What wife wagon???

You know my answer will be, "brick". There are usually plenty for sale in the St Louis area, but I've never seen people so clueless about maintenance...

Yeah, I found an 09 Saab 9-5 aero for sale locally and didn't jump on it. It was a little rough around the edges but lowish miles and only 10k.

Also, none of my criteria is set in stone but is just to make sure that I don't get answers like the Merc a few posts back. If it were just my decision, then totally but my wife wants "safety features" and "reliability"

I'd be looking for something like this.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/4223397202.html

or this.

http://swmi.craigslist.org/cto/4190652100.html

Any suggestions when it comes to AWD?

In reply to N Sperlo:

From me? For SWMBO drive is not super important.

Add another vote for something swedish.

Around here, your can easily get a very nice Saab combi that fits your criteria. They are great highway machines.

Volvo V70 non-turbo might also fit, but your are at the very limit of your age/mileage/money limit.

gofastbobby wrote: I'd be looking for something like this. http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/4223397202.html or this. http://swmi.craigslist.org/cto/4190652100.html

That VW scares me, Miles for one. Another is the shot where the car is sitting on its own burnout marks...

Love that BMW. That would be a car for me. Not out of the question.

I think that I might need to do a fly and drive on that BMW if things go according to plan...

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4225362844.html

Hyundai Elantra Touring? I hear they are available with a stick, which should get you over the 30 mpg mark, not terribly expensive, and reasonably spacious.

Saab

Storz wrote: Saab

Yep.

That manual 3 Series Wagon is drool worthy...

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Hyundai Elantra Touring? I hear they are available with a stick, which should get you over the 30 mpg mark, not terribly expensive, and reasonably spacious.

Lux not found.

I think the natural answer here is Saab. Either a 9-5 or 9-3 with the 2.0l. They are quite different so try both and pick the one you like best. The 9-5 is a little larger but more dated. A 2007 anniversary edition 9-3 has all the good stuff you need except HID lights.

Just found a 2010 Saab 9-3 sportcombi 2.0t manual

Aspen wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Hyundai Elantra Touring? I hear they are available with a stick, which should get you over the 30 mpg mark, not terribly expensive, and reasonably spacious.

Lux not found. I think the natural answer here is Saab. Either a 9-5 or 9-3 with the 2.0l. They are quite different so try both and pick the one you like best. The 9-5 is a little larger but more dated. A 2007 anniversary edition 9-3 has all the good stuff you need except HID lights.

Apparently I fell asleep and woke up in a world where power windows, power door locks, leather seats, power mirrors, a 128 speaker stereo, power steering, power brakes, and an HVAC system that can maintain the cabin temperature to within 1 degree of desired is not considered "Luxury".

Saabs seem like scary maintenance monsters to me, especially if the prior ownership history isn't known to be good. A car not breaking down and costing a ton to maintain seems like a prerequisite to "Lux" to me, too, but I guess 10 million BMW drivers might prove me wrong...

Is the 2010 a safe year? It is the same chassis but post face lift.

Color me jealous. SWMBO hates wagons (and minivans, but I'm not as fond of those myself) and at one point pressed me to promise her that I'd never buy one. Confused her to no end that I said I would not since I think there's several I'd have a lot of fun with and could potentially use one as a Challenge car down the line. I also grew up with wagons around and have a soft spot for them, and often wish I'd bought the wagon version of my Saturn sedan. She had to settle for saying that she'd never ride in it if I got one...

volvoclearinghouse wrote:

Aspen wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Hyundai Elantra Touring? I hear they are available with a stick, which should get you over the 30 mpg mark, not terribly expensive, and reasonably spacious.

Lux not found. I think the natural answer here is Saab. Either a 9-5 or 9-3 with the 2.0l. They are quite different so try both and pick the one you like best. The 9-5 is a little larger but more dated. A 2007 anniversary edition 9-3 has all the good stuff you need except HID lights.

Apparently I fell asleep and woke up in a world where power windows, power door locks, leather seats, power mirrors, a 128 speaker stereo, power steering, power brakes, and an HVAC system that can maintain the cabin temperature to within 1 degree of desired is not considered "Luxury". Saabs seem like scary maintenance monsters to me, especially if the prior ownership history isn't known to be good. A car not breaking down and costing a ton to maintain seems like a prerequisite to "Lux" to me, too, but I guess 10 million BMW drivers might prove me wrong...

Are you serious? All the items you mention are standard on even the most lowly econobox, except leather seats. The Saab was a $40k new car vs. $20k for the Elantra and through the miracle of depreciation sells for only a few $k extra now. The Saab has auto climate, power seats, 80 more hp, 100 more torques with another 60hp available for $350 of tuning, better seats, quieter, safer, better headlights, headlight washers, better styling, better paint, roomier, handles better,.... The 9-3 has an above average reliability score. The manual with 2.0T doesn't have anything to worry about. The 2.8 has some issues and XWD has many issues but the 2.0T is an underappreciated jem.

Aspen wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote:

Aspen wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Hyundai Elantra Touring? I hear they are available with a stick, which should get you over the 30 mpg mark, not terribly expensive, and reasonably spacious.

Lux not found. I think the natural answer here is Saab. Either a 9-5 or 9-3 with the 2.0l. They are quite different so try both and pick the one you like best. The 9-5 is a little larger but more dated. A 2007 anniversary edition 9-3 has all the good stuff you need except HID lights.

Apparently I fell asleep and woke up in a world where power windows, power door locks, leather seats, power mirrors, a 128 speaker stereo, power steering, power brakes, and an HVAC system that can maintain the cabin temperature to within 1 degree of desired is not considered "Luxury". Saabs seem like scary maintenance monsters to me, especially if the prior ownership history isn't known to be good. A car not breaking down and costing a ton to maintain seems like a prerequisite to "Lux" to me, too, but I guess 10 million BMW drivers might prove me wrong...

Are you serious? All the items you mention are standard on even the most lowly econobox, except leather seats. The Saab was a $40k new car vs. $20k for the Elantra and through the miracle of depreciation sells for only a few $k extra now. The Saab has auto climate, power seats, 80 more hp, 100 more torques with another 60hp available for $350 of tuning, better seats, quieter, safer, better headlights, headlight washers, better styling, better paint, roomier, handles better,.... The 9-3 has an above average reliability score. The manual with 2.0T doesn't have anything to worry about. The 2.8 has some issues and XWD has many issues but the 2.0T is an underappreciated jem.

Or if you're near Raleigh, free tuning thanks to the Carolina Saab Club!