Crasho Bango
I bashed up the minivan AGAIN yesterday trying to get out of a tight parallel parking spot on the very steep Capital Hill. The reality is I am just not a good enough driver to manage a minivan in the city — the car is too big for city driving and parking. We also got hit by someone in a parking lot (an SUV by the looks of it) a few weeks ago so the taillight/bumper damage I did yesterday has been addeded to the three panel-dents and scratches from the hit and run.
Suffice it to say we are going to take a bath on this car (it’s only two years old) because we have to trade it in for a more city-friendly vehicle. If anyone has an experience with one of the models below, I’d be interested in your opinion. We need some hauling capacity (camping gear) and a roomy back seat with at least seating for 5.
Thanks!
Toyota Matrix Wagon
Subaru Forrester
Subaru Outback
Honday CRV
Toyota Rav4
I have a Forrester; I’ve owned it for six years, have put almost 100,000 miles on it, and I love it. It handles gloriously on ice and snow (more of an issue where I am than where you are, I think?) and has never given me any trouble.
Sorry to hear about this, no fun.
We have a Subaru Legacy, which is almost exactly like an Outback but a bit smaller, and Rachel is right, those things are killer in the winter—best car I’ve ever driven in the snow/ice. (Any Subaru’s AWD will give you that effect.) If snow isn’t an issue in Seattle, I can still recommend its longevity: 80,000 miles and only one significant repair so far. Subaru parts are a bit expensive, however, and if you prefer a manual transmission, their clutches are often less durable than the rest of their parts for some reason. Anyway, I love ours—except having to replace that dang clutch.
You may also consider the Pontiac Vibe, which is just a domestic repackaging of the Toyota Matrix, maybe a touch smaller. Identical under the hood, and a few thou cheaper.
Good luck!
My mom drives a Rav4. It’s a decent vehicle - it’s bulletproof, surviving oil changes that stretch from 3k to 30k miles; it handles winter weather well; the trunk space is reasonable. It’s probably not too comfy for 5, but great for 4. It develops squeaks and rattles pretty easily.
I’m a big fan of Subarus (though haven’t owned one) - where I grew up in Montana, everybody’s ‘family car’ was a Subaru; they’ll last 200k miles, get 30mpg and haul whatever you want them to, through all kinds of weather. They’re pretty bulletproof.
I have a neighbor who has a CRV. He loves it. I think it looks like a blue cardboard box. YMMV.
We have a 2001 Rav4. Good car, never has any problems. Our model would be tight for 5. BUT, the new 2006 model is larger, with room for an optional third row seat. Plus it gets 30MPG. Nothing to sneeze at.
We love the RAV4 — we have 2, in fact. We’ve done trips with three teenagers in the back and it’s a little cramped, but doable. And with a lot of luggage in the rear, though large camping equipment might need to go on the roof. And it is a very manageable size for city parking.
ok i am sort of a ‘car guy’ . . . SO . . . they all have strong points and weak points . . . let me name a few i can think of:
Pro: Toyota Matrix Wagon & Toyota Rav4 ~ Toyota is a “PROVEN PERFORMER” and a ‘best buy’ (read that as best value option) . . . mechanically they can take it! . . . Toyota has been chosen by Consumer Reports more years in a row than nearly ANY other brand, which means a lot!!
Con: Toyota Matrix Wagon & Toyota Rav4 ~ Its strength is its weakness . . . Toyota’s are so blasted dependable at some point when it is paid for it is hard to justify selling it because mechanically they can take it . . . another thing is that they are so strong they tend to ride more rigid than others, if you choose a Toyota you’ll also find yourself saying i know it looks terrible, but it really is reliable, lets wait one more year . . .
Pro: Subaru Forrester & Subaru Outback ~ if you are looking for the ‘NAME BRAND’ this is it . . . also a very durable mechanically speaking . . . they can take it too . . . low center of gravity makes maneuverability a real advantage too . . . the Forrester is the roomiest of them all . . . last 3 years in a row “voted” number one SUV and interest rates are less than 2% . . . plus cash incentives . . .
Con: Subaru Forrester & Subaru Outback ~ Again its strength is its weakness . . . with “Name Brand” comes additional costs . . . i too agree the cosmetic appeal of Subaru is far to “boxy” for my taste . . . .but that provides a little extra room . . . cash incentives are offered because they need to offer them . . . “pricey” . . .
Pro: Honda CRV ~ If this were a Honda Accord it would be my choice, PERIOD. But its not . . . it’s a CRV . . . Honda’s reliability is still there however, its just not the Accord or the Civic . . . the drive train is Honda and that’s its best point . . .
Con: Honda CRV ~ if you are going to take your car off road (for real) i would not choose this one . . . light duty suspension is a concern . . .
hope that helps some . . .
Ford Focus station wagon. Does it all, on far less gas. And it’s Very easy to park. This is your chance to escape the minivan/SUV merry-go-round.
Peter’s got a great point. I just got a focus sedan…down from a GMC Yukon. My friend drives the wagon, so I know the size requirements are there. She loves it too. Although 5 fit in my car give that 3 are teen or under.
I get 30mpg (whee!) Great oomph going up the big hills. All the toys on the inside, great price.
It should be mentioned that my husband just got hit in my ford focus and it held up beautifully!
As mentioned before, you will get the SAME gas mileage (30MPG) with more space, traction (4WD) and safety features on the 2006 RAV4. An SUV aint a blight on the planet when it’s a RAV4. You just have to deal with anti-SUV snobbery.
Oh my gosh, this is ALOT of information! Just wanted to add - I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. That must have been scary (as well as embarrassing - I’m impressed with you for putting it out here like this!)
I dont know anything about cars, but I have another tip: I am also a pretty bad driver and used to get into lots of little fender benders until I put a little sign on my steering wheel that said “time to drive” - it really helped me concentrate and remmeber to remember what I was doing….
No, Rachelle, no ecological sensitivity?
How about a hybrid of some sort…or are feminism and ecological awareness strangers to one another?
Otherwise the answer surely should be whatever is most reliable and gives most mileage.
No?
To jump good-naturedly to Rachelle’s defense on the matter of ecology, it’s probably worth observing that taking 5 people in one (medium or large) vehicle that gets 22 mpg is better than taking 5 people in 2 (smaller) vehicles that each get 40 mpg. (At least I think it is; I’m more of a humanities guy than a math guy…
) Sometimes an SUV or big wagon is a more ecologically sound decision than it appears to be.