New daily driver suggestions

I am at the point where I need or really want to replace my '99 Si. I really want an XJR but they are not in my price range right now as we are trying to buy a house next year.

So my requirements
Manual
Wagon (I want a wagon to help with moving and the home depot runs that come with buying a house)
Made in this century
Under $4k (cause we are buying the house)
Not terrible to drive
Preferably over 20mpg city

So the cars that I know of that would fit this.
Volvo V70
Saab 9-5
Subaru Impreza or Outback (not thinking about the WRX because I have not seen any unmodified one and I don't know about the reliability. Which years had the head gasket problems?)
Ford Focus wagon (does the SVT suspension fit this?)
Chevy HHR (I don't really want to drive around in that retro design but how is it and is it cheap enough? Would suspension mods make it ok to drive? Any junkyard upgrades)
Edit: Adding Vibe/ Matrix (did Pontiac make a model that is equivalent to XRS?)

Not considering PT Cruiser (no offense but I hate that car)
Dodge Caliber (no just no)

What am I forgetting? What would you suggest? I kind of want a Saab 9-5 or Volvo V70 to satisfy my want for Swedish car.

Don't have any suggestions, not a wagon guy. But wanted to thumbs up with the notion that buying a house = lots of home depot runs in your future. Early congrats on the house.

I've owned a few on your list and currently own one. In the past, I've had a Saab 9-5 wagon, and the Volvo 850 wagon (similar to the V70). The Volvo was an auto, the Saab a stick. Overall, I liked the Volvo better, though that's not saying anything bad about the Saab. The Volvo was a great mix of comfort, room, decent driving fun and mine was reliable. Saab was also all those things, just personal taste for the Volvo. MPG for both was low-mid 20's.

My current DD is a 2009 Chevy HHR, 5spd LS trim. I've put 16k miles on it in the 6 months I've had it, so I spend a lot of time behind its' wheel. From a practicality standpoint, it's everything I need. It's comfy enough for spending lots of time in. MPG around 30. Cargo hauling is awesome, very practical car. The driving experience is fine. It's not a corner carver, but it's not a wallowing disaster either. Even the base model has some nice features which I like...auto adjusting radio volume, speed sensing wipers, auto headlights. But there's lots of hard plastic inside, so if that bothers you, stay away.

If I had to pick one of those 3 right now, it'd be a tough choice. $4k may not buy you a decent HHR, so maybe look at a early 2000's Volvo? I'm actually considering parting with my HHR, so if you're interested I'm less than 2 hours from you...but I would need to do a bit more than $4k.

The HHR was originally launched with a 2.2L ecotech and a getrag 5 speed manual (later the HHR had the 2.4L ecotech.)
Before the HHR, the same drivetrain combo was offer in the Saturn Vue. I have one with 230k miles on it. Mine is not "sporting" but it is low tech and low maint.
Here is a more modified sample available on this board: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/2005-saturn-vue-22-ecotecmt5-pseudo-redline-for-sale/105868/page1/

It meets all your requirements though it will be up to you to decide weather it is "terrible to drive."
If you want to know more here is The GRM Saturn Vue primer.

Otherwise, the easy button is likely a Saab wagon.

Mazda 5?

Focus SVT suspension probably fits the wagon on the front but I am pretty sure the wagon has a twist beam rear suspension, not independent like the hatchbacks.

Aren't there 2000+ BMW 5 series wagons with manual transmissions?

I have a nice '05 Scion xB in the Open Classifieds if you can stretch your budget a bit.

Caravan

'cause 4x8 sheets enclosed in the back.

I vote Saab wagon. Easy to find in manual and cheap, but still nice.

I love me some wagon goodness. But, don't rule out removing that requirement and building yourself a Harbor Freight trailer.

JohnRW1621 wrote: The HHR was originally launched with a 2.2L ecotech and a getrag 5 speed manual (later the HHR had the 2.4L ecotech.) Before the HHR, the same drivetrain combo was offer in the Saturn Vue. I have one with 230k miles on it. Mine is not "sporting" but it is low tech and low maint. Here is a more modified sample available on this board: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/2005-saturn-vue-22-ecotecmt5-pseudo-redline-for-sale/105868/page1/ It meets all your requirements though it will be up to you to decide weather it is "terrible to drive." If you want to know more here is The GRM Saturn Vue primer. Otherwise, the easy button is likely a Saab wagon.

The VUE 5spd/4cyl is a good cheap utility box, but it will almost certain be "terrible to drive" for anyone coming from a '99 Si. Its suspension in stock form is awful, bordering on scary.

I really need to do something about ours.

The HHR is the only rental car that I ever returned because I hated it so bad. I simply could not see out of that thing, so many blind spots that I did not feel safe on the roads. Test drive one before you go that route.

I would consider the Pontiac Vibe. You can get it with a 5-speed, and it can handle with a little work.

My wife had a Honda V6 powered Vue before we bought the Escape. I don't really want to go back to that.

Caravan and Mazda5 are both minivans and I am not about to drive a minivan around. Sorry. IF I had to buy a minivan though, the Mazda 5 would be the one.

Where there E39s wagons with a manual in the US? I have always loved the way the E39 looks.

I honestly haven't looked at the HHR cost. I just kind of threw that up there cause I thought of when I was putting no PT Cruisers. The budget is not stretchable.

I just thought of the Matrix XRS. Didn't Pontiac make a Vibe with the same motor as the XRS?

Vibe GT = Matrix XRS bigger engine output w/ 6 speed manual
Vibe = Matrix XR smaller engine output w/ 5 speed manual

RossD wrote: Aren't there 2000+ BMW 5 series wagons with manual transmissions?

And 3 series too. AWD is available as well.

there was an e39 with a manual on the classifieds on this board. I think it sold though.

driving a Vibe GT "on-cam" made me laugh out loud every time. It wasn't really that fast, just the principle of the thing.

The Vibe/Matrix has all the seats fold flat(including the pass front seat which folds near flat with the others)... Will fit so much stuff inside, you might as well call it "your mom."

They're also very reliable. I have a friend who swears by them, taken two so far to over 200k with just normal maintenance, a wheel bearing or two, and intake manifold gaskets(kinda common).

PeterAK wrote: I love me some wagon goodness. But, don't rule out removing that requirement and building yourself a Harbor Freight trailer.

This is a excellent suggestion, especially for building materials, motorcycles, and other things that won't fit in a wagon and/or are dirty or malodorous (apparently you're supposed to transport teenage boys in an approved seat though). Even with a van and wagon, I still use the trailer from time to time. As a current 9-5 Aero wagon owner, I like it. It's quick enough to surprise people. We get low 20s city, close to 30 hwy.

Also there is a Saab 9-3 wagon. You can likely get an 06 2.0T or under $4k in reasonable condition. I had an 07 and it was a great car, the roof rack is rated at 220lbs, handy for IKEA trips. Otherwise a BMW 3 might be good too, although I would avoid the Xdrive ones at that price.

I was going to vote for Saab 9-3. My wife has an auto, but it's still an impressive little beast. It's comfortable and nice to drive and it seems pretty nimble. I wouldn't cry one bit if she made it my next car.

That being said, why not go "old school" and try to snag an O.G. Saab 900 turbo in your price range?

Hungary Bill wrote: That being said, why not go "old school" and try to snag an O.G. Saab 900 turbo in your price range?

Honestly a bit too long in the tooth. I want something newer.

Which Saabs had the sludge problems?

What about a Ford Focus Wagon + HF trailer?:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2016&zip=19446&transmissionCode=MAN&maxPrice=5000&transmissionCodes=MAN&showcaseListingId=410279265&mmt=%5BFORD%5BFOCUS%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&vehicleStyleCodes=WAGON&modelCode1=FOCUS&makeCode1=FORD&startYear=1981&showcaseOwnerId=71391&searchRadius=0&listingId=392903165&Log=0

What about a Honda Fit + HF Trailer?

Forester:

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?endYear=2016&zip=19446&transmissionCode=MAN&maxPrice=5000&transmissionCodes=MAN&showcaseListingId=411059376&mmt=%5BSUB%5BFOREST%5B%5D%5D%5B%5D%5D&modelCode1=FOREST&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&makeCode1=SUB&startYear=1981&showcaseOwnerId=65295371&searchRadius=0&listingId=411979261&Log=0

flatlander937 wrote: The Vibe/Matrix has all the seats fold flat(including the pass front seat which folds near flat with the others)... Will fit so much stuff inside, you might as well call it "your mom." They're also very reliable. I have a friend who swears by them, taken two so far to over 200k with just normal maintenance, a wheel bearing or two, and intake manifold gaskets(kinda common).

Wow I never knew they had that much room. I drove my sisters matrix many times but it was always full of kid stuff and I never really realized it was so roomy. I'll have to keep my eye out for these.

Saab 9-2X = WRX wagon and not as likely to have been modded.

Jag X-type?