[Otter74]

I did post something on this subject a year or so ago, but it seemed better to start a new thread. For the last couple of years or so I've been wanting to replace my boring appliance car (2003 Honda Accord, I4/5AT, ~50k miles) with something less boring with a manual transmission and a liftgate. (I haven't yet because I keep reminding myself that it's nice to have one car that I can ignore) I would be happy with the boringness if it was a wagon with a stick, or just a wagon, but the combination of boringness and lack of utility (if I had a wagon I wouldn't have had to borrow a pickup to move an engine the other weekend, for instance) is what makes me want to replace it.

I know that, approached purely from a utilitarian standpoint, there is little case for replacing it. It is in great shape except for the damn headliner and will run until Jesus comes with very little maintenance at low cost.

Dreamed-of replacements cover the full spectrum of Bad Idea (Alfa Milano, E30 Touring, E34 Touring, E46 Touring, E39 Touring - notice a pattern here? - B5/6 Avant, Saab 9-5 wagon, Peugeot 505 turbo wagon, etc.) to Good Idea (Mazda 3 hatch, Mazda 5, Mazda 6 hatch/wagon, Subaru wagons) and in between.

Ideally I'd get something of about the same vintage, with about the same mileage. I don't daily this (I use bicycles for that) and probably don't drive it more than 5k miles per year, mostly road trips. I can go a month without driving at all unless I'm taking the 911 for a drive. Sometimes I have to carry **** and people, and I want to be entertained at least a little bit while doing it.

Two of my recent short-list cars are the Mazda 5 and the 2009-up Jetta wagon. The 5 is a pretty known quantity - hard to go wrong if I could find one with low miles, a 5MT and a sunroof (I really, really want a sunroof on a wagon-type car) Fuel consumption is only OK, but not worse than the Accord.

The Jetta I know less about. I found a 2010 Jetta wagon for sale with the 2.5L five, base trim, low miles, manual, and sunroof. A bit over budget, but workable (I'd like to keep it under $8k). What is the reliability of these cars like? The engine may be 'meh' but it is good enough and is probably the most reliable engine VW has made in recent years. Are these things likely to be durable and reliable? Remember I don't put more than about 5k/year on this car. The 2010 Jetta wagon seems to be a Mk V body shell with a Mk VI front end, IP and electrical architecture.