Narrowing the wagon trail...

I'm looking for a fun, cool, reliable $6-9K 25mpg (hwy) DD wagon. Manual would be nice but not critical, prefer non-turbo & non- AWD (but flexable here). I'll do basic wrenching but I'm not after any swaps etc.
Contenders in order: 525/528iT, Mazda6, 323/325/328iT(almost to small for needs), maybe V70. Like the looks of the VW/Audi Jetta/A4(too small?) and Passat/A6 but I fear thier reliability. Are they really worse then those on the list? Don't love Subarus (Forester,WRX,Outback) but am I missing some? Other contenders? Thanks for your thoughts

Any reason why you dont like the subarus?

It's really hard to imagine myself driving a wagon that wasn't a Subaru. (Unless it's an R34 Stagea)

Edit: here's a stupid idea. Take a subaru wagon, get the center diff welded, and take out the front axles.

In reply to Taiden:

Don't love the looks mostly, Legacy GTs are the exception. Do the make 25 mpg?

petemc53555 wrote: In reply to Taiden: Don't love the looks mostly, Legacy GTs are the exception. Do the make 25 mpg?

I get 22-23 with my '05.

If you dont mind occasionally putting alot of money into engine maintiance, but getting twice the mpg you are looking for, what about a jetta tdi wagon? Or an older passat tdi? I dont think id go for the audi or newer passat (really hard to work on), or an automatic bmw (too many on craigslist with bad transmissions). Subarus are ok, my dads 96 outback gets about 27 mpg, but parts are rather expensive.

How small is too small? Just about any Saturn wagon will easily beat your mileage goals with a ton of money to spare. So will early Volvo 240/740s. Looking for something newer and more money? It's tough to beat the 5 series BMW wagons. Mitsubishi Endeavor bears a good look-it's quite a sleeper.

SW2 with 5 forward gears is one of my many holy grails...

Another Subaru bandwagoner, here.

'O2 and up Impreza TS/RS wagon would fit the bill, '02-03s have about bottomed out in price at this point, and are a hoon to drive. I mercilessly beat my under maintained, Challenge-legal '02TS and see 24mpg in mixed driving, regularly. All the WRX and higher end Impreza parts bolt on for extra giggles.

My EJ22E impreza got 30 mpg highway and about 24 mixed including dirt

it had 230k miles on it and burned 1/4 of a quart of oil over 4,000 miles

I'm not sure about the parts being expensive, I must always have good luck with that.

I like the 93-01 body style the best. Here's a pic of mine.

And also a little stuck LOL

Aahhh, Taiden of DirtyImpreza/New England Subarus fame, knew that username looked familiar...

+1 for anything with an EJ22 for mileage and durability. I recently talked a coworker into a '99 Legacy Brighton wagon, he's regularly seeing 32mpg on his trips up north for bear hunting. Have I mentioned that Legacy wagons are great for hauling 400lb. bear carcasses?

ValuePack wrote: Aahhh, Taiden of DirtyImpreza/New England Subarus fame, knew that username looked familiar... +1 for anything with an EJ22 for mileage and durability. I recently talked a coworker into a '99 Legacy Brighton wagon, he's regularly seeing 32mpg on his trips up north for bear hunting. Have I mentioned that Legacy wagons are great for hauling 400lb. bear carcasses?

Not to mention the Legacies will accept Class II bolt on hitches.

What's your username over there? I'm the guy who runs http://brightnightcustoms.com, I advertise a lot on RS25

Taiden wrote: What's your username over there? I'm the guy who runs http://brightnightcustoms.com, I advertise a lot on RS25

Same userID on all the Subaru boards other than NASIOC, where I am nothing. I burned myself out in the early days of NES, I'm more of a lurker these days.

Dig the website, guy. I've seen the product before, looks good!

If you have emissions testing watch out for high mileage EJ22s. My dads is on its second cat, which already failed in less than a year after it was installed due to the oil consumption (im guessing). $600 every 2 years to pass emissions testing is kinda rediclous, but its better than the $1700 a new factory cat costs. The second or 3rd timing belt change wont be cheap either, with all the little rollers that need replacing (about $300 worth).

There's an v4. STI swapped 98 Impreza wagon locally for $3500. It's keeping me up at night.

njansenv wrote: There's an v4. STI swapped 98 Impreza wagon locally for $3500. It's keeping me up at night.

um. if it's sorted, that's a steal

Travis_K wrote: If you have emissions testing watch out for high mileage EJ22s. My dads is on its second cat, which already failed in less than a year after it was installed due to the oil consumption (im guessing). $600 every 2 years to pass emissions testing is kinda rediclous, but its better than the $1700 a new factory cat costs. The second or 3rd timing belt change wont be cheap either, with all the little rollers that need replacing (about $300 worth).

subaru cats are notorious for having low amounts of magic fairy dust. :(

Yeah, at least in california I dont think high mileage subarus are the best used car to look for. lol Cats are very expensive.

I wouldn't suggest a Legacy GT and I own one.

I think the Beemers would be the best to drive.

Taiden wrote:

njansenv wrote: There's an v4. STI swapped 98 Impreza wagon locally for $3500. It's keeping me up at night.

um. if it's sorted, that's a steal

I know: I've been trying to get a hold of the owner with no luck. I don't think it's sorted, but if all the parts are there...it's still a deal.

Platinum90 wrote: SW2 with 5 forward gears is one of my many holy grails...

In addition to the Saturn SW wagon, there is also the less well respected Saturn LW series.
Though not common, for a few years and manual could be mated to a 2.2L 4 cyl.
Sample:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=279216633&dealer_id=55857830&car_year=2002&rdm=1286160996536&lastStartYear=1981&model=LW_SERIESCLASS_SERIES&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=SATURN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=44870&advanced=y&end_year=2011&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=590&standard=false
In all years the V6 was only offered as an automatic

From your list, I'd probably say Mazda 6. Weren't many wagons made, but they're out there if you look.

One car that isn't fun or cool, but pretty reliable and would make a good beater wagon for cheap is the '01+ Taurus wagon. Good basic transportation.

Ford Focus

What about a Protege5? It may be too small for what you are looking for, but otherwise seems to fit. Pretty easy to find one with three pedals, too.

And another vote for Focus. They are a lot bigger inside than you would think.

Klayfish wrote: One car that isn't fun or cool, but pretty reliable and would make a good beater wagon for cheap is the '01+ Taurus wagon. Good basic transportation.

Just curious, why '01+ for the Taurus?

I like both the P5 and Focus but they are a wee small for my needs. The Taurtous....it would have to be a pretty damn good deal. It so UGLY why '01+?