entry level 2006 wagons (to replace Corolla wagon)

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

Hi

My 15 year old Toyota Corolla Wagon is about to be replaced. As Toyota
doesn't offer this car any longer I have been looking around for
alternatives.

I am considering the two following 2006 Subarus:

Impreza 2.5i Sport Wagon
Outback Sport

They seem to be identical other than the exterior body (one having
two-tone paneling). Am I correct about this? Or am I missing
something?

Other than looks of the outside, is there a reason to pick one over
the other?

Also, a friend of mine has a Legacy Outback, but I am not seeing this
model on the Subaru site. Was this an earlier model, or has it been
replaced/renamed? How does it compare to the two above.

Finally, I am a bit concerned about the mpg on these. My 15 year old
Corolla Wagon gets about 36 mpg on the highway and upper 20s or 30 in
the city. I am wondering what real users mpg numbers are for these
models.

Any comments on these cars, any aspect, based on your experience would
be very useful to me. The Toyota was exceedingly reliable and cheap to
maintain, I have been spoiled.

Thanks very much,

Esmail

ps: Any reason to hold out for the 2007 models? Better mpg? or other
features?

 

[Backfire Bob]

Hi

My 15 year old Toyota Corolla Wagon is about to be replaced. As Toyota
doesn't offer this car any longer I have been looking around for
alternatives.
Any comments on these cars, any aspect, based on your experience would
be very useful to me. The Toyota was exceedingly reliable and cheap to
maintain, I have been spoiled.

Thanks very much,

Esmail

Subaru wont even come close on either aspect.....Gas mileage OR reliability.

Read this ENTIRE group. There is a ton of information here. Some love them,
some hate them.
A lot of them have blown head gaskets, have had Subaru shit all over them.
Toyota is much more simple
and damn near bullet proof.
If you DO NOT need the AWD, stay with Toyota or another car company. For
service (or lack of it)
read all about Subaru's factory centers at www.ripoffreport.com

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Subaru wont even come close on either aspect.....Gas mileage OR reliability.

Read this ENTIRE group. There is a ton of information here. Some love them,
some hate them.
A lot of them have blown head gaskets, have had Subaru shit all over them.
Toyota is much more simple
and damn near bullet proof.
If you DO NOT need the AWD, stay with Toyota or another car company. For
service (or lack of it)
read all about Subaru's factory centers at www.ripoffreport.com

Good link - 43 entries for Subaru, 483 for Toyota.

I do agree though that Subarus just aren't for everyone. Better stick to
the tried and true if you've been happy with it. AWD maintenance has one
or 2 xtra concerns associated with it. It brings safer, better traction
and cornering but there is a weight, complexity trade-off. You could do
a LOT worse than Subaru and likely there are 2-3 companies making
slightly more reliable cars, but there are scores making less reliable
vehicles than Subaru.

get what you want - just be educated about the choice before you make it.

Carl

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

I do agree though that Subarus just aren't for everyone. Better stick to
the tried and true if you've been happy with it. AWD maintenance has one
or 2 xtra concerns associated with it. It brings safer, better traction
and cornering but there is a weight, complexity trade-off. You could do
a LOT worse than Subaru and likely there are 2-3 companies making
slightly more reliable cars, but there are scores making less reliable
vehicles than Subaru.

get what you want - just be educated about the choice before you make it.

Oh boy, this isn't very encouraging .. I would be very happy if I could
buy an updated version of the Corolla Wagon, but as far as I can tell they
stopped making them in 1996, so even used cars are really old. The Toyota
Matrix just doesn't appeal to me (Toyota's replacement for the Corolla
Wagon).

I don't think I need AWD, FWD has worked fine for me over all these
years, but so far what I have seen makes the Subaru Wagons the best choice,
though I just started to look seriously.

Can you think of other cars to recommend? In addition to the

Subaru Impreza Wagon
Subaru Outback Sport

I also am looking at:

Audi A3
Mazda 5? 6?
Ford Focus Wagon

I tend to hold on to my cars for many years, so reliability is really
important to me.

Thanks!

Esmail

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

Subaru wont even come close on either aspect.....Gas mileage OR reliability.

Oh, well, that's not very encouraging...

Read this ENTIRE group. There is a ton of information here. Some love them,
some hate them.

Yes, I just found this group and am scanning the messages.

If you DO NOT need the AWD, stay with Toyota or another car company. For
service (or lack of it)
read all about Subaru's factory centers at www.ripoffreport.com

Thanks for the link, I'll take a look. I don't think I need AWD, FWD is just
fine, but I haven't found a Wagon that I like, and the Subaru Impreza/Outback
Sport seem the most appealing of the lot.

If the Corolla Wagon was still available I'd buy one tomorrow. However I
believe they stopped making them 10 years ago, and its replacement (Matrix)
just doesn't appeal to me.

Esmail

 

[me]

My 15 year old Toyota Corolla Wagon is about to be replaced. As Toyota
doesn't offer this car any longer I have been looking around for
alternatives.

Are you selling that wagon above?

Serious question

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

Are you selling that wagon above?

Serious question

Yes, I don't need two cars. So once I know what I want
to replace it with I will either trade it in, or sell
it privately (probably the former if the price is decent,
less hassle).

 

[me]

The Toyota
Matrix just doesn't appeal to me (Toyota's replacement for the Corolla

How come?

 

[me]

Can you think of other cars to recommend? In addition to the

Subaru Impreza Wagon
Subaru Outback Sport

Are there any other brands that make wagons worth
looking at?

Id like a small FWD only wagon myself

 

[me]

Yes, I don't need two cars. So once I know what I want
to replace it with I will either trade it in, or sell
it privately (probably the former if the price is decent,
less hassle).

where are you located?

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

where are you located?

Ohio

 

[kaboom]

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:03:20 GMT, Esmail Bonakdarian

I don't think I need AWD, FWD has worked fine for me over all these
years, but so far what I have seen makes the Subaru Wagons the best choice,
though I just started to look seriously.

**I have an 05 Impreza RS Sport Wagon and I love the AWD. It handles
so beautifully that it brings a smile to my face. My previous vehicle
was an 03 Jetta 1.8T GLS, it had a sport suspension with 17-inch
wheels on it and the Impreza handles better hands down.

I can't give you definitive gas mileage because the Jetta, while it
only took premium, got awesome gas mileage: 25-27 mixed, 33-34
highway. I noticed that the Impreza didn't match it in the mixed
category, however, highway mileage is pretty decent. I decided to save
my sanity and stop tracking gas mileage like I did with my other cars
though I might start again out of curiosity.

The Jetta was 180hp and I think the Impreza is 163 or so (?) The
Impreza is a torque-y little beast and I love it. Tons of power
throughout acceleration and the engine sounds lovely It's probably
why the car likes gas, I always like to hear the engine growl. It's
more rough around the edges than the Jetta but I understood that when
I bought it so no complaints (except for the stereo which is poop).

Can you think of other cars to recommend? In addition to the

Subaru Impreza Wagon
Subaru Outback Sport

I also am looking at:

Audi A3

**Coming from the VW experience, you might want to avoid this. Audis
don't have good reliability reps anymore and I took one of these out
before I bought the Impreza. The interior didn't look as nice as I
thought it should. The Jetta's interior was awesome, the A3 looked a
little rough hewn in comparison.

Mazda 5? 6?

**I wouldn't mind a Mazda 3 in the future

Ford Focus Wagon

**You're in Ohio, you must know someone who works for Ford so you can
get one of their discounts. I'm originally from CT (now in Mich.) so
I'm left out in the cold when I see the ads in the Detroit papers
advertising great leasing or purchase prices. :-/ Every other car in
the northwestern section of CT is a Subaru.

Have you test-driven any cars yet?

kaboomie

 

[Body Roll]

How come?

Maybe it's too ugly or he does not want to sponsor superexpensive
Japamerican secretarial asses?

My 15 year old Toyota Corolla Wagon is about to be replaced. As Toyota
doesn't offer this car any longer I have been looking around for
alternatives.

Your shortlist is too short. But so are the choices on the market of
small wagons at the moment.
Probably there is not much demand for these so manufacturers get away
with what little
there is. I suggest to camp at the library and memorize back issues of
Car and Driver. I can personally recommend to find a Protege 5 in a
good shape
if you can find a moron willing to part with it. If automatic trannies
are your cup of tea
Honda CR-V is another option. Nevermind the taller box and the noveau
gate arrangement. If you don't like either choice and razor sharp
handling
and slick shifter is not a priority you can always fall back on
the two luxopilies you are asking about. We call ours "Our little
Taurus".

They seem to be identical other than the exterior body (one having
two-tone paneling). Am I correct about this? Or am I missing

2.5i has 9-10 mm less of ground clearance and probably handles a bit
better than my outback "sport". Subaru should've called it Subaru
WinterSport or WinterSports. Would've been more precise. OBS has a
cigarette lighter in the hatch area and map lights I think.

Other than looks of the outside, is there a reason to pick one over
the other?

Yes. Unless you need extra ground clearance (you don;t)
you should pick 2.5i

Corolla Wagon gets about 36 mpg on the highway and upper 20s or 30 in
the city. I am wondering what real users mpg numbers are for these
models.

I was getting about 23 mpg on combined cycle (hamfisted leadfooted
driving)

be very useful to me. The Toyota was exceedingly reliable and cheap to
maintain, I have been spoiled.

Unlike Outbacks and Legacies Impreza's are built in Japan. The fit and
finish
is excellent. Don't expect any surprises in the reliability department
unless you
allow luddites to service and tow the car.

ps: Any reason to hold out for the 2007 models? Better mpg? or other

None I could think of.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Ohio

Esmail, try doing some research at www.edmunds.com for other small
wagon/5-doors vehicles that might appeal to you. Also, you local library
(or on-lone for a price I guess) should have the April issue of
Consumer's Report - it will be car-centric.

As said, wagons are still less popular than almost any other body style
here in the states.

Carl

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

Your shortlist is too short. But so are the choices on the market of
small wagons at the moment.

agreed, hence my query here ...

I suggest to camp at the library and memorize back issues of
Car and Driver.

I have been reading the current car issue of Consumer reports
and looking at various sites on-line (plus ordered some info
from various car companies). I will make a visit to the library
too.

I can personally recommend to find a Protege 5 in a
good shape
if you can find a moron willing to part with it.

Not familiar with that car at all, I'll see what I can find out.

If automatic trannies
are your cup of tea

no, I prefer manual.

Yes. Unless you need extra ground clearance (you don;t)
you should pick 2.5i




I was getting about 23 mpg on combined cycle (hamfisted leadfooted
driving)

Argh .. I just don't get it .. in 15 years there should have been a
lot of improvement in mileage! .. this has been very surprising and
disappointing to find out.

Unlike Outbacks and Legacies Impreza's are built in Japan. The fit and
finish
is excellent. Don't expect any surprises in the reliability department
unless you
allow luddites to service and tow the car.

that's good to know!

None I could think of.

thanks for the message, I am spending this week doing research and
hopefully do some test drives next week.

So far the Impreza is my top choice ....

Esmail

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

Hi kaboomie,

On Tue, 06 Jun 2006 13:03:20 GMT, Esmail Bonakdarian


**I have an 05 Impreza RS Sport Wagon and I love the AWD. It handles
so beautifully that it brings a smile to my face.


My previous vehicle
was an 03 Jetta 1.8T GLS, it had a sport suspension with 17-inch
wheels on it and the Impreza handles better hands down.

Was the Jetta a wagon?

**You're in Ohio, you must know someone who works for Ford so you can
get one of their discounts. I'm originally from CT (now in Mich.) so
I'm left out in the cold when I see the ads in the Detroit papers
advertising great leasing or purchase prices. :-/ Every other car in
the northwestern section of CT is a Subaru.

Actually, I just came back from Boulder, CO and the Outback seems to
be the state car!

I haven't met anyone who works for Ford yet, but maybe I should look
into that ..

Have you test-driven any cars yet?

Not yet, I'm using this week for some research, hope to try out some
cars next week.

Esmail

 

[me]

Argh .. I just don't get it .. in 15 years there should have been a
lot of improvement in mileage! .. this has been very surprising and
disappointing to find out.

Agree

Some of the small cars 20 years ago were getting as god
of gas mileage as the small cars hitting market now!

 

[Body Roll]

I have been reading the current car issue of Consumer reports
and looking at various sites on-line (plus ordered some info
from various car companies). I will make a visit to the library
too.

How would I put it politely?
Consumer Reports does not know a dick about cars.

Not familiar with that car at all, I'll see what I can find out.

It's no longer made.
Replaced by Mazda 3. Which is too midsizish for my taste.

Argh .. I just don't get it .. in 15 years there should have been a
lot of improvement in mileage! .. this has been very surprising and
disappointing to find out.

How are car makers suppose to achive that? Suck required extra energy
out of
their thumbs? Gearing on impreza is messed up already.
If you want good mileage you may want to wait a few months for
Honda Fit (small wagon). Top place finish in the recent C&D test.
They liked the shifter too. And acceleration figues with that puny 1.5
liter
are close to impreza with 2,5 For standard tranny anyway,
Someone at Honda knows something about gearing.

 

[Esmail Bonakdarian]

Esmail, try doing some research at www.edmunds.com for other small
wagon/5-doors vehicles that might appeal to you. Also, you local library
(or on-lone for a price I guess) should have the April issue of
Consumer's Report - it will be car-centric.

As said, wagons are still less popular than almost any other body style
here in the states.

Thanks Carl, I have the car issue of Consumer Reports, but I haven't
looked at edmunds much yet, I will visit again.

Esmail

 

[Body Roll]

Agree

Some of the small cars 20 years ago were getting as god
of gas mileage as the small cars hitting market now!

You were lucky if those old card did 0-60 in 10.5 seconds.
These days 1.5L Honda Fit with 5sp does 0-60 in 8.7
(about 1.5 faster than Prius with what? 200ml smaller engine?)
and has better highway mileage than prius AND cost $6k less.

But somehow Chevroyota Metro with 0.9 and 1 liter 3 cylinder was
never big with the customers despite the 45mpg figure (standard tranny,
auto was not far behind).
Now some idiots sponsor Toyolet secretaries with expensive asses for
$21k a pop
(3 times the price of Geoyota Small).
Go figure.