Advice sought on a station wagon purchase....

[midnight armadillo]

Ok all you Sat. night DU'ers. I'm looking to buy a station wagon to cart around our wonderful little boy (5 weeks old this past Thurs!). The old Corolla is just too cramped.

Budget is $5k. The car will, for the next 2 years at least, see mostly in-town driving and I don't expect to hit 6k miles per year. After that who knows...but after 2 years there will be more money available for maintenance :-)

I checked out a highish mileage 99 Subaru wagon today that needs a new rear wheel bearing ($$$). Does anyone have experience with the mid-90's Volvo 700/800/900 wagons or the 95-97 VW Passats? I think the winner will be a Subaru wagon (maybe not this one), but I want to consider all options (and transmission types). I don't care for the Ford/Mercury wagons at all so that's the exception. Any thoughts?

[Nite Owl]

1. Volvo

Had a Volvo 850t, '95. Worse car we ever owned. It had electrical problems, the ac didn't get cold, radio had trouble and it was expensive to fix everything. Also had a '98 Cross Country wagon. It had lots of problems too. Knew someone who had a Passat and liked it but never had one. How about a Honda CRV? From what I know they last forever and have no problems. Been into Nissans lately and love them but I don't think they have a wagon. Enjoy every minute with the little one. Time goes quickly.:)

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Nite Owl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[July]

2. Well . . .

I have a '93 Volvo 240 wagon (last year they made them), and it's pretty reliable. Slow on acceleration (older Volvos are known for this, apparently). Like all Volvos, it's good on safety features, but I think the later Volvos have the better side reinforcement or head cushions. The dealerships I've had maintenance done in (one in PA, one in NJ) couldn't be more helpful. We're a two-Volvo family -- they were into safety before anyone was into safety, and they're getting less dorky (though I have a great fondness for my Swedish tank, as my spouse calls it, and "The Red Box," as the two offspring call it). Low acceleration car, by the way, is a GREAT car to teach a 16-yr.-old to drive in. They just can't rip out of a turn, and therefore learn to be cautious!

[dweller]

3. Subarus are great cars

locally, we have very few in the want ads (which tell me that owners hang on to them) but repair/parts can be costly. Since i do most of my own repair work, it's not a factor.

You have any mechanical know-how? You could probably do a major part of the wheel bearing repair, and cut the cost considerably.
get a repair manual, Haynes or such, for your model.

For example, i found a sub legacy wagon, 90 model with low mileage on the engine (replaced due to a fire?). It needed struts, got the owner to knock it down $400, replaced them for less than $200 myself. So far that's the only costs i've had on it, i put a rebuilt starter on it recently for under $100. But considering 3 years on it, and $1k for the purchase price, it's been a deal. Avg. 32 mpg, still has good pickup, and rides fine with a load of kids and gear, etc.

Mine is a 2 wheel fw drive, the all wheel drive is supposed to be a great factor, but just another maintanance feature, imo.
how hi miles on the subaru? They are well-known for lasting 2-300k before major rebuilding if treated right (reg. oil change and tuneup etc).

sorry, i am not familiar with Volvo, or the new volksies.

good luck with your search and purchase.
dp

[midnight armadillo]

12. DIY repairs

Well, while I'm capable of doing my own repairs my apartment lease specifically forbids car repairs here...the reality is while they don't mind the little things like replacing spark plugs they frown on anything requiring jack stands.

The subaru has 140k miles, from frequent Boston/Hartford commutes. As long as they'll knock down the price to make up for the wheel bearing repair (not a DIY job - some special tools needed) I think it'll be a winner.

[Philostopher]

4. I don't really have any recommendations for specific cars.

I will say that Consumer Reports was pretty down on the later models of the Jetta and Passat (after 1999, I believe, though it might go back another year); apparently their maintenance records haven't been up to snuff in the past five years or so.

Their automotive models issue is pretty informative, it'll give you an idea about which models are better and worse in the age range you're searching. Most public libraries keep one in their circulars section, I've used them before when looking for a used car.

We bought a secondhand Toyota RAV4 this past summer, we were looking at sedans, station wagons and mini-utes when we started, decided for us (no kids, but five pets) a mini-ute that got good mileage wound up being our choice. We prefer a stick shift, so station wagons went off the list immediately -- we couldn't find a single used small station wagon with a 5-speed in our area. Not surprising, really -- most people buy a station wagon to transport kids, and having to shift would be inconvenient.

Also, another good link for determining what you can get for your budget in your part of the country is:

http://www.kbb.com

It's the Kelley Blue Book site. There's a 'Used Cars' option in the side index, the database will give you expected retail and private owner prices for your zip code.

[papau]

5. Sorry - but we've had great luck with Sable wagons with 90,000 miles

as caes for the kids starting out.

Those cars are now at 125000 and indeed are into repair costs - and will be sold - but for 35000 miles after hitting 90,000 they were good cars.

old Toyota Camry is another place I would look

[madrchsod]

6. buy a dodge

mini-van. there`s nothing better if you have kid/kids to haul around. lots of room to throw all the baby stuff.if you buy anything have a good mec. check out the engine-trans-supension. buy the lowest miles for the money.

[Capn Sunshine]

7. get a 57 Nomad wagon

You'll never lose a dime

[TreasonousBastard]

8. My '88 Corolla...

has 220,000 miles on it, and the engine is still strong. A lot of other things have been replaced, though. Right now I'm dealing with electrical and front end problems.

I put a lotta miles on, so, so the 40mpg is worth it to me, but I'm looking at a second, or replacement, car now. Looking at Saturn, Camry, and Escort wagons-- all mid 90's and $2-4,000. Used is always a crapshoot, but these all have pretty good overall reliability. Yeah, even the Escort.

Also looking at a couple of Windstar minivans around the same price range. I don't much trust older Chrysler minivans with Mitsubishi engines.

[JanMichael]

9. We just bought a Subaru Outback and it's great!

It's fuel usaged isn't what I'd like, 25-30 mpg, but it's a solid vehicle.

The Legacy is fine too. I'd highly recommend any Subaru.

[XNASA]

10. Check out Edmunds

www.edmunds.com

They've got a lot of good info.

You should check-out a minivan. Our 95 Caravan is still going strong. I just took it camping and got 28 mpg over the course of the trip. Around town, I still get around 20 mpg.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

11. The Car Talk psychos on NPR give this advice...

Get a used limo. One with the window that goes up and down, or better yet one where you have to use the phone to talk to the driver. We looked at one when we bought our Honda Odyssey (which, by the way is a great car, and we do not regret it at all 3 years and 70k later) and seriously considered getting it, but it was champaign colored...

but now that the kids are older, I know what they mean, and I keep my eyes out for limos all the time.

one of these days.


oh, yeah... for more wit, wisdom, and mayhem from Cambridge, MA, they are at Caa Tawk

[midnight armadillo]

13. Car talk rocks!

If you are ever in Harvard Sq. you can see their office: "Dewey, Cheetem, and Howe." :-)