Help Mikey get to one car

[Mike]

I moved. We no longer need two cars since I work from home and/or bike everywhere. We took my car. It is manual. Great car and perfect for our current needs, but she can't drive it. Believe me, we've tried.

Requirements:
- Space. Think: wagon. I do not want a crossover or SUV because I've never met one with any sort of enjoyable driving dynamics.
- Hatch or swinging door.
- An automatic that doesn't suck.
- Less than 15lbs per HP or very close to it.
- Available with lowish miles and possibly with a warranty for ~20k or known to be very reliable.

Nice to have:
- I'd very much like to see >30mpg highway since that's 90% of my driving.
- All wheel drive. We will be visiting large mountains in the winter and I park off road quite a lot for cycling and running shit.

DOES THIS EXIST? Or am I chasing a unicorn?

Shortlist after having done little to no research:
- MK6 4-door GTI (DSG). Add two doors and an "auto" to my current car. Only con is it isn't fantastically futureproof (we want to have two).
- Jetta Sportwagen. Only comes in TDI or the shitty 2.5. I'm not convinced TDI will move my noodle and I know the 2.5 does not.
- A4 Avant. Kind of outside the price range. If we get one, it'll be highish mileage and we know these cars are not easy on the maintenance. I suppose CPO is an option. This is probably my favorite option right now.
- Element. Slow and I think I may fall asleep driving it.
- A bunch of Subarus (Forester, Legacy wagon, WRX wagon). I dunno, there must be a reason everyone here has one, but I've never enjoyed driving them very much.
- Some sort of Volvo wagon. Volvos are huge here, but I haven't liked their wagon offerings in a few years so it'd be something pre-2010. It looks like they're coming around to "not suck" territory again, but I don't want to buy a new car.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Mazda3 Hatch..?
Mazda6 wagon? (doesn't look the best)
Saabaru? (I'm not sure on reliability)
If you're going for the A4 have you considered the All-road? (Though that will be a bitch to repair)


BTW where did you move to that is "here"?

[Evan]

Very similar criteria to what I was looking at prior to my CX-5.

Legacy Wagons are getting a little old, but they fit your criteria. GTs are fast but awful MPG.
I wouldnt get an Impreza wagon (or any other compact hatchback), they are too small for carseats in the back.

TSX wagon is probably your best bet aside from awd. 20k might be a stretch though, Ive seen them for around 24k. I would have seriously considered one but the tech in them is circa 2007.

There are 06+ awd 3 series wagons all day for under 20k, but they guzzle premium fuel.

You do owe yourself a test drive of a CX-5. I consider SUV/CUVs to be just as soul-crushing, but Mazda really nailed the handling better than I thought possible in a crossover. Read my project thread for the 7 month impression.

[BLINGMW]

Audi A3 2.0T quattro appears that it may get 30MPG highway and meet your requirements. That's only because you have other VW/Audi on the list though, so I guess you consider them reliable enough. Of course, I'd pick the TDI but it looks like it's only FWD.
And while I really like my Element, that's because it's FWD and manual. The auto AWD is another world of slowness.

[SlimKlim]

You're welcome to "test drive" my car if you haven't driven the DSG yet. Or you can just imagine some rattling shift forks and freaky fast shifts.

My vote goes for an MKVI 4-door DSG. I drove a 6speed autobahn package one a few months ago with 26k on it and was looking at about $22k with the CPO warranty. You know you like the car cause you already have one, you get the lady-friendly transmission and a more accessible backseat.

The TDI Sportwagen sounds like a solid option, you could throw an APR tune on it (won't affect warranty) for asphalt-curling torque to help get your noodle moving and still get 45+ mpg. The hatch is a bit bigger, not sure if you would get any more rear leg room, aren't they the same platform as the Golf?

A4 sounds like a turrible idea unless you're going to spend a buttload of money on a CPO car. They actually have a pretty extensive CPO warranty so if you got an '11 or '12 you'd have 4-5 years of warrantied driving. Even I wouldn't own one of those out of warranty, there's like 30 bushings in the front suspension by itself. *shudder*

How soon are you looking to buy? Would you buy new again? The '15 GTI is coming out in the spring and is supposed to be totally bitchin'. Bit bigger than the current platform but lighter, more power, better handling, and a fantastic interior. Not sure if the slightly larger size translates into more room in the back seats though. I'm not sure I could bring myself to pull the trigger on a new car, but I've decided to wait to buy anything until I can at least test drive one for myself and see what all the fuss is about.

EDIT: Re-read your requirements and my suggestions suck. It sounds like you're describing a CX-5 aside from not wanting it to be slow, the extra ground clearance might be nice when parking at a trailhead.

Cabell, the Saabaru was literally an Impreza or WRX with a Saab badge kit so reliability would be however well that generation of WRXs held up. Utilitarian little things though, I think they had a limited package with leather seats that might help it out a bit.

The A3 seems like a good suggestion if you like the GTI but really want the AWD. I was casually looking at them for Lauren and it seems like the slightly used ones have spiked in price a bit, maybe because they killed off the model and now the people in the narrow hatchback market has decided they actually do want them?

[Mike]

Mazda3 Hatch..?
Mazda6 wagon? (doesn't look the best)
Saabaru? (I'm not sure on reliability)
If you're going for the A4 have you considered the All-road? (Though that will be a bitch to repair)


BTW where did you move to that is "here"?

M3 hatch loses to replacing my GTI with another one.
M6 is snooooze.
I wouldn't say no to a Saabaru, but they're getting older and tough to find. Pretty sure they're just as reliable as a Subaru. I wouldn't say "no" to one, but I'm also not going to seek them out.
All-road is an option, but I'm pretty sure that throws out my efficiency wants. And yeah, they're not cheap.

Home is now Portland, OR.

[davej]

if you can pack up your 'nice to haves' this would fit the bill (after you convert it back to an auto)

BAT This 1965 Plymouth Fury wagon has been with the seller since 1997, during which time it seems to have been built up quite nicely. Last year it received a low mile 440 and was converted from column shift to a console mounted Hurst dual gate. It looks clean in and out, and very menacing in black on black. A/C, heat, and speedo are currently inop, so we’d use those as bargaining chips. Find it here on Craigslist in Hollywood Hills, California for $16k. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/4149013960.html">http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/ct ... 13960.html</a><!-- m -->

[Mike]

Very similar criteria to what I was looking at prior to my CX-5.

Legacy Wagons are getting a little old, but they fit your criteria. GTs are fast but awful MPG.
I wouldnt get an Impreza wagon (or any other compact hatchback), they are too small for carseats in the back.

TSX wagon is probably your best bet aside from awd. 20k might be a stretch though, Ive seen them for around 24k. I would have seriously considered one but the tech in them is circa 2007.

There are 06+ awd 3 series wagons all day for under 20k, but they guzzle premium fuel.

You do owe yourself a test drive of a CX-5. I consider SUV/CUVs to be just as soul-crushing, but Mazda really nailed the handling better than I thought possible in a crossover. Read my project thread for the 7 month impression.

Thanks for details on compact wagons. I suppose I'll eliminate those then. Never liked Legacies much at all. The few I'm been in feel like a Camry. So I'm okay with eliminating them on account of efficiency and age.

TSX wagon does interest me, but yeah, that car hasn't changed in a LONG time. A3 is of similar tech-age. I do owe it to myself to give one a drive, but HARD TO FIND.

I have enjoyed your thread on the CX-5. I will promise to at least take a look at one.

[Mike]

Audi A3 2.0T quattro appears that it may get 30MPG highway and meet your requirements. That's only because you have other VW/Audi on the list though, so I guess you consider them reliable enough. Of course, I'd pick the TDI but it looks like it's only FWD.
And while I really like my Element, that's because it's FWD and manual. The auto AWD is another world of slowness.

The current A3 is SUPER old. The interior is... I don't know the exact years, but ~2005 or so? That saddens me. And they have been extra unreliable from all that I know (coworker had one).

I'll happily eliminate the Element. Damned things are REALLY expensive here too.

[Mike]

if you can pack up your 'nice to haves' this would fit the bill (after you convert it back to an auto)

that thing is outstanding for 16k, but no.

[davej]

ok, ok, how about, a V70 R? I've always had a soft spot for those and they are abundant in automatic

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-V70-R-2006-r-used-turbo-2-5-l-i-5-20-v-automatic-instant-traction-tm-premium-/321221851060?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4aca5077b4&item=321221851060&pt=US_Cars_Trucks">http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-V70-R-200 ... ars_Trucks</a><!-- m -->

[V1GiLaNtE]

I would totally rock that.

TDI Sportswagen sounds indeed like a solid platform Joey. APR stage 1 puts you ~ 30hp/50tq over stock which isn't bad.

Quick peek.. Atheistically this thing is bitchn'



I guess you would have to weight the diesel/gas cost comparison. I'm not sure what diesel goes for on the west coast but I'm sure it aint cheap.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Another option:

IS 300 wagon?

[BLINGMW]

Edmunds doesn't seem to list fuel economy for this, but I'm pretty sure it'd get 30+ on the highway :lol:

[Jewels]

So I know that Evan said Impreza's are too small for a car seat,and its a little true, we manage just fine hauling the baby and the dog in our Crosstrek XV. Its got the CVT in it, and while not impressively fast, it goes where its going. Its basically the impreza with 4 inches of lift. In fact, its got more ground clearance than a Grand Cherokee. Rex doesn't hate driving mine and so it can't be too horrible. But you might want to check it out as well. We get 30-31 miles per gallon highway, and my commute which is literally 2 miles through 1 stop light, I get like 28-29 mpg.

[Mike]

i didn't even think about apr. that's kind of a brilliant idea. will have to research more. diesel is about 10% more expensive out here, but the TDI gets over 20% better MPG so it's a gain. the jetta you posted is the previous gen. the one i'd buy is basically identical to the gti.

v70r is the kind of volvo i'm talking about, but i don''t think i want a seven year old car.

[Mike]

Another option:

IS 300 wagon?

too old. and rwd is a definite no.

[SlimKlim]

i didn't even think about apr. that's kind of a brilliant idea. will have to research more. diesel is about 10% more expensive out here, but the TDI gets over 20% better MPG so it's a gain. the jetta you posted is the previous gen. the one i'd buy is basically identical to the gti.

:thumbup:

There's not a lot of info out there on them but I know some people are able to coax pretty ridiculous amounts of torque out of those little things. The APR stage 1 gives you almost 300ft-lbs at the crank, and you can do propane injection (like water/meth for diesels) and bigger injectors for more gut-wrenching.

I've had a terrible idea knocking around in my head for a while to take a W211 Merc E350 Bluetec and do a few choice mods to get a 500+ ft-lb sleeper that'll do 40+ mpg.

[Mike]

i read a lot. i guess i was hoping for a larger version of my gti. the jetta is not that even with a chip. hrmph. i'm thinking trading my car for the 4-door dsg model is the correct move for now. when we need the space, perhaps my requirements will be less strict.

[ScottyB]

you're never getting 30mpg out of an auto leggy wagon of any vintage, at least not one with the fun engine. the other, older imprezas run the old 4 speed auto which is robust but a dog and sucks the life out of them. i'd forget subarus aside from the Crosstrek that Julie mentioned, but you'd have to be OK with a low powered engine and a CVT.

the TDI seems like a perfect fit aside from the FWD. and keep in mind, their higher initial price comes back to you in the resale.

CX5 truly is a contender. Mazda still has engineers with their souls intact.