Can we get a whole forum for "what car" threads? This is perhaps the first time I have not known exactly what I wanted.
Looking to replace our '95 Legacy wagon. At 160+k it is starting to need stuff fixed more often and has a few rust bubbles ready to pop and a few others that have already broken through. Keeping my '05 Legacy GT wagon. When and if theoretical offspring #2 arrives, there's a good chance I'll have a car seat behind me for at least a year. At 6'4", I can take about five minutes in the front seat when the rear facing car seat is behind me. I would love to find another newer Legacy L wagon to replace the '95, but the space issue is probably a deal breaker there.
Thinking wagon or SUV at this point. Budget is $8k, could possibly go up to $12k. Under 100k miles. Plan to keep this vehicle about six years at 12-15k miles a year. Stick or auto, either one is fine. I like sticks in cars and autos in SUV's, but again, flexible. Gas mileage is relevant but not the most important of our criteria. It will be my wife's daily driver.
Have been looking at 4Runners, Mazda5 wagons, and a few other ideas online but haven't put a car seat in 'em to check on leg room.
So, whatcha got, great, throbbing brain of GRM?
Mazda5, hands down. I've put my 6'5" father-in-law in mine with a rear-facing car seat aft and he had plenty of room. Easy to find in your budget and mileage range, and can be had in a stick to boot. Were up into the low 30's for gas mileage now.
For $10-$12 grand........
What about finding a Volvo 122 wagon 
Find a newer drivetrain: say a Toyota BEAMS 3SGE on ebaY (200hp/200#ft)
We have a Mazda5 and I am 6'5". An infant carrier can fit behind me but a larger child seat facing backwards like a Britax or the bigger Graco Signature can not. My son rides on the passenger's side in his Graco and his younger friends ride in the infant carrier.
When it's just him I do like he ability to slide his seat forward on the rails and of course the sliding doors are great. I've had 6 people in it (3 adults and 3 children in car seats) and it does just fine. The motor is willing to rev, we see about 24 in mixed driving and 30 on the freeway with the 5 speed auto. You should be able to get the later model ('08-'11) with the updated interior and the 5 speed auto in your price range.
I also like the Passat and Jetta because they manage to make the seat have a usable range for taller people. A Passat with the 2.0T or the earlier model with the 1.8T would work pretty well. You'll hear squawking about reliability but my '99 Passat was trouble free. I had a Jetta wagon that was built on a Saturday night by the janoitors and was a total piece of junk but every manufacturer builds some lemons.
You might be able to get into a Mk5 GTI with your budget and they're pretty practical for tall people, especially the 4 door.
