Car advice- efficient wagon

[happy2seeyou]

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

I have a Honda Odyssey and I too am a woman type person.

p.s. I even swore I would NEVER own a mini van.

[BigBallinStalin]

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).

SOUND THE RACIST ALARM!! GET THE RACIST NEOTENY POLICE IN HERE!!!!

[saxitoxin]

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).

SOUND THE RACIST ALARM!! GET THE RACIST NEOTENY POLICE IN HERE!!!!

Lootifer was obviously referring to several well-known Jewish American Princess auto engineers: Dina Toyotaberg, Zazu Mazdabaum and Yetta Nissanstein.

[bedub1]

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)

I couldn't agree more. I wanted to buy a station wagon for myself. America doesn't make any. It was either subaru, VW Jetta TDI, or Volvo. The subaru's were cheap plastic crap, the VW was awesome but expensive to maintain, the volvo was expensive to start with. I instead bought a Honda CRV. I would have loved the VW Jetta TDI Wagen. It was an awesome car, but they didn't have enough so I couldn't buy one.

[Pedronicus]

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!

Unless you buy something else - you'll never know just how bad American Cars are.

My broad advice is this.
By a Japanese or German car and if you want decent mileage, get a diesel.

[kentington]

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!

Unless you buy something else - you'll never know just how bad American Cars are.

My broad advice is this.
By a Japanese or German car and if you want decent mileage, get a diesel.

Agree with diesel. Is diesel just as expensive proportionately in other states as it is in California? Here they are required to remove the sulfur or something. Now diesel is more than premium gas.

[bedub1]

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!

Unless you buy something else - you'll never know just how bad American Cars are.

My broad advice is this.
By a Japanese or German car and if you want decent mileage, get a diesel.

Agree with diesel. Is diesel just as expensive proportionately in other states as it is in California? Here they are required to remove the sulfur or something. Now diesel is more than premium gas.

Diesel! Diesel rules! That's why I keep talking about the vw jetta tdi wagen. It get's like 50+ MPG on the highway. It get's better fuel economy than hybrids and electric cars.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/greenhuman/20 ... challenge/

[Neoteny]

This thread is now racist.

[bedub1]

This thread is now racist.

Oh I understand! Like I'm going to race you for pink slips! Racing cars. duh.

[oVo]

The only compact wagon I've ever owned was a front wheel drive Subaru 5-Speed. It was a great car with the kind of MPG that would hurt you on trips, if you're the kind of person who doesn't stop until the tank is low. I met someone who was hit head on at HWY speeds by a drunk driver and survived the crash. That car's spare tire was mounted between the engine block and fire wall.

A used Volvo wagon in your budget would be a good find. Diesel used to be cheaper than gas, but is much higher these days everywhere I go.

[Timminz]

Diesel used to be cheaper than gas, but is much higher these days everywhere I go.

But diesel engines use less fuel, in general.

Also, you can run them on used fryer oil, without modification.

[Lootifer]

Positive racism isnt racism according to the "Book of Loot"

[oVo]

But diesel engines use less fuel, in general.
Also, you can run them on used fryer oil, without modification.

Are you driving one now and what's it cost to tank up on used fryer oil?

[Timminz]

But diesel engines use less fuel, in general.
Also, you can run them on used fryer oil, without modification.

Are you driving one now and what's it cost to tank up on used fryer oil?

No I'm not, but from what I gather, it costs mostly time and effort.

Bear in mind, that last bit of info was gleaned from Mythbusters. My main point was the first sentence.

[squishyg]

The Honda CRV is starting to grow on me...

[army of nobunaga]

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

Depends on the dough you want to drop.

The two best are
1) Audi A4 Avant --- about 38k I think.
2) The Outback. 32k?

I have driven both extensively.

For a lower priced great machine I would look at the VW jetta wagon. I owned a Jetta once but not the wagon.

The three you cannot go wrong.

[bedub1]

The Honda CRV is starting to grow on me...

I bought one. A brand new 2009 during the cash for clunkers program. The VW Jetta TDI wagen was in such low quantity I couldn't get one. I love my CRV, and haven't regretted the purchase for a moment. Ask me anything about it if you are curious.

[Lootifer]

Its not a wagon though.

You tend to buy a wagon for their lower profile and hence better fuel economy

[army of nobunaga]

CRV is a great vehicle though. I had one in 2000 ... I TRIED to kill it. THey. Do. Not. Die. Ever

[bedub1]

CRV is a great vehicle though. I had one in 2000 ... I TRIED to kill it. THey. Do. Not. Die. Ever

That makes me happy to hear. I plan on driving mine forever. That was the only way I could rationalize purchasing a brand new vehicle. That and the cash for clunkers helped out.

Its not a wagon though.

You tend to buy a wagon for their lower profile and hence better fuel economy

Exactly why I didn't offer it as a choice. It only gets 24mpg average, which sucks compared to a TDI.

[Timminz]

My folks are on their second CR-V. Definitely works as a wagon-like vehicle, and is surprisingly good on gas.

[Lootifer]

Exactly why I didn't offer it as a choice. It only gets 24mpg average, which sucks compared to a TDI.

Yeh, interesting watch you guys talk about cars.

First thing I noticed when I went to LA for a short stopover was "f*ck me they like their big cars over here".

Thought the exact opporsite when I visited Italy.

(though not for the same reasons: US likes big cars cause they have traditionally had cheap fuel; Italy likes small cars cause their streets are retarded).

[army of nobunaga]

CRV is a great vehicle though. I had one in 2000 ... I TRIED to kill it. THey. Do. Not. Die. Ever

That makes me happy to hear. I plan on driving mine forever. That was the only way I could rationalize purchasing a brand new vehicle. That and the cash for clunkers helped out.

Its not a wagon though.

You tend to buy a wagon for their lower profile and hence better fuel economy

Exactly why I didn't offer it as a choice. It only gets 24mpg average, which sucks compared to a TDI.

Ill be honest on 2 accounts that make me sound like a consumer jerk
1) I LOVE CARS. I buy too many and switch too often.
2) I like to burn gasoline.. love HP and torque


I sort of was gifted that 2000 CRV. Long story... but it was back when I was in the US before and In the midwest. I needed a good commuter car and the CRV was the commuter car with my other two being the fun and work vehicles.

I have always liked Honda. They have a solid build and a die hard machine. I have owned two of their s-2000s.. complete satisfaction.

But it was the 2000 crv... holy shit.

I put 40k a year on it from travel... hated it really. It was a 4 banger engine, the winds of the midwest would blow that box all around the interstate.

But a wreck and a gf cost me the other two vehicles, I moved... all I had was that freebie crv. So I was like you know what, Ill be responsible.. Ill vow to keep this car till it dies.

Well my addiction came forth, and I soon started trying to kill it just to buy another car. ... I am ashamed to say I did all of the following..

1) rolled it on its side on a horse trail in the mark twain national forest in s. Mizzou
2) flooded it in 4 foot of water trying to get to a sweet hydraulic for kayaking.
3) ramped it off of a drainage incline on a street at a dare at a party.
4) took it off road literally every weekend for a summer.
5) shot it in the back with my shotgun while hunting.. I was drunk.

The car would not fucking die.

I ended up putting another 40k on it and traded it in for my first s-2000 because after the crv I was sold on honda.

[Lootifer]

5) shot it in the back with my shotgun while hunting.. I was drunk.

LOL! Only thing that could top this was if you drove home afterwards.

By no means encouraging drink driving, but if you are gunna go retard (drunk hunting) may as well go full retard eh?

[army of nobunaga]

5) shot it in the back with my shotgun while hunting.. I was drunk.

LOL! Only thing that could top this was if you drove home afterwards.

By no means encouraging drink driving, but if you are gunna go retard (drunk hunting) may as well go full retard eh?

No one except for my gang in AA has ever called me a genius man.

Hells yeahs I drove it home.