Couple Used Wagon Questions

[MT930]

Looking for a used wagon as a DD

Must have
All wheel drive

Looked at drove and liked :
2007 Volkswagen Passat 3.6L Luxury 4Motion Wagon
2007 Volvo XC70 Premium
2006 BMW 325xi A local dealer has a 2007 Audi Avant A4 with the 2.0L turbo, I have not driven it.

What are these like? Friend's have told me to steer clear of Audi's (they seem to be popular here). I have never been an Audi fan. I have reasons to believe they are expensive to own.

Any others come to mind in the $18-20 K range ?

From a cents per mile stand point which is the best choice of the above cars?

[Oh Haha]

Do you have a shop for repairs or do you handle your own?

I vote for the VW as they are kind of a "sleeper" which means you should be able to get one a bit cheaper than the others. Parts may not be as costly, either.

That said, you can't go wrong with a BMW. We loved our 5 series wagon.

[mossguy]

Based on 7 years of trouble free ownership of our 2004 V70 AWD, I would recommend the 2007 Volvo XC70 that you are looking at.

[VaSteve]

BMW....I have a 2004 version. Great car....@ 90K now, some stuff has needed attention, but its a solid solid car.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by MT930

...

Must have
All wheel drive

...

bad news re repairs is that the reliable AWD wagon is very boring and it starts with S_____

[DARISC]

Just posted this on the other thread by mistake:

I recently bought a 50k mi. '06 V70R, which is AWD and have put about 3k mi. on it since posting the below thread - I really love it. But unlike Tom's, my R makes 300 hp and I'm averaging a dismal 15.5 mpg for the last 3 tanks (all around town...damned right foot ). I get about 24 mpg freeway @ 75/85 mph. Paid about $23.4k.

Drove an XC70 but don't need the ground clearance and didn't like feeling like a bobblehead riding that high.

My new used Volvo wagon

[Super_Dave_D]

I hear wagon and 4 wheel drive, I think Subaru Outback!!! I am a little bias but I love ours!!

[83_Silberpfeil]

Forget the 4WD --- takes the fun out of a sport wagon.

My 07 328iTouring --- RWD has ~ 75K mi. It's been a blast to drive every day. Can't imagine this car with AWD or 4WD.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

Forget the 4WD --- takes the fun out of a sport wagon.

You've never driven a V70R then, right? It'll dust your Beamer.

[dhrcr911s]

hey, awd, montana, snow, dealer in town, outback silly

Replacing the wifes suv or your truck, makes a big difference in what is needed for HP

[MT930]

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

Forget the 4WD --- takes the fun out of a sport wagon.

My 07 328iTouring --- RWD has ~ 75K mi. It's been a blast to drive every day. Can't imagine this car with AWD or 4WD.

Yea the AWD is not a choice in the high country we had 4" of snow last night, still winter here. We can get 12-18 inches per dump. 2 WD DD don't exist in my world.

My 930 is a satisfying very simulating road car, I need a car I can make a living in the other 9 months of winter. That does better than 20 MPG

Our cars are a 1/2 ton Suburban and 3/4 Crew Cab, both average 13.5 MPG.
it going to get pricey, in fact it already has.

The Subaru Outback is the #1 car in these parts for good reason. It is always a safe choice.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by MT930

The Subaru Outback is the #1 car in these parts for good reason. It is always a safe choice.

I'd considered one but I needed more cargo space and the Volvo wagons are cavernous.

Actually, AWD wasn't on my want list. I'm in SOCAL, don't need to go off road or in snow.

[Paul K]

FWIW, I know a couple of folks who have Passats. Both have had issues.

+1 for the Subaru.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by MT930

The Subaru Outback is the #1 car in these parts for good reason. It is always a safe choice.

I did a google street view of some small town in Montana (there was a bar that exploded or something). Anyway, those Subie's were EVERYWHERE!!!

[Steve Carlton]

The Volvo V50 T5 AWD is hard to find, but something to consider. Super reliable car, too. The XC70 in 2008 is a new bodystyle and a much nicer car IMO, but probably above your budget.

Some Subarus are known for head gasket trouble, I believe. Not sure which, but I think they're the turbos. Not sure about the sixes.

[pavulon]

Altitude + dd/snow = Outback XT + snow tires

[FastCarFan]

We leased (for my wife) a 2003 VW Passat GLX 4Motion wagon & then a 2005 version. Both were great cars for the 24,000 miles or so that we had them. No problems of any significance. Both had a V6 (which I think is all you can get with 4Motion).

Then we leased a 2008 A4 Avant which was also a fantastic, trouble-free car for 36,000 miles. A couple weeks ago we just picked up a 2011 A4 Avant & we love it. Both A4s had/have the 4-cyl turbo.

My 2 cents FWIW. Good luck.

[craigster59]

The '05 XT's are known for turbo issues. Try out the 3.0, almost turbo power and a timing chain as opposed to belt.

[Spede]

Subaru for the win!

[motion]

If you think there are a lot of Subis in Montana, you should check out Colorado. They've fully invaded there!

+1 on the Subi