Best wagon/hatch/4wd for 35-40k?

[Daniel]

Hey all,
I'm after some opinions and recommendations!

I need to make a decision pretty soon; have just received a promotion which is awesome, but i means I can no longer use my F6 and offset some cost with work.. It is time for a fully maintained vehicle.

There is pretty much full choice within the budget, needs to have some space for when I do need to move stuff around and there are on sedans around that will fit the bill here. having said that, it will not be all that often.




This means my requirements are relatively simple:

- A wagon, good sized hatch or suv/4wd
- Engine I'm fairly open, I know everything will be MUCH slower than the F6.
- ~35 to 40k budget.
- Decent stereo with CD or ipod integration.
- Comfortable.

Wish list:
- SatNav, doubt it will happen in this budget however.
- Something that moves and isn't a pure slug!




I wasn't expecting this and need to choose pretty soon so throw me some ideas!

[Quicklier]

Does it have to be BRAND NEW?

If not, an MY07 - MY09 Subaru Liberty Wagon
You could have either:
3.0R
3.0R-B
2.5GT
2.5GT Premium
Tuned By STI

I've got the older MY05 3.0R-B and love it!

[Silver Ghia]

New Mondeo XR5's have pretty well all you have listed there (except sat nav), and are in your price range. But they only come with manual transmission.

[Quicklier]

Also, what about an SS Sportswagon?
I wouldn't bother about the auto though.

You'd be buying a 24 month old example. Hopefully it has done most of its depreciating by now.

[Daniel]

Good point, I didn't mention it will have to be an automatic, 100%.
Also, it has to be new, sadly. (never thought I'd say that lol)

I love the older liberty sooo much, but the new one is nasty :(


Depreciation isn't my concern now, not my car

[Road_Warrior]

Subaru Forester. Turbo

[mrghia]

depends on how big the boot needs to be. The VE wagon has a fairly small boot smaller then the mondeo. What about a BF3 wagon there might still be some new ones still in stock. you could also get something like a 09 new Nissan Xtrail drive away for 32k. you could even get a new terri?

[Franco Cozzo]

I quite like the Honda Odyssey, it fits fat bastards like me very comfortable in the front seats and its nice to drive.

[drew`SEVNT5]

Skoda Octavia RS liftback or wagon...

A petrol hatch should be doable for 40k, wagon a bit dearer

[mondo_broady]

yep the skoda octavia RS is good, but on the smallish side for a wagon and the mondeo in titanium spec would be too expensive.

however, the new skoda superb wagon in a deisel will give you size and enough power to satisfy you and fit in your budget range. been getting rave reviews and you get lots of good kit standard too.

[BrisVegas]

Mondeo/Octavia wagons or hatches. Both have huge boots and decent automatic drivetrains. They're a bit "different" to the hordes of Camries and 6's that clog our highways.

Forester XT would be pretty nice too.

[mrghia]

skoda use volkswagen drive line so they would be reliable

[Carby]

SV6 sports wagon, comfortable, 210kw, Aussie car and they look good for around $40K.

[rst2000]

hyundai santa fe r series diesel.

[Brazen]

I have driven the Holden Sportwagons extensively and actually prefer the drive to the sedan, feels more settled in the back and grippier. Very sporty and comfortable. You probably wont get a better driving wagon until you start spending E-class or 5 series type of money ($90,000 plus).

6 speed auto, direct injected V6, rear wheel drive, good on fuel, rear park assist. And the International comes with leather, 18 inch alloys, upgraded stereo for about 36 driveaway. My top choice in the segment. You should be able to get a good deal on a Satnav with it too.

[Raptor]

Best wagon/hatch/4wd for 35-40k?

It may be stretching the budget slightly but my first though was also Skoda.

My suggestion would be the Škoda Octavia Scout

Also seems to fit the wagon/hatch/4wd description nicely



[EDIT] Opps, no good they only come as a manual

[UNR8D]

shame the new liberty's/outbacks took the styleing ques from a preschool fingerpainting compertition would have been my first choice... that said the interior is rather nice and you cant see the outside from the drivers seat :P

skoda Scout would be second choice if having to go new, or mitsu outlander *aursome soundsystem!!*

[Chopped]

Sportswagon FTW.

Support the locals.

[GYRKIN GT]

Ever thought about a diesel Nissan X-Trail. Wife and I bought one, the TS model, last November as our daily driver (the GT comes out only to play). Paid $38K for it but it's a manual. We spend a lot of time on the F3 between Horsnby and the NSW Central Coast. The torque this thing has is unbelievable, whack it into 6th and it just pulls up the hills like a steam train. Leaves practically everything in it's wake. The trip computer indicates 7.1 l/100k and that just doesn't change. It's comfortable, has a 6 stacker in the dash, plenty of room in the backend. We really do love it. However, as I said, it's a manual, I've never driven an auto version????? Worth a look though.

[Tealglow]

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited CRD 5spd auto will tick all your boxes & be different

[Quicklier]

Originally Posted by Shaker888

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited CRD 5spd auto will tick all your boxes & be different

The 2011 model looks amazing!

[Jimmyd]

Originally Posted by rst2000

hyundai santa fe r series diesel.

+1 for the Santa Fe

[Daniel]

Some interesting suggestions here, I will have to check some of them out as I haven't seen some of the above mentioned models.

What do people think of the Mazda 6 wagon or VW golf wagon comfortline?

[mrghia]

both are good built well. Do you need a big wagon?

[Quicklier]

Originally Posted by mrghia

both are good built well. Do you need a big wagon?

Yeah, I'm a bit confused as to what sized vehicle you're after.
A Flog is pretty compact where a Mazda 6 wagon is utterly massive.

If you're wishing to go more hatch than wagon, an i30 (even the i30cw) is pretty impressive in deeezul flavour

[Daniel]

A bigger wagon is more appealing at this stage, but not 100% needed.

[sneaky]

Rav4 V6, it's got 200 killer wasps so they should move ok

[Quicklier]

Originally Posted by Daniel

A bigger wagon is more appealing at this stage, but not 100% needed.

I think your shopping list should include:

Skoda Octavia Wagon (selecting the DSG 'auto' gearbox)
Golf Wagon
Mitsubishi ASX
Nissan Dualis (but view it as an X-Trail with rounded edges)
Mazda 6 wags (hello 400Nm of torque in the diesel)
Holden Sportswagon (which should be on run-out in a few months)
Hyundai i30 cw (if you can get past the badge)

and MAYBE the Ford Mondeo wagon, but it is truly massive and we only get some boring-average engines in Aus.

[Quicklier]

<3 wagons

[mrghia]

How about a Nissan challenger or Mitsubishi Outlander?