sigh........Family Wagons
Discussion
(just to clarify before I start, I'm not starting a family)
I spose it comes along eventually. The need some something a bit bigger.
Now that we've got a dog, and 2 mountain bikes and regular trips up to Christchuch for the weekend, we need a bigger car.
My 205 Gti is, well, a 205 Gti (and in bits, yes still :eek:), my wifes Mirage aint much bigger.
So we need a wagon.
However, being a Pistonhead, I refuse to drive something boring (unless it's a Euro deisel).
We've got $15k to spend, but would prefer something $10k or under.
Dont want anything too big, as we both perfer smaller cars, so Falcons:nono:, Commodores:yuck:, Legnums, Legacys etc are out.
Oh and it ABSOLUTELY has to be MANUAL!!!
Looking for something late 90s with airbag(s) and ABS.
Oh and it prolly wont be a daily driver, just a long trip, dog and MTB mobile.
Here's the list of likely candigates:
Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Avant
Alfa Romeo 156 TS Wagon
Subaru Imprezza WRX Wagon (97+)
Mazda 323 SP20 (98-00)
Toyota Caldina GTT (or possiblly just the GT)
Toyota Carib BZ-T (1600 20v 4AGE) (98 or so).
Peugeot 406 ST (2.0) Wagon
Peugeot 206 GTi Wagon
Now the problems start. Finding an A4 wagon in manual for under $15k is next to impossible. Finding an Alfa wagon full stop is next to impossible. Ditto the Pug wagons :mad:
Next top of the list was the WRX, took one for a drive and LOVED it. SOOO much grunt! Not sure it I could drive it without giving it welly. Bit worried now about fuel prices and I've heard maintainence costs can be nasty. :eek:
Ditto the fuel with the Caldina.
Like the Mazdas, nice interor, but they seem a bit overpriced, just out of our budget, and again the issue with finding a manual. Plus I think they have traction control and I dont think you can turn it off. :furious:
So that kinda just leaves the Carib. It's a Toyota, so it'll be cheap to fix and bullet proof. They got a bit of urge with the 20v 4AGE in them, but being revvy they good on gas when tootling.
Anyone got any other ideas for me? (sorry George, but I dont think an Elise will fit the bill, esp as it will be driven on a shingle road :hehe:)
I spose it comes along eventually. The need some something a bit bigger.
Now that we've got a dog, and 2 mountain bikes and regular trips up to Christchuch for the weekend, we need a bigger car.
My 205 Gti is, well, a 205 Gti (and in bits, yes still :eek:), my wifes Mirage aint much bigger.
So we need a wagon.
However, being a Pistonhead, I refuse to drive something boring (unless it's a Euro deisel).
We've got $15k to spend, but would prefer something $10k or under.
Dont want anything too big, as we both perfer smaller cars, so Falcons:nono:, Commodores:yuck:, Legnums, Legacys etc are out.
Oh and it ABSOLUTELY has to be MANUAL!!!
Looking for something late 90s with airbag(s) and ABS.
Oh and it prolly wont be a daily driver, just a long trip, dog and MTB mobile.
Here's the list of likely candigates:
Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Avant
Alfa Romeo 156 TS Wagon
Subaru Imprezza WRX Wagon (97+)
Mazda 323 SP20 (98-00)
Toyota Caldina GTT (or possiblly just the GT)
Toyota Carib BZ-T (1600 20v 4AGE) (98 or so).
Peugeot 406 ST (2.0) Wagon
Peugeot 206 GTi Wagon
Now the problems start. Finding an A4 wagon in manual for under $15k is next to impossible. Finding an Alfa wagon full stop is next to impossible. Ditto the Pug wagons :mad:
Next top of the list was the WRX, took one for a drive and LOVED it. SOOO much grunt! Not sure it I could drive it without giving it welly. Bit worried now about fuel prices and I've heard maintainence costs can be nasty. :eek:
Ditto the fuel with the Caldina.
Like the Mazdas, nice interor, but they seem a bit overpriced, just out of our budget, and again the issue with finding a manual. Plus I think they have traction control and I dont think you can turn it off. :furious:
So that kinda just leaves the Carib. It's a Toyota, so it'll be cheap to fix and bullet proof. They got a bit of urge with the 20v 4AGE in them, but being revvy they good on gas when tootling.
Anyone got any other ideas for me? (sorry George, but I dont think an Elise will fit the bill, esp as it will be driven on a shingle road :hehe:)
If you want more of a cattle-truck (in effect) than a daily-driver or a weekend-rocket why not a non-WRX scooby.
Good reliability, AWD, a bit pricy for old age maintenance.
It might be a little frustrating from time to time but the extra capital and operating cost could be re-invested in your daily-driver.
Best of luck on your next purchase whatever it is
Good reliability, AWD, a bit pricy for old age maintenance.
It might be a little frustrating from time to time but the extra capital and operating cost could be re-invested in your daily-driver.
Best of luck on your next purchase whatever it is
Considered a Mercedes estate? They are nice cars (even if the quality is bad).
On the other hand you could have a VW Golf estate, they are actually very well made but a if bit bland. Ride is all right (i.e. softer than a Scooby), the engine is quiet, refined and depending on which one you got for they can have a bit of kick as well.
On the other hand you could have a VW Golf estate, they are actually very well made but a if bit bland. Ride is all right (i.e. softer than a Scooby), the engine is quiet, refined and depending on which one you got for they can have a bit of kick as well.
Naa, never been a fan of Mercs.
Much more of a Bimmer boy myself.
Not too sure what maintainence and repair costs would be on Merc.
Also gotta consider this equation
RWD + Shingle Road + Inexperienced wife = ?
Took an SP20 for a test drive yesterday. Was kinda underwhelmed by the performance, though was comparing to the last test drive, which was a WRX
Then I found out their only 98kw. 
Their a very quick little ship for only having that amount of power. Gobs of torque low down. It's quicker than my wifes Mivec Mirage and that's got 160bhp, but only at around 7000rpm, and it makes a huge fuss about it too, which helps you think its fast.
Nice handling an ride in the SP20, very flat and tight, but it doesnt jar going over potholes.
All in all pretty nice. Good fuel economy too. Oh and I found the most important thing : TCS OFF switch!
Now just gotta find one in manual. :grr:
>> Edited by Izza on Sunday 21st August 03:19
Much more of a Bimmer boy myself.
Not too sure what maintainence and repair costs would be on Merc.
Also gotta consider this equation
RWD + Shingle Road + Inexperienced wife = ?
Took an SP20 for a test drive yesterday. Was kinda underwhelmed by the performance, though was comparing to the last test drive, which was a WRX
Then I found out their only 98kw. Their a very quick little ship for only having that amount of power. Gobs of torque low down. It's quicker than my wifes Mivec Mirage and that's got 160bhp, but only at around 7000rpm, and it makes a huge fuss about it too, which helps you think its fast.
Nice handling an ride in the SP20, very flat and tight, but it doesnt jar going over potholes.
All in all pretty nice. Good fuel economy too. Oh and I found the most important thing : TCS OFF switch!
Now just gotta find one in manual. :grr:
>> Edited by Izza on Sunday 21st August 03:19
TCS in a FWD is a good thing anyway... not like it's going to be killing any power oversteer or anything 
Get an Elise..... sure it's not practical, but it'd be a good excuse to get a divorce and shoot the dog..... you might think that it's a drastic measure to take, but come up to Auckland and drive mine and you'll KNOW that it's the only permissible solution to the problem...... makes a WRX feel very slow... and that's in a straight line.... mind you... it's much cheaper to make a WRX go faster :P
Do what Luke's done... get a WRX wagon and convert it to RWD.... had a blast in his one the other day.... goes sideways rather nicely
Get an Elise..... sure it's not practical, but it'd be a good excuse to get a divorce and shoot the dog..... you might think that it's a drastic measure to take, but come up to Auckland and drive mine and you'll KNOW that it's the only permissible solution to the problem...... makes a WRX feel very slow... and that's in a straight line.... mind you... it's much cheaper to make a WRX go faster :P
Do what Luke's done... get a WRX wagon and convert it to RWD.... had a blast in his one the other day.... goes sideways rather nicely
GravelBen said:
something to beware of if looking at non-turbo imprezas -
the turbo (WRX and STi) variants are actually more economical at open road/cruising speed then the N/A 4wd ones. round town it might be the other way round, but dont expect a n/a 4wd Subaru to be particularly economical.
I'm coming from an RX8, I'm expecting better ecconomy from my 2.0 na scoob
My two penneths :
I have a '96 WRX wagon with 207,000kms on it - it's still as tight as a gnats chuff and barring the current WOT missfire (probably coils - they crack and need replacing) it's quick, handles nicely and so far has been cheap to maintain. It is thirsty though, for a small Jappa. My Chimaera is only 50kms per tankful (same size) behind it in economy terms and that hasn't even seen a rolling road to fine tune it.
My wife has a Mitsi' Legnum VR4 auto (tiptronic) and I can honestly say I love driving it. It has very little lag compared to WRX/Legacy equivilents, is very nicely put together, has lovely styling and is no more expensive to service than anything else I've owned. It is rather thirsty though, although that's based on my wife's binary driving style! The tiptronic is actually quite a nice compromise and you CAN turn off the traction control.
I wouldn't touch a NA Imprezza as you lose the only redeeming factors of owning such a vehicle. WRXs are cheap and nasty little cars with a fair bit of grunt and some suspension mods (to oversimplify things). These changes transform a boring car into a truly great one. Take them away and you'd be much better off buying a Toyota. They're also just as thirsty.
In short if you want economy get an NA Toyota. If you want fun and don't want refinement or toys go for the WRX. If you want grunt and refinement for for the VR4.
Alternatively, you could make me an offer for all of my cars as a package!
I have a '96 WRX wagon with 207,000kms on it - it's still as tight as a gnats chuff and barring the current WOT missfire (probably coils - they crack and need replacing) it's quick, handles nicely and so far has been cheap to maintain. It is thirsty though, for a small Jappa. My Chimaera is only 50kms per tankful (same size) behind it in economy terms and that hasn't even seen a rolling road to fine tune it.
My wife has a Mitsi' Legnum VR4 auto (tiptronic) and I can honestly say I love driving it. It has very little lag compared to WRX/Legacy equivilents, is very nicely put together, has lovely styling and is no more expensive to service than anything else I've owned. It is rather thirsty though, although that's based on my wife's binary driving style! The tiptronic is actually quite a nice compromise and you CAN turn off the traction control.
I wouldn't touch a NA Imprezza as you lose the only redeeming factors of owning such a vehicle. WRXs are cheap and nasty little cars with a fair bit of grunt and some suspension mods (to oversimplify things). These changes transform a boring car into a truly great one. Take them away and you'd be much better off buying a Toyota. They're also just as thirsty.
In short if you want economy get an NA Toyota. If you want fun and don't want refinement or toys go for the WRX. If you want grunt and refinement for for the VR4.
Alternatively, you could make me an offer for all of my cars as a package!
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