Stephanie and I have been mulling over options for replacing the Forester. It’s fourteen years old, has 170k brutal miles (endless trips less than a mile without a full warm-up), has piston slap and now the head gaskets are finally leaking. In 2000, I knew exactly what I wanted: the Forester. Now? Meh….
We really like the Forester’s compact size, the great visibility, the tall roof, the roomy cargo area, the performance, traction and handling. There’s just nothing out there that’s even similar. Yes, the Subaru Impreza or Crosstrek come fairly close, but the rear cargo compartment and visibility are compromised by the fast back styling. How about a real wagon with a squared-off back?
Stephanie’s current object of consideration is the VW Jetta Sportwagen. Yea; I’ve always wanted a “sportwagen”… Ok, it is a a compact wagon, and there’s a lot to like about the Golf/Jetta, although the 2.5 five cylinder isn’t at the top of the list. It does have a lot of grunt, but fuel economy is at the low end of the pack (23/30). But I’m not finding gobs of enthusiasm.
What else? Mazda CX-5? Umm. Maybe we need to go back in time, and relive the enthusiasm we had for new cars in 1985 or so?
We’ve been giving serious thought to trying to find a well-kept W124 wagon. I’ve never quite gotten over my 300E. But these are going on thirty years old, legendary old-school Benz construction and all.
A Volvo 740 series wagon is the other “classic” under consideration. Either one would cost quite a lot less than a new car, and it’s not like we drive all that much. Stephanie runs some errands, and there’s occasional road trip and weekend outings.
So is there a new car out there we should be more excited about? Or should we just stop trying and embrace a Curbside Classic, and all that entails?
what about a 4th Generation 4-Runner with the six cylinder? I think the best looking generation. Very comfortable, reliable powertrains…Can beat the hell outta them, too.
Prius V as already mentioned. For short trips the hybrid drivetrain excels for power and economy. The big hatch may be not quite squared-off enough to function as a wagon though. And I haven’t looked at one in detail so it may not actually be suitable. But it would get you lots of green-cred in a city where that seems to mean a lot. And you can sell it after a few years into taxi service!
…or the previous generation Escape hybrid would tick all the same boxes but with a bigger cargo area. And it has 4WD if you want it.
The way I see it Paul, you’ve got a couple options. Option One, if your current Forester meets all your and Mrs N’s requirements, renovate it and keep driving it until it becomes your very own Curbside Classic. Option Two, if it no longer meets enough of your current requirements, find something that meets more (either classic or new).
Word of advice from my parents, who are on their third Legacy (ok, one was an Outback, but close enough): once the mechanical problems start, they can be never ending. Their first two Subarus each did over 300,000km and were dead reliable until the mid-200,000kms when the problems began. Some were major (engine bearings, head gaskets), most were minor but annoying. But when they went to upgrade earlier this year, there was nothing else out there that better met their needs, so they bought a 2008 Legacy. With only about 30,000km on it, so it should a few years before the problems surface!
In the short term, that’s almost inevitable. It might change how we feel about it then too.
I will have a similar quandary with our Aztek when it comes time to replace it. Nothing is quite the same size and capabilities for us, much like your concerns with the Forester. The modern replacement would be the Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain/Cadillac SRX triplets, but I use the Aztek for all kinds of hauling. I’d hate to buy a nice new ride and then trash the interior…
One of the cars that I would consider replacing it with would be a Dodge Journey. It comes in either FWD or AWD models and four and six-cylinder engines. However, I think I would avoid the 4 banger unless you have no intentions of ever merging onto freeways. Dimensionally, it’s close to the Aztek and will have better equipment.
Someone else further up the strings mentioned the Jeep Patriot, I’d like to suggest the Jeep Compass. Again, close in size to your original Forester, available in FWD or AWD and comes with more up to date safety equipment.
The last car I’d suggest is a Chevy Malibu Maxx. With the 3.5 and the 4T60 autobox, the dang things are about bulletproof and swallow a rather large amount of cargo. The passenger front seat folds down, so you can load 10 foot long items, like lumber (ask me how I know!) and close the hatch. The last year they were assembled was 2006, so they’re getting up in age. And rarity.
Otherwise, your other choices seem logical to me. I’d go for the Volvo wagons as I think they rock.
Someone else further up the strings mentioned the Jeep Patriot, I’d like to suggest the Jeep Compass.
I like the looks of the Patriot, the Compass since the refresh, not so much. I have never driven one, but all the owner and tester comments I see tend to agree on “cheap and noisy” Old platform, shared with the Dodge Caliber. According to rumor mill to be replaced next year.
Good luck finding a base model. All the dealers around here carry mid and upper trims priced in mid $20Ks and up.
And prior to 14 the automatic was a CVT.
My brother has a Dodge Journey with the 4 cyl engine and it does not seem to do too bad, it is not breaking any land speed records but it keeps up with traffic and does have enough off the line speed to keep from sweating any off ramp adventures.
I am also considering a change, prefer a small wagon.
I keep circling a Jetta wagon, with the 5 cylinder. The diesels have been having fuel pump problems. The next generation wagon, due out next fall, looks great, but the new engine gives me the willies: ultra thin block walls, turbocharged, exhaust manifold inside the head and supposedly liquid cooled. Reviews of Passats and Jetta sedans with the new engine have been raves, but too much new stuff from a company with a poor reliability record to suit me. The 5 cylinder has been around since about 05 and seems to be well sorted. I saw a chart from Consumer Reports a few months ago that rated auto brands by reliability, and listed the best and worst from each brand. The Jetta wagon with the 5 cylinder has the best record of everything VeeDub makes.
Also tried out an Acura TSX wagon last fall. The car wasn’t bad, until I hit a patch of less than smooth pavement. Totally off the wall vibration and noise. And the price 10 large above the Jetta didn’t help either.
The Detroit Auto Show opens in three weeks. I think I’ll take a look at a BMW 3 series wagon ($42K w/ 4xdrive) and a BMW X1 ($31K for RWD)
Bet I come back to the VW again. I get in the VW, look at the old school insturments and controls, the good outward visiblity and the, relatively, cheap price, $23K for an S with conventional 6 spd auto, and it just feels like home.
-Mazda6 wagon, though I’m guessing the fuel economy will be well short of your desired goal
-1st gen Highlander
-Passat wagon? Though I bet you’re better off with a new Jetta wagon than going a few years used for the Passat
and perhaps my best suggestion, but maybe a hard sell: Mazda5. No AWD, but excellent visibility, lots of space (huge for 2 people and gear). If you can get by the minivan-ness of it, worth a look when checking out the CX5
Coming from an equivalent-generation hatch, with the V6 and non-sedate driving there’s nooo chance of making good urban fuel economy. Lots of fun, but you’ll pay for it (I’m generally between 17 and 19 city mpg). I don}t know if they offered the I4 for the wagon, but during the test drive it felt overtaxed.
In July of 2011 I purchased an 07 Volvo V70 wagon with 54,000 miles on it. It is the last full size wagon from Volvo as the 08 V70 is quite a bit smaller and lacking in front leg room compared to the 07. I have owned more than 30 cars in the last 50 years but this is my first Volvo. As soon as I sat in it I was pretty sure I would buy it because it just felt right. Driving it felt even better and I wanted a wagon with a squared off cargo area. My wagon is the 2.4 5 cyl with automatic. The acceleration is not bad, the engine is very quiet, there is no noticeable wind noise, the ride is soothing and of course, the seats are out of this world. I was worried about expensive repairs. I have now just passed 90,000 miles and except for routine maintenance every six months (I normally drive 7500 miles in 6 months) the car has not required any other repair. I take it to an independent Saab/Volvo shop for maintenance as Volvo dealers here in Southern CA do not have very good reviews from customers. I throw this in the ring as I do not know why everyone always wants the old Volvos. I absolutely love my 07 V70.
Good to know; thanks.
Paul, I was in the same boat two years ago. Our ’04 Forester XS had served exemplary duty as the big car for our small family was becoming obsolete. Why? It came with the “man pedal” and a five-speed stick, and I wasn’t going to send my only-teen out on the mean streets like that for her first driving years. And truth was, I was tired of the Forester. At low speeds, it was frisky and flingable, but over 40 mph it was tiresome and noisy.
My wife favored the obvious option, a new Forester. Now the past generation, the 2012 model offered a nicer interior, and didn’t spoil the wonderful visibility and utility the Forester always provided. My test drive went sour when I aimed the car up a steep residential road. The 4-speed (really!) got stuck between gears and would not accelerate beyond 35 mph, no matter how much gas I gave it. The new CVT transmission gets better reviews, but it’s still not a proper gear-on-gear powertrain.
The Jetta Sportswagen sits at the top of a class of its own (sub-$30K compact wagon). It’s all the car most folks will ever need. Go ahead, buy one, but choose either the TDI or the upcoming 1.8T gas engine. The Jetta wagon sits on the excellent MkV chassis, same as my GTI. Nothing wrong with that, except you won’t have the ground clearance of the Subie– but you have a truck for those camping trips, right?
That’s not what we bought, though. Again, the transmission queered the deal. The Jetta comes with the DSG auto-shift, which has a very limited towing capacity. Did I mention we tow a one-ton Scamp trailer now and then? For that duty, an SUV or CUV is essential now. Like the VW Tiguan we bought. Ours is loaded, and far too expensive, but if you take it easy with the options, it’s priced alongside the Sportswagen.
How does the Tiguan best the Sportswagen? Let me count the ways. First, it’s built in Wolfsburg, ’nuff said. It comes with the powerful, efficient 2.0T used in the GTI and every other premium VW. AWD is available. The interior is boxy, ground clearance is abundant and cargo room is generous, just like the Forester. But when you twist the wheel or pound the throttle, those GTI roots make themselves clear. It’s rated to tow 2,400 lbs. On a trip from Denver to Leadville last summer, it towed our trailer effortlessly, climbing a vertical mile without strain. The same trip in a non-turbo Forester was like “The Little Engine that (Barely) Could.”
The Tiguan doesn’t get much love in the online forums. The dominant meme is “uncompetitive.” You can get a bigger CUV for the money, if that’s what you want, but not a nicer one. In the first year, BTW, it’s been trouble-free. The only benefit the Jetta wagon brings is better fuel mileage, lots better of you go TDI. Depending on how many miles you drive, that may or may not be determinative.
Lastly, I know what you mean about the new cars. Nothing has the quiet, confident, simple styling of last century’s cars. I’d rather drive a CC myself– but I drive a lot of miles, and I don’t keep spare cars around, and I’m tried of big repair bills. If I had a nice CC, it would be a crime to drive it 20K miles a year!
My cousin in Austria had just bought a Tiguan when I was last there, and rode in it a few times. A very nice and solid-feeling car. I hold it in high regard, even if it’s not optimized for the US market, which has somewhat different priorities. Of course he had a TDi, and the mileage was impressive too.
Our Tig has returned 30 mpg on an easy mountain highway drive; city mileage is low 20s, but we have all the efficiency-robbing options, automatic & AWD. You do pay a price for greater frontal area & height. If I was doing it over again, I’d get a cheaper Tiguan SE with 17″ wheels, and look at lowering it an inch or two. (I will never get used to that high-ridin’ SUV driving position, it makes you feel like you’re driving 10 mph slower.) Then swap in a secondhand pair of GTI seats. I really think that would be an almost perfect vehicle. Until that TDI Tiguan arrives, anyway.
Slightly used CPO Tiguans are all over the lots now, starting at $17,000 in FWD. That’s probably the best value in a VW dealership right now, a German built turbo wagon for the price of basic Mexican Beetle or Jetta sedan.
The Jetta Sportswagen sits at the top of a class of its own (sub-$30K compact wagon). … Again, the transmission queered the deal. The Jetta comes with the DSG auto-shift, which has a very limited towing capacity.
The TDI uses the DSG, and the media says the next generation wagon will have use the DSG with the 1.8T. The current Mexican built 5 cylinder wagon uses an Asian conventional 6 speed.
Starting this year or next, the TDIs will have a urea tank that you need to have refilled from time to time.
The Sportswagen tows well with a manual. My friend uses a TDI JSW to tow a heavily loaded rafting trailer, and complains about getting just 25 mpg or so!
I care little about the urea fill-up. It shouldn’t be harder than refilling a windshield washer tank. I worry more about the expense of timing belt changes. I’ve usually bought used TDIs needing belt changes, and that cost ate up two years’ worth of TDI fuel savings, even with heavy use!
My most trusted VW mechanic, and indy VWAG guy, advised me to get a 2.0T. It’s a low-maintenance engine, with timing chain, that resolved many problems with the earlier FSI engine.
Here;s my list
Mazda 5 the mini mini van
C-max
I agree with the above poster about the FX just a cool car
Wait for the next fiat van?
transit connect
Kia soul
Chevy Sonic
Late model Volvo wagon
I’ve driven a CVT Impreza for two years. The transmission is largely transparent in city driving. The engine has enough torque that playing with the paddle shifters in town is just a bother. In the mountains the paddle shift mode, while in cruise control, you can avoid the spasmodic transmission behavior. I have mentioned this to Subaru a number of times and they have totally ignored my comments.
Perhaps a gently-used 2010-ish Ford Escape (under 50K miles, likely under $14K–unless 4WD is a “must”)?
Plenty boxy (before recent swoopy restyle), lots of glass, sits “up” a bit, not at all spartan; back seat folds to a “flat floor” for dog, hay bales, etc.
I live in Michigan, not Oregon, so this may be why I’ll go out on a limb here — off lease CTS Wagon. AWD available, comfortable, can get one with under 50K mi for less than $25K. OK the styling is not for everyone, but I like them. And you won’t see your double coming down the street every day.
Paul, we were in the same situation as you are about a year ago. My wife totaled her Subaru Legacy wagon on I-5 and we needed a replacement immediately. Our two main requirements were superior fuel mileage and good storage for my wife’s medical supplies. My wife can easily put in 100 miles a day as a hospice nurse. Our short list came down to the Subaru Crosstrek and the VW Tdi Sportwagen. We already knew the Subaru’s potential foibles: frequent head gasket repairs, weak fuel mileage, and having to replace all four tires when one goes bad. The Crosstrek was cute, but storage was not nearly as much as her old Legacy. The Sportwagen, however, was everything she needed; good fuel mileage, great reliability, and lots of storage. It also had the superb fit and finish that reminded us of an Audi. We decided on a toffee brown model with a 6 speed manual. We’ve gone 20k so far and have had zero problems.
Google Ads offers an answer to you, Paul. Not a bad idea actually, it even has AWD. Have you driven a modern Mini? They’re a kick.
2005-09 3.0R Outback of any flavor (Bean, plain R, VDC…)
MkII H6 is totally trouble-free, 5AT is not the best-tuned AT in the business, but is totally reliable. Greatest AWD system ever. Great seats, visibility. Plenty of useful space. Sufficiently fast and torquey for the hills. 22-23 mpg overall. Timing chain and 0 problems with the gaskets.
Just price in immediate rear shocks replacement and rear wheels alignment with 200 lbs in the trunk. The shocks will be shot 100% and with the alignment it will cure this generation’s only real weak spot (google ghost walking). Had on mine, fixed completely.
Dearly regret selling mine at 140kkm young… Had it for 90kkm, 0 problems.
My 2 cents: the Outback, the Forrester, or the Sportwagen TDI. I really have enjoyed my OB, and the deals are strong as they get ready to introduce its replacement next month. The new Forrester is not all that big, but hauls a lot. The Sportwagen diesel feels like it has a lot more torque than the 2.5.
Paul,
We bought a Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD for the wife in May and we love it. We ordered the car in order to get exactly what we wanted, it took about a month to come in. We like the space for both people and stuff and the gas mileage is pretty good. We are averaging 26 MPG in mostly suburban driving, Our best tank has been 30 on the road and the worst has been 22. If you had the smaller 2.0 motor and or didn’t get the AWD the mileage would be even better. As a former Miata driver I can say the CX-5 handles great, it has that Mazda zoom-zoom and loves to take a turn. Have the wife drive one and see what she thinks.
If Stephanie doesn’t really need AWD, she could get a Fiat 500L.
If she absolutely needs AWD, she can get a new Mini Countryman, with available AWD.
A few cents from an infrequent commenter:
Shortly after I was born (in the late eighties), my parents realized that, with nursery school coming soon, more siblings likely on the way and my mother’s family’s tendency to produce twins, that they’d probably need a station wagon. My father, having spent years in France and Africa, immediately gravitated towards a Peugeot 505. They liked it a lot, but left the dealership a bit worried about how much longer Peugeot would be around in the US.
Since they lived in New England at the time (and my maternal grandfather owned a P1800, too), the natural next step was Volvo. My father was expecting to be disappointed, but ended up loving to 745 and admitted he’d prefer it to the 505 even if Peugeot’s US operations had good long-term prospects. It was swift and had a wonderful interior for 1988, and it would be considered nimble in any era—he still raves about its turning radius and handling.
That said, an old Volvo can be expensive—we ended up inheriting a Town Car and decided to trade in the Volvo at age six, but my uncle kept his 240 going for 19 years, but that was out of sentimentality, not financial good sense (and it was also risky—at least in Chicago there’s something of a black market in stolen 240 parts, and my uncle would sometimes return to his car to find a part missing).
The car he replaced it with was a bug-eyed 2002 Impreza (with the 2.5L boxer for its extra low-end torque compared to the 2.0 and 2.0 turbo). He considers it the best car he’s ever owned, which is saying something since he has a picture of the 240 of his dresser. The old Impreza’s robust, fun to drive (he has a manual and treats the north side of Chicago like the Dakar Rally), and with good cargo room. He owns and rents a few properties and devoted gardener, so he can vouch for the usefulness of its interior space (I’ve joked that he’s turned it into a two-seater because he almost always has the seats folded down). I have no idea of how beaten up non-WRX second-gen Impreza wagons are, but if you can find one (and owners are loath to part with them) in good shape with under 100K I’d take it. [Edit: though, after reading through the other comments, that may be too close to what you already have, and my uncle’s doesn’t have too many miles. Coming from a family of urbanites where taking the train isn’t unusual and you can walk for most errands, I forget that 7K a year isn’t normal for most drivers.]
I also have a friend who’s doing well with an ancient (well, 1987) Mercedes 420SEL—particularly since he has no mechanical experience (and isn’t an electrician, either), I fully expected him to try it for a few months before returning to daily-driving his Civic. But he’s been keeping it going for almost two years now, and I think the car’s in better shape today than when he bought it. He’s put some money in it, but less than I expected, and it’s a very nice, buttoned-down car. So, contrary to my expectations, if you can find a good example from that era of Mercedes it can actually work out well.
In a similar boat at the moment, coincidentally. My wife’s van/family van is now up to 175k miles and I’m certain sooner than later with the daily (ab)use it gets, a replacement will be needed. I’m struggling because we need something that fits three kids + gear + dogs (at times) so my options in my head right now are:
1.) Keep it and plan for expensive motor or trans replacement
2.) Replace with a new (or newer) van
3.) Buy a used Subaru (she doesn’t like them, but one trip in a WRX should convince her) and keep the van for trips
4.) Buy a used Suburban/Tahoe
I’m leaning heavily towards three as I don’t like new cars (killing 2), I like to wrench on cars (+1 for option 3) but I don’t like to wrench on cars when under pressure of needing it to cart family around the same day/tomorrow (-1 for 1, +1 for 3). We also already currently have two guzzlers, so having the option of something with a little better mileage would be nice (-1 for 4, +1 for 3 and 2).
Don’t know how well that works for you, but at the moment I’m heavily leaning towards a 5-7 year old WRX and keeping the van. Maybe keep the fixed Forester and add the Merc?
A Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, maybe? Or a mid 1990s Accord wagon?
What about a Saab Combi? A nice late-model 9-5 or the last of the 9-3s. Talk about great seats.
I miss those Saab wagons. Great choice.
I bought a 2013 Jetta SportWagen with the TDI and a 6 speed manual. I put on snow tires for the winter and so far so good. I like the interior and engine better than any of the Subaru’s. And the vinyl seats are perfect for comfort and keeping clean with two dogs.
There are so few true station wagons left in the U.S. I feel cool driving around in mine.
I am curious about the Volvo V60 finally arriving here next month in the U.S.- but it wont come with a a manual transmission or diesel engine options here. Sigh.
Long-time lurker, first time poster here.
I’d second the suggestion for a clean, well-cared-for ’06-’08 Forester. We bought a very nicely cared for ’08 at xmastime of 2011, had 71k on it, looked virtually new. Truly the best car we could have gotten.
Just took a 6,755-mile road trip (51 days, from 9/1 to 10-21) in it, and she performed and drove like a champ. Drove from Austin, TX out to San Diego, and then up the PCH the entire way, into Oregon…turned right at Florence and went through your town ;-), up to the Columbia Gorge, across Idaho and into Wyoming to the Tetons, back down through Utah and Arizona, then back home. The only “incident” was a tire-warning light that came on for awhile after some “off road” adventure in California, but once the tires were re-inflated to door-sticker pressure, it went away. I’m a stickler for “dealer maintenance” with her, to the point of stopping at the Subaru dealer in Boise for an oil change.
As long as they are maintained, this particular incarnation of the Forester is the best value, as far as I can see. This one’s got 86k on the odometer now, and still looks and drives like new.
The head-gasket issue was pretty much taken care of with the ’02 year models, from what I understand. I have a friend with an ’02 Forester that has not had a single issue with it, save for an air-conditioning problem a couple of years ago. Hers was nearly totaled in a wreck (T-boned in the passenger side), but they opted to repair it and keep it, since it has been such a stalwart car for them.
From an aesthetics point of view, I think Subaru really messed up, design-wise, with the ’09 year and later, and this years’ models just look too much like an 80s-kid’s plastic toy (sadly, so do most other cars nowadays…I don’t want to drive a “Transformer”…too old for that!). Our ’08 is (imho) the last “sensibly designed” looking Forester, and will likely be the “last good car” I have to buy.
Best of luck, whatever you decide. I stumbled upon CC awhile back, and truly enjoy your efforts with the site.
Thanks! Yes, that’s one of the considerations on our list. In 170k brutal miles, our Forester has never let us down. And we’ve never had any major repairs, except for an axle shaft and a couple of rear wheel bearings, both fairly minor, really.
I wrote earlier (’06 5-speed, about 92K miles at present). Unfortunately, we know of two cases of relatively early gasket failure on two different ’03 four-cylinder cars purchased new: our neighbor’s Forester and our own Legacy (both also 5-speeds). In our case, the dealer noticed the leak – we were using an oil change coupon – and made the repair at no cost even though we were past 5 years; we hadn’t yet crossed 60K miles, so they stretched a point for us.
I would still advise a 2006-08 Forester if further research turned up a genuine decrease in reports of gasket failure versus the earlier cars.
That generation of Foresters does seem preferable. I’m a Forester fan, considering that it’s the only Asian auto I’ve ever chosen to buy. Properly tuned, they’re certainly sportswagons themselves. But they will never have the solidity & serenity of a German car at speed. In most VWs, including the Tiguan and JSW, every surface you touch will be nicer. The stereo will sound better, partly because it’s not struggling to make up for the car’s excessive wind noise. I’m sure you know the drill here…
That’s why I’m sorry that the SAAB-Subaru hookup didn’t proser and flourish. SAAB had just what Subaru needed the most– style, comfort, ergonomics and several pounds more sound insulation. If it wasn’t so small, I’dm probably be driving a 9-2x these days!
But there was no SAAB-Subaru hookup as such – it only appeared that way because at the time, GM owned 100% of SAAB and something like 18% of Fuji Heavy Industries. Nonetheless I think the 2nd-gen Impreza turbo wagon made a pretty convincing SAAB.
Well, if you would like my Two Cents, here it is…
As you may recall, I purchased a 2012 Escape a couple of years ago. It’s a four cylinder four wheel drive XLT model. It currently has a touch over 27000 miles on it, and the only issue I have had was that the transmission started slipping, and it turned out that all it needed was a computer reflash, it’s been perfectly fine otherwise. It does quite well on gas, it has lots of room, good visibility, a tight turning radius, and there is plenty of room under the hood to do maintenance. Seeing how domestics aren’t that popular where you are, I bet you could get a CPO example very cheaply! The new Escape does nothing for me, plus it has too much new tech and has been having teething problems.
If I was to go VW, I’d want the TDI, as I feel that is the one thing that makes a VW appealing, at least to me. And I think the Sportwagen is a looker.
Lastly, the current CR-V really seems like a nice little wagon.
That’s all I have… 🙂
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet concerning domestic cars not being popular on the left coast. There is more to the left coast than CA. The Escape is very popular in the PNW and the command a good price.
For fun I looked up a 2012 Escape Hybrid CPO with 12K and plugged in a couple of different zip codes.
Portland and Seattle were the highest of the cities I checked
$25 more than St Louis
$300 more than in Chicago or Detroit
CA does support the stereotype though as the value in LA or San Fransisco is about $500 less than Seattle and Portland.
Hi Paul,
I know I’m late to this [arty but I’ve been to another (its that time of year and an odd day for your birthday).
If you were in the UK, and assuming you want something beyond the regular hatch but not the full MPV, I’d be suggesting the Ford C-Max or maybe S-Max.
Under UK law though, I am obliged to suggest a Range Rover Evoque, just in case you might actually want one.
But the old Volvo or Benz estate appeals a lot more. The 850XC always looked good to me. Or maybe a SAAB 9-5 estate or an MG ZT-T?
The S-Max is a great looker, as is the Evoque – and I think Paul may be one of the rare few who’s actually tall enough to see over the waistline of the Evoque!
AN MG ZT-T is an interesting choice. If it was the ZT 260 with the Mustang V8 it’d be cheap to service in the States as well!
We do get the C-Max in the US though only in Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid versions.
I say forget about anything Forester-like, and just pick up something CC-Detroitish; say, a minty ’72 Ford LTD, if you can find one!
Late to the party again. Happy New Year everyone!
I struggle with the same issue. Our 2007 Caravan gets the job done for now, but what would I replace it with? Probably another Caravan just for utility and value, but the daily driver type vehicles that call to me these days are:
Jeep Cheokee XJ
1st Generation Subaru Forester
Lincoln LS
What they have in common is nice open greenhouse and availability of manual transmission which i really like, but depressingly these are all getting pretty old now. For a new vehicle I don’t know, like the Ford Edge my FIL keeps trying to sell me most new vehicles are big outside and small inside. 2011 Ford Escape? It’s available with a manual for me, and automatic for others..
Hey Paul, our family’s old 1975 Ford Ltd Landau Coupe would be perfect for you if still around. Everything you ever wanted in a car and I know how much you love big Fords from this era. Bought new from Tower Ford (Towson Ford was $100 more). The epitome of 1970’s brouhamy malaise. It had that stupid little window between the front door and the back window that looked awful and made no sense. Wheezy, plodding 400 under the hood, far slower than the ’69 390 it replaced. Hide a way headlights that would mysteriously open their own accord. The metallic silver finish was gone in three years. At least the cornering lights were cool.
On a serious note, how about a new/used Honda Pilot, or its Acura MDX kin if you’re in the mood for a more luxurious ride. Have both and they are bullett proof and trouble free. Plenty of room, decent power and mileage. The kinda of package Honda does best. Oldest son has a CRV, which seems to be just as reliable as the Pilot in a smaller package. All three exude a certain Oregon / Pacific Northwest vibe too.
Happy Hunting!