Help Me Select a Wagon

892 messages, Last post on Jun 29, 2009 at 10:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Wagon

Not sure which wagon to buy and looking for feedback on the choices out there? Use this as your starting point to narrow the field a bit!

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#863 of 892 Need help juming into this by attiesmom Oct 17, 2007 (5:10 pm)
Hi, my husband has already done a bit of research - but thought I might ask for a bit of help myself. We currently have a 1997 Toyota Carolla wagon and love it! However, it is getting time to either invest some serious money into it or look at getting a new car. New car criteria is: very good gas milage safety package (side airbags) anti-lock brakes good warranty good ratings/feedback automatic transmission under $20k He has given me his choices of: Ford Focus, Toyota Matrix (29/34 milage), Kia Rio5 (29/38), Kia Spectra 5 (27/35) I have only seen them on paper and have not gone out to the dealerships yet, but on paper they seem so SMALL compared to our Toyota wagon. Is there a true "WAGON" (vs. a hatchback) that fits the above criteria? I also asked him about small minivans and he said yes there are such things, but they don't get good gas milage. Thanks in advance MUCH for your advice. Julie Replies to this message: suydam (Oct 20, 2007 6:27 pm)
#864 of 892 - by dudleyr Oct 17, 2007 (5:27 pm)
He has most of the choices. Yes wagons these days are really closer to hatchbacks. A true wagon is the same lenth as a sedan. The Matrix is shorter than the sedan (Corolla) etc. I would love a Corolla wagon if they still made one. Hyundai is coming out with a 5 door Elantra wagon/hatch. I would probably put that near the top of my list. ABS and TCS are standard, tons of airbags and good mpg. Might want to also look at a Honda Fit. Remarkably roomy inside (same amount of passenger room as your Corolla and very expandable). It is small, but with airbags ABS etc, it is much safer than your old Corolla. My mother is considering one. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Oct 24, 2007 7:40 am) irismg (Nov 25, 2007 12:43 pm) ateixeira (Nov 26, 2007 9:19 am) and 2 more...
#865 of 892 Re: Need help juming into this [attiesmom] by suydam Oct 20, 2007 (6:27 pm)
Replying to: attiesmom (Oct 17, 2007 5:10 pm) The Matrix/Vibe does not feel small inside at all. It has a ton of room with both seats folding flat and the front passenger seat folds as well. We chose it over the Fit because it felt much roomier inside than the Fit. If you liked your Corolla you will probably like the Matrix. You have to sit in them -- paper won't do it. For one thing, most of them have higher up seating and very tall rooflines so they don't feel as confined as their dimensions appear on paper. Yes, there are still true wagons but they will get much worse fuel economy, and these smaller wagons hold a lot and are very comfortable inside. Give them a try and report back!
#866 of 892 - by dudleyr Oct 20, 2007 (8:49 pm)
Actually true wagons get the same mpg as sedans. It is the new "crossovers" that guzzle. For example the corolla sedan and wagon got the same mpg. Replies to this message: suydam (Oct 21, 2007 8:21 am)
#867 of 892 Re: - [dudleyr] by suydam Oct 21, 2007 (8:21 am)
Replying to: dudleyr (Oct 20, 2007 8:49 pm) Not in my experience with the Mazda6 wagon, which got very poor fuel economy compared to the sedan. Of course you could get the sedan in 4 cyl and the wagon was only V6. I guess it depends on the weight and whether they put a larger engine in the wagon to compensate.
#868 of 892 Ford Focus Wagon by attiesmom Oct 21, 2007 (8:34 am)
Just discovered that Ford did a wagon that ended production in early 2007. I have been calling around a bit to see if someone by chance still had one on their lot, but haven't had any luck. Thanks for the information and feedback to date. Julie
#869 of 892 Re: - [dudleyr] by ateixeira Oct 24, 2007 (7:40 am)
Replying to: dudleyr (Oct 17, 2007 5:27 pm) I would love a Corolla wagon if they still made one. In some countries Toyota does market a Corolla Fielder, which is a true wagon. The Matrix is closer to a 5 door hatch. Check out how the Fielder is indeed bigger: Replies to this message: irismg (Nov 25, 2007 12:43 pm) ateixeira (Nov 26, 2007 9:19 am) irismg (Nov 26, 2007 3:30 pm) and 1 more...
#870 of 892 Re: - [ateixeira] by irismg Nov 25, 2007 (12:43 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 24, 2007 7:40 am) Now THAT'S what I call a Corolla wagon. And I think you have to be an Australian to get one. Looks line a longer 9th generation body. Why they decided this won't sell enough in America is beyond me. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Nov 26, 2007 9:19 am) irismg (Nov 26, 2007 3:30 pm) ateixeira (Nov 27, 2007 10:02 am)
#871 of 892 Re: Chose a Vibe [suydam] by irismg Nov 25, 2007 (12:49 pm)
Replying to: suydam (Jun 07, 2007 6:23 am) The Versa is a good contender, actually. The better looking beige interior comes with the blue and the black model, surprisingly, and the stereo has an iPod jack. I hope to drive one in the next couple weeks, then be on the lookout for secondhand ones. Between the Vibe/Matrix twins, I find the Vibe better looking. Surprisingly, it's larger than my '98 Corolla (parked next to one), but I can see some wallpaper going in to dress up that stark gray interior!
#872 of 892 Re: Wagon with three rows [pooly] by irismg Nov 25, 2007 (12:56 pm)
Replying to: pooly (Aug 01, 2007 3:42 pm) Love the Pacifica. It has 5-star crash ratings, built like a tank, rides like a road cruiser, minimal reliability questions from the people I ask about it who own it, but the one very important dealbreaker is the absolutely dismal gas mileage. 17mpg just is not acceptable for a daily driver with gas over $3 now. If it weren't for that, I'd get one in a heartbeat. Domestic depreciation works in your favor in looking for one with less than 10K miles on it.