Sporty wagon?

I have a Saab 9-2x, which is just a reskinned Subaru Impreza (in my opinion better looking than the Impreza, although neither could be called "pretty"). It has a better warrenty, nicer interior, and slightly softer suspension. GM had really big rebates on it when it was new, so the resale value is really low. For $15k, you can get a 2005 Linear with low miles or maybe even an Aero. I have a 2006 with leather, sunroof and heated seats, none of which were options on the Subaru at the time.



Ypsilanti eh? I know a bunch of people at the GM Powertrain plant there.



Not mine, but an example...

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How about a used Lexus IS300 Sportcross. Didn't really catch on, but it's sporty and there aren't that many on the road. Being a Toyota, it's reliable.
 
Mazda 3 all the way!



I would hardly call Audi or VW reliable. I would argue quite the opposite.



The Mazda 3S Hatch actually replace the MP5 which has a long track record of reliability... many over 200K with few prblems. I can gurantee you won't say that about a Audi or VW.



The VWs are electrical nightmares and there made in Mexico fro goodness sake. I can gurantee you will find yourself at a VW dealership for repairs quite often. Unfortunately, it's the nature of the car... its bent on problems.



The Audi have there fare share of problems as well. Mainly the Audi has suspension components that wear usually w/i 50-60K mi. It is def. a fun car to drive but once the suspension goes, you will find yourself replacing those parts quickly and expensively. Another thing about both Audi and VW is timing belts, they need to be replaced before 60K too. If you break a timing belt, your screwed for good so it is def. maintenance that cannot be overlooked.



Subaru, IMO, feels rather unfinished inside. I dare say cheap! I dunno, you will have to come to your own conclusion about them.



Now, another consideration is gas. All the models with the exception of the Mazda 3 require premium fuel and synthetic motor oil (the oil is arguable but sludge in a turboed car is not pretty). Turboed motors require premium fuel for performance. I'm not sure you care about the extra $4-5 at the pump every week but gas is becoming more expensive by the day in these parts.



In summary, i would definitely visit Audi and VW forums before purchasing either one of the vehicles. Learn about the issues so that you can at least ask the right questions and perform a thorough inspection at the time of purchase. That reminds me, Have a used Audi inspected by a independant Audi mechanic before purchase. This minor investment can save you thousands in the long run. Good luck, hope this helps!



JJ



BTW, I do not own any of the vehicles listed, but I have done plenty of research on the above cars.
 
The suspension problems were mostly on the first generation of A4s. As for VW made in Mexico I don't know, they are probably not as good as the German ones. But to say a Mazda or Toyota isn't going to give you trouble just isn't true. It seems that just because one model of a brand has a problem all the cars from that company are labeled as unreliable. And many problems are caused by dealers that don't know what to do to fix them.
 
Another vote for the Mazda3. It's just the perfect car you're looking for. I like the Subaru Impreza wagon, too, but you probably don't need AWD so the Mazda is a better looking, handling, and more practical car. It's just the new version of the MP5, with more power, better handling, etc.



Stay away from older VW/Audis...as J.J. said they're known for being electrical nightmares. Newer ones are way too much $$, so forget about that.
 
I test drove a Mazdaspeed 3 wagon a couple weeks ago. Maybe it's the fact there was heavy traffic for part of the drive or something else, but it sort of underwhelmed me. YMMV.
 
velobard said:
I test drove a Mazdaspeed 3 wagon a couple weeks ago... it sort of underwhelmed me. YMMV.
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I think it's the sort of vehicle you'd have to actually drive for yourself before you'd know how it'll strike you. A lot of mediocre vehicles have a *lot* of appeal to some people, and a lot of good vechicles just *don't* appeal to some people.
 
Lets mix things up a bit, we may trade the wifes 06 mariner in and get something else and just hold onto the SVT since its almost worth nothing to trade in anymore. And given the fact she is out of town much of the time I have a bit more free reign and cars. Is there a "sporty wagon" that can still tow 2500-3000lbs?
 
I dunno from towing, but I sure like the idea of your keeping the Contour :D Yeah, why dump it for the little bit it'll bring? I know I'd be kicking myself for a long time if I let it go.
 
I would not pull anything with a 4 cylinder engine. I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm saying it can't be done well.



If you want to do some pulling, I would buy a smaller SUV. I personall drive a 2002 Pathfinder 4x4. They can be found used at a great price. They have a very reliable motor with the 6 cylinder VQ engine. There are many alternatives though.



If you are looking for a wagon to tow with, I'm afraid I have no suggestions.



JJ
 
J.J. said:
If you are looking for a wagon to tow with, I'm afraid I have no suggestions.
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Yeah, IMO "towing" and "sporty" are kinda mutually exclusive.



You could tow and haul dogs with the old Caprice/Roadmaster wagons, and a few suspension/performance tweaks made them downright *fun* to drive, but they were an acquired taste and they've been out of production for so long that they aren't really a viable option here...



To be honest, some of today's "sportier" SUVs have really surprised me; I poked fun at them for years until I actually drove a few of the things. I can be kinda, uhm, aggressive in my driving (and the regulars here know I've had some radical cars), but a lot of these sport utility vehicles have all the "sportiness" you can really use on a public road.
 
Accumulator,



Which sportier SUVs are you talking about? I am thinking about getting something similar and always enjoy your opinion.



Sam
 
The only SUV's that I have driven that I would call "sport" really are the BMW's. They drive nearly as well as the sedans do.
 
The Audi A3 is an excellent car - very refined and an extremely high quality interior, but a little more than 15k - maybe a used A4 or A6 wagon?
 
SamIam said:
Accumulator,



Which sportier SUVs are you talking about? I am thinking about getting something similar and always enjoy your opinion.
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I was thinking about the BMWs (both of 'em), the Porsche (not the 6 cylinder ;) ), the Jeep SRT-8, Trailblazer SS, and the Infinity FX-45 (I think that's the model, I forget...). I could have a ball with any of those on a *racetrack*, let alone on a public street.



Heh heh, this reminds me of how the instructors at Bondurant take the students for some hot laps *in Econoline vans* :eek: No way most people could keep up with them with sportscars. Last time I took a trip on the WVA turnpike in the S8, a guy was hanging with me at, uhm, severely extra-legal speeds ;) in his Honda Odyssey! I suspect he was working a lot harder than I was, but he was keeping up until things got really twisty and most of the time we were both pretty much limited by surrounding traffic. IMO "sporty vehicle" has a lot to do with the driver's mindset...but I digress :o
 
If you can find a good mid mileage 05 Subaru Legacy GT with manual transmission, that might fit the bill. I found one new on a dealer's lot here and can't wipe the grin off of my face everytime I get in.



I really like the styling and utility of the sportier wagons in general, but agree with Accumulator that most of the 'sporty' ones may not be the best choice for towing.
 
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