Help Mikey get to one car

[SlimKlim]

You can slap an APR tune on a GTI too if you want a bit more excitement in your life, the DSG is supposed to hold the power better than the stick, and the freaky-fast shifts mean you don't have to come off boost between gears. I think the Stage 1 is like 255hp/289tq and doesn't affect the factory warranty.

I almost pulled the trigger on that 4-door Autobahn but I really want to see what the MKVII is all about before I commit to anything. I knew the MKV was going to be a relatively short term stepping stone, I want my next purchase to last at least 4-5 years.

[Mike]

have an e-mail into a local deanship with my identical car, but in the configuration that would work. if they only want a bit of cash to make the trade, i'll do that. it's not a kid-friendly solution as even with four doors, the car simply isn't big enough to accommodate rear-facing.

and the same goes for the sportwagen, unfortunately. folks are saying that anyone over 5'7 will not fit with a rear-facing behind them. kind of defeats the purpose of us getting a car that she can drive if i have to drive everywhere due to legroom.

someone has mentioned passats in my reading. ungh. want. dicks. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://blog.caranddriver.com/volkswagen-is-not-planning-to-sell-a-passat-wagon-in-the-u-s/">http://blog.caranddriver.com/volkswagen ... n-the-u-s/</a><!-- m -->

hrmmmmmm. sigh. i guess crossovers are selling so well for a reason? shit, they didn't exist when we were kids. how did parents fit us in their cars? i guess everything was a boat back then?

new ford edge is pretty fine looking. research, research.

[SlimKlim]

What about an E91 328i wagon? No idea what prices they go for, but would definitely be bigger than the GTI.

Pretty sure I was driven around in a late 80s Jetta or one of those old Ford trucks with non existent crash ratings. Just toss the kid in the back seat and throw a seat belt over him for good measure, should be fine.

[ScottyB]

shit, they didn't exist when we were kids. how did parents fit us in their cars?

because these gigantic-ass things didn't exist either. THIS IS 'MERICA MAKE IT BIGGERRRR





somehow we survived car trips with one book and a pack of cards. sorry...i digress.

[Mike]

we all grew up in one of these too. unless you had cool parents. i want to be a cool parent, dammit.



cx-5 looks nice except i'd have to have the grand touring one and it is too new for those to drop much below 30.
the tiguan intrigues, but it is the same platform as the gti/golf/jetta. i guess they've stretched it enough because research says carseats fit fine. and if you need space for a larger trip, get a roof box. space when i need it. i dig that. like the a3 though, the current tiguan (and the used one we'd buy) is a big long in the tooth. same basic car for about 7 years now. oh well, beggars can't be choosers. i will say the tiguan is the current leader.
edge is dismissed because i only really dig the new one, which is new, and therefore costs new car money like the cx-5.

i'm not into bmws made after the 90s.

[Evan]

i read a lot. i guess i was hoping for a larger version of my gti.

I recently read the next gen version of the Jetta Wagon coming out next spring *is* the Gti wagon (as its sold elsewhere in the world).
Personally its the only VAG product Id consider owning (but not past warranty) and we will be considering it next year to replace Annes focus.

[Evan]

shit, they didn't exist when we were kids. how did parents fit us in their cars?

because these gigantic-ass things didn't exist either. THIS IS 'MERICA MAKE IT BIGGERRRR





somehow we survived car trips with one book and a pack of cards. sorry...i digress.

yess...ughhh.....only a midget can fit in the passenger seat in anne's focus with one of those in the back. its awful.

[Evan]

Toyota Venza was on my shopping list. Its a great car that ticks all the boxes. Except "fun to drive".

[*insertusernamehere*]

i'd forget subarus aside from the Crosstrek that Julie mentioned.

Did you already rule out the Forester? Justin takes his baby places in his.

[ScottyB]

Did you already rule out the Forester? Justin takes his baby places in his.

mikey's age requirement + mpg are in lower 20s. the new ones aren't fun to drive.

[Steve85]

I have similar requirements except the AWD is in the must have. I pretty much agree with the opinion on all the options, the Subaru is higher in fun to drive but poor MPG with premium and lackluster interior turn me off. The Audi would have to be higher miles and I just don't have the stomach for the possible maintenance costs and the interiors don't impress me. Also not great mileage and premium fuel.

Other lesser popular wagons just don't do it for me and ultimately the higher seating position and taller opening to the rear are nice. I let go of the fun to drive because I have that box ticked and it's not important enough to sacrifice other things.

So I started looking at crossovers, liked our Saturn Outlook but tech is a little old, BT phone but not audio, looked at the Equinox and such and just not really impressed. Pretty much settled on the 2011+ Edge. Would do CX-5 but not looking for new and they aren't old enough to be in my price range.The older Edge models are available in my price range but the newer are real step up in interior design, nice facelift, improved driving dynamics and something like 4 or 5 more MPG. (Which adds up when you do the miles we do). They are hovering around 18-20K right now. And if Lee's "off-lease" market flooding theory is true, a lot more 2011+ should come to market in the next few months ending their 36 month leases.

And as far as baby modules go - I reallllly liked power sliding doors. It was worth it for a few years. Not to mention room for the amount of support equipment which has an inverse relationship with age in terms of tonnage required.

[CaptainHenreh]

Just for reference, the last tank of gas we got out of the Crosstrek was an average of 35mph and got 30.4 miles to the gallon.

That's with Yoko Geolandars, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, a kid, a dog, 2 adults, a jogging stroller and everyone's clothes all inside.

Heated leather, 26k otd. I have zero complaints. There's a hybrid coming out too, Subaru's first, should net 3-4 miles to the gallon.

[SlimKlim]

Co-worker of mine at AOL had one of those '11 Edges to cart around his two kids and loved it. Weirdest exhaust ever, sitting in the back seat felt like there was a speaker softly playing racecar sounds under you.

How about that little TurboAcura SUV thing?

[JustinG]

TurboAcura SUV thing?

Stupid expensive for what they are IIRC

[Steve85]

Terrible MPG with premium requirement but supposedly more car like drive than SUV. The V6 I think is new so likely outside the price range for that one.

[Mike]

i think i need to throw away the "as fun or near as fun as my gti" requirement. it doesn't exist and probably for good reason. well, unless maybe i got a panamera. so... get something totally boring and utilitarian and then... have a 2nd "fun" car (think: ancient volvo, bmw, porsche, dunno).

[SlimKlim]

Well then in that case, go to Carmax, throw a tennis ball as hard as you can into the middle of the lot, and buy the crossover closest to where it lands.

How about an Outback? Jake's mom has been driving one for a couple years now and likes it. The interiors are really nice and the 2.5L claims 30mpg. A CX-5 is starting to look like the no brainer here, ~$24k for a CPO AWD model if you can live without leather.

For an ancient fun car you should totally get a Volvo 242 coupe and turbo that bitch. Throw a wooden roof rack on it and that bitch will have Portland written all over it.

[Jake]

How about an Outback? Jake's mom has been driving one for a couple years now and likes it. The interiors are really nice and the 2.5L claims 30mpg.

Mom has a 2011 Outback Limited 3.6R with every option box checked. The 3.6R is the bigger boxer-six motor that makes something like 270 hp and is mated to a six-speed automatic with actual gears. We drove the 2.5/CVT combo and frankly, it's a horrible combo. The 2.5 is okay with the manual trans, but that's not an option for you. A 3.6R has some ass to it and actually handles alright.

I think the interiors are very nice for the price point. Mom's 2011 has a pretty dated touchscreen nav unit. I would hope the newer ones are better - or you could always throw an aftermarket H/U in there instead.

Might be worth investigating. Her's is the pearl white paint on a "light oyster tan" leather interior. Looks very premium inside.

[Dave]

09+ WRX wagon would be a total win for your list I think (except for the MPGs), but with 2 kids it's going to be very tight back there. Not that it can't be done...just tight. I'm assuming you can get them in automatic; I've never looked. On the highway I see 25 mpg, drops to 21 on tanks where I do an autocross, and it drinks in huge gulps on track.
That said, I think it's the perfect mix of utilitarian fun if you ask me; plus the aftermarket is strong enough that if you just want to slightly tweak it for your tastes, you can.

[CaptainHenreh]

I'm assuming you can get them in automatic; I've never looked.

Nope. You could get a 08-10 Skinny with a automatic called the "Impreza GT", but they didn't sell very well.