Big wagons?

What big (ish) wagons were made in the last 15 years that aren't on the list below that can be found under $5K?

Saturn LW
Mazda 6 (borderline "big")
Outback
Forester

Passat?

E-Class?

Not sure on price, but I can't imagine anyone paying more than $5k for one of these.

Hmm. Passat would fall on the list. Are these under $5K? I'm not sure I want to own one. Reliability would #1 priority for this car.

V40/V70 maybe? Can these be found under $5k?

I just assumed the C class and E class couldn't be had that cheap.

Also I guess 9-5 Aero?

Will wrote: Not sure on price, but I can't imagine anyone paying more than $5k for one of these.

I don't know why I hate these, but I do.

BMW 5 series touring?

SAAB 9-5 wagon?

Not sure pricing and a bit rare but B5 Passat TDI wagons were the last Passats built in europe vs everything moving to mexico and it has the ALH motor which is very reliable. It also had something like a 20 gallon fuel tank which would give you an 1100 mile range per tank of fuel.

dodge magnum

Jaynen wrote: Not sure pricing and a bit rare but B5 Passat TDI wagons were the last Passats built in europe vs everything moving to mexico and it has the ALH motor which is very reliable. It also had something like a 20 gallon fuel tank which would give you an 1100 mile range per tank of fuel.

I'm sure a TDI Passat is going to bring more than $5K. Unless it has 4 gazillion miles on it.

Primary use would be wife-car, and road trips. Road trips aren't that frequent though, and I don't think a TDI would be great for a 6 mile suburban-urban commute.

I guess there are plenty of wagons still out there, I should change the question to: which will get me the lowest mileage in the price range? And which is lowest maintenance/least scary to work on?

The last truly big wagons where the Chevys.

Will wrote: Not sure on price, but I can't imagine anyone paying more than $5k for one of these.

I wouldn't pay more than $2k for the absolute best example of that generation Taurus. TBH, if viewed and used as an Appliance only, they aren't the worst thing in the world.

There is also the Freestyle and Taurus-X . I would bet that you could find a pretty good one of those for under $5k too.

ProDarwin wrote:

Will wrote: Not sure on price, but I can't imagine anyone paying more than $5k for one of these.

I don't know why I hate these, but I do.

It's a miserable vehicle no doubt, but it met your criteria.

HappyAndy wrote: I wouldn't pay more than $2k for the absolute best example of that generation Taurus. TBH, if viewed and used as an Appliance only, they aren't the worst thing in the world.

Don't they have trans problems? I remember my sister having one with ~75k on it when the input shaft seal went and it killed the trans.

ProDarwin wrote: What big (ish) wagons were made in the last 15 years that aren't on the list below that can be found under $5K? Saturn LW Mazda 6 (borderline "big") Outback Forester

Go to www.fueleconomy.gov and use the Power Search function.
From there, you can but in an age range and then only find wagons.
It will not give you a purchase price range but age should help you narrow down to approximate prices.

Furthermore, you can filter down further like only manual trans or awd if you want.

Will wrote: Not sure on price, but I can't imagine anyone paying more than $5k for one of these.

I think 5000 would get you two tourous or Sable wagons

Saab 9-5 wagon

If you want a properly big wagon made in this century you need to widen your definition of "wagon" to cover SUVs. Very low maintenance and easy to wrench on too.

BMW e39 wagons are great cars. The little electrical stuff can be time consuming, but they drive great. I recommend the 6 cylinder cars to avoid the cam chain guide/tensioner deal on the V8s, and to get a generally less stressed driveline. Manual cars are quite rare, but they do show up now and then.

ProDarwin wrote:

HappyAndy wrote: I wouldn't pay more than $2k for the absolute best example of that generation Taurus. TBH, if viewed and used as an Appliance only, they aren't the worst thing in the world.

Don't they have trans problems? I remember my sister having one with ~75k on it when the input shaft seal went and it killed the trans.

The trans problems were mostly the input shaft being made of glass. There are fixes, there are tons of decent used transmissions in junkyards, and some of them won't ever break at all. Find one for $1500, stick $1500 in the bank for a new trans, and have $2k in change for hookers and blow!

Audi A6 Avant and allroad.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: If you want a properly big wagon made in this century you need to widen your definition of "wagon" to cover SUVs. Very low maintenance and easy to wrench on too.

Lots of big ones listed above have more space than some (RAV 4, CRV, Vue, Escape, etc.) SUVs and are on par with space offered in the 3 row variety. SUVs found in this price range generally aren't low mileage, and don't get great gas mileage.

Any 4 cyl SUVs you could recommend with 75+ cubic feet of space?

codrus wrote: Audi A6 Avant and allroad.

For < $5k? Should that scare the crap out of me? (because it does)

motomoron wrote: BMW e39 wagons are great cars. The little electrical stuff can be time consuming, but they drive great. I recommend the 6 cylinder cars to avoid the cam chain guide/tensioner deal on the V8s, and to get a generally less stressed driveline. Manual cars are quite rare, but they do show up now and then.

I would absolutely avoid the V8. Auto is fine... if its reliable. Mileage is pretty not-good though :(

bmw e61s about 2008 and older will be in range.. 3.0 na and turbo versions edit oops, read that as 15k. For 5k you can get e39 wagons

ProDarwin wrote:

Jaynen wrote: Not sure pricing and a bit rare but B5 Passat TDI wagons were the last Passats built in europe vs everything moving to mexico and it has the ALH motor which is very reliable. It also had something like a 20 gallon fuel tank which would give you an 1100 mile range per tank of fuel.

I'm sure a TDI Passat is going to bring more than $5K. Unless it has 4 gazillion miles on it. Primary use would be wife-car, and road trips. Road trips aren't that frequent though, and I don't think a TDI would be great for a 6 mile suburban-urban commute. I guess there are plenty of wagons still out there, I should change the question to: which will get me the lowest mileage in the price range? And which is lowest maintenance/least scary to work on?

Yup all that is very true. Older E series mercs?