Cheap and reliable wagons

Dajiban anyone?

ddavidv said:

I'll address the original question since not everyone wants to drive a minivan most of the time or has checked out of life to drive a Prius.

The Focus wagon I wouldn't touch if it doesn't have a Zetec engine. The base engine is junk. The auto trans isn't spectacular. The window regulators are garbage. The cooling system will explode or catch fire (or both) unless you replace parts in a preventative fashion. They are fun to drive and do sip gas. I think they would be cramped for sleeping though.

Subarus are reliable if you replace the head gaskets at 90k and keep an ear pricked for wheel bearing noise. The Legacy is the longest wheelbase of the bunch. The Forester is built on the Impreza so is shorter.

VWs can be terrifying. The Passat wagon became the Jetta which became the Golf (I can't explain it either). The only drivetrain to get is the 2.5 5 cylinder. The 2.0T is heartbreak waiting to happen, sort of like dating Lindsay Lohan -- fun for awhile but a huge explosion is coming. Replace the vacuum pump seals (they will be leaking), the EGR diaphragm and pray to the Check Engine Light gods not to visit you. They are super cheap right now and fun to drive. Just don't get an automatic that slams it's downshifts (bad throttle body if caught in time; transmission if you don't).

Volvos are worth a look provided you do your homework, don't hit anything with it ever ($$$) and can tolerate Volvo's extensive use of cheezy looking plastic in the interior.

Mazda 6 wagons exist in tiny numbers and I'd totally consider one of those.

Acura made a wagon for a little while (TSX?) but they command good money on the used market even with a crap ton of miles.

I ruled out BMW and M-B wagons due to maintenance concerns.

Thanks for the super replied detail. Which volvos in particular should I be looking at?

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-volvo-v70-25-no-turbo/6698813764.html

Here's an example I found.

Volvo fans will have to chime in. As much as we tried to like Volvos we simply couldn't so I didn't research them too deep. We wound up with a Jetta Sportwagen.

The Saab wagons are a really nice package but my fear of dealing with an orphan Scandinavian brand known for high repair costs removed them from contention early on.

If cheap and reliable are the criteria, Saturn wagons should be on the list.  The S series is small.  The L-series with the same ecotec/auto trans combo can be found all day on CL for $1000 and has a very large cargo area.

Stawker Van FTW here. The Sprinter/NV/Transit etc is the modern day version.

I had an old ford full size van that I used as my dirt bike rig for awhile. Made a flip down twin bed platform on one side and had a cradle to mount my dirt bike on the other side. Had the old school version version of the mushroom vent listed on the roof and 2 screened window vents on the side and I camped in that thing all of the time. It was lined with insulation so even didn't get that cold. The bonus part of it was, it could tow 5K easy so no need for a second tow vehicle either. 

Along with the T&C or GC suggestions (for Stow N Go), I'd also suggest a Transit Connect.

+1 on the minivan choice. My ‘16 Odyssey is a comfortable bunk. I pulled the middle seats and put a twin size air bed in the back.  Used a small inverter and the 12v outlet in the back to inflate the mattress. Its a pretty danged nice place to sleep.

Also, check out www.theskeeterbeater.com - magnetic window screens sized to your vehicle. Not perfect, but they a decent job of keep the bugs out at night and allow ventilation. Tip - get the extra magnets they sell to get a better seal. Also make sure to put the screens on before you open the window!