Finally convinced the Wife a wagon is better then a Minivan.

[FocusDude]

Prereqs- $15k, <50k miles, room for 5, and tons of space for groceries, sailing gear, tee ball equipment etc. Built within the past 5 years with few exceptions. I want safety and quality, then low cost of ownership. Mpg, gadgets and gizmo's aren't so important. And the Wife is demanding a stick shift, or possibly a flappy handle.

I really want a Volvo V50. I can seem to find quite a few low end models with well under 40k, and also a 08+. The safety is top notch but I dont know much of reliability on the 5cyl- http://tinyurl.com/97k5vfm

Seems Passat's are a couple years older but I like the possibilities of a 1.8, my borther in law knows then well, and one day this will be my car when we really need a minivan. http://tinyurl.com/9mj78gs

Are they any problems with the recent Forester's with a 2.5? I've always wanted a Subby. http://tinyurl.com/9sdoqzn

I'd also like to check out a Magnum, obviously a little older then I'd like but it's gotta Hemi and all bets maybe off. http://tinyurl.com/9qnjwn9

We don't rack up the miles, about 5k a year but we are planning a few long distance trips in the next few years, and the Escape is starting to get cramped and has close to 100k. We are looking to buy this winter depending on how much it will cost to inspect the Escape, if its not much we are waiting another year hopefully.

[DC2.2GSR]

I would suggest an 05-09 Legacy GT wagon, but I doubt you'd find one under $15k with your <50k miles requirement. It would be a fun wagon though, and very practical when needed.

edit: here's one nearby, but it's an automatic. Just an example though, you could probably search a while longer and find a manual trans.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=19512&endYear=2009&modelCode1=LEGACY&startYear=2005&makeCode1=SUB&searchRadius=100&listingId=331929096&Log=0

...and here's on that's cheaper but slightly higher mileage but it's a 5 spd.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=19512&endYear=2009&keywords=wagon+gt&modelCode1=LEGACY&startYear=2005&makeCode1=SUB&keywordsfyc=wagon+gt&searchRadius=100&listingId=332071029&Log=0

[Scapegoat]

why not a a larger SUV?

[JB'sLGT]

The Legacy GT wagon was only offered in 05-07. They came with both a 5spd manual and flappy paddle options. Definitely find a manual if you want to mod it.

[Got Insulin?]

The Volvo 5 cylinders are on par with how good everything else is on the vehicle. My neighbor has had the V50 since new and put something like 220K through his with nothing but routine maintenance. If you look at some of the older Volvo's on the road, most of them are well loved and have a ton of miles, but still putz around no-problem.

[FocusDude]

I really, really like that Volvo. The interior is a little to Norwegian for me but the outside line's I have loved since the I first saw one.

why not a a larger SUV?

I'm not trying to compensate for other things. I've been talking Wifey out of a bog SUV since we bought the Escape.

[schaffer]

Can't miss with a Subaru wagon.

[c7scayman]

Jetta Wagon. Not sure how reliability is for the newer VW's.

[jpalamar]

Jetta Wagon. Not sure how reliability is for the newer VW's.

Then why would you even mention it...

[mckpat03]

Jetta SportWagen.

Edit: Forgot the price cap. Any VW wagon. Subaru if you want AWD.

[O2SpecV]

my vote is personally for the v70r
http://www.swedespeed.com/news/uploads/features/011__scaled_600_009.jpg

[FocusDude]

Well it ain't gonna be a v70, although we saw one tonight while trick or treating that was HOT!!! V50 I think it is, got Wifey tied up in it. WOOT!

[Eclipse GSX 61]

Tim you need an Audi S4 wagon...seriously it would be awesome. Only problem is it will rape your wallet lol.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/12/11/02/metu3yve.jpg

[ketchup!]

http://www.canibeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Nugent_IA_2012-33-900x576.jpg

[Reds82]

The subaru wagons are nice but if your talking lgt wagon and want 5spd they only made them in 05. v50 wagons are sweet I have looked at them a few times buddy just ended up buy one and loves it

[schaffer]

Forrester xt,wrx wagon....

[FocusDude]

The V70R and S4 wagons would be killer, but I got three kids who already rape my wallet. If the V70R wasn't ten years old I'd debate it, I'm afraid of high mileage maintenance on a car I never knew. An my name is not Tim, but Ed.

WRX wagon is just to small for all of us. Wifey likes the Volvo more then the Forester. We need to drive both. If I could find a decent Forester XT(or whatever the turbo version is) then its on.

[JB'sLGT]

there's also the 05 - 09 Outback XT (turbo) which is available with a 5mt. it's basically just a raised Legacy

[05Accent]

my vote is personally for the v70r
http://www.swedespeed.com/news/uploads/features/011__scaled_600_009.jpg

For some reason I really like this.Though I rarely like wagons, that color is sick as well.

[laser92dsm]

If I could find a decent Forester XT(or whatever the turbo version is) then its on.

This is going to be tough I tried looking for a decent 5 speed one for about a year then gave up.

[fightinchunk]

save yourself the trouble and get a t5 variant. the R's are a headache. angle gears blow up. early 6 speeds blow up. cracks between cylinder 4 and 5 on the bored out 2.5 turbo motors on stock tunes.

my 01 v70 t5 is still great. trans and motor in great shape at 290k. turboback exhaust, tune and you'll be at 300whp np

my legacy gt got smashed to smithereens by a tree from sandy. but she was great while I had her. the volvo was a million times more comfortable and volvo makes a stationwagon that just simply makes sense. cue's of its boxy heritage makes cargo space huge and the swedish layout of everything(norwegian? lol) isn't intuitive but once you're used to it... just makes so much more sense then a million buttons for single functions.

[jpalamar]

/thread