Looking for an AWD/4WD, stick shift, wagon

[OVerLoRDI]

My girlfriend is in the market for a used car. She wants 4WD/AWD for the snow and must have room to store snowboards either in the car or be able to mount a rack on top. She also really wants a stick shift. We have been looking through wikipedia looking for cars like this and then looking prices on autotrader. So far it seems that the only car we have found is a BMW E46 325xiT but those with stick are hard to find and a bit out of her price range, 18-22k.

Can anyone think of some other models?

Edit: That isn't a Subaru.

 

[thedarkwolf]

subaru dude

 

[Dman877]

Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe AWD? Seriously though, why not a Subaru? This is their market segment... otherwise you're looking at luxury carmakers, mostly BMW and Audi if you need a stick. Any Volvo's with a stick? I dunno...

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Well it is kind of a silly reason to exclude Subaru, but her sister has an outback. So she was hopping to get something different.

 

[Black88GTA]

Mid '00s Volvo XC70 wagon??

Example

EDIT: that one's auto, but maybe they made them with a manual? Idk, don't know much about Volvos.

 

[RedArmy]

The first thing most people think of when they hear "AWD car" is a Subaru. That's just how it is...there's a reason they dominate the areas where it snows

 

[desy]

Mazd a6 awd wagon
Fusion awd

 

[overst33r]

audi allroad?

 

[theeedude]

Saab 9-2X

 

[BW86]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
audi allroad?

 

[abaez]

Depending on the year, the older outbacks look much different than a regular impreza wagon, so she may not have much of a problem. Even the same model year outbacks/imprezas look different to me imho.

I bought my 2007 impreza wagon for 18.3k new - it's auto so it probably would have been cheaper manual (if they had had any).

 

[Chrono]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Saab 9-2X

aka... a Saabaru. Haha. That thing IS a rebadged WRX wagon. woot ;p

 

[Jumpem]

Nice edit. :roll:

A Subaru wagon would be a better vehicle in the snow than most anything else.

 

[Kabob]

Give her some grunt and get a Impreza WRX wagon.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: OVerLoRDI
Well it is kind of a silly reason to exclude Subaru, but her sister has an outback. So she was hopping to get something different.

Then get a forester, is pretty much the same thing anyway!

Seriously, I don't think anyone else really makes a price competitive vehicle in this market niche. The only comparable things in my experience seem to be european (and therefore expensive). You can then move to car based SUVs, but few seem to get comparable mileage.

Around here, everyone has subarus coming out the ass which makes finding a good deal on one easier. I'm not sure if its the same in your area.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: senseamp
Saab 9-2X

agree, i have one and its a great lil car

05-06s go in the 10-15k range depending on mileage and mods

i got my 05 with 32K on it for 10K$

 

[krunchykrome]

Saab 92-X or a WRX wagon

 

[mc866]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: senseamp
Saab 9-2X

agree, i have one and its a great lil car

05-06s go in the 10-15k range depending on mileage and mods

i got my 05 with 32K on it for 10K$

Damn you guys beat me to it, +1 though, looking for one myself right now

 

[Demon-Xanth]

GMC Typhoon?

 

[BATCH71]

Dodge Magnum AWD ---- used should be easy to find in your price range

I own one in the 2wd flavor and I live in NH. Goes very well in the snow and I love it. I don't think it is available in standard though.

Dave

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: mc866

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: senseamp
Saab 9-2X

agree, i have one and its a great lil car

05-06s go in the 10-15k range depending on mileage and mods

i got my 05 with 32K on it for 10K$

Damn you guys beat me to it, +1 though, looking for one myself right now

you look on saab92x.com? few people selling theirs on there currently

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll look into the Saab, and we also found a Volvo S40 that is stick and AWD. Yeah it isn't a wagon but we figured that we should just get a roof rack for the snowboards and we should be okay for storage.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: OVerLoRDI
Thanks for the help guys. I'll look into the Saab, and we also found a Volvo S40 that is stick and AWD. Yeah it isn't a wagon but we figured that we should just get a roof rack for the snowboards and we should be okay for storage.

in the Saab/WRX you can put boards and gear in the back but only if you dont take a 3rd person with you as you will need to fold teh seats down

a rack is a great idea for either the Volvo or a wagon

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: OVerLoRDI
Thanks for the help guys. I'll look into the Saab, and we also found a Volvo S40 that is stick and AWD. Yeah it isn't a wagon but we figured that we should just get a roof rack for the snowboards and we should be okay for storage.

in the Saab/WRX you can put boards and gear in the back but only if you dont take a 3rd person with you as you will need to fold teh seats down

a rack is a great idea for either the Volvo or a wagon

Same in my 2006 legacy wagon, although the rear seats don't all fold down together. Depending on how much gear you take with you, maybe only one of the rear seats need folding down and leaving room for 4. If the other side of the rear seats (one window and the middle) needs to be folded down, you have room for 3.

 

[vi edit]

The stick requirement kills most options.

Audi A4, Subaru, and BMW are about your only choices. You could maybe find a Volvo R70 too.