- #792 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [jeffyscott] [shawb
by shawbeg
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Jan 23, 2009 (1:14 pm)
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Replying to: sebring95 (Jan 23, 2009 12:43 pm)
Ha! Brick. Little did you know that our "brick" is actually even brick colored! 
On the "around town" driving, the thing is, where we live it's not like we're doing a ton of idling. We're in a rural area with long runs between towns. I'm back and forth between the town where I live and the town where all the kids' activities take place (about 20 miles r/t) at least 5 days/week. But, it's not like driving in a city where every 100 yds you're at another stop light.
But, generally, I know that in town mileage will be poorer than hwy, and since that comprises the bulk of my driving, I didn't want to "settle" for a car that only lists 20mpg in town. That's what turned me on to the Matrix.
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- #793 of 1145
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Freestyle Wagon
by sandman46
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Jan 23, 2009 (1:58 pm)
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Check these out...nice looking vehicle with acceptable mileage and comfortable seating with room in the rear for gear. If I were looking for a car but didn't want a minivan and needed some room, I'd go got the Freestyle myself. The HHR might be a good choice also. Very comfortable seating with good storage out back and "fun" to drive and with GM pricing...another good choice.
The Sandman
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- #794 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [jeffyscott] [shawb [shawbeg]
by morin2
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Jan 23, 2009 (2:00 pm)
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 1:14 pm)
If considering the Taurus wagon - look at the Sable version as well. I think these can be steals due to the depreciation. I like Subarus in general & have owned 3, but rear legroom can be problematic - try rear seat legroom before test drive. Remember that the Outbacks have the sweet H6 engine option - but those were 30k new, so you'd have to go back to 05/06 to get one for 15K and be willing to spring for premium fuel. What about the Volvo V70 ? I'd look for the FWD version if you don't need the AWD cross-country - sharper relative depreciation than Subaru and comfortable seats. I like them because their long flat roofs are good for carrying kayaks & canoes. If I had a Saab dealer closer than 75 miles away, I'd consider a late model used 9-5 wagon too.
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- #795 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [jeffyscott] [shawbeg]
by cccompson
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Jan 23, 2009 (6:10 pm)
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 12:24 pm)
"Spacious interior" and decent highway mileage requirements = minivan. Quite frankly, with two growing teens, their friends, and luggage, it's hard to see how anything else fits the bill. And you should be able to get a very nice late model Odyssey or Sienna for 15K or less.
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- #796 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg]
by plekto
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Jan 23, 2009 (11:27 pm)
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 23, 2009 11:31 am)
If you don't mind (or prefer) driving manual, there is another car that might fit the bill quite nicely. A 4-5 year old Mercedes C230K sedan. This is a sedan with the 1.8L Kompressor engine. ~190HP and a reliable 30mpg on the highway. If you avoid the automatic and the nav and other high-tech idiocy, the vehicle is very reliable and good to drive. Oh, and avoid the automatic. Seriously. Mercedes and Chrysler both made rubbish (reliability) automatics before the merger and nothing changed during or after with either one.
And right in your price range.
Another good choice is a 4 cylinder Altima. Larger and consistently gets 30mpg highway.
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- #797 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [jeffyscott] [shawb
by shawbeg
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Jan 24, 2009 (6:24 am)
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Replying to: cccompson (Jan 23, 2009 6:10 pm)
cccompson -- The Mazda 5s get slightly better gas mileage than the Odysseys or Siennas without a huge compromise on room. Any reason why you didn't "endorse" the MZ5?
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- #798 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [plekto]
by shawbeg
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Jan 24, 2009 (6:28 am)
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Replying to: plekto (Jan 23, 2009 11:27 pm)
plekto - NO problem with manual. Prefer it, actually, though it is more difficult to find in a used "family" car. Again, though, the Mercedes mpg is about the same as the MZ5, so why go there? I'm not entirely sold on the 5, really (I'm starting to sound like a commercial for them, I know), but I'm wondering what's *wrong* with them that folks consistently suggest alternatives. What am I missing? Must go back and re-read these posts. Maybe there was something in there that I've forgotten. 
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- #799 of 1145
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Consider the Vibe as well
by suydam
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Jan 24, 2009 (6:48 am)
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If you like the Matrix, the Pontiac Vibe is basically the same vehicle but sells for less. They can be hard to find used but I really like ours. However, for the size of your family and their ages, I would think a minivan would really be more comfortable. Toyota Sienna gets decent mileage and could haul kids, friends, and gear with ease. A wagon isn't that much cooler than a minivan really!
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- #800 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [jeffyscott] [shawb [shawbeg]
by sebring95
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Jan 24, 2009 (7:49 am)
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 24, 2009 6:24 am)
Since I own an '05 Ody I'll chime in here....have you really compared a MZ5 to an Odyssey? The Odyssey is HUGE. We traded our Tahoe on the Odyssey to get more room. Ody is over 2' longer than MZ5 and beats most interior spec's by 5"-10". It makes your Vanagon look like a sub-compact. And the mpg is is quite a bit lower on the Ody....which makes sense because it has an extra 90hp and 1,000# of heft. Any of the new "mini" vans are superior people/stuff haulers to nearly anything else. We regularly have 6 on board plus plenty of bags and everyone is very comfy. But you pay a penalty for it in mpg for sure. Ours does 19-20 in normal duty and will do 22-24 on the highway. I think the MZ5 would work out fine for you as long as you're not going over 4 pax with gear. With the 3rd row up the cargo space falls drastically.
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- #801 of 1145
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Re: Need help with final [family] car choice! [shawbeg] [jeffyscott] [shawb [shawbeg]
by cccompson
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Jan 24, 2009 (2:23 pm)
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Replying to: shawbeg (Jan 24, 2009 6:24 am)
sebring95 has summed it up nicely - they're simply different animals. I will say, though, that I had no trouble getting 28 mpg at 65 mph on the highway in my since traded VCM equipped '05 Odyssey.
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