In the market for Another Car

[rangerfan]

Looking for another ride which will be primarily used as a kids shuttle around town, perhaps going as far as 10 miles on the highway at a stretch. It'll never be too far from home. It will be parked outside. Safety is paramount since my kids will be in the ride when they are not in the minivan. There likely will never be more than 2 kids in the car at once. My kids are almost 5 and 3. We'll probably have another, but that's what the Sienna is for. I'll probably buy it since it probably won't get more than 7,500 miles a year. I'd like to keep it in the low to mid $20s, but price is not my most important factor. I consider resale just as important as upfront cost, and some of the choices depreciate far too fast. I want new b/c I don't want to get someone else's lemon, unless I can find a dealer demo. Assume new for purposes of this thread. I'd like to get some input and advice on my choices, and an others I should consider.

Would like AWD b/c of my driveway, but it's not a must have, b/c if the weather is that bad, the kids are staying home. Not going to put on snow tires. Good MPG is appreciated (20+ city at least).

Was thinking of:

1) Subaru Outback wagon (I have a contact that can get me a great deal on a Subu at or below dealer cost)
2) Honda CR-V
3) Honda Accord
4) VW Jetta / Passat 2004 or 2005 (depending on price)
5) Ford Escape or Explorer (MPG sucks, but can get unreal deal on any POS Ford ride)
6) Toyota Camry
7) Volvo V50 (probably too expensive to own)
8) Mazda 6 Wagon

[motordavid]

RF: I have a CR-V I'd sell to you reasonably, lol!

J/K...

A reasonable list of wants and cars, though I suspect that 20 mpg in the city is out of reach for a few of them, in real world drivng:
eg CR-V never gets 20 in AWD model I have. Though CR-V has v.high crash rating, tremendous resale, (don't know why), great motor, spartan int, though the '05s are better. I could go on and on about CR-V, if you get close to one and want more 2cts on that car.
Other opins, off top of my cabeza:
Focus...good mpg, safety rating?, kinda chintzy in base form.
Accord, Jetta, et al...pretty pricey for an around town shit&git car,imo.
Mazda 6 wagon...pretty good reviews and the stlrs here are really dealing on'em.

Let me think some more, while I'm swapping winter wheels for summer wheels and tars, down in the "sheltered workshop", very slow, Nascar-like, learning ctr, aka the garage!
BR, md

[Kewl X5]

I had the pleasure of getting a Subaru Outback wagon for a rental and it really was a great car. It handled well for what it was and if you get the 2.5 Turbo, you'll be going a decent rate.

It has AWD and plenty of head airbags.

[rangerfan]

Outback just got the highest crash ratings ever in one of the crash tests--both front and side I think.

MD, I'm not talking a real world 20, I want 20 on the window. That makes me feel like I'm not going to be spending a bundle on gas, and it's all about how I feel.

Oh, and I didn't mean to say Focus--I meant to say Ford Escape.

[rocketir]

My brother in law was a truck driver, until he got t-boned by an outback. Totaled the outback, totaled the Peterbuilt. The gal in the outback was released after observation later that night, she walked out of the Hosp. IMHO thats a pretty tough car.
Jes

[Curious Joel]

If I were you, I'd go for:
1) Volvo V50
2) Honda Accord
3) Toyota Camry

The Volvo is just soooo nice looking. I think every Volvo is great... They're safe, comfortable... They get good mileage. Our XC70 gets about 26 which is the same as my 330xi. It's got cargo space, people space, looks, performance, and AWD. Also, Volvos are, in my experience at least, very dependable. Our XC70 is nearing 10,000 miles with no problems. My best friend's mom has had 6 Volvos in a row. She started with a 240DL and now she's got a 2002 V70XC. She swears by them. In all that time, they've never been to the dealer except for scheduled services and for buying another one! A few years ago, on June 27, 2002, she was in a very severe accident in her 2001 V70 XC. She was driving at about 50 mph and a tractor-trailer pulled out of a driveway right in front of her. She hit the truck on the axle, so hard that she broke it. The car was totaled, but the passenger compartment was completely intact. The only injury she had was a scrape from the airbag. That convinced my mom to buy a Volvo.
The Accord and Camry should be tied for 2nd, but I put the Accord ahead just because I like it a little better. They both are built to last, have great mileage, and are very safe. They don't have AWD, though.

Oh I forgot to add that I am really liking that new Outback/Legacy.. especially in the Turbo trim!

[Trex]

If you're getting a deal on the Subbie, get it. Not a bad car at all.

[motordavid]

RF: I hear you on "the window #".
Outback, or Mazda 6,imo.
GL,md

[rangerfan]

So far I have Internet quotes of:

2004 Mazda6 Wagon, $27,110 sticker for $20k
2004 Passat GLS, $26,500 sticker for $21,500 - 1.8T engine
2005 Honda CR-V SE for $24k

Still waiting on the Subu #s.

I don't care about the look of the car CJ--it's not my daily ride. I want safe and reliable. That's why no GM and Chrysler.

My inlaws have 2 2002 XC70s. No way you get 26 mpgs in your car. I drive their XC all the time, and I fill it up too. It's a nice car, but service is expensive, though the new ones have 'free' service (as in, paid for up front by me ).

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by rangerfan

So far I have Internet quotes of...

RF: ya gotta handful of quotes in 20 mins.

I sent req for quote to internet "mgr" at 3 BMW stlrships last Thurs.: Century, Fletcher and Hendrick. I've heard from None, thus far. What is it w/these idiots?

GL on your hunt, but at least you have some options and responses. md