[vivekiny2k]

Folks,

after a long time of thinking, have decided to replace my mitsubishi galant with something new and better.

we are a small family (self, wife, and a 1 yr old).

a. looking for a station wagon/hatch/suv rather than a sedan to take advantage of the space, occasionally when i need it.
b. wife may also drive it after sometime, so it has to be auto transmission.
c. SUVs are not favored for their high ground clearance, because i may not need that. highway stability is important.
d. budget? can be stretched upto 25K.
e. US has 80- speed limits, and i don't like to drag/race.
f. I am environment conscious. so heavy SUVs/VANS are less favourable.
g. hoping to keep it for a few years.

please give your inputs.

here is my list.
1. honda FIT (jazz in europe). small but impressively spacious. check this out Tandem in Honda Fit
cons: it's still a cheap vehicle. sun roof, plush leather interiors, traction control, 4WD etc not available.
2. hatches: toyota matrix, mazda 3/..,
3. station wagons: VW passat, volvo V-50. slightly going out of budget.
4. mini SUVs. CR-V, toyota RAV-4, Hyundai tucson.
5. hybrids would be good but prius has awkward shape, and besides, i heard parts are sourced from japan even for minor repairs.
6. I love convertibles but it snowed till 2 weeks back in ohio, so it will be useless for the most part of the year.

I have kept american cars out of the list, but open to discussion.

thanks in advance, I have sometime before I find a buyer for my old car.

[vcash]

From your list I would recommend the Volvo V-50, the S-40s wagon derivative. We have a S40 and its a great car - practical, safe, efficient and fun to drive. A mild refresh is coming out so you can probably get a few thousand off the 2007 model and it will be within your budget.

Stay away from the Passat - its infested with eletric gremlins.

My other recommendation to you would be to check out some Xovers - the Nissan Rouge and the Mazda CX-7 would have all that you are looking for and be within your budget.

[iraghava]

Well why don't you buy a Subaru Impreza WRX/2.5 or Forrester?? In the wagon shape, with 4WD with an efficient, clean engine! I think it would be a great choice & would really work well in the OH winters. A close friend I know drives a Subaru Forrester (she lives in Kenyon,OH) & she was very happy especially in the winters with it.

[THE-U-]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

a. looking for a station wagon/hatch/suv rather than a sedan to take advantage of the space, occasionally when i need it.

Hmmm.... I am not sure I follow your logic here. A matrix/ Pontiac Vibe is going to cost you as much as a Toyota Camry LE and I for one think a Corolla is a much better car than a Honda Fit. Honda Fit is a overpriced car currently because it going for above the MSRP of US$15K and even the Corolla is not a great highway car. I would venture to say almost all of these small station wagons based on their economy counter parts are going to be noisy past 65mph. The minimum for the family you should consider would be a Camry.

However, although you don't like it, I would recommend that you keep your galant and buy a Toyota Sienna LE Van. It is one of the smoothest, quietest vehicles on the highway. With some hard bargaining you may get it for US$26-27K and in case you have one more baby in the coming year, there will be nothing to beat the space!

[aah78]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

1. honda FIT (jazz in europe). small but impressively spacious. check this out Tandem in Honda Fit
cons: it's still a cheap vehicle. sun roof, plush leather interiors, traction control, 4WD etc not available.
2. hatches: toyota matrix, mazda 3/..,
3. station wagons: VW passat, volvo V-50. slightly going out of budget.
4. mini SUVs. CR-V, toyota RAV-4, Hyundai tucson.
5. hybrids would be good but prius has awkward shape, and besides, i heard parts are sourced from japan even for minor repairs.

your choices are decent. regarding the FIT - it's a good car but it'll be a step-down in size from your Galant - so you really won't be gaining highly in terms of storage space.

you can't go wrong with the rest of your choices - the Toyota Matrix and the Mazda 3 are pretty evenly matched - it just works down to personal choice. looks, i think would be the only deciding factor when it comes to these two.

the VW Passat and Volvo V50 will give you more space compared to the Matrix & the 3 but will be slightly heavier on mileage - if that is under consideration.
both are trouble free cars - not from personal experience but from recommendations by friends.
do consider the Subarus too - as iraghava mentioned - they're solid cars and will last you trouble free forever. also they work great year round.

i wouldn't recommend the Dodge Nitro, Jeep Compass or Patriot because they're bland in the styling and fit & finish departments. Chevrolet also has the HHR on offer if it appeals to you .

your mini-suv choices are good but you won't get a huge advantage in space over the wagons considering your requirements. if you' do find yourself bending towards a SUV - take a look at the Ford Edge and the Ford Escape.

[cheap_deal]

you can only get the base base model passat for 25k.
if you dont need too much space id choose the golf gti (fast, best handling imo among FWD cars) or the mazda 3 with the biggest engine.

if you can narrow it down to a specific category (hatch, sedan or small suv) it will be easier to suggest some vehicles.
also dont forget to check sites like edmunds.com to see how much below invoice the dealers are selling the cars for, they even have figures for leases too.

[vivekiny2k]

thanks guys.

@iraghava, not sure about the long term reliability and resale prices subaru, will check out anyway.

@THE-U, there is really no logic here. i am trying to keep my options open. trust me, if any of camry, accord, altima etc had a wagon, i would have taken it. I hate to burn fuel in a van like sienna when i don't need it most of the time. and galant has to go, for the problems it has been having.

@AAH, chevy and chrysler products are normally outdone by their jap competitors. am looking at those too, anyway.

@cheap_deal, some of the things will be decided after looking at car in flesh, specially the space factor. VW products are in list in general.

[Thil]

Volvo is a better choice for your requirements..It's Safe (u have a baby !) and fun and will give a luxury car effect..

[vcash]

[quote=vivekiny2k;420411]thanks guys.

@THE-U, there is really no logic here. i am trying to keep my options open. trust me, if any of camry, accord, altima etc had a wagon, i would have taken it.

[quote=vivekiny2k;420411]

The Mazda 6 has a Wagon - and you could get a fully loaded one for about $25K - Leather, Nav, 24MPG etc. but there is no AWD.



The only thing to keep in mind is that a replacement is due in 2009, so that will affect resale.

[RJK]

If you are open to American cars, then Dodge Magnum! Looks damn sexy IMO. o/w the subi's and mazda 6 wagon isn't bad either.

[hskhan]

Simple. Volvo. S40. Tada.

[vivekiny2k]

Mazda seems to have a wide range of vans. this weekend is going to be busy for me. lots of test drives

[rahul_intlad]

How about the crossover ,the Mazda cx-7.

[Steeroid]

Ford Edge looks like the flavour of the season, more so since you dont speed. It has a good list of standard equipment here - dunno about the US. Most people seem to like the styling and its pretty spacious inside.

Do you get the Chevy Captiva there? Another nice but slightly underpowered Soft SUV like the Edge, but it looks much nicer.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Do you get the Chevy Captiva there? Another nice but slightly underpowered Soft SUV like the Edge, but it looks much nicer.

I don't think so.
Chevrolet Captiva - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

for a ford, i felt a cross over (edge) was overpriced, but i haven't seen all the advantages it might offer. one more to add to the list.