A question for the lazywebs...

[compilerbitch]

I am thinking about getting a new car sometime very soon. My Golf, like it though I do, is old enough that I'm going to have to spend a bit more on it quite soon than I'd really like to (brakes, dampers and exhaust need doing, as well as a couple of new tyres), so I'm thinking of swapping it out. I also find it a bit small for my photography trips -- taking both cameras means the boot is completely full with the three camera cases, so my clothes bag and the tripods end up needing to go on the back seat, which is not something I'd prefer ideally. Also, I want something capable of long trips, potentially including ice and snow at high altitudes in winter.

I like the Subarus, but the Impreza is too small (the boot looks actually smaller than the one in my Golf -- I was parked next to one this morning coincidentally). Not sure about the bigger ones. Their SUVs are a bit expensive I think.

I'd consider an SUV, but I'm not really keen on something that eats petrol like it's gone out of fashion. The smaller-engined versions of the Ford Escape (not to mention the hybrid version) look OK -- fuel economy isn't as good as my Golf, but actually not that far off (29 as opposed to 35mpg), and my day-to-day mileage is virtually negligible.

So, any suggestions? I'm prepared to pay something like $15k-ish second hand.

Comments

[zaitcev.livejournal.com]

IMHO $15K for an economy SUV (with a target of 29mpg) is unrealistic. The best you can get is a 2001 RAV4 or something. There simply weren't any back then, and newer ones cost more. I have a 2006 RAV4, it's daily average is about 24mpg. I can coax 28 out of it, but it takes driving at 65 mph. I think you're out of luck with your set of requirements. You can get a decent Montero for $15K (either the "Sport" or the new one), but the economy is just not going to be there. Reliability, I suspect, might be absent as well. So, forget an SUV, get an FWD car with a manual tranny, and a set of chains. That's the only way to hit the price and mileage targets.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I paid slightly more than that and got a year-old Mazdaspeed 6. Basically it's a 4WD car with very good traction control, plenty of room, nice interior. It has a 6 speed manual. If I was going to do a lot of winter stuff with it I'd probably get a second set of wheels with higher profile, narrower tyres with mud/snow tread, but as-is I think it should do the job very well.