What car: wifey edition

So SWMBO has been complaining of the gas mileage of her Escape, which for an SUV isn't terrible at about 26 or so we averaged on or recent trip to West Virginia. (which is purely a guess, I did no math on the matter.)

We like the wagonness of it, being able to fit lots of crap in the back, loading the kiddo is easier too, atleast easier than my sentra.

So here's the problem, she is terrified of car accidents, and wants something safe. She was turned off by small cars for fear of being clobbered by a dually.

Now, a wagon isn't required but the added utility is nice. Basically what is wanted is four cylinders, automatic, really good mpg's, and maybe in the 5,500 to 6,500 range. I'd like to sell this one, pay off the debt and maybe buy this one outright.

Suggest, GRM!

Protege5.

Maybe you could get lucky and find a 4 cylinder Mazda6 wagon in that price range?

Protege5 feels like the small car that it is, though it is a good one. A Forrester might ease her mind more, but the gas mileage will equally as suck.

I'd be hunting out Volvo wagons. The XC's are AWD and slightly lifted for more SUV-ness and they all trump the Subaru on gas mileage.

I know it might not be too much better on MPG, but subaru impreza wagon. I get over 30mpg on the highway (28ish city) and you need have no fear in the winter.

B5.5 1.8t Passat Wagon? Or a B5 A4 1.8t Wagon?

saabnet.com

2003 Saab 9-5 Aero Wagon (Posted 2/28/2012)

Color: Silver Trans: Automatic Mileage: 85,000 Price: $7,500 Second owner, enthusiast owned (both owners). The Good: SAAB 9-3 wheels only two years old (a few scratches but very nice), Nexen tires with plenty of life, Taliaferro performance transmission mount, hood protection strip, 3M clear protection film on headlights and fog lights, recent oil and air filter change (always changed with Mobil 1 and OEM filters), recent cabin air filter change, recent professional detail inside & out, recent update of A pillar trim (SAAB recall campaign), trailer hitch and wiring harness, Motorola IHF-1000 handsfree Bluetooth system (OnStar removed), rubber and carpet trunk mats (carpet mats have never been used), rubber and carpet cabin floor mats, XM radio system installed on custom bracket next to shift lever (requires tape adapter), custom headlight modification so inboard halogens come on with the brights, locks programmed for central locking with one key press, locks programmed not to chirp, alarm / horn module recently remanufactured by BBA with new battery and capacitors, new battery about 4 months ago, switches and wiring for ventilated seats 90% complete, CUSTOM "Find Your Own Road" vinyl decal on rear bumper (to cover up a scratch). This was very expensive and done by a professional graphics shop, State of Nine badge armor on hood and trunk badge, OEM trunk tray underneath floor. The Bad: Small stone chip in center of windshield (been there 2 years and no trouble; was professionally repaired), paint has a number of stone chips, front spoiler appearance is very scratched up, couple of small door dings, left rear door was dented but professionally repaired, comes with OEM touch up paint, scratch on rear where "S" badge was removed (this is an OEM SAAB badge you can buy at a dealer; don't ever buy one; they delaminate and scratch your car when you remove them), rear backup sensors are intermittent - I'm sure there is a loose / flaky wire somewhere, I just haven't had time to troubleshoot it, some light scuff marks on left rear seat. More photos available to email to interested persons. Also available for sale but not included with the price of the car are two ventilated sport seats in good condition. Also available for sale but not included with the car are 2 additional custom "Find Your Own Road" decals in silver. Why am I selling it? I found an irresistible deal on a newer SAAB, plain and simple! Time to upgrade! Contact: Brian Kennedy, Westerville OH Email: Click Here Phone: 614-325-3648

I have the sedan version of this with a 5spd that was my wifes car before I got it. We both love the car and it is DIY friendly.

BoostedBrandon wrote: So here's the problem, she is terrified of car accidents, and wants something safe. She was turned off by small cars for fear of being clobbered by a dually.

In my experience, this size bias will be hard to overcome. The "size" is not only length but height has a lot to do with this perceived size.

SUV tends to be the answer to this size perception but SUV is not the answer to the mpg desires.
For an SUV, a 4cyl Escape is a reasonable compromise.

Seems your requirements are:
SUV -like ride height.
26 mpg
Family friendly
$6k price max

Is Minivan an option for your wife or is there another bias?

What about the Buick Rendevous or Chrysler Pacifica which tends to be minivans in disguise?

Wow, that is a nice SAAB.
I think that a 9-5 wagon could be on my short list of next cars.

26 MPG is tough to beat without going econobox.

Just buy the gas, domestic harmony is worth it.

Dan

What they said, you can't really beat that mileage without decreasing in size. Not appreciably anyway. She's already in the sweet spot for size and mileage, she's going to have to give up one or the other to really get anywhere.

Even a Volvo wagon isn't going to beat that; the best I've gotten in my 850 Turbo (ie, an XC70 without AWD so even better gas mileage) is around 27mpg all-highway. With mixed driving the average drops to 23mpg or less. Much less if I enjoy the turbo too much.

jrw1621 wrote: Wow, that is a nice SAAB. I think that a 9-5 wagon could be on my short list of next cars.

I tried for about a month to talk my wife into a wagin when before we got our sedan but since it was going to be my wifes cars it got nixed.

My car gets around 30 mixed driving, as long as I stay out of it for the most part.

Javelin wrote: I'd be hunting out Volvo wagons. The XC's are AWD and slightly lifted for more SUV-ness and they all trump the Subaru on gas mileage.

Wait what? That does NOT check with what fueleconomy.gov and real users are reporting, and they take premium swill, too!

It's going to be real hard to get something similar or large in size to the Escape that can best it in gas mileage.

Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: My car gets around 30 mixed driving, as long as I stay out of it for the most part.

Is that the 6cyl turbo or the 4cyl turbo?

In reply to Osterkraut:

Are you checking Turbo's or the regular? I was referring to the small-motor regular ones, not the Turbo and R-models...

My '95 Volvo 850 NA, manual trans routinely returned 24 mpg for mixed driving.
My '10 Ford Escape 2.5L 4 cyl, automatic company car routinely returned 23 mpg for mixed driving.

My mixed driving is 65% or more hyw.

Dude, isn't the 850 the grand-pappy Volvo? I'm talking about the baby ones! (V40?)

The larger Volvo's get surprisingly crappy mileage. The V40 might be ok. We have friends with a C30 (FWD, T5) and a V50 (FWD N/A) - they both report mileage around 30. His commute with the C30 is a bit more hwy than hers.

Vibe or Matrix? Granted they are smallish cars but they are newer so they are safer.

You could also try your luck with a 2wd cr-v, you might be able to find a 2003 if you really look around.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Not for his $6k budget unless it has a zillion miles and needs new radiator/water pump/front control arms/rear LCA bushings and possibly more.

In reply to jrw1621:

Its the Aero, a 2.3 4cly T. If I stay close to the speed limit I can get into the low to mid 30's and you can run it on regular gas if you want.

In reply to pigeon:

No affiliation... not even a full read but - the E46 cars have been coming way down. I bought my wife's '05 w/ 34k, AWD, etc for $15k in '08. RWD versions are easily doable for half that here 4yrs later.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=08054&endYear=2006&modelCode1=3_SERIES&sortBy=derivedpriceASC&startYear=2000&makeCode1=BMW&listingType=used&bodyStyles=WAGON&searchRadius=500&listingId=317488292&Log=0

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Damn, they have dropped! Then again I sold my '99 with 168k miles nearly 4 years ago for $7500 and the older E46s are 10+ years old now.

lnlds wrote: Vibe or Matrix? Granted they are smallish cars but they are newer so they are safer. You could also try your luck with a 2wd cr-v, you might be able to find a 2003 if you really look around.

Saw one of these in the pick up line at school today and thought I'd put in a vote for it. You sit up pretty high in them. They're cheap, parts are cheap, you can hunt for the 6 speed vvt version of the matrix for a good time.