Ask the Car People.SM


Best AWD Performance Wagon under $40k

38 messages,  Last post on Jul 12, 2010 at 3:33 PM

You are in the Wagons Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volvo V50, BMW 3 Series, Audi A3, Wagon

Messages Page 4 of 4

#29 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [kcram] by andres3

Apr 04, 2010 (11:32 am)

Replying to: kcram (Apr 03, 2010 8:41 pm)
Ummm... I don't see how you can recommend Chrysler unless you work for them or own stock in their shares.
 
First, Chrysler wouldn't know luxury if it hit them upside the head.
 
Second, they have never been known to qualify as even remotely reliable. If he's not liking the repair frequency and cost of his A6, he's going to be absolutely miserable with your typical Chrysler quality product (or lack thereof).
 
What happened to that "lifetime" warranty by the way? LOL. Chrysler is a joke.

#30 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [andres3] by kcram HOST

Apr 04, 2010 (12:57 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Apr 04, 2010 11:32 am)
Mine have been rather trouble-free for the last 14 years...
 
Opinions -good and bad - exist on all automakers. Ownership is another story, though... what's the last Chrysler product you owned?
 
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host

#31 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [kcram] by andres3

Apr 04, 2010 (1:44 pm)

Replying to: kcram (Apr 04, 2010 12:57 pm)
I had a 1995 Dodge Neon Sport (the top trim line) was my first and last Chrysler product, at least for me and my families' and friends' lifetimes.
 
I can't see any of my friends or family buying a Chrysler ever again after witnessing first hand how often they end up in the shop or tow truck hook. A typical teenage conversation with a friend of mine would go something like this:
 
Friend: It's your turn to drive tonight by the way.
Me: I would, but I can't because my head gaskets are being replaced.
Friend: Dang, your Neon's always in the shop!
Me: I know, it's a POS !!!
Friend: Okay, my Prism hasn't had any issues whatsoever, I'll drive.
Me: That's cause it's a Toyota with Geo labels on the outside.
Friend: I got a Toyota for thousands less than a Corolla AND all I'm missing is the nameplate.
Me: good deal!, but I can beat you in a race when my car is running!
Friend: "When" is the key word there.
 
I stuck with that car for a long long time through many repairs. I kept thinking, now that THAT is fixed, what else could go wrong? Well, something always answered me with failure when I asked that question within 4 months. I think I had it almost 6 years, but could never get it past 65,000 miles. Had to get rid of it when it required its 4th tow truck lift at that mileage of 65K.
 
Chrysler did not offer to contribute to the head gaskets at 42K, the AC compressor and system at 36.1K, nor the auto tranny rebuild at 60K. Had they paid for those 3 things, I may have had a different attitude.

#32 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [andres3] by kcram HOST

Apr 04, 2010 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Apr 04, 2010 1:44 pm)
So you're basing your opinion of Chrysler's 2010 offerings on a 15 year old Neon...? I had some truly bad Fords in the early 90s, but I don't base my opinions of their 2010 products on that.
 
That's the same mindset of people who dismiss 2010 diesels because they had a 1979 Oldsmobile diesel. Time to look at current offerings with a bit more of an open mind.
 
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host

#33 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [kcram] by andres3

Apr 04, 2010 (11:55 pm)

Replying to: kcram (Apr 04, 2010 4:06 pm)
However, a Caliber is just a Neon with another name. Same flawed design and engineering.
 
The same tactics and shananigans have not changed at Chrysler.
 
Also, it may be a 15 year old Neon today, but it's a memory of less than 10 years old from when I last drove it.
 
All I have to do is open up CR to see how Chrysler is doing, just a bunch of black dots last I looked.

#34 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [andres3] by kcram HOST

Apr 05, 2010 (5:47 pm)

Replying to: andres3 (Apr 04, 2010 11:55 pm)
And until this year, CR had Toyota right up there with sliced bread. I never found them too credible.
 
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host

#35 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [kcram] by andres3

Apr 06, 2010 (9:13 am)

Replying to: kcram (Apr 05, 2010 5:47 pm)
I've found CR to always be credible. Funny you mention Toyota. I can vouch for their flawlessness. They were the OPPOSITE of the Chrysler experience.
 
Camry = NO VISITS to the shop under warranty, flawless to 100,000 miles (only routine maintenance).
4 Runner = NO VISITS to the shop under warranty, flawless to 100,000 miles.
Another Camry = again, no visits required to fix anything under warranty (vehicle currently only has 74,000 miles though).
My brother's T100 was never in the shop, he'd rub it in when my Neon was (you should of got a Corolla he said).
His Tundra after that T100 was also flawless.
 
All of these Toyota's deserved a full line of all fully red dots and got them from CR. The Neon deserved a full line of all fully black dots and got them from CR. Seems pretty credible to me.

#36 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [doc_kent] by biancar

Apr 06, 2010 (11:59 am)

Replying to: doc_kent (Apr 03, 2010 8:14 am)
Doc kent, have you considered the Subarus at all? The top of the line Outback 3.6 is very nice.
 
That and the Volvo V70 were the two I most strongly considered in my recent search. I ended up going with the Volvo, but that is FWD, not AWD, so maybe not what you want. With the deals on Volvo right now, price was competitive with the Subaru.
 
The car I most loved, as in immediate heart-felt lust, was the Infiniti EX35. However, prudence once again won out. If you need a large back seat, neither the EX nor the slightly larger FX will likely do it for you, but man, what a sweet, sweet ride. Absolutely loved it. It's more of a sports car with some utility than it is a utility car with some sport, though. IF I ever trade in my Z and decide I don't want a convertible as a second car any more - which will not be happening anytime soon - the EX would be a great replacement.

#37 of 38 Manual AWD GPS Nav' and "fast" by chris_norcal

Jul 12, 2010 (1:18 pm)

Manual, AWD, GPS Navagation, and "fast" wagon ( 0 to 60 MPH at under 6.5 seconds)...can these four be purchased for $40K new?
 
I drive a Titan 4WD pickup, so all these should handle better than my pu? maybe even more reliable?

#38 of 38 Re: Where's the car I want??? [doc_kent] by doc_kent

Jul 12, 2010 (3:33 pm)

Replying to: doc_kent (Apr 03, 2010 8:14 am)
Anyone know much about the new Cadillac CTS wagon? MPG still sucks and the price is steep, but otherwise looks OK and it's American. Maybe if the Audi A6 Avant can last another year or 2 (it only has 180K on it) I can get a used CTS wagon for an affordable price.
Looked at the Honda Crosstour. Nice, but strange looking and not really a wagon. The Toyota Venza seems to have less cargo room than the Audi (as do all those so-called "crossovers"). Looked at the Lincoln MKZ (not a wagon but has a big trunk) and may look at the Ford Fusion--same car I think. Was kind of excited about the Buick LaCrosse AWD but read it handles like, well, a Buick.
I don't want or need mega horsepower or neck-snapping acceleration. Perfectly happy with the wife's Toyota Solara 4-banger. And no offense to the previous poster, Chris, but a built-in Nav system strikes me as dumb. A $2000 built-in option that will be obsolete in 3 years. I'd rather spend $200 every 3 years for a new Garmin.
So any more ideas?

Messages Page 4 of 4

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement