Is there any good reason not to get a car on this list? Anything to add to my list?

[AreaCode707]

Looking for a new vehicle (got tired of my little salvage title beater Jetta commuter vehicle getting used for razor clamming and hauling goats around...) but not really sure what's out there.

What I'm looking for:
- used
- reliable
- good condition
- middling to good gas mileage (considering that I'm looking at SUVs)
- manual transmission
- 4WD
- leather interior (to avoid dog hair destruction of upholstery)
- large enough to tote around 2 Great Danes and at least 5 passengers in a crunch

Assume cost isn't an issue; I'll adjust my expectations about what I need to spend as I see what's out there.

Originally I was thinking about a Suburu Outback, either the newer or older body style, but a friend of mine who works in an auto shop said they ALWAYS need the head gasket replaced at 120k miles. He suggested a Honda CRV instead, and that looks pretty good. I've taken note of the Lexus RX too.

Can you guys corroborate the Outback as a bad idea? Any known issues with the other two? What else is a similar size that meets my criteria that I could put on my list?

I'm so car ignorant that it's sad....

 

[videogames101]

Not that my small sample size means much, but all the outback owners that I know swear by them.

 

[zerocool84]

I don't know how well an Outback would be able to hold 2 huge Great Danes and 5 passengers comfortably at the same time. You might have to look into something larger.

And do you need AWD or 4WD? They are different things.

Also why do you think you need an SUV? Could you not get by with a wagon or Minivan?

 

[Q]

I don't know how well an Outback would be able to hold 2 huge Great Danes and 5 passengers comfortably at the same time. You might have to look into something larger.

And do you need AWD or 4WD? They are different things.

Also why do you think you need an SUV? Could you not get by with a wagon or Minivan?

Not really, don't confuse her.

 

[AreaCode707]

Not really, don't confuse her.

Thanks. I'm looking for 4WD because, as rarely as it snows in Seattle, I will have occasion to drive in the snow. Dragging people up for ski trips, going over the passes into Eastern WA, etc. We also may wind up throwing a hitch on it for lightish towing. Maybe AWD is as good for those functions, I dunno. If so that would be good. It'd open up a few more used vehicles for my search.

As far as wagon/minivan, it's a matter of personal preference. I don't have kids and I can't bring myself to drive a mom-mobile. The older model Outback is as close as I can bring myself to a wagon.

 

[StageLeft]

Are you buying new and if so do you really care that your head gasket will need replacing at 120k IF your mechanic buddy is actually spot-on accurate about this, which of course he isn't? I bet you could find many subie owners with more miles on their outback than that and no head-gasket issue. It is a reliable vehicle. One of the better brands in this arena of reliability. Don't take my word for it, go with consumer reports or jd power. You'll find a bad vein within almost any vehicle, whether it's an acura tl transmission or toyota causing you to accelerate into trees with its stuck pedal or whatever.

 

[AreaCode707]

Are you buying new and if so do you really care that your head gasket will need replacing at 120k IF your mechanic buddy is actually spot-on accurate about this, which of course he isn't? I bet you could find many subie owners with more miles on their outback than that and no head-gasket issue. It is a reliable vehicle. One of the better brands in this arena of reliability. Don't take my word for it, go with consumer reports or jd power. You'll find a bad vein within almost any vehicle, whether it's an acura tl transmission or toyota causing you to accelerate into trees with its stuck pedal or whatever.

Buying used. I've upped my concern about the head gasket issue after realizing that the Suburu Outback forums have an entire forum dedicated JUST to head gasket issues in their Problems & Maintenance section. Hm hm hm.

http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=66

 

[MotF Bane]

Why do you care about a manual transmission?

 

[videogames101]

Why do you care about a manual transmission?

What I'm looking for:
- used
- reliable

Indeed.

 

[AreaCode707]

Why do you care about a manual transmission?

Mostly because I like driving a manual. Also I've been led to believe that they last longer and cost a bit less in maintenance and can be a tad more fuel efficient than an automatic. Maybe that's not accurate; I've just picked that up from listening to various car-nut friends.

 

[zerocool84]

Mostly because I like driving a manual. Also I've been led to believe that they last longer and cost a bit less in maintenance and can be a tad more fuel efficient than an automatic. Maybe that's not accurate; I've just picked that up from listening to various car-nut friends.

Now-a-days, auto's are so good that many times they get better gas mileage than the manual counterparts. Also many of them are faster 0-60 than the manual counterparts. It really depends on what type of car you get and research about it. 99% of people auto is just fine.

 

[AreaCode707]

Now-a-days, auto's are so good that many times they get better gas mileage than the manual counterparts. Also many of them are faster 0-60 than the manual counterparts. It really depends on what type of car you get and research about it. 99% of people auto is just fine.

Well, as I said, my main reason for buying manual is that I like driving stick.

Any other suggestions for cars I should look at other than my current list?

 

[SeaSerpent]

Hey 707...never heard back from you on the boat

I see you like to clam dig, we hit most of the tides if Im not working.
Are you going to be digging the 31st through the 3rd tides?

 

[brblx]

i think any small car-based SUV fits the bill for the OP. can't go wrong with most of the jap models for reliability, subaru i'd put a little lower on the list than honda, toyota, or mazda, but they're certainly not bad cars. really the outback is probably great for your purposes, and you can probably find one in a manual. it just could be _slightly_ less reliable.

what's your price range? the recent rav4, crv, and escape would all be good choices.

 

[jagec]

Outbacks are great. CRVs are great. I have friends who own each (manual, too). I'd say that the Outback is probably a smidge less reliable, but that's only because the Honda is uncannily reliable. The Honda is lighter and smaller and gets better gas mileage, the Outback can haul more stuff. Both are very "Seattle" sorts of cars.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Subaru, FTW.

 

[Vetterin]

Hyundai Santa Fe. Well, you asked! And this is from a guy that owns a Subaru Legacy GT wagon.

 

[ViviTheMage]

CRV's are weak as hell.

Subby's are ugly, but are OK.

Grand Cherokee is where it's at! I am not sure many SUV's are manuals though...you can have tiptronic type option.

 

[jlee]

Hyundai Santa Fe. Well, you asked! And this is from a guy that owns a Subaru Legacy GT wagon.

Might be worth checking your oil pickup tube if you've got 60-70k on it...my buddy's cracked and grenaded a bunch of stuff in the motor...IIRC only a few months out of warranty. Very expensive.

 

[evident]

my gf got a used 2007 Lexus RX350 and never looked back. it meets all your requirements. she can fit 5 passengers and a portuguese waterdog (alot smaller than a great dane but it will probably still fit.

it's the ultimate woman's car.

 

[desy]

IMO
I'd get an 06/07 Saturn Vue AWD w V6
Larger than most other CUV's and the powertrain is Honda engine and transmission

 

[SearchMaster]

Heh - my sister helps with a Great Dane rescue group, and has 4 of her own. She drives a Prius and her husband drives a Mustang; neither is what I would call roomy but I guess it works for them. They rarely have the need to carry a lot of people though.

 

[Turin39789]

Just to clarify, you aren't toting the Great Danes and the 5 people at the same time?

We had a Pontiac Vibe, and our one Dane needed the seat laid down. Doing the same thing in a Scion Xa now, lay down the rear seat and he hops right in. Heck, he's even made the trip to the vet a few times sitting in the cab of my Ford Ranger, but you definitely won't get 2 of them in there.

 

[kalrith]

Other than Subarus, trucks, and high-end sports cars, I know of no vehicles with manual transmission and 4WD/AWD. If those are requirements to you, then I'd stick with the Subarus. I would go with a newer style Outback or Forester as they're larger than the old style, which might be too small to accomodate your size requirements.

 

[vshah]

Other than Subarus, trucks, and high-end sports cars, I know of no vehicles with manual transmission and 4WD/AWD. If those are requirements to you, then I'd stick with the Subarus. I would go with a newer style Outback or Forester as they're larger than the old style, which might be too small to accomodate your size requirements.

crv has a 5spd option