New car time...

[datachicane]

My wife was driving downtown in four lanes of heavy traffic last night and had a woman from a minor side street try to skate across blind. Needless to say, my wife T-boned her, and I suspect the insurance co. is going to total our 2002 Mazda MPV. I gotta find a replacement.

I had a hard time buying this thing in the first place, owing to my disdain for all things minivan. I'd prefer a smallish station wagon, but I need something that can tow 1500-2000lbs (vintage Apache trailer), has room for camping gear, and gets non-obscene mpg while at it. I've got a budget around $8-10k.

Even though I'm not a lesbian (not that there's anything wrong with that), I'd assumed I'd end up with a Subaru wagon, but the resale value on those is seriously out-of-whack, yielding 15-year old 150k+ beaters in my price range, far outpacing Audis and Volvos in the process. The Mazda did the job nicely and was a better buy (around 6k two years ago with 60k on it), and I gotta admit that for a minivan it was a tidy package, certainly compared to the ubiquitous Mopar sleds.

Any suggestions that I might be missing? It's a shame the Mazda5 has no towing capacity, and I'd rather avoid an SUV if I can help it.

[WickerBill]

The used car market is absolutely insane right now.

Not sure if you love or hate the Ford Flex (there's no middle ground).. but that could be an option...

[DagoFast]

We've been used car shopping with/for our 18 year old daughter recently and I concur about the used market being absoluetly insane.

This is one of the few times in history where it might make better financial sense to buy a brand new car with a full warranty. Especially when so many manufacturers are offering zero percent or close to it financing.

The trick is, it still has to fit the budget and you better have excellent credit to qualify for those sweetheart financing deals. Unless you shop at a Chrysler store; rumor is they are doing subprime deals again.

Glad to hear your wife is okay and good luck on replacing her vehicle.

[datachicane]

I wouldn't mind the Flex if it was about 3/4 scale, but it's a bit of a beast as is. In any case, since they've only been around for three years they're still 2-3x my budget.

[Tifosi24]

You might be able to find a Dodge Caliber/Jeep Compass/Jeep Patriot in that price range. I own an '07 Patriot, and I think it meets all of your requirements (I don't know for sure about the towing in standard form, but I am too lazy to check the manual). It has been a relatively solid vehicle and the only downside I have found is the amount of work we have had to do with front suspension parts. I don't know if they refined anything for '08 and beyond in terms of suspension. That annoyance aside, my wife loves it, and it consistently gets 24-26 mpg in town, and with a little luck can touch 30mpg on the highway.

I also have an '03 Honda Element, but I recently checked the resale on these ugly, yet practical vehicles and KBB says I should ask nearly 10k for mine. I find it hard to drop 10 large on a nine year old car that sold new for around 20k, luckily I got a family discount.

[nrc]

Mazda CX-7?

[cameraman]

Even though I'm not a lesbian (not that there's anything wrong with that), I'd assumed I'd end up with a Subaru wagon, but the resale value on those is seriously out-of-whack, yielding 15-year old 150k+ beaters in my price range

What is your price range:saywhat: My 95 Outback w/ 133K miles has a KBB of $3600.

[Methanolandbrats]

2003 VW Jetta TDI stationwagen.

[Insomniac]

If you liked the MPV, you could try and find another. A good used Subaru should fall in your range if you want one. I like to go to ebay and see what completed auctions ended at. You can search by type (Wagon) and price range.

[chop456]

Mazda5? No idea about the towing cap.

[Gnam]

2007 Ford Freestar Van:
* 200 hp V-6 engine
* 3500 lb towing capacity
* MPG: 15/21 mpg FWD
* discontinued model, most under $10k

http://www.edmunds.com/ford/freestar/2007/features-specs.html?style=100715087

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9347/20042007fordfreestar.jpg

[Gnam]

It's a wagon.
It will tow what you need.
It is blue.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3078128125.html

;)

[Gnam]

2004 Honda CRV
* 160hp, 2.4L I-4 engine
* 1500 lb towing capacity
* MPG: 20/26 mpg FWD
* it will probably have 100k miles on it, but hondas last forever and ever.

http://www.edmunds.com/honda/cr-v/2004/features-specs.html?sub=suv

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7591/20022004hondacrv.jpg

[Gnam]

2003 Hyndai Elantra XD
* 1850 lb towing capacity
* according to the internet... I would check the manual. :p

http://www.elantraxd.com/forums/showthread.php?17723-Elantra-XD-Towing-Capacity&p=226076

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c371/paalienman/100_2610.jpg

[datachicane]

It's a wagon.
It will tow what you need.
It is blue.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3078128125.html

;)

Heh. I've actually been considering a clean '63 Country Squire and this amazingly sharp, low mile '61 Falcon. Had a few old Falcon wagons over the years, none this nice.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-njNfJpGuxsE/T-EaZpLgy9I/AAAAAAAAERY/AuQMwgk9g5k/s800/5N35Ic5E33E23L33Icc65fb06640f146c1775%255B1%255D.j pg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uEN8DJKZInk/T-Eac3dJnEI/AAAAAAAAERg/XwWofXVaxOo/s800/5Ic5V45M43Id3L83N9c654aba8a60b8201905%255B1%255D.j pg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IAtVwZcUoTs/T-EagsT1d1I/AAAAAAAAERo/GYDDa2AKakQ/s800/5N65O65Gc3m53J83N8c652c58368a52d9168d%255B1%255D.j pg

Freestar/Windstars have a rep for lunching trannies, as does the Freestyle, so they're off my list...

[Indy]

It's a wagon.
It will tow what you need.
It is blue.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3078128125.html

;)

That is freaking awesome. One of these days I will switch to a career where I don't drive 30,000 miles a year, and I will buy something like THAT.

Plus, it's in Sonoma County, so you can fly out, see wine country, and drive it home. Sweet.:thumbup:

[dando]

It's a wagon.
It will tow what you need.
It is blue.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3078128125.html

;)

Meh. No Wood paneling. Deal breaker. :gomer: ;)

-Kevin

[dando]

Plus, it's in Sonoma County, so you can fly out, see wine country, and drive it home. Sweet.:thumbup:

Better yet, load 'er up with all of the white zin ya bough @ the 'local' wineries now owned by Gallo.... :gomer: :saywhat:

-Kevin

[datachicane]

I'm thinking this one. :tony:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1286bmsWR58/T-KwNPN9GvI/AAAAAAAAER8/4XNjpZ3C-SU/s800/Murena11%255B1%255D.jpg

[cameraman]

The exhaust placement leaves just a little bit to be desired...

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/1969_Intermecchanica_Murena_Rear_1.jpg