Looking for something new. Is there a car that does everything I want?
 

Looking for something new. Is there a car that does everything I want?

I'm on my second Mazda5. Had an '06 from new and like it a lot. When Mazda refreshed the car in '08 they fixed every complaint I had about mine - added rear air, aux input, front passenger seat arm rest, 5 speed instead of 4. So, I sold mine and bought an '09.

I'm pretty much done with it. Quite a few of these cars have tire wear, vibration, pulling issues that truly seem to be unresolvable. Mine appears to be one of those. Some folks have spent thousands of dollars trying to track down these problems (new wheels tires/ struts, axles, bushings, bearings to no resolve). I had mine aligned at the Mazda dealer and it still pulls hard to the right. Had a Road Force balance at Discount Tire to confirm wheels/tires are good and it still has a shimmy at highway speeds.

Based on the above, and the fact that I've been basically driving the same vehicle for 6 years, I started looking at what might be next. I'm having trouble figuring out what that vehicle might be.

Parameters would be: Seat 5 (or more) comfortably, somewhat fun to drive, reliable, reasonably priced, good for long trips across the SW at 80mph, MPGs in the mid 20s or higher, haul stuff if needed (easily hold a bicycle with the seats folded down).

About the only thing that seems to come close is a E320 wagon, but the reliability seems to be questionable on those. What other vehicles fit the bill?

Jetta SportWagon TDI

Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4.

of these two I have only driven a CRV which didn't fit my description of "fun to drive"

i like the jetta tdi idea

Was in to the local indy shop yesterday and the 8 year old battery of my xtrail did not meet the test. Have a 2005 Nissan xtrail(small suv). The owner and I agreed that Toyota comes first for reliability, Honda next. So if I was going to get a small economical suv, again, it would either be the Toyota Rav4 or Honda Crv.

My wifes daily driver is a 2007 RAV4 with a 3.5 V6. Lots of power and smooth as silk. Handles good for what it is and gets great mileage if you keep your foot out of it I've gotten 30+ on the highway. Drop dead reliable we've had it for 5 years and have not had one item go bad.

I drove a 2008 CR-V EX at a local dealer. Like all Honda products, it was very good, but a good deal short of great. I floored it at 65mph it wasn't at all impressed. I'd imagine it would be challenged by some of the hills between Phoenix and Flagstaff. Road noise would definitely get old on the drive to my wife's parent's house in TX.

Still wondering if I'd regret a well sorted 2000-2002 E320 wagon.

MINI Countryman

that new Sube crossover -- with a turbo

Mazda Cx-5.

Try it out. Seriously.

Gotta say - haven't shared your issues with the 5. Wife has a 2010 with 30k on hers, and no issues whatsoever with tire wear, vibration, pulling etc. - only issue so far is her propensity for clipping inanimate objects (just got a call the other day that she whacked a garbage can with the driver's side mirror).

The E320 is very nice, but I wouldn't describe it as sporty either. Sort of an old man's BMW. What about a 530i wagon? T5 Volvo wagon? A6 Avant? TSX wagon? Legacy GT wagon? If you want space, fun, and good MPG you're sorta stuck with a wagon. A minivan will give you space and MPG, fun not so much.

I did consider this one, but the cargo capacity comes up short and they're still expensive.

I looked that the CX-5 when I was at the dealer. I like it a lot, but target price is mid teens or lower. Maybe in a couple of years.

Seems like they're either good or mystery machines never to be sorted out. I'd be happy to keep my '09 GT if it wasn't going to require tires every 10K miles. I may check with another Mazda dealer to see if they've had any luck tracking down the issues. Would definitely be cheaper than trading IF they could fix it.

Several of those are possibilities. Though short on cargo space, the one that I really like is the the Lexus IS300 Sportcross. They only made them through 2005 so most have 100K miles on them plus it's a pretty rare car to begin with.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1348111995.jpg

Subi Forrester. Get the little turbo model, or their Outback wagon. I missed a great used Forrester my hardwood flooring contractor's wife wanted to sell. the neighbor bought it before I had a chance to ask him. Fun, fast, and handles well.

I'm driving a rental Ford Escape. It was redesigned for 2013 and it is really nice. Meets all of your requirements too.

3.0 V6 w/ 6sp manual, 244 hp, 211tq, 0-60 5.9s, on regular unleaded. 60/40 rear seats. EPA 21/30 (YMMV). As reliable as a Honda...
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Jetta TDI wagon with a 6 speed stick. Test drive one and report back. It easily gets 45mpg on long road trips, is fun to drive with a good suspension, good torque down low and rowing a stick.

I have the Golf TDI 6 speed - same running gear, just shorter wheel base.
Nostatic has the Jetta TDI wagon with the DSG trans.

Anyone recommending a compact SUV has to be seriously boring - how much fun is that to drive? What are you going to recommend next? A Prius or a Minivan? :)

Let us know what you decide!

G

^This

Good luck with the IS300, especially if you want a stick. They are not easy to find, and sadly are often riced out by this point.

Honestly I shared most of your criteria early this year when shopping for a daily driver. I wanted a vehicle that seated 5, got decent MPG, had a manual transmission, was sporty and fun to drive, and was $15k or less. My first choice would have probably been a V70R, but they are just about impossible to find with a stick. I ended up with the RX8, which seats 4 in comfort (I have 3 kids), gets pretty mediocre MPG, and is a blast to drive.

2008 or later Lexus GS. 5 passenger, 303 HP Direct Injected V6, impeccable handling, 30 mpg on road trips, silent on the inside, but it will stuff you into the driver's seat any time you choose.