Help me choose a new wagon for the family (and me)

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Disrespective

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Topic # 161825 21-Jan-2015 08:55

We just got back from our summer road trip and the Mazda 3 MPS (2010, NZ new, 81k's etc) is just too small for comfort. We will be either selling this privately or trading it in but if we sell would hope to have a remaining budget of about $20k.

I don't know what value a trade would get us but am having trouble culling down the list before I go and scour the country for test drives.

Essentials:
Leather seats (so much easier to clean up mess from kid/s)
Enough back seat leg room for two rear facing car seats in the back. The MPS can only fit one behind the passenger and even then the seat is pushed far forward.
More boot space than a hatch back, hence the wagon and not a sedan.
Reasonably fun to drive and not look like a spaceship...

I have been looking at Mazda 6, Volvo V50/V70, BMW 525i wagon, VW Passat/Golf wagon, Honda Accord Euro Wagon etc. in the 2005-2008 age range.

I understand that servicing a euro car is going to be more expensive (or is it?) and am happy to buy something with over 100k's on the clock if it has a service history.

Anyone care to weigh in on any other options they think might work? We aren't really sure that we want an SUV style vehicle but would be happy to test drive them if one stands out.

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Hmm, what to write...
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Reply # 1218825 21-Jan-2015 09:11

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Well I can tell you that servicing a BMW 525i will cost you no more than a Toyota... just don't take it to BMW obviously

Of course if you are considering such a vehicle you should understand what you have. It is the ultimate driving machine, but only if you keep it that way.

For example when I got mine 90,000k I replaced all the suspension bushes and shock absorbers etc. (About $3000) Now it behaves like the ultimate driving machine it is designed to be rather than driving like any other appliance.

Matthew

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Reply # 1218827 21-Jan-2015 09:16

I went for an A4 Wagon. But depending on age will depend whether its in your budget or not. You'd probably be looking at a 2004ish at that money.

But during the time I was looking I tried a Legacy and Outback....nice but felt really plastic (and I ended up with a 3 l turbo diesel which has quite a bit more power). I'd also tried a BMW 550i (5L v8) and a BMW 335 (3l v6 twin turbo).

Servicing will be expensive if you take it to the proper dealer - ie if you want to maintain the service schedule for the next owner. But if you don't care there are other places that are much cheaper.

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Disrespective

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Reply # 1218851 21-Jan-2015 09:41

Yeah, I have seen a few A4 S-Line wagons in the mid 2000's in our price range. My brother in law has a 2009 one and likes it. It's definitely quick and would be good, but in reality doesn't appear to have a much larger boot than the Mazda 3 we have.

I'm happy to do most general servicing and if it's over 10 years old then I don't see continuing a dealer service history as being a huge requirement. By the time we sell it it would be quite a bit older anyway so a general service history would be fine.

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Reply # 1218863 21-Jan-2015 09:45

Disrespective: Yeah, I have seen a few A4 S-Line wagons in the mid 2000's in our price range. My brother in law has a 2009 one and likes it. It's definitely quick and would be good, but in reality doesn't appear to have a much larger boot than the Mazda 3 we have.

I'm happy to do most general servicing and if it's over 10 years old then I don't see continuing a dealer service history as being a huge requirement. By the time we sell it it would be quite a bit older anyway so a general service history would be fine.

yeah in terms of size an a6 is bigger, same with a 5 series BMW. I'm fairly short, and there's a bit of leg room in the back if I'm driving. For us it wasn't an issue. But if you were taller it might be.

Also btw...the newer ones 2008 onwards are longer and wider than the pre2008 models.

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Reply # 1218868 21-Jan-2015 09:56

I went through all the wagon options about six months back when buying a new car (similar reasons - two kids plus space for holiday luggage). I'm a sucker for the Mazda6 - the current model wagon is about the nicest looking one available (although some of the Audis are pretty nice but also pretty pricey).

Given your requirements and budget, regarding the 6 you'd be restricted to the previous model, which unfortunately isn't nearly so economical as the current Skyactiv range. My friends have the previous 6 as a sedan and have commented it likes to drink, whereas the new ones come in diesel (which I have) rated at about 5.4 l or 2.5 l petrol which is about 6.6. Given you want leather, it'll need to be the 2.5 l (if NZ new that is - only the Limited spec models come with leather).

We originally were going to buy the previous model 6 but then decided the benefits of buying the current model were worth the cost (which was going on the mortgage, but could be met as I'd just paid off my student loan) - primarily the huge improvements in fuel economy and that it was covered for servicing and warranty (ours was less than a year old so had over two more years to go); we also elected to get the Limited model - not for the leather seats (though I have warmed to them, and do agree about the cleaning of kids' spills!) but for the substantial safety kit that's only available on that model - adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring. We decided that the extra $20k was worth it, given it was about protecting our brats in the case of an accident (what price could we put on that?). And that 2.2l diesel engine is a complete winner (I read somewhere recently it got engine of the year in the enw Mazda3).

While personally I'd be wary about buying European, one advantage is if you do stick to your budget you'd be able to buy a diesel (if this floats your boat). Many say very positive things about the Skodas (Octavia and Superb) - but personally I think they're just so ugly. Only the more recent Asian models come in diesel, and then some of them suck - I found the Hyundai i40 diesel slower, more fuel-hungry and far less nimble than the 6. And given you've come from a more sports-oriented car, I'd imagine you don't want to go to something that doesn't handle well.

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Reply # 1218871 21-Jan-2015 10:03

Been well pleased with my 2009 Mazda 6 2.5 sedan bought 2 years ago with 90k on the clock and it has given me no grief at 120k now.

It only gets better as a wagon and I wish I could have found one for the price at the time - especially in 6 speed manual, but the deal on this was too good to pass up at $15000

20k would get you a nice example in Wagon form. Recommended.

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Reply # 1218915 21-Jan-2015 11:04

- Subaru Legacy 3.0R
- Alfa Romeo 159
- Audi as others have said

- Stagea GTR :)

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Reply # 1218919 21-Jan-2015 11:12

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heylinb4nz:

- Stagea GTR :)

May be fast but OP said he was after a car that doesn't look like a spaceship! IMO Stageas have an aesthetic that only their mother could possibly love. In fact, I can't think when I last saw a Nissan that I thought was attractive.

MikeB4

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Reply # 1218920 21-Jan-2015 11:12

Disrespective: We just got back from our summer road trip and the Mazda 3 MPS (2010, NZ new, 81k's etc) is just too small for comfort. We will be either selling this privately or trading it in but if we sell would hope to have a remaining budget of about $20k.

I don't know what value a trade would get us but am having trouble culling down the list before I go and scour the country for test drives.

Essentials:
Leather seats (so much easier to clean up mess from kid/s)
Enough back seat leg room for two rear facing car seats in the back. The MPS can only fit one behind the passenger and even then the seat is pushed far forward.
More boot space than a hatch back, hence the wagon and not a sedan.
Reasonably fun to drive and not look like a spaceship...

I have been looking at Mazda 6, Volvo V50/V70, BMW 525i wagon, VW Passat/Golf wagon, Honda Accord Euro Wagon etc. in the 2005-2008 age range.

I understand that servicing a euro car is going to be more expensive (or is it?) and am happy to buy something with over 100k's on the clock if it has a service history.

Anyone care to weigh in on any other options they think might work? We aren't really sure that we want an SUV style vehicle but would be happy to test drive them if one stands out.

If you want to avoid high running costs avoid Euro boxes, If you want reliability go Japanese with the exception of Mitsubishi . I had a Honda Accord Euro wagon for a short time, it was very good, reliable and comfortable and bags of space especially with the rear seats down.

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Reply # 1218928 21-Jan-2015 11:22

For the OP's question here's my answer

Cheaper to maintain - go Jap for 2005-2008. If well maintained, very reliable, if not, then it's 50-50. No other brands in those years are reliable however well it's maintained. Please prove me wrong.
So if we agree on that
- Mazda 6, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Honda Accord Euro
- Problem is, all those cars have very little rear room and boot room. Apart from maybe the Camry.

So if you want space -
- Ford/Holden wagon
- BMW 5 series
- Audi not sure about roominess, might have to go A6 with astronomical repair costs.

Hmm ...

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Reply # 1218931 21-Jan-2015 11:26

SUV vs Wagon 2005-2008

- SUV pros
- higher driving position, see more, less night glare from oncoming cars
- fraction more boot space

- SUV cons
- big body on wagon platform, clumsy
- fuel consumption
- clumsy, heavy
- sore back on long distance (not sure why)

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Reply # 1218934 21-Jan-2015 11:28

Have you considered a Subaru Legacy wagon? It would be my pick, being very spacious, while still being reasonably affordable both to buy & maintain, and if you want to keep a performance vehicle as you have with your MPS, the GT spec is an option to do so.

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Reply # 1218936 21-Jan-2015 11:29

The flat 6 3L Legacy are supposed to go pretty well too, plus more reliable than the turbo ones historically.

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Reply # 1218937 21-Jan-2015 11:31

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drinks petrol and expensive to fix (nearly everything is inaccessible without removing lots of things) ... but it (the 3L) drives very well! if you can push your budget the new generation (very cheap, can get a 2 year old for less than half price!) is good on gas ... not sure about things still being inaccessible but most new cars are like that. have to remove everything to get to something

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Reply # 1218938 21-Jan-2015 11:32

and also if i were you i'd want ESC and full airbags. you never know which tourist (and local) is coming your way!

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