pic of van,

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1294985772.jpg

thx, but a terrible daily driver here

nice thing about a recent MY car or a new one is I don't have to F with it all the time - that gets old

Syncro?

1987 Volkswagen VW Syncro Vanagon

Not so local, but the conversion done.

87 Vanagon Syncro w/ subaru

And another, no rust!

86' Vanagon Syncro (no rust)

There's a local rust-free 1990 Syncro here for $6500

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/2137573189.html

thx but a Syncro is only interesting to me if it is a Westy; for this vehicle "slot" in my life, I need a daily driver usable around town & the Syncro ain't that.

nice thing about a recent MY car or a new one is I don't have to F with it all the time - that gets old; esp. with a Sin-cro

of course, IF I did have a [reliable] Syncro Westy, I would not NEED the snow ability or off-hwy ability of abilities above - and the daily driver could be a 3 series BMW or a Miata or something like that - or a Honda CRX or CRZ...

but that is not the situation & now is not the time to fly all over creation looking for a Syncro Westy either...

- I looked at the Volvo brochures last nite - no mention of gnd. clearance at all, so I take that to mean they are not serious about anything except snow on the hwy.

but, I did find this via Google - With an impressive 9.1 in. of ground clearance, the XC60 is ready ... not too bad; puts it into better than Subaru territory

drive system not as good as per above comments

top notch safety - 5 stars from NHTSA, wonder what IINS thinks?
http://www.examiner.com/autos-in-national/chevrolet-cruze-volvo-xc60-safety-stand-out-latest-nhtsa-crash-tests

I'm adding the Sube Forester to the short list. an '07 or '08 was fun & peppy around town, but was pretty noisy. I noticed it had cheap tires on it - "Federal" brand

also drove a Jeep GC today '011 base model with the lowest end 4wd system - nice flat floor with seats down, v-6 had more power than I thought it would, BUT the view out the front, sides & back was lousy. A sure way to not see and kill a bicyclist at a crossroads as the A pillar & mirror completely blocked a HUGE angle of vision. Tiny rear window - just not a fun thing to drive around town at all.

Dealer also said it was 2 or more months to get the Ltd & Overland versions and only the latter has the air suspension. They are getting a Ltd. version in Sunday, so we'll see if I can stand the thing.

We test drove a couple of Subaru Forester XTs and Outback XTs before buying the Cayenne.

I actually dug the little Forester XTs, esp. if you can find one with a stick. I thought it was a pretty good mix of price, mileage, interior space, yet small enough to be easy to park or fit anywhere, etc. Decently quick with the Turbo, and it's supposedly easy to swap in parts taken off of STis that can be found inexpensively.

They are loud though, Imprezeas are the same way (since they are basically the same thing)

Jeep's website shows the Quadra Lift air suspension as available on the Laredo X and Limited packages, and standard on Overlands. Is this not what you've found to be the case?

Anyway, I still recommend the Subaru options. Look at a 2009-up Forester with the turbo. Way different animal than a 2008.

getting any of the Jeep GC's is at least 2 months out (at least this fairly small burg)

thx - I'll look at the new Foresters.

What about those new VW TDI wagons. get around 40 MPG to boot!

I thought they were 2wd?

BTW - I did the BMW's salesman's job for him and found the gnd. clearance - only 4.5" so that is a big no go.

Why not buy one in another city or state, may save some money, even with the trip to pick it up.. We will travel across the country for a Porsche, why not a few hundred miles for a GC?? Having something that CAN tow is a good thing, just in case...