting repaired - i think the insurance company forgot it was in the shop - it had the same boxy look as the Cube, and I didn't like the feel of it when I drove.

[flvegan]

12. Mazdaspeed 3!!!

LOVE mine. The great dane rides in comfort (or 2x4s, etc) and I can spin the wheels in the first 3 gears. The boost is incredible.

However, if you don't want/need the horsepower (or want an automatic) the regular Mazda 3 is a great ride.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. Minivans rock, dude.

But if you're not up to the challenge, the Toyota Highlander is pretty cool.


:hide:


Just kidding about the challenge thing.

Stick with the Japanese big three and you won't regret it.

[NewJeffCT]

22. I had an Odyssey for 6 years

it was pretty good, but too much space. I would prefer something with better mileage.

[Heddi]

14. We had a Jetta Wagon, but it got totaled in an accident. It was an awesome car

I loved Jeddy. It held up very well in the accident and my husband and I walked away with just a black eye each and the only thing broken in the thing (it was loaded down as we were moving across country) was the broom that went flying out of the back window, and a pyrex dish.

I liked the Jetta Wagon because it was small for a wagon. It was the biggest car I had owned at that point (protege and civic before that) and i never felt like I was driving a large car. Easy to parallel park in downtown seattle and ours (2001 model) got about 25mpg. Heated leather seats, sunroof. Very nice.

Look for Jetta or Passat wagons. I was very happy with mine. It gave us plenty of room, but not SHITLOADS EXTRAOMG.

And as a comparision:

when our car got totaled it was pakced with stuff because we were moving from seattle-Florida.

we had to rent a truck to get our stuff from Atlanta (where we wrecked) to Fl (where we were moving). We rented a Toyota Sequoya..>HUGE SUV. And it was just as packed as the Jetta. Only difference was it had more head-room, about 4 inches more towards the top. So my little jetta wagon held JUST AS MUCH as this behemoth SUV. Item for item they fit the same. Just as packed in each one.

[taterguy]

15. Try a Scion

Trust me, I know cars.

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. The Subarus are supposed to be very good. Don't write them off too quickly.

[NewJeffCT]

20. I'm not writing Subaru off at all

Just that so many people have them around here that I want to look at something different first.

[Moondog]

18. Hyundai Tucson

Not my thing, but a neighbor has one, and it is nice. Very nice. But, apparently, they just redid it, and there is a big difference between This year and Last year. You'll want This year's model.

[Xithras]

19. I own a Subie, good car. Stay away from the Passat wagon though.

Friend just bought a Passat wagon last year and it's been nothing but trouble. He's kicking himself because narrowed it down to the Dodge Caliber Wagon, the Outback, and the Passat...and then apparently chose the worst of the bunch.

I love my Forester though. I've had it four years now and haven't had a single mechanical problem. Not even a burnt bulb.

[MassLiberal]

23. Pontiac Vibe

I did some research into wagons awhile back and found that a lot of car enthusiasts really like the Vibe, which is a clone of the Toyota Matrix. It got very high ratings from Edmunds and other car rating services. I don't think they're going to continue making them after this year, though.

[flvegan]

34. My roomie just bought a used Vibe.

She loves it. I can remember wanting one the first time I saw it. Very versatile and "built" to haul stuff. Like a Nissan XTerra, downsized.

[Capn Sunshine]

24. want a hot rod wagon? Chrysler 300

zoom zoom

[Corgigal]

25. Mazda CX-9

Can't tell you how many times I get compliments on this car. She's sporty to drive too.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayIncentivesLanding.action?providertag=MazdaSEM&servicetag=T1CX90312012&sem=1&s_kwcid=TC|6458|mazda%20cx%209||S||3526233433&bhcp=1

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. My brother in law bought a Dodge Journey and he loves it.

I have a Saturn Outlook and it is the best car I have ever owned. The GMC Acadia is the same vehicle.

[snailly]

27. I had a Forester for 10 years

Great car. Very little maintenance, handled great in the snow and ice, good gas mileage, lots of room. The air conditioner and heater were far better than the expensive car I have now. I actually miss it and will probably be getting another one soon.

[riderinthestorm]

28. Honda CRV or a Volkswagon Passat wagon. I've owned both of those and they are great! nt

[bluedigger]

29. I've tried a few the last several years.

First off, Subarus are good. My friend has a used car dealership up in ME if you need one. He specializes in Subarus and can get you a solid car.

I've been in a lot of rental cars the last few years. The Hyundai Santa Fe feels very substantial and handles well on the highway. A little choppy on gravel though. The old Ford Escape (06?) felt like riding in a tin wagon. I would buy an '09. Like night and day. If you can find a leftover Pontiac Torrent to test drive, try it! I really liked the one I had, and they might go for a good discount. I had an HHR and didn't like it. Bad visibility for me. I'm 6'3" and couldn't see overhead stoplights when they turned green. Engine finally quit on me and I traded it in after a couple weeks. Saturn Vue was alright. Quickie oil change broke the two piece oil filter (wtf?) Hauled away. Had a Mazda 5 for three days. (Replaced HHR) Day three was from Nashville to New Orleans. Traded immediately on arrival. Nuff said. Jeep Wranglers are my personal favorite. Mazda 3's and 6's are nice. I've liked every Pontiac I've had. Nissan Frontiers are good "light" trucks too.

Have fun shopping!

[NewJeffCT]

31. Thanks - some good advice

I might be interested in a year or two old Outback - still pretty new, but without the new car surcharge. I'd have to find a way to ship the car to CT, or else go up to ME to pick it up.

And, I'll look at the HHR as well, as I'm only 5'10" - so, won't have the issue with visibility.

[bluedigger]

33. You might be able to work something out.

I have gone with him to buy cars at auction in CT. If you were willing to take one "as-is". There's loads of late model low mile Subarus there. He has his own service department and usually fixes them up first, of course. If you had something specific, he could look for it for you.

[LeftyMom]

30. The Subies are the best cars on that list. By a lot.

Domestic wagons are all crap, European cars are unreliable and overpriced, if well featured, and Korean cars are full of safety fail and generalized mechanical shittiness.

Get the Subie. Especially since you live in an area with an abundance of weather. There's a reason they're so popular.