Car advice- efficient wagon

[squishyg]

Hello off-topicers!

I'm in the market for a fuel efficient and safe wagon. Any recommendations? Most likely I'd be buying it used. I've always liked the Subaru Outback but am open to suggestions.

Thanks! xoxo, squishy

[shieldgenerator7]

The Nissan Cube is fairly reliable. It looks a little funky and small, but it has plenty of room and about 30mpg, plus (depending on the exact model) BlueTooth (so you can talk while you drive), radio, automatic transmission, remote controlled locking mechanism, car alarm, etc.

Hope this helps

-SG7 ( )

[DoomYoshi]

Focus wagons are the best room/fuel efficiency mixture. Also, the parts are cheap if anything does break.

[BigBallinStalin]

Hello off-topicers!

I'm in the market for a fuel efficient and safe wagon. Any recommendations? Most likely I'd be buying it used. I've always liked the Subaru Outback but am open to suggestions.

Thanks! xoxo, squishy

You mean... something like this?




or like this?






The second is more fuel efficient but less comfortable--assuming that you're the one pulling it.

[Frito Bandito]

I love my outback, it's a tank, and can drive in anything. But, mileage is not the best.

[demonfork]

The Outback is the #1 choice of butch lesbians.

[bedub1]

The Outback is the #1 choice of butch lesbians.

Correct. Don't buy a Subaru. (u r a bus)
Ford Focus? Really? Don't buy that.
Nissan Cube? Really? It's not a wagon, it's hideous, don't buy it.
Get a Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen.
Maybe a Volvo Wagon.

[happy2seeyou]

Does it have to be a wagon? How about a mini van? Press a button, doors open. No more hunching over to get kids in and out. They also have DVD players in them. Of course your children turn into zombies while you are driving and you will learn every word to any movie you have playing since you will be playing them over, and over, and over again (but it's sooooooo worth it). You can have a sports car and motorcycle to drive when there are no children with you to make up for the "soccer mom" crap.

[jammyjames]

What about an estate? Or is that what is mean't by wagon over there?

[DoomYoshi]

The Outback is the #1 choice of butch lesbians.

Correct. Don't buy a Subaru. (u r a bus)
Ford Focus? Really? Don't buy that.
Nissan Cube? Really? It's not a wagon, it's hideous, don't buy it.
Get a Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen.
Maybe a Volvo Wagon.

I had a volkswagen (every car enthusiast is supposed to have at least one in their life) and every trip to the garage was 1500 $ - not even at the dealership.

Can you provide a reason to not buy a focus or are you just going to continue your miz impersonation?

[KoolBak]

For affordability / safety, there is no beating a used Volvo wagon....a buddy has had 2 and put over a half million miles on them; comfortable, safe, stylish and affordable....they can be had from $2,000 - approx $7,000 for a very decent one....

You can buy a Ford escort cheap if you want a disposable car.....Subarus, while good, carry a premium for the name for some reason.

[kentington]

For affordability / safety, there is no beating a used Volvo wagon....a buddy has had 2 and put over a half million miles on them; comfortable, safe, stylish and affordable....they can be had from $2,000 - approx $7,000 for a very decent one....

You can buy a Ford escort cheap if you want a disposable car.....Subarus, while good, carry a premium for the name for some reason.

If Volvo had front facing third row I would have one. But apparently you can't put your kids in the third row in car seats if it faces the rear. So, I got a '64 Pontiac Catalina Safari. It has the rear facing third row. But I don't need it there is enough room in the front two rows for all six of us.

[Ace Rimmer]

Ford Freestyle/Taurus X

- Crossover based on a Volvo design
- Three rows with stadium seating so you can still see out of the back
- Can fit 4 carseats (I know, I do it)
- Option of 6 or 7 passenger seating
- VERY reliable vehicle. I've had ours (2005) for 3 years, gone from 29k miles to 64k miles on it, taken it from Alabama to New Hampshire twice.
- CVT option on the Freestyles (I love that transmission)
- AWD, rear AC, lots of options

They don't make them anymore (Ford Explorer is the replacement) but you can find some excellent used ones still in great shape.

[Timminz]

- CVT option on the Freestyles (I love that transmission)

I never thought I would hear (or read) those words together.

I drove a Caliber with CVT for a week or so. It was a terrible car, with an even terribler transmission.

[xeno]

I'm not going to lie there are some terrible suggestions for buying cars in this thread. Im happy with my 2010 silverado. My advice is buy american

[Timminz]

there are some terrible suggestions for buying cars in this thread..... My advice is buy american

Speaking of terrible suggestions...

[xeno]

there are some terrible suggestions for buying cars in this thread..... My advice is buy american

Speaking of terrible suggestions...

With the exclusion of ford..

[squishyg]

thanks, this is helpful!

more info:
i hold onto cars for awhile, so cost to replace parts is a factor (thanks for pointing that out!)
2 small kids w/ car seats & a tall, pro-wrestler build husband (sorry ladies, he's TAKEN!), but i don't want an enormous car that's hard to handle and park
eco-friendly is a plus, good gas mileage is a must
i don't mind it being an uncool car. i'm not very cool anyway
buying american is definitely my first choice, that's all my husband and i have owed
i'll probably buy something a few years old

you guys rule, thanks so much!

[Lootifer]

Audi A4; expensive and bad on milage.

Thats what ur looking for right?

[Lootifer]

I'm not going to lie there are some terrible suggestions for buying cars in this thread. Im happy with my 2010 silverado. My advice is buy american

Do you have any idea what a wagon means?

Jesus americans can be ignorant...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_wagon

Thats what he is after...

/shakeshead

[Lootifer]

Also what year/price range are you looking at?

I ask this since budget older wagons have some issues based on what year you buys; ie DONT buy a pre-2003 subie, fuckers have a bunch of issues.

[xeno]

I'm not going to lie there are some terrible suggestions for buying cars in this thread. Im happy with my 2010 silverado. My advice is buy american

Do you have any idea what a wagon means?

Jesus americans can be ignorant...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_wagon

Thats what he is after...

/shakeshead

Did I say buy a truck? Car? Nope i said buy american. /condescending headshake

[Lootifer]

I'm not going to lie there are some terrible suggestions for buying cars in this thread. Im happy with my 2010 silverado. My advice is buy american

Do you have any idea what a wagon means?

Jesus americans can be ignorant...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_wagon

Thats what he is after...

/shakeshead

Did I say buy a truck? Car? Nope i said buy american. /condescending headshake

Mmm, because americans are known for their ability in the station wagon market.

(thats not to say Americans dont build great cars, they do. But theres a reason the station wagon market is dominated by the Euros and Japanese manufacturers)

[squishyg]

Budget is around $15,000. i plan to have the car awhile, so i'm looking to buy something 1-3 years old with commensurate mileage.

p.s. I am a woman-type person

[Lootifer]

Cant go too far wrong with a subie then; post 2004 they have pulled their act together and make pretty good cars.

If you dont need/want AWD then you also cant go too far wrong with the other big name Japs: Toyota, Mazda (Ford) and Nissan. With rising safety standards and engineering improvements buying a car isnt like the old days (unless you buy a honda lol).