1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
My '99 9-5 5spd sedan w 174k/aero suspension has mostly been sitting for the last several years (2-4k per year; it's the 3rd car and my wife has too much knee trouble to daily drive a stick) and the minivan w 254k makes more sense for me to drive most of the time - not enough passenger space for carpool. Had the saab for 14+ years, and haven't wanted to let it go, but it needs some work to really put it back to daily driver status, and some of the cosmetic wear is beyond what I'd like to live with. I always wanted the aero wagon, anyway, but have been holding it's parking place for a convertible or other toy!
My wife's '00 Acura TL w 160K is also in a similar but more urgent need of replacement because it IS her daily driver, and that one isn't worth putting the money into for us. Nothing showstopping. It's still been a good car, but we need to get one younger vehicle into the stable for her.
I've wanted to get my wife into a hybrid because she doesn't ever make city estimated mpg with her commute in anything we've owned. Too much stop time with the a/c on, and a heavy gas/heavy brake strategy! She'd probably do ok w/Camry hybrid (I haven't liked the prius drive), but after spending some serious test drive time w/new prius, new & old avalon's and camry's, the hybrid is only is a logical choice, not one w/'fun'. My wife's not as picky by a long shot, but I'm wondering what else I should look at out there. I liked the cmax, but it doesn't have much cargo space.
Her criteria would include newer and very reliable, economical. I'd love to get off premium fuel and have a decent cruising range (I usually am the fillup guy which is nearly the only time I drive it)
I'd love something outback size, but haven't been crazy about the way they drive (she's fine with them and it's 'ok' - mostly the CVT adjustment I think). We're probably looking used given her rough parking conditions at work, and she has little mechanical intuition, so the reliable is a big deal. I've considered trying to find an automatic aero wagon, but I wouldn't have the same driving time with it and would be dealing with MUCH less tolerance to work out any normal problems, and it would be politically difficult with the age issue and inlaws...
So what else should I look for? I'd prefer wagon, 5 door hatch, but that isn't a show stopper. She's fine with a sedan; I think we need 4 doors minimum. We have a fair amount of physical difficulty w/ingress/egress in our family. She needs to get a folding bike into the back, and we've got 2 kids and sports, so often have baggage....
TIA
posted by 100.0.10...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.