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June 20, 2011 9:29 a.m. scooterfrog New Reader

hell the be(hated) town and country on its way out. it has been a great minivan except a) my wife hates it
b) it was hit in the sliding door on the pasenger side c) as sticky lifter which makes the engine sound like ass but doesn't affect drivability d) a leak in the evap sysem (emissions) e) needs a new window regulator for th epanserger door.

the biggest issue is my wife doesnt like it. and th ekids can buckel them selves.

sorry for ranting. her is my question if have between 10,000 and 16,000 to buy a mid size wagon. we can fit 3 carseats in the back of a passat (my mother in law has one), I hear the v70 is a tad bigger so it is a real option.

1 what are other good options. (not smaller than a passat) I often see the outback shopped against them but I believe it is smaller. 2 between the passat and the the v70 which and why?
June 20, 2011 10:07 a.m. erohslc Reader

Caprice or Roadmaster SW. Definitely not smaller than a Passat.
June 20, 2011 10:15 a.m. corytate Reader

passat! imo it's just nicer. period. plus you can get a w8 wagon if you can find one, and those are also awd. lol
June 20, 2011 11:04 a.m. Ojala New Reader

Mazda5
June 20, 2011 11:14 a.m. mtn SuperDork

V70 between the two. More reliable, better seats (for me) and it is faster. Gotta deal with torque steer though.
June 20, 2011 11:17 a.m. scooterfrog New Reader

erohslc wrote:

Caprice or Roadmaster SW. Definitely not smaller than a Passat.

I almost posted no road master recomendation. I know I could buy a sweeeet one for 10,000 but my wife wont drive something BIGGER than the minivan
June 20, 2011 11:20 a.m. Klayfish Reader

Between the two you listed, I'd go V70. I have an 850GLT wagon, which is very similar to the V70. I can put all 3 of my young kids in the back without much trouble. I really like the car overall. Like mtn said, the seats are fantastic, it drives really well, and is more reliable. I will say that no matter how nice a wagon it is, it can't match the versitility of our minivan.
June 20, 2011 12:16 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

Ojala wrote:

Mazda5

This. You can buy a helluva nice 5 for that kinda money and it's got Mazda3 manners.
June 20, 2011 1:33 p.m. clutchsmoke Reader

+1 to Mazda5
June 20, 2011 9:11 p.m. NGTD HalfDork

I owned a Passat.

I would go for the Volvo.

Subaru Outback?
June 20, 2011 11:32 p.m. scooterfrog New Reader

NGTD wrote:

I owned a Passat.

I would go for the Volvo.

Subaru Outback?

looks narrower than the other 2. I think the same thing abou thte mazda 5

saab 95 wagon. maybe
June 21, 2011 12:54 p.m. erohslc Reader

In reply to scooterfrog: Has she actually driven one? I used have Spitfires, and an Impala SW tow car. Friends used to accuse me of driving the SW as if it was a Spitfire. But 4 wheel drifts on exit ramps were fun with 5 friends aboard ...
June 21, 2011 1:05 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

I can personally attest that a Mazda5 will hold 3 car seats. I've had 4 in mine simultaneously, plus 2 adults, and the kid's crap.
June 21, 2011 1:37 p.m. clutchsmoke Reader

FYI Scooterfrog the mazda5 has 4 captains chairs and a bench seat in the back. Lots of room for car seats, kiddies, and gear.

Javelin wrote:

I can personally attest that a Mazda5 will hold 3 car seats. I've had 4 in mine simultaneously, plus 2 adults, and the kid's crap.
June 21, 2011 9:55 p.m. ls1fiero New Reader

Much love for the V70 (99 and down) and the SAAB. But. The Mazda will start every time your Wife turns the key. Subarus are wonderful except they cost mucho. In truth Tahoe's are worlds better vehicles for those with short people. They really get around 14 mpg. My last 01 V70T5 (had one manual and one auto) got 17 or 18 and required premium.
June 21, 2011 10:01 p.m. ls1fiero New Reader

Oh yah, Passats are wonderful except when they break. and break. and break. Coils and sensors and transaxles and unfixable diesel balance shafts and on and on. Do not give one to your Wife if she has a gun!
June 21, 2011 10:07 p.m. scooterfrog New Reader

clutchsmoke wrote:

FYI Scooterfrog the mazda5 has 4 captains chairs and a bench seat in the back. Lots of room for car seats, kiddies, and gear.

Javelin wrote:

I can personally attest that a Mazda5 will hold 3 car seats. I've had 4 in mine simultaneously, plus 2 adults, and the kid's crap.

I must be thinking of a different vehicle. time to fire up google
June 21, 2011 10:21 p.m. scooterfrog New Reader

hmm. my cost puts me in a very nice mazda5. and it looks WAY smaller than most minivans / hilanders.....

it looks like the only differences between the "versions" are std only offered in sport. hid only on the gt the rest is ameneties like nav etc. it's a big car 153hp up to the task.
June 28, 2011 3:11 p.m. scooterfrog New Reader

In reply to scooterfrog:

well it turns out my father in law Gave me is 2003 passat. and everone fits. woo hoo anything i need to look out for
June 28, 2011 3:28 p.m. Javelin SuperDork

The 5 is a similar size to the original minivans of the 80's. It's much larger inside than a wagon.

Good luck on the Passat. Make sure to keep a savings account open for repairs. I don't have anything nice to say about them after a friend ate 3x what he paid for his in repairs in just 2 years, and he bought his 03 in 06.
June 29, 2011 12:25 a.m. Vigo Dork

The 5 is a similar size to the original minivans of the 80's.

And like the 1g caravans, it came with 5spd manual! Yay! Factory turbo on the caravan still pretty sweet though.

If they built an MS5 i'd probably screw myself over real hard trying to afford it.