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Wagons Station Wagon vs SUV
1426 messages, Last post on Feb 21, 2007 at 8:37 AM
You are in the Wagons Forum. Your Host is kcram
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Replying to: dc_driver (Aug 26, 2004 4:32 pm) The OB is a great vehicle and we have a '97 with 90k miles. We plan to have it till it dies. If we did not want larger vehicle (and 3rd row), the 05 OB would have been a strong contender. For me, the pilot's HUGE plus over the HL was the packaging. If you get the pilot ex, you get everything. With the highlander, i think you had to get two packages to get the popular items. the tricky thing was finding one on the lot that did not also have all the other pricey dealer add-ons. As far as bad dealer experinces, you are not alone. We went to one dealer that had a $4k markup over MSRP price. The only way to combat that is do your research beforehand and KNOW how much you want to pay. When I was unsure and doing test drives, the dealers seemed to smell it and want to wrangle and wrangle. When I decided that I wanted the pilot with navigation and I wanted to pay not one dime over $500 over invoice, I called five dealers, told them I was buying "today" and could they match my number. I got a return call, came in, endured (and rejected) the pitch for the extended warranty and paint protection, wrote a check and left after an hour. |
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one wagon that has a lot of power is the new dodge magnum wagon with the hemi....nice to have the ability to turn off 2 (?) cylinders and save some gas.... the Audi Rs6 allroad with the 4.5 liter , 450 hp engine is a screameer too..... |
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I'd like the benefit of allthe thinking you guys have been doing. My old wagon just died and I'd like to replace it with a small/mid-size wagon or a hatchback. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall, 65 years old and not as "limber" as I used to be. I also weigh around 225, so seat comfort is a significant issue for me. I live in the Boston area, so AWD is a potential consideration, especially since we need to drive, at night, after performing. (though this is not a deal breaker for us) I need to carry a stand-up bass and amp, as well as a small amount of luggage (garment bag and medium suitcase) Because of the bass, a flat loading surface is a must. I also need to drive from Boston to Carolina in a few months, so I am concerned about how comfortable a small car will be on such a drive. I almost never use the backseat, so it's not necessary that it be a comfortable backseat. I really didn't like the Ford Focus or the Honda Element. Thought the Element's quirky styling appealed to my wife, the driving experience was not as good as we hoped. We also did not like the Ford Escape. The drive was just too trucky to us, and that is not something we are used to. The Dodge Magnum wagon is bigger than I want, I think, just to give you an idea of size. I liked the Pontiac Vibe, believe it or not, but it probably is too small. My brother is telling me "just buy the Subaru Legacy or Forester." 99% of our driving is around the Boston suburbs and into Boston, with the occasional long drive. We aren't mountain goers. I am not a driving aficianado, so won't really appreciate any of the real driver's hatchbacks/wagons. I just want some good basic reliable comfortable transportation. I would really like high MPG, but my brother is trying to convince me that since I really only drive 12,000 miles/year, there isn't a great cost to me of getting 25 mpg verus 35 mpg, and those 35 mpg cars might feel too uncomfortable for us in the long run (and on those long drives). Thanks for any advice you folks provide, and best wishes. |
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Subaru's market share in the US is 1.1%. In parts of New England, it's 7%. The point? Those is the snow, know, Subies are great. The all-weather package (XS, LL Bean, or XT) includes not only heated seats, but also heated mirrors and wiper de-icers front and rear. AWD standard, ABS standard, rear LSD on all but the base model. Full-size spare tire, too. For your needs I think the Forester is perfect. It has the most front leg room of any compact SUV, period. And the tight back seat is not an issue given you never use it. Front Legroom / Vehicle 43.6 Forester 41.4 Grand Vitara 42.3 RAV4 40.2 X3 41.6 Escape/Tribute 41.3 CR-V 41.0 Element 41.6 Santa Fe 42.1 Tucson/Sportage 40.8 Liberty 41.8 Freelander 42.3 Outlander 41.2 Vue You want something small, and it's about 175" long, small for the class. Curb weight is also comparably low. The seats are firm with good side bolsters and adjustable lumbar support. Try them out, though, because we're all shaped differently, and for you this is make or break. Lucien bought a Forester XT so that his wife's cello would fit! Coincidence. WRX wagon was a bit small for that. CR named Subaru the most reliable brand for 2004. Ahead of Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti. Noone's perfect, but not bad. Finally, 23/30 mpg in the non-turbos is pretty darn good for AWD, in fact that's also best in class. Against? Smallish back seat, but you don't care about that. '06 model will get a face-lift, but if you like the 05 you can get a deal now because discounts are steep. And finally there are more efficient FWD wagons like the Matrix or Mazda3 5 door that might do the job almost as well. You should drive one, though, to see if it fits your tastes. I recommend an XS or LL Bean model for you. It has all the inclement weather stuff you'd want. -juice
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 08, 2005 8:01 am) PS For those of you who know/remember me and who "care," I wrote this message in the first person, but it is my brother who is in need of the new car. I am the brother saying, "just buy the Subaru." |
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...and give it to him. If he's stubborn go to the NHTSA and IIHS web sites and show him. The Forester is right on top in pretty much every crash test out there. Bumper basher test also. -juice
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 08, 2005 8:14 am) Sorry if I violated your copyright. 
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No problem, I'm flattered. Also tell him Edmunds has an active Subaru Crew community that is extremely helpful and friendly. In fact we chat every Thursday night, tell him to drop in. -juice |
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Ah, you don need no stinkin AWD...get an RSX (or he should). I find the seat comfort excellent (of course, I'm WAY smaller than him....5'7", 175), so he'd have to try it. But the hatchback has an amazing amount of room (carried a gas power washer AND a mountain bike inside last nite with the rear seats down, of course) and gets great mpg. Subarus are great (we have an Outback, too) but if the extra room is not needed, the RSX is a contender. Of course, it's a blast to drive, that doesn't hurt a bit, esp on long drives. I drive 200m each way on many weekends, and believe it or not...I look forward to it. Ok, it's not a wagon or SUV, but you mentioned hachback. And you better not get an SUV ;=)
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Isn't that kinda small? You put a bass in the hatch and it's full, I'm not even sure you could carry a 2nd passenger. -juice
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