Requirements (in order of importance):
1. Room for a medium sized dog, luggage, two people
2. Uber-reliable
3. Manual transmission
4. 20+ mpg city
5. 2000lb-3000lb tow rating
6. As new as possible (aka post 2000) with as few a miles as possible
7. Fun enough to drive that I won't want to off my self
Price limit under $6k. I had thought about Subaru wagons or Saab 9-5 wagons.
Edit: No minivans.
Not sure what the tow rating on the 9-5 is, but I'm guessing it's under 2k.
Mazda MPV??
Was just gonna say a Subaru wagon, although you'll have to choose the right engine for the uber-reliable part.
SF Forester that has had the HG done.
Klayfish wrote: Not sure what the tow rating on the 9-5 is, but I'm guessing it's under 2k.
I have seen 3500lbs with trailer brakes or 2000lbs with trailer brakes so not sure which it is. I would only be using it tow something around that limit maybe 4 miles occasionally.
2 people and a dog and a ton of tow capacity? 20 mpg city? There's been a couple diesel SN95's built at home...
pres589 wrote: 2 people and a dog and a ton of tow capacity? 20 mpg city? There's been a couple diesel SN95's built at home...
Umm. The Forester is rated 2400lbs with trailer brakes...
um, 4cyl jeep? Wrangler, XJ?
It's definitely not fun to drive in the corner carving ways, but it is in others.
TDI wagon if you take out the reliable part.
Mustang with a roof rack?
Subaru Legacy Wagon, manual transmission.
Tow-rated to 3500 in Canada.
The_Jed wrote: Mustang with a roof rack?
Mitt Romney approves 
6k is right at the bottom of the 2004-2007 v70r pricing. 20mpg city is what people get with the 6 speed manual. they are reliable with the fair amount of care they require and 6k is going to come with 150k plus on the odometer. There was a 5k car up on craigslist in Portland with 86k on the clock that needed a hood, fender, and bumper. it was gone in a day and up at a dealer 2 weeks later for 15k. I have seen a fair number of 7-8k "asking" clean title high mileage cars as they are just hitting the 10 year old mark.
Shaun wrote: 6k is right at the bottom of the 2004-2007 v70r pricing. 20mpg city is what people get with the 6 speed manual. they are reliable with the fair amount of care they require
Define fair amount of care. And what about a non R model?
Can an Xtrera get 20 mpg in the city?
Thats an easy p71....oh you said you don't want an automatic 
. You could always swap the trans
Extended cab ford f250 with a 7.3? Fun to drive in a straight line if you like torque
Also thinking of a BMW x3
chaparral wrote: Subaru Legacy Wagon, manual transmission. Tow-rated to 3500 in Canada.
Yes, but in the United States, it's only 2800. Our air is thicker here...
4-cyl S10 ext cab?
Supercharged Previa?
JohnRW1621 wrote: Can an Xtrera get 20 mpg in the city?
My wifes 2006 auto gets 18 to 19. She drives it pretty hard around town though. Bet you could get 20+ out of a manual version. I've managed 23 and change on the highway plus I've gotten it sideways too!
On the flip side a WRX wagon will tow 2k I believe, not sure if they can be had at your price range or not though.
Volvo S60 or V70
Until you said "tow rating" I would have suggested first gen Scion xB. Yes, I'm serious.
Vibe/matrix meets all criteria except they are only rated to tow 1500 lbs
bgkast wrote: Vibe/matrix meets all criteria except they are only rated to tow 1500 lbs
Jerry wrote: Until you said "tow rating" I would have suggested first gen Scion xB. Yes, I'm serious.
yeah, that's the big issue I see, too
otherwise, Mazda5, Cruiser, Astra all would get a nod too.
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