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Wagons... Saab 9-5,9-3 Audi A4, what else did I miss?

A

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Is it really a social suicide to buy a wagon when you're only 23? Wagons are so practical.

I can probably spend 12k on a wagon... I don't really need AWD so subbies are out. Audis are nice but I don't know how reliable they are. How about Saab?
 
In image conscious California, yes it is social suicide, as far as cars go. Ironically the Subbie is the one socially acceptable wagon because snowboarding/skiing/outdoorsy yuppies like them.
 
Malibu MAXX is a nice car that can be had for cheap, and will be more reliable than the mentioned euro cars.

 
Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix
There are also a few Volvo wagons and VW plans to reintroduce at least one, if not more. They also have the wagon Passat.
 
I love wagons. When i had my Taurus i looked for a wagon. couldn't find one at all. they were going fast. i would love a volvo sport wagon =)
 
I wouldn't rule out the Subbies because of not needing AWD. The AWD system they use is one of the most simple, durable, and efficient ones out there. It doesn't drop the milage that bad over similar vehicles.

Concerning the wagon stigma - buy the car you want. Watch everyone else bitch when they can't fit their dog, TV, furniture, or nameless other bulky items in their sedans. They are the perfect utilitarian car. To this day I haven't figure out why people have such a sour taste in their mouth about them.

At 12k you are fairly limited in choices for quality, reliable vechicles.

If I was going German, I'd go with a V6 Passat over BMW or Audi. I owned a B5 V6 Wagon for just shy of 100,000 miles and did nothing to it but routine stuff.

Otherwise you are looking at older/higher milage Outback and Impreza wagons. There might be a few rare Legacy GT (previous gen) or current gen 2.5i Legacy wagons laying around.

The Malibu Maxx is an option but its not anywhere near the same refinement/road feel as the Passat or as "sporty" feeling as the Subarus.


 
I love wagons...
my first car was a 1988 Plymouth Reliant wagon.
My second car was a 1986 Plymouth Reliant wagon.
3rd car was a 1995 Saturn SW2 wagon.
4th car was a 2000 Saturn SW2 wagon.

I'd love to have another wagon. I'm still disappointed that Honda isn't making the Accord wagon in the US anymore.

Don't forget the Saturn L-series wagon. The later models with the 4 cylinder engines are efficient and reliable. (They aren't made anymore, of course.)

Chrysler has the Caliber and Jeep Compass which are really nothing more than all wheel drive wagons. And then there's the Dodge Magnum.

 
Originally posted by: senseamp
In image conscious California, yes it is social suicide, as far as cars go. Ironically the Subbie is the one socially acceptable wagon because snowboarding/skiing/outdoorsy yuppies like them.
Click to expand...

I'm moving to Texas 🙂
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
I wouldn't rule out the Subbies because of not needing AWD. The AWD system they use is one of the most simple, durable, and efficient ones out there. It doesn't drop the milage that bad over similar vehicles.

Concerning the wagon stigma - buy the car you want. Watch everyone else bitch when they can't fit their dog, TV, furniture, or nameless other bulky items in their sedans. They are the perfect utilitarian car. To this day I haven't figure out why people have such a sour taste in their mouth about them.

At 12k you are fairly limited in choices for quality, reliable vechicles.

If I was going German, I'd go with a V6 Passat over BMW or Audi. I owned a B5 V6 Wagon for just shy of 100,000 miles and did nothing to it but routine stuff.

Otherwise you are looking at older/higher milage Outback and Impreza wagons. There might be a few rare Legacy GT (previous gen) or current gen 2.5i Legacy wagons laying around.

The Malibu Maxx is an option but its not anywhere near the same refinement/road feel as the Passat or as "sporty" feeling as the Subarus.
Click to expand...

The newer subarus have sweet interiors, but the older ones are bleh. I was thinking of the impreza but the 2.5 ones are somewhat harder to find (seems like everyone is selling their WRXes and I don't need that many hp)
 
You should easily be able to find a Mazda Protege 5 (AKA MP5) in your price range. They are neat looking little cars. But they are gutless and the interior is pretty spartan.

You could also *maybe* find a Mazda 3 hatch for that price. It's not a true wagon, but it does offer a lot more cargo hauling flexibility than the sedan variant. It's a very fun to drive car (I owned one) and IMHO it's one of the best looking compact cars on the market.
 
WRX Wagon is by far a better car than the Saabs, and more reliable and better performing than the Audi.

If you can't swing the $$$, try a used Mazda3 wagon.
 
I own a Saab 9-2x Linear *ahem*2.5RS*ahem* and I love it to death, that being said, a Saab 9-3 wagon gets me drooling. A Mazda 3 is OK, but after driving one, it felt not as well built (but the MS3 is just in a class of its own).
 
how about a BMW 540i wagon? but i think if you want a reliable late-model wagon that doesn't suck to drive, your best bet will be a Legacy or WRX wagon, regardless of the AWD situation.
 
I have decided to go with a 2005+ Subaru Legacy or Outback. I hope to get one for 16k OTD. It's hard to find one with a manual though (how about impossible?).
 
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