Need to replace station wagon -- not crazy about SUVs or minivans

[Paula Sims]

Hello again,
New thread, same person. Looks like we might have to replace our 2003 SAAB wagon (thanks GM for a crappy product -- 2003 was a baad year for them). This car is for long trips of 600 miles - 900 miles one way. We don't want an SUV or minivan and are looking for wagons but no one seems to have them anymore. Perhaps the Subaru but eh. . .

So great ones of the DU, we need you. Please suggest something for us. We LOVED our Volvo but now that it's under Chinese ownership, not sure how that's going to go. In addition, their wagons have become SUV-ish.

Thanks for the help


Paula

[elleng]

1. Look for a '93 Toyo wagon; I've got one from my folks,

still running beautifully!

Good luck
:hi:

[InkAddict]

2. What about a Nissan Rogue?

http://www.nissanusa.com/rogue?dcp=ppn.63023882.&dcc=0.240189300

[ElboRuum]

3. Here ya go...

The 1979 Wagon Queen Family Truckster in Metallic Pea/Wood Panel trim. If you think you hate it now, just wait till you drive it.

[LeftyMom]

4. I love my Subaru Forester.

If you don't mind a rather smallish wagon, the boyfriend (who is a total car dork) loves his Mazda so much he had his mother get one (and tried to talk me into one too) which is really high praise, IMO.

[mysuzuki2]

8. I had a forester too and loved it. I couldn't afford a new one when it wore out but

I would not hesitate to buy another. I had the manual tranny which I prefer. 4 wheel drive is very handy in Wisconsin winters. The only downside is that the gas mileage isn't great - about 24 overall and 28 highway. Not bad but not great either.

[LeftyMom]

11. I got mine really cheap used.

Like "shake out the couch cushions and you're halfway there" cheap. It's also a manual (and the sport package) so it's pretty fun to drive, considering it looks like tipped over refrigerator carton, only not as sexy. We get ridiculous street flooding here, so the AWD is handy for that.

[flvegan]

9. You know, I can read what you post here.

[LeftyMom]

10. Is "car dork" deeply offensive?

I meant automobile nerd. :P

[flvegan]

15. "Car snob" or automotive aficionado is more fitting.

[LeftyMom]

18. "And hillbillies prefer to be called 'sons of the soil' but it ain't gonna happen."

-Dr. Julius Hibbert, Springfield, USA

[tabbycat31]

12. I love my Forester too

And will be replacing it with another Subaru when the time comes.

[tammywammy]

5. VW Jetta Wagon

http://www.vw.com/en/models/jettasportwagen/gallery.html

It's also available as a diesel. :)

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I had a real station wagon before and loved it.

Here is a list of 35 wagons, and it all depends on your price catagory and what you are looking for.

http://buyersguide.caranddriver.com/sedans-wagons/wagon

I bought a Toyota Matrix, which is classified for insurance as a wagon, although I think it has a look of an SUV more than a wagon. But I have really learned to love it. It does have four doors and a hatchback and good mileage, which was what I was especially interested in. On the above site, it is classified as a hatchback, and you may want to look at them too, just in case.

[flvegan]

7. Mazda 3. Hands down.

And if the pocketbook can support it, and the right foot desires it, the Mazdaspeed 3. More bang for the buck you can not find. I've had my Speed 3 for quite some time, and it still makes me giggle.

[riderinthestorm]

13. I thought I remembered Ford had a station wagon coming out.

The new Fords are getting rave reviews. I'm going to check them out when it comes time to buy again. I do like the Hondas and don't have anything against their CRV or SUV types (and will probably get one) but will definitely look at the American brands since the reviews are so good lately.

[flvegan]

16. The Fiesta and the Focus are offered as 5 door hatchbacks.

Like a wagon. Both excellent cars.

[Gold Metal Flake]

14. Both of my Focuses are wagons.

But they stopped making the wagon in 2007 so if you are looking for new you have few options right now. Things that look like wagons, like the Ford Flex, are built on light truck chassis and then called "crossover" to hide the station wagon "stink". Wagons are very useful, don't know why they got a bad rap lately.

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. We had one, but it didn't handle as well in snow as hubby would have liked, so he had

to replace it with a Subaru. Other than that, tho, the Focus was a nice car. Comfy.

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. We have two Subarus. Forester and Outback. Love them both.

[sammytko]

20. There are all kinds of cross-over vehicles out there

I have a Hyundai Santa Fe and drove a Buick Roundevous before that. Next might be a Nissan Murano or the Kia Sportage, Ford Edge, Chevy Equinox, .....

[HopeHoops]

21. The Ford Flex is the closest thing ANYBODY makes to a station wagon.

It's sort of ugly, but it is more car than SUV and pretty damn close to a full-size wagon like the Colony Park (the last REAL full-size wagon I owned).

I've got a 93 Sable wagon, the previous "closest thing", well until they changed it to have those silly insect eyeball rear side windows. I've also got a 2000 Montana. Sure, it's a minivan, but it handles like a car and I can haul full sheets of plywood in the bed. Since they killed off Pontiac and Oldsmobile, the only clone of it they make now is the Chevy Lumina (I think that's what they call it). Same damn van.

[Throd]

22. '69 Vista Cruiser