Car Buying Help Requested...

[Al]

Since my A4 wagon is no more, I am looking for a replacement car.

Here are the primary features I am looking for:

Wagon or Hatchback
Manual Transmission when available
Decent Fuel econ (hwy 28+)
Low Maintainance (I'm not looking for another Audi (for now))
AWD if applicable
Low Cost (no $500 junk, but nothing around 7k or above)


I was looking at Vibes and Matrixes, but these cars seem to cost more now than they did 3 years ago. Tauruses and Sables seem alright, but I wonder if they are as fuel hungry as my folk's 2000 Accord V6. I know subarus are reliable, but some say they are not good on petrol.
I'd love a mid-90s accord wagon, but I cannot find one local.

I'll take all of the input you can throw out there. The last time I bought a car, I didn't listen to people as well as I should have. I'm not doing that again.

I need to buy a car ASAP! I don't have a backup like I used to.

[Waver]

Well I will throw this out there, it is no audi, but they are hard to come by, we have a focus wagon where I work, pm me for details

[michelle]

I like the look of the VW wagons:
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1018974979.html
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/1016971683.html

And this is cute:
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/996368412.html

[xxtremeteam]

MAZDA PROTEGE 5- I have driven one of this with the 5spd very fun to drive
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/1009607177.html

[Crawlin]

i'd have to agree with the protege5 wagons. gonna be fwd only, but it fits all other criteria and has good reliability.

[DirtyMax]

Sounds like a WRK Wagon is right up your alley. I believe you're supposed to run premium but it should exceed your 28mpg request. You wanna play you gotta pay.

I've got a nice 5 speed Saturn Wagon I'll sell ya cheap. You can't make that thing get less than 32.... :thumbsup

[CAMAROJV123]

get a gti =] i got mine for 7,000 even, 74,000 miles, the 5 speed is always great, great gas mileage, and if u go this distance, luckily not too far for me ( only to chicago ) you can find some really nice ones. I love mine =]

[lordairgtar]

HHR. No trouble with mine, 30+ mpg. I've had it since July 07 and not one thing wrong with it. The looks of it aren't for everyone, though. Michelle, that Saab looks like you could slap a Taurus grille on it.

[BoosTT]

I would get a gti... but a volvo is a lot more pratical and awd with good mpg (5 cyl turbo). Actually kinda cool cars, if you want a wagon.

[1320PNY]

Get a used Subaru. I've got a 1995 that is "valued" at $1300 that I plan on driving until my next car (not purchased yet) is paid off!

[Sleeper Sierra]

the protege's are reallly nice and get around 34 mpg. the taurus and sable wagons wiyh the ohv 3.0 liter get around 30mpg I have had two of them and have always gotten 29mpg or better from the taurus'

[WhatsADSM]

Get a used Subaru. I've got a 1995 that is "valued" at $1300 that I plan on driving until my next car (not purchased yet) is paid off!

To the OP:

If you decide to get a subaru be VERY VERY careful about the legacy's with the 2.5 from the late 90s (which is likely what you would be looking at). When I was looking for daily drivers this was one on the top of my list, however those things are NOTORIOUS to blowing head gasket(s). It basically not a matter of if, but when. And now that those cars are getting older I found a bunch that people were trying to get rid of with blown HGs or one's that had blown HGs and were fixed cheaply and would likely blow again.

The newer legacys are fine and the old 2.2s are solid as a rock though :thumbsup

[murdoc158]

To the OP:

If you decide to get a subaru be VERY VERY careful about the legacy's with the 2.5 from the late 90s (which is likely what you would be looking at). When I was looking for daily drivers this was one on the top of my list, however those things are NOTORIOUS to blowing head gasket(s). It basically not a matter of if, but when. And now that those cars are getting older I found a bunch that people were trying to get rid of with blown HGs or one's that had blown HGs and were fixed cheaply and would likely blow again.

The newer legacys are fine and the old 2.2s are solid as a rock though :thumbsup

The head gasket problem was only on the 2.5L DOHC engine. The 2.5L SOHC and 2.2L engines are bulletproof. FWIW, I had the 2.5L DOHC in my Legacy and didn't have a single issue with almost 200k on it.

[WhatsADSM]

The head gasket problem was only on the 2.5L DOHC engine. The 2.5L SOHC and 2.2L engines are bulletproof. FWIW, I had the 2.5L DOHC in my Legacy and didn't have a single issue with almost 200k on it.

Jay,

Do you which years had the 2.5l DOHCs? IIRC it was like a 96-99 legacy that you had to watch out for right?

[murdoc158]

Jay,

Do you which years had the 2.5l DOHCs? IIRC it was like a 96-99 legacy that you had to watch out for right?

Yeah those years sound right. The DOHC and the SOHC engines were both available those years. You need to take a look at the front engine (cam) cover to be able to spot it.

[Al]

Cars I looked at:

2000 Subaru Legacy Outback
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/1019602685.html

1996 Mercury Sable Wagon
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/1010247777.html

2004 Malibu Maxx
http://www.autotrader.com/dealers/dda/detail.jsp?ct=u&car_id=258029057&dealer_id=554624&car_year=2004&dealership_view_name=www.carkinginc.com&result_car_id=null&sort_type=make_modelASC&address=&cardist=6114


I still like old import hatches.
Blast from the past: 1992 Integra LS
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ctd/994159020.html

[Waver]

if you are looking at taurus/sable wagons I have a 2001 with about 87k on it for 5,900 on our site.....let me know and I will see what I can do

[Al]

if you are looking at taurus/sable wagons I have a 2001 with about 87k on it for 5,900 on our site.....let me know and I will see what I can do

Cool.

BTW-do you work at an auto dealership?

[Waver]

Cool.

BTW-do you work at an auto dealership?

absolutly....I work at northpoint ford.....I will see what I can do for you on that vehicle for you.

[1320PNY]

I have a 2.5L SOHC "horizontal 4" in my 1995 Subaru Legacy Sedan. Things to note:

1.) Car is bulletproof as long as timing is serviced every 100K.
2.) Fuel filter easy to get to and has a lot to do with how car runs.
3.) Brakes have that funky "drum hat" rotor in rear for the e-brake.
These usually do not need replacement, but rather adjustment.
4.) These get 2 MPG better on "Mid-grade" 89 octane fuel, but 93
is wasted on these cars because the timing will not adjust for it.
5.) I have gotten 26 MPG on this car since I bought it used (2002)
with 68K on the ODO. I now have 168K on the ODO.
6.) I have spent less than $300 annually on maintenance on this vehicle.
7.) I put tires on it at 68K (when bought) and 148K (last year). I put
Multi-Mile tires on it. They seem to work well in all seasons and last.
8.) ALL and I say ALL of the options work STILL! Moonroof, windows,
mirrors, wipers, defrosters, radio, EVERYTHING is still great. That is
what freaks me out. Even the leather is still good. I put new floor
mats in it this year and it scares me to think I'm going to be driving
this thing for 3 or 4 more years yet.
9.) I am a big advocate of US made products. The Legacy platform is
"assembled in Indiana", which is more than I could say for my
Silverado. My Mustang is 60% "guaranteed" US made, but mostly
"Hencho en Mexico".
10.) The best way to have a fun summer vehicle is to also have a Subaru!

[Bobby "Big Daddy" Flay]

Here is a 2001 Integra GS for sale through Autotrader 66k, 5-speed, blasts to drive http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=257418030&dealer_id=554624&car_year=2001&rdm=1233890219693&model=INTEG&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1999&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=50&marketZipError=false&model3=&color3=&model2=&color2=&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=ACURA&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=53095&advanced=&end_year=2001&doors=&transmission=Manual&max_price=&cardist=28&standard=false

[Al]

Well, I'm still looking.

BTW- I am looking for something really cheap yet reliable now, so I'm limiting myself to $2500 max.