new hatchback/wagon ideas
 

Ok, while I love my Jetta Sport Wagon TDI, I'm coming up on the end of the warranty period and am fearing some of the potentially expensive gremlins that could be lurking. A friend with the 2010 version has had his radio die multiple times and issues with door locks. I still may just roll the dice but I also could make the switch. And most of the fun is the hunt, so I'm broadening beyond my recent cars (VW and Subaru) to see what else might fit. Criteria:

1. hatchback or wagon. I keep some of my music gear in the back all of the time so I need a covered space of a certain size (fit speaker cab and some bags).

2. reasonable gas mileage. While the TDI was great, I can live with mid 20's

3. light offroad capability. Lately I have been venturing onto some dirt roads with the bikes on top. I can make it in a street car but having a bit more clearance is fine.

4. Gotta have Sirius/XM, and the family likes heated seats (yes, we're wimps).

5. Likely auto trans as my wife will drive it some.

6. Not too expensive. I haven't bought anything over $30K ever and would like to keep it that way.

7. Reliable - something I can drive for 100K and not worry about.

Given that, some ones that pop up:

Subaru Outback or VX
Honda CRV
Ford Escape

Are there others I'm missing?

I don't think anything but the Subaru fits the bill well, but I am not an expert on these cars. I step it up to body on frame SUV for the vehicle to go to the woods in! :)

I am in the same boat on my TDI golf but decided to go at least to 60k / 5 years as the worst possible gremlin is the fuel pump, which appears to be covered under the drive train warranty. I think the depreciation curve flattens out quite a bit more between 2-5 years, so I wan to take advantage of that. It has been tempting to dump it of course, because I have only $10 into it for a new set of wiper blades. Soon I will need tires and the 40k service isn't free any more either.

That said, the TDI sport wagon should be easy to sell for good money.

G

Mid 20's fuel economy and under $30k is basically most crossovers these days, isn't it?

I am holding out for 2014 Ford Fusion hybrid wagon

Yeah, and I can live with that. It is looking like most any Subaru (though the Impreza and VX may have too small of a rear cargo section - it has to fit one of my bass cabs), CRV or Rav4. The Mazda CX5 is an option as is the Ford but not sure on longterm reliability on those. I know none of these are real off-road capable but I don't need that, and don't want to move up to the bigger vehicles due to price and drop in fuel economy. Just having a bit more clearance would be nice on occasion.

The other that people talk about is the DSG. I believe it has an expensive service every 40K and some complain about behavior once it gets a lot of miles on it. Seems that many horror stories on cars are overblown but anecdotally the VWs do see to have some bugs. Shame because they are really nice cars and the interior is a significant step above any of the roughly equivalent econoboxes.

my wife has 85k miles on her 2010 Golf automatic, it's in the shop today, not a common thing, the AC isn't working and the CD player isn't working. It gets great mileage and I even like to drive it.

Todd, I have a 6 speed. :)

G

We just went through this and decided on a Highlander, which is probably bigger than you want. We got the front wheel drive version since we have a ton of 4x4's already. This is my wife's DD. I DD the 2003 4Runner.

We also looked at:

Rav4. Just didn't feel solid at all. I wanted to like and buy it but once I got in the Highlander there was no way, my wife felt the same - she thought the Rav4 felt cheap. Good car, we mused, but certainly not a great car.

Kia Sorento. See Rav4. Nice car just not it.

Hyundai. Santa Fe. We almost pulled the trigger on this one. The reviews were great, the warranty unbelievable and the price was super. I just couldn't see driving 40 miles to the dealer. We both really liked the Santa Fe, which, going in we thought we would hate. We both rented a bunch of old Santa Fe's when we traveled a lot and thought they were flimsy and way underpowered. They have come a long way.

CRV. Great in all aspects. It was the dealer issue again: 40 miles away.

Girlfriend has one and it's a great appliance. 2wd I think 2008 so the newer version is even better. Not so much fun to drive but hauls a ton of gear and easy to drive.

So far only simple maintenance, w/ a tbelt at 60k.

Same boat with my '11 JSW TDI... Will be listening to options...

I have a '98 4Runner as well so I was thinking a Mini would be good but do the rear seats fold down flat? Also heard Tesla is going to introduce a smallish SUV type vehicle...that would be interesting

Don't discount a Hyundai or Kia. They've come a long way from the days when they were the laughing stock of the auto industry. Tucsons can be had fully decked out (with seat heaters and Sat Nav) for ~$24ish. Santa Fe's top out over $30k but can be had in lesser trims for under $30k. I replaced my last BMW with a Genesis last August and so far so good. It does everything it's supposed to well and the fit n finish is probably a little bit better than the BMW's. It doesn't draw attention and tire kickers like a Subi, VW or P-car may but then again, it is a daily appliance.

Negotiations were easy and the sale was a breeze.

I'm really astounded at the size of the new Subaru Forester and Outback. I parked my Ford Edge by one the other day and I think the Forester was actually bigger. The Outback is also just huge compared to the older ones.

I realize that huge on the outside does not always translate into more space on the inside, but those would be two to examine. The new Ford Escape is a nice little vehicle, but it is substantially smaller than the new Subies. Almost petite in comparison. I can confirm that I am able to stretch out and sleep in the back of one - did that with a rental Ford Escape down in Arizona for a bike race. :D

angela

A lot of guys my age that are not car guys (or at least brand aware) are going this route. I drove to DC last week with a friend of mine in his Genesis and it was impressive. He likes the quiet and the stereo and the fact that everything works like it is supposed to with little muse, no fuss.

So are the car guys, just not as many, yet. I love BMW's and Audi's but when I'm on the beltway in traffic...

If I was in the market for a sedan the Genesis would be right there.

I like old things, revel in all the mustiness...but DD's are like airliners to me: Be boring, be reliable and get me there on time in comfort. If I want to fly inverted I'll do it on the weekends.

To the OP. we looked at the Ford Edge as well but it was expensive. Nice car but Ford wasn't dealing.

Any idea when you plan to sell?? Price, details and images of the JSW?

The JSW is dark grey, DSG, 31K miles. Great shape except a small scratch on the right rear quarter panel (road debris - thanks mr. semi tire) and some curb rash on the right wheels.

I drove a CRV today. I liked it a lot more than I though. Decent pep and handling was pretty crisp for a mini SUV. Only things I wasn't crazy about were the roof rails (have to ditch the Yakima system I recently bought) and the driver's arm rest. Yeah, little things. Other than that, very nice car with a lot of room. I'm going to try and drive a Rav4 tomorrow. I may stick with one of those and not go Subie this time. The Impreza is too small and the Outback ends up being a lot of money to get some of the things I want - like a couple $K more than the Honda.

Mazda tied with Subaru for second (behind Lexus) in Consumer Reports reliability ratings for 2013 cars.

The CX-5 has been very highly rated in tests and probably worth a close look.

We had a 2005 Passat TDI wagon till it got totalled in late 2009. We looked at the new JSW but ended up with the new body Outback.

Wife has 93,000 on it and it's been perfect, no issues at all. We got the 4 cyl with the CVT. We take it back and forth from Seattle to a cabin 2 to 3 weekends a month over a mountain pass or two (depending on which way we go). Wife can get 30mpg easy on the highway, I'm about 27 to 28, I can occasionally get 30. It takes regular gas. It's a little anemic but it's been great for what we need it for.

I drive a 2001 Golf TDI as my dd, and I also have a 2012 Ram 3500 Cummins for a tow vehicle.

e

I like the prior model forester. Very roomy feel and not as mind numbingly dull as the Honda CRV. Not a great car (base motor is a dud, tranny is meh...) but not bad either.

Now if you like hitting the woods then i'd seriously consider a 200x Tacoma dbl cab.

FWIW, my DSG Jetta wagon TDI is dead reliable at 50K. So far, fluids, fuel, tires...only routine stuff but it is a no-salt ever/only car. The '08 outback is also super reliable at 67K and runs year around.