and the car search begins....

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:01 am

OK, so what about a mini clubman? Need to go look at one. I like the quirkiness of it...

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:46 am

my wrx recently had work done. Not too long ago, for a oil leak on the valve cover gasket on the right bank.So far the wheel bearings are ok, i had one replaced last year. The legacy stick 2.5gt like the Gast brothers have, seems ot be a really cool car.It is a 2.5 rs underneath.
what about a forester xt. It is turbocharged and awd and roomy.A passat wagon tdi would be very frugal with fuel.

I drove a golf 2.5 at the rental place i used to work at..With the tiptronic automatic, it was quite fun.My mothers 2000 528i sedan has the touch shift
sorta tiptronic auto, its fun too, quite quick.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:39 am

Nothing wrong with automatic transmissions in daily drivers. I love mine. It kicks ass.

RodneyWright wrote:

OK, so what about a mini clubman? Need to go look at one. I like the quirkiness of it...

I've looked inside of one before, and it didn't seem terribly useful to me. Seemed like...wait for it...a Mazda3 would be better suited to the task at hand.

I know very little about Mercedes' built after around 1995, so I'm not much help there. I know there's a balance shaft issue in the 3.5L V6s, which affected a certain run of engine numbers, but I don't know which numbers or how to tell.

If you're willing to get something that isn't very pretty, the MB R Class was available with a V8, I think it's an R 500. It's seriously roomy on the inside. Same form factor as a Venza or a Pacifica - van like, but with hinged doors rather than folding. They made a handful of R63 AMG models, too - one roared by me just last month on the highway. And I thought, other than the 10mpg that thing probably gets, what a cool car. An oversized Chrysler Pacifica that'll probably do mid 12s in the 1/4 mile. :lol:

Another alternative, if styling isn't a priority, is a Ford Taurus X, which was also sold as the Freestyle. My in laws have one, and I think it's GREAT. It's exactly the right size, and drives pretty well. Has a third row that folds down easily. They're pretty inexpensive, too, much cheaper than a comparable Flex or Edge. I told them just this weekend that if they ever sell it, I want first right of refusal on it.

It's too bad neither of us bought that R46 wagon that was for sale on the local Craigslist a couple months back. That was a real unicorn car. 5 speed, low miles, sport package, no sunroof, and vinyl upholstery. It was the ideal car for dummies like us. Unfortunately for me, the seller knew this and had it priced accordingly.

With all of that said, if you're buying something mostly for a long road trip, I'd suggest renting something. Rent a wagon or a van, do the trip, and spend your car purchasing money on something that you'll both want to drive around town.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:52 am

Karl Shultz wrote:

Nothing wrong with automatic transmissions in daily drivers. I love mine. It kicks ass.

RodneyWright wrote:

OK, so what about a mini clubman? Need to go look at one. I like the quirkiness of it...

I've looked inside of one before, and it didn't seem terribly useful to me. Seemed like...wait for it...a Mazda3 would be better suited to the task at hand.

I know very little about Mercedes' built after around 1995, so I'm not much help there. I know there's a balance shaft issue in the 3.5L V6s, which affected a certain run of engine numbers, but I don't know which numbers or how to tell.

If you're willing to get something that isn't very pretty, the MB R Class was available with a V8, I think it's an R 500. It's seriously roomy on the inside. Same form factor as a Venza or a Pacifica - van like, but with hinged doors rather than folding. They made a handful of R63 AMG models, too - one roared by me just last month on the highway. And I thought, other than the 10mpg that thing probably gets, what a cool car. An oversized Chrysler Pacifica that'll probably do mid 12s in the 1/4 mile. :lol:

Another alternative, if styling isn't a priority, is a Ford Taurus X, which was also sold as the Freestyle. My in laws have one, and I think it's GREAT. It's exactly the right size, and drives pretty well. Has a third row that folds down easily. They're pretty inexpensive, too, much cheaper than a comparable Flex or Edge. I told them just this weekend that if they ever sell it, I want first right of refusal on it.

It's too bad neither of us bought that R46 wagon that was for sale on the local Craigslist a couple months back. That was a real unicorn car. 5 speed, low miles, sport package, no sunroof, and vinyl upholstery. It was the ideal car for dummies like us. Unfortunately for me, the seller knew this and had it priced accordingly.

With all of that said, if you're buying something mostly for a long road trip, I'd suggest renting something. Rent a wagon or a van, do the trip, and spend your car purchasing money on something that you'll both want to drive around town.

Thanks for the input Karl. Styling is a big issue for me, so the Taurus X and Freestyle are out. Your point on the V8 R-class has removed that from consideration. The wagon is needed long term for occasional use by Pam and for her mom, besides I've always liked a wagon.... If I could afford, I'd have a CTS-V wagon in the drive way right now. There are no CTS wagons w/ in 500 miles right now, so those are out.

Your comment on the mini and the mazda3, I'd consider a 3 w/ an auto, but that damn front end ruins it for me. Right now the biggest thing I need to start doing is going out and test driving. I think ultimately I'll end up w/ either the magnum or the e90, but I'm looking at all options right now.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 10:56 am

RodneyWright wrote:

I think ultimately I'll end up w/ either the magnum or the e90, but I'm looking at all options right now.

Ask Les about the Magnum. IIRC he bought a warranty just because he knew the rear end would grenade...and he was right. Some more of that fine German engineering.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:10 am

subaru 2.2l outback sport.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:12 am

Besides, chrysler got bailed out before. Remember the k car.Now its owned by fiat, Ferrari used to use lucas fuel injection back in the day.Though, germany did make the trabant.

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:25 am

Now,if you want to be unique.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXvKl-LlVnE

top gear, about some interesting cars.

Drew O'Neill · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:38 am

E30 Tourings are now at the 25 year mark - you could import a nice example in that price range. If you want a BMW wagon, do it right!

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:19 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

Thanks for the input Karl. Styling is a big issue for me, so the Taurus X and Freestyle are out. Your point on the V8 R-class has removed that from consideration. The wagon is needed long term for occasional use by Pam and for her mom, besides I've always liked a wagon.... If I could afford, I'd have a CTS-V wagon in the drive way right now. There are no CTS wagons w/ in 500 miles right now, so those are out.

Your comment on the mini and the mazda3, I'd consider a 3 w/ an auto, but that damn front end ruins it for me. Right now the biggest thing I need to start doing is going out and test driving. I think ultimately I'll end up w/ either the magnum or the e90, but I'm looking at all options right now.

Yeah, I wish the Freestyle wasn't so homely. It's just so good at what it does, that I might be willing to overlook that.

The fuel mileage issue I mentioned with an R-class can be worked around. They were offered with a diesel engine, and while not super common, they're out there. I've never driven one, so for all I know, they might be lousy. They, too, are fairly inexpensive for what they are, I think partly because they're not very nice to look at. :lol:

How about a Jetta Sportwagen? A TDI one with the DSG transmission should be a pretty nice car to drive, especially on the highway. Resale value is so strong that, IMO, you'd be just as well to buy a brand new one. That way you get a full warranty, roadside assistance, and the first few years of maintenance are on the house.

My mother is probably going to replace her early, aging Ford Escape in the next year or so, and I think her use case is similar to yours. I'd probably send her straight to the VW dealer to look at a Sportwagen first.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:02 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

How about a Jetta Sportwagen? A TDI one with the DSG transmission should be a pretty nice car to drive, especially on the highway. Resale value is so strong that, IMO, you'd be just as well to buy a brand new one. That way you get a full warranty, roadside assistance, and the first few years of maintenance are on the house.

My mother is probably going to replace her early, aging Ford Escape in the next year or so, and I think her use case is similar to yours. I'd probably send her straight to the VW dealer to look at a Sportwagen first.

Wow, vdubs. Torn on that.... After having worked on both my sons 99 golf and his GF's 2000 bug, I have a strong hatred towards vdubs. The electronics and plastics are complete crap. Drew said his front low beam went out and brought it over for me to look at. He said the insulation on the wiring was coming off. Thought he was pulling my leg. After I was done futzing w/ the wires, EVERY bit of the insulation came off the passenger side head lamp assembly. I wound up fixing it w/ heat shrink tubing and a can of plastidip. Never seen anything like that. Lift up the rear lift gate and the rear wiper turns on. The interior plastics are sh!t. Everything breaks, especially the mounting tabs.

All that said, I think the CC rocks, love the swooping body style, but it's a vdub. Unless they've improved over the last 5-6 years, VW's are not on my list. I hadn't thought of a Jetta wagon, but something to consider. Guy at work has a Jetta wagon and loves it. Another guy had a Passat wagon and regretted the day he bought it, a complete lemon.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:06 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

After having worked on both my sons 99 golf and his GF's 2000 bug, I have a strong hatred towards vdubs. The electronics and plastics are complete crap.

Yep, VWs are actually worse than BMWs, and they have something in common...HANS! :stick:

Pete Guthrie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:11 pm

You just wait, till our 600 dollar vw beats the general. gotta fix the radiator, but that was our fault.For bottoming it out over a hump, though for a cheap car it does well as far as i can tell.

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:10 pm

If you're looking at the Mini Countryman, check out the Fiat 500L Trekking. Friends of ours bought one and love it - tons of room.

My wife is jonesing for a 328d, x-drive sport wagon - 43mpg, all-wheel-drive, wagon!

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Mar 18, 2014 2:13 pm

Cash Davidson wrote:

If you're looking at the Mini Countryman, check out the Fiat 500L Trekking. Friends of ours bought one and love it - tons of room.

My wife is jonesing for a 328d, x-drive sport wagon - 43mpg, all-wheel-drive, wagon!

That would be a new car purchase and I don't have deep pockets like you do to spring for a new ride. I also have to say that 500L really tips the scale for ugly. Saw one at the car show and was completely underwhelmed in regard to the looks. Maybe the "trekking" version presents differently. I like the 500, but much too small for me.

THSCC Forums

and the car search begins....

Who is online