The wife is wanting to get a larger car, but isn't keen on getting a SUV.
Station wagons don't seem to be all that popular, so looking to hear from the community about what they've driven.
Our budget is under $30k, new or used.
We're also looking for something that we could get a tow bar attached. It won't be carrying anything like a caravan, just a small trailer with extra stuff for road trips.
Edit:
Upgrading from 2009 Ford Focus hatch
I rode in one with 600000km on it, and the cabbie was boasting engine hadn't been touched. had 3 transmissons though.
Recently sold one I had with 300k on the clock. That's 2 years or 40k auto trans services. Better to go 3 years or 60k imo to be more economical.
Bulletproof car it was. Replaced bits as needed and to run like new just needed a new maf sensor.
They are getting too old now though.
Camry.
Perfect if they still made a Camry wagon.
The OP said $30K not $3K. I dont think he wants one that is 15 yrs old.
Perhaps the tone of the statement was missed. Ozbargain car recommendation = Camry/Corolla more often than not.
I actually like the Camry wagon concept. Not sure why there are so few wagons these days.
Nissan stagea
Surprised I had to scroll so far down for this. I've lusted after a 260RS for years but never found the right one.
Although for OP, I'm assuming the Stagea might be a bit old and lacking in modern creature comforts.
Once you have one creature comforts are not required. Oh and yes i am suprised none mentioned it but camerys are the ozB way.
As a driver of an M35 this warms my heart seeing a Stagea mentioned.
We are a couple and have no kids. I own a 2013 i30 Elite Tourer Wagon 1.6L Diesel and cannot recommend it enough. Unless you have a need for 4wd, I strongly recommend you consider this. It is pretty cheap to run. Very spacious. Comes with a lot of features as standard. The boot is bigger than a few "SUVs" in the market. Sure it's not an "exciting" car. But, does it's job pretty well.
I have an older outback wagon ('00) and a 2013 vw golf wagon. I'm a wagon fan in general because they don't feel like you're driving a boat like you do with the large SUVs.
One of the things I like about the Golf wagon is it's relatively compact, but you still get the extra boot space. I L
like the handling and I like the feel of the DSG gearbox, eg it feels like you've got the control of a manual when you need it. Personally I prefer DSG to CVT. I believe newer Outbacks have CVT gearboxes.
A direct competitor of the outback would be a vw passat alltrack, because it has AWD.
One problem with all of the VW and Skoda vehicles is they apparently can not tow very much, ie they can't tow caravans. Obviously they could tow a small trailer, but yeah something to keep in mind.
That's directly related to weight. The VW/Skoda (anything economical) is generally lighter so limited by law, if before physics.
And if you have safety in mind towing, you might have a preference for even weight distribution too, so RWD Territory and all those Falcommodores are not bad value if you can stomach the design/engineering/quality. But that said, tow-bars are awful, they weigh the car down (right out there at the back where even a little weight has a lot of leverage) all the time and upset handling terribly all those other days of the year you aren't using them, as well as reducing economy.
And if someone hits you, the chassis can crack in all sorts of places without anyone (smash repairers included) being able to see.
Instead of towbar, use roof racks. Modern wagons all have great racking systems.
Remember, buying a tow-bar might have unexpected consequences, Imagine yourself with a caravan, and you will decide you don't need a towbar. We need less caravans, not more.
Seriously? A tow bar affects your handling terribly? Talk about the princess and the pea. A towbar probably weighs around 30-50kg, no much more than filling up the tank. Sure, it's out the back of the car but 50kg affecting the driving dynamics of 1500kg sounds far fetched.
Don't ever take a passenger with you, you won't be able to drive your car!
You know there's a golf alltrack right? That's probably a better comparison to the outback.
Drive a Super-roo in the wet.. then compare the rest..
@woodwa: Like the fabled one-word 'camry' post… beautiful.
But it doesn't matter when you drive wet/dry, the sensorial impact will help you judge any other.
A new Tesla Model S does the same thing at half the price- but without the noise all its improvements seem (temporarily) unimportant.
I have a skoda Octavia scout. It's amazing. My16 with tech pack. Got it for $36k driveway with guaranteed future value and 2.5% financing. Best car I've ever owned!
Every review is brilliant. Can't understand why the Octavia isn't killing the sales?
Can't understand why the Octavia isn't killing the sales?
This may have something to do with it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0koda_Octavia
Assembly Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia [21]
Ningbo, China
Aurangabad, India
Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
Solomonovo, Ukraine
Relizane, Algeria[22]
Designer
I think you will find that it is all due to the history of Skoda. Skoda began building cars in the early 1900's in Czechoslovakia. They made many simple cars at extremely cheap prices to try and gain a footing outside of Eastern Europe. And because of this, the cars used to have very poor built quality, terrible performance and bad reliability particularly when Czechoslovakia was under Russian Soviet rule. Everyone used to joke at how bad they were. They have come a long way since then just like Kia has and are now considered as one of the most reliable car manufacturers in the world.
They have come a long way since then just like Kia has and are now considered as one of the most reliable car manufacturers in the world.
jd power may have ranked skoda number one and kia third out of their list of 22 newish vehicles. but what happens to these vehicles when they stop being newish. let say five, seven, ten or more years down the track. these vehicles true reliability comes in when skoda's five and kia's seven years warranties stops?
Same could be said for any car. Skoda sells very well in Europe and is ranked one of the top brands in the U.K. for reliability.
I think it's just people making old assumptions on the brand.
Honestly, their current cars are brilliant. I am super happy with my scout. Much more so than my 2010 forester I traded in which was creaky and having major mechanical issues at 80k km.
@blergmonkeys: I remember my dad looking at cars in the 70s and complaining about "Jap crap". He bought a ford cortina for himself and a second hand Toyota corona for mum. 8 years later he bought a ford Fairmont for himself - it was a dud and 5 years later (after watching mums Toyota drive almost faultlessly) bought my uncles ex-company magna. He drove that for ~300,000 kms over 10 years. And then bought another magna which is now 15 years old and has done 267,000kms. The 1975 Toyota corona was driven until 1998 when the gearbox + exhaust died and it wasn't worth repairing ( though I should have tried as a learning exercise as parts were cheap - but it was so trashed from multiple " p" drivers.
@altomic: I'm so glad to hear another corona love affair! Growing up we had a similar vintage corona station wagon, also bought as the runaround for mum - cream with the beautiful brown malting vulgalour upholstery.
It met its eventual death in ~2003 at a whopping 620,000km, just on dusk one rainy mothers day when it just came to a nice gliding stop, never to start again… on a railway line. Mum, dad, 2 kids pushing a broken down corona station wagon off the train tracks. On Mother's Day. 100% as hilarious as you're thinking. It was towed home (eventually) with the other family car of the time.. the similarly luxurious Datsun 720. It was a head gasket! The final nail. I remember when my dad took it to the wreckers, they gave him $100 and he cried the whole way home, didn't speak for a fortnight. I'd have barely been 10 years old when he sold it, but just growing up in it… for a while it was like the trusty old pet dog had died, it was all very sad.
Still to this day I can't help but take a little peek in the window when I spot another old corona, somehow still banging around. It's amazing the love affairs we have with cars really - the air con never worked, the seats shed their years of ground-in filth if you moved around too much, and if I recall correctly it had a 3(!) speed automatic box - in all measurable ways it was a terrible car! But if another came along for the right price… I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
/Protracted lustful corona rant over :P
@jackary: I saw the exact colour combo of my Toyota (blue with "brown leather")about 3 years ago sitting in front of a farm house near my father in laws. Part of me wanted to buy it. Part of me said " what will you do with it?". The mighty corona.
@altomic: Ahh yes that's the best! All of the nostalgia. It was a top notch car, not a hint of rust to be found, even though most layers of the paint were decades gone… in all those years it really never put a foot wrong and even survived a NSW to QLD move!
I've always told myself I'd pounce if the right one came along (not that I've noted down colours in order of preference or anything…cough)… but also get stuck at the same question as you… what on earth would I do with it?
But then I also wonder.. "where else can I get so many different shades and textures of brown?!"… just do a basic engine overhaul (as cheap to DIY as ever), a basic respray, and enjoy the trouble free motoring… They've kind of become the "ironical hipster drift wagon" among a certain crowd being RWD, so much so they've pretty sharply increased in price (doubled - easily) in recent years. So hey, if you treat the old girl well you might even flick it down the track for more than it owes! I am aware this is a poor justification… "I sold my car for more than I paid for it"… said no one… ever. :P
I'm seeing a lot of skoda octavias on the road these days, even taxis, so they must be doing something right.
Wagon do drive better on road than a SUV.
Absolutely. I went from a Mondeo wagon to Kia SUV and as much as I like the Kia the Mondeo braked, rode and handled way better.
Have to agree, Mondeo's drive like they're on rails. They ride a bit low though.
Many will have favorite cars, rightfully and respectfully so.
Here is my list, based on several factors; including reliability, resale, drivability and so on.
1). SUBARU Outback and Legacy - A Brilliant Choice Indeed!
2). TOYOTA Rav4 (Yes, it's a small SUV) - Can't Go Wrong, Anyway You Look at it!
3). MAZDA 6 Wagon - A Classy Car, Drives Beautifully and Sleek Looking!
4). Audi A4 Avant (older model to suit budget) - Solid build, Nice interior albeit little pricey!
Best of Luck! Go Test Drive Some Cars with your Wife….It helps tremendously.
Cheers.
I'd get an outback, $30k should fetch you a pretty decent second hand 5th Gen. Great cars imo.
Get a Volvo. Built like a tank, huge load area, european comfort and accessory standards and brilliantly reliable.
Yeah, i was about to say that… my parents have had volvo's wagons for as long as i can remember. Anything post 2000 has a great engine, and loads of space. V60 would be the go to. My old man managed to tow his boat from Northern NSW to Sydney/Brisbane regularly.
Built like a truck in the 80s and 90s.
Just like all the others now.
When Volvo can put a PowerShift trans into one of their cars, you know they are happy to compromise on quality and reliability.
Never again.
Yeah. Got to agree with matt-ozb on this one. I've only ever driven Volvos, the old ones were great however the new ones have only lasted us half as long (literally - both in Km and age).
Currently going through the exact same process as OP (thought it was my husband posting until it got to the part about the old car being a Ford) and after looking we won't be choosing a Volvo. The value just isn't there any more.
Agree with you two. Bought my dad a 2009 XC90 based on its indestructibleness and 7 months on have replaced the engine (last week). Apparently, water cooler was not working which cooked the engine. Being out of warranty didn't help.
Have a Skoda Superb in the family and this is a quality built and luxurious car - would easily recommend this or another Skoda.
Oh yea … I was wrong in my previous post .. they are not built like a tank/truck either in the 80s and 90s (refer video below).
And current crash safety is pretty much the same as all the others these days when you check the NHTSA or Euro NCAP ratings.
Holden VE SV6 Z Wagon
Long term user of several Subarus and current user of 3.0 2006 Outback. At its price range, the only complaint I have is the 6 monthly service and they are not cheap.
Been very happy with my commodore VE wagon = cheap to buy used, drives like a car with plenty power in the v6, heaps of room (especially with the seat down) and never missed a beat.
I would recommend a Skoda Octavia Wagon. Base model of the new facelift model is just a tad over 30k rrp (no fancy options added etc), however the price can dip below 30k after some negotiating. This is based off a recent help with a family member of mine with the purchase of the MY17 Octavia. We had a test drive with 4 adults + a kid and it hauls reasonably well. It is more than sufficient in your everyday A to B travel and the occasion country trips.
Can't say much about the servicing and reliability yet but consider it a VW Group car so expect or be prepared to have similar faults you would have with a vehicle that have a DSG gearbox and the 1.4 TSI engine.
Unsure where you got a base over 30k? Pretty sure manuals run well under this (which is what I drive).
Yes, you are correct that the manual starts at a lower price rrp. My price was based on the DSG Wagon with 2 options that was forced to be put on. One was the automatic boot, while the other one I couldn't remember which had brought the price up to $30,490 driveaway.
Just remember any car you research will have its fair share of poor reviews and issues, not many people place positive reviews online.
Whats important is how the vehicle suites what you are looking for and how you feel in the vehicle, is it Comfortable, likes/dislikes, reliability etc.
The Commodore Wagon and Subaru Outback were our two choices when we were looking to replace the 250k 2002 VX Commodore Sedan which has been fantastic.
With the Diesel Subaru outback just be careful of the DPF - Diesel Particulate Filter…
it can clog up with a lot of short trips as it cant burn off the diesel particles properly and may need a manual burn off at he dealership
and its about 7k to replace when it needs replacing - say at 200k mark. Its a filter, so considered a consumable.
If you have a lot of short trips and no real longer distance driving (30k+ at 80 to 100klm/hr) each week, then the Diesel Outback is not a great choice.
I have a 2015 Outback Premium Petrol and its a fantastic vehicle with excellent visibility all round.
I get around 7.8 l/100, fuel cost .11c per klm. (Android App called: Fillup), I do about 60klm each day of the week and then whatever happens
on the weekend and typically get 620 to 650klm before I fill up and put in around 50 litres.
2013/14 petrols (not all, some do and some don't) picked up a bit of a name for using oil, which is why I didn't go with the 2013,
but I probably put too much thought into it.. Oil issue was apparently fixed in the 2015, more power, better economy, also went to a timing chain
not a belt and its slightly bigger vehicle than the previous years.
The 'eyesight' system in the Subaru is great as is the cruise control, its linked to the eyesight system and monitors the car in front, the reverse camera is excellent. The sunshade is a poor excuse of a design as it leaks a lot of light in around the top corner at the hinge.
We have had it since the end of January this year and highly recommend any Subaru Outback.
Good to know the smaller engine also has timing chain now.
How does the 2.5 go? I currently own 2006 3.0 outback and it DOES go when it's needed. Due to the timing belt, never paid attention to 2.5 (probably over thinking…)
The 2.5 is good. Wont set the world on fire, a bit more go wouldnt go astray, but it is enough. I would have liked the 6 but finding the right one is hard and apparently the economy is same or more than my 02 VX Commodore.
Stick with the 3.0… The 2.5 uses just a little less fuel, but way less power..
If you want to give your 3.0 a new lease of life with better performance and economy, I highly recommend hitting up Matt from Kido tuning…He flies around Australia regularly to tune cars. Plugs a laptop into your ECU, makes you drive around for an hour, and voila…Your Scooby is now much more powerful!
After the tune I get around 7.4km/100 on the freeway.
I'd have to agree with the majority of most commenters (here's my particular order of preference):
You forgot the new Kodiaq
I was going a recommend a heap of options but then I actually read your post.
Our budget is under $30k, new or used.
something that we could get a tow bar attached.
Get an SV6 (or a Calais if you can handle the ugly stripes on the seats). Even the base model Evoke is fantastic, dirt cheap near new at auctions.
The consensus seems to be Commodore vs Outback so let me do a bit of a comparison.
Holden - larger - more cabin space which can feel a little more lux and nice on long drives
Outback - smaller - easier to drive, feels a little more nimble in the city
Holden - the 3.0 Evoke is slightly underpowered, all the others 3.6 and 6.0 are fine
Outback - both the 2.5 petrol and 2.0 diesel are slightly underpowered. The 3.6 is probably not in scope.
Holden - a bit nicer inside, except the ugly stripes on the seats in some models
Outback - nice inside but a little utilitarian
Holden - looks good outside, but the wagon rear end has not been updated in ten years
Outback - pretty ugly outside
Holden - incredibly cheap second hand. For $30k expect near new with factory warranty remaining.
Outback - For $30k you're looking at 3 years old. Which is frustrating when brand new is only around $35k.
Holden - 12 month service
Outback - 6 month service (according to comments above)
Holden - expect a minor issue every 3 years or so. Probably something $300 or so. The mechanic has seen it before and can fix it in 60 minutes.
Outback - expect almost no issues. But if there is one it will be a bigger deal.
Holden - almost no active safety
Outback - excellent active safety as standard (MY 2016 and above I think)
help me add more
Have a read here. It relates to sedans (not wagons) and not the base models, but worthwhile anyhoo.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/453814/holden-commodore-calais-v…
The summary is
It’s not often we do this, but we would recommend both vehicles equally. The Subaru wins on price, but with the current situation with local manufacturing, if you’re keen on the Holden, you’re unlikely to be paying sticker prices. The Subaru is also then let down by higher servicing costs.
Both vehicles perform exceptionally well with their respective drivetrains and offer high levels of comfort and luxury without astronomical price tags.
(loopylou: note it refers to the 3.6 Outback here)
These two vehicles should both be on your shopping list if you’re fortunate enough to be one of those buyers not suckered in by the SUV hype.
I don't know how the Subaru drives but the Holden is numb. No sensation in driving at all. This may or may not be your thing.
The best feature of my Outback is kerbs no longer constrain me. It is high enough to make a detour lol.
Definitely get a Toyota
Definitely get a Toyota Camry sedan
I drive a VE Series II Commodore Sportwagon.
It's a solid vehicle and I've had no problems with it in the 4 years that I've owned it.
A sedan with a roof cage
I've got a 2011 Subaru Liberty which I bought about three years ago. It has been rock solid and is a pleasure to drive. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.
It's a shame that the latest Liberty is sedan only. Otherwise, it would have been at the top of my list.
Mitsubishi Legnum vr4.
Twin turbo, all wheel drive ,manual and a wagon…fun for all the family.
And (in my opinion) a handsome car as well!
Go commodore Ve ii
Either the Skoda Octavia or a lightly used Subaru Outback.
Personally I would buy a lightly used Skoda Octavia RS162.
When we were looking for a wagon last year our criteria were:
The only vehicle which fit these criteria was a 2011/12-ish Mazda 6 wagon. We are plenty happy with it. They were about $20kish though so you might wish to consider a newer one.
I can't speak to the towing abilities though.
TLDR but Skoda Octavia wagon from 2 or 3 years ago is a steal. Dunno if it'll tow anything though.
Anyone here have experienced owning a Skoda Superb Wagon…?
Any Levorg owners as well who can share their experiences? :)
Get a Audi A6 or A4 Wagon. Should be able to get about 60000 to 80000 km in a 2012-2013 for 30K
I have a GJ (2012-2016 i think) mazda 6. Can be had from about 16k to 25k depending on kms for a 2nd hand one. They feel nice inside, no manual option though which is a big downer for me but its a wagon so its the utility car anyway. Power is ok, has some go when you put onto the paddles. I went against my instinct and got a cheap one with 130k kms but i'm happy with my purchase. I wanted a passat r36 but getting one with < 100k kms was difficult. I decided to save some $$ on this wagon and put it towards a sporty 2nd car.
Skoda Octavia
the skodas are nice, 2 of my mates have them, they love them, and i think they're a lovely car too.
my sister has one too but the less said about that one the better (~6yr old with DSG and the DSG is f***ed)
personally have a ford kuga, wasn't overly fond of the idea of an SUV when i bought it but i'm exceptionally happy with it (diesel, trend)
if you can drive a manual (and are happy to) then avoid the DSG :D
If you're not worried about the age of the car, get a 2002-2007 Toyota Caldina. Auto, turbo and AWD.
@bojan I can also attest for the Mondeo, I have a 2011 Diesel and use it for towing regularly. I tow a camper trailer 1000kg and it uses around 9l/100 whilst towing, about 7l/100 without. I generally only use it to go away with so city fuel efficiency would likely be a little worse. 160k on the odo and still going great. Massive amounts of space in the back, I easily got a french door fridge in there, good feature in the back is that it folds completely flat. At 194cm I can easily stretch out in the back for an overnight stay when needed.
The one downside I have encountered is that it is low.
If you're looking at a Commodore you may as well look at the Clubsport Wagon as well. Your wife will really stand out during the school runs next to the soccer mum SUVs.
I don't have anything to add other than to state that I support you quest for a wagon and I would rather have a vasectomy than drive a RAV4. There, I've finally said it.
agree with a couple of others recommending the HOLDEN COMMODORE WAGON.
I just bought an SV6 Wagon yesterday and am absolutely thrilled by the price and the qualities of the car.
I did heaps of research and narrowed it down to Subaru Outback Premium 2.5 (roughly $45-50,000), Skoda (didn't like the look but it comes highly recommended by others) and the Holden.
I know there's a million of them out there but they're a great, stylish Aussie car. The Subaru and Skoda's are pretty boring looking cars. I didn't mind the look of the outback but reckon it'll look dated within a few years (like all old Outbacks do).
The SV6 Wagon is exactly the same body/interior as the typical SS - just without the V8 engine and SS badge.
I got a SV6 Black Edition (2016) for well under $40k. I love the heads-up display you get on the 2016 Black Edition or 2017 models.
If you don't need heads-up display or built-in satnav (I always use google maps on iphone) then go for a low ks 2015/16 model and get it much closer to that $30,000 mark you're after.
good luck
the only negatives with the Holden are the inability to go offroad. The blind spots are relatively large but nothing too bad once you get used to it. Even the fuel economy isn't too bad.
I weighed up all costs (servicing/fuel/car cost/insurance) and the Holden SV6 easily beat the Subaru Outback for total cost over 10 years or 100,000ks. And if you do want to keep driving it well beyond 150,000ks then the Holden's are built to last better than most (from my limited research/experience).
I agree Sportwagon is a good choice, you get a lot of car for the money. In regards to blindspots I thought Blind Spot Alert was standard on SV6? Anyway congrats on you purchase enjoy :)
yeah, I'm pretty sure blindspot alert is standard but I haven't properly tested it out yet so can't say whether I'd trust it or how significant a feature it is - there's lots of bells and whistles I have no idea about yet and am excited to find out about when we take delivery later this week. We got tint, towbar pack etc so they need a while to fit it out.
Check out the Kia Rondo. 2 litre engine, looks like a small SUV but is really a tall wagon. Lots of space, safe, and can have 7 seats. For 30k you'll can get a 2014 model that looks great and has low KMs.
Yep fantastic compromise between the drive of a wagon and the seating capacity of an SUV.
I vote for Skoda Octavia. Sedan boot is big enough. 5 yrs warranty. Good price and more features as well compare to other car with the same price.
If you need a bit bigger boot space get wagon.
I owned Skoda superb wagon my 17 tech pack and in law owned Octavia sedan basic so far we are happy with the car.
Filled premium 98 in superb, one full tank 850km, if drive in economy mode up to 900km city driving mostly.
Good luck with whatever car you pick so test drive, compare and bargain. End of June financial year is good to buy and bargain.
Please send me message if you would like me to connect you with my sales person in Melbourne, he is nice and not pushy like other dealers.
Comparing the two at the moment and can't really decide…
Should you have the budget, would you get a smaller engine Superb vs the top of the line 2 litre Octavia?
I think both of them almost has the same engine power. I guess Octavia rs faster.
I prefer the superb for bigger space.
Some of the features are standard in the top of the range Octavia rs. Superb you need to pay more with tech pack.
New Octavia rs has led light instead of bi xenon in superb.
Both of them are good depending on how many people you'll put in the car and boot size.
You can get low milage demo vw passat sw for around 30k…. test drive it before you buy anything
I've got a 2007 Peugeot 307 Wagon that I got in 2012. Handles fine, easy to drive around, heaps of boot space + flat folding seats. The main downside I've found so far is that the interior is full of flimsy plastic which makes it feel very cheap. Also I think that parts will be a pain to get. I haven't had any mechanical issues yet (~120000kms) but when my ignition got broken a few years ago by some would be car thieves it took over a month for the new part to arrive from France.
I also like how the Peugeot 'Looks', although that is a personal preference.
Skoda
But do try a subaru in wet and go round some corners and watch how fast you either cath other cars or pull away .i have 2006 outback and is amazing in the wet
Highway only commy facon.
City dirt drive way skoda .
Mix of driving subaru diesel
or get an Octavia scout
4x4 haldex from the R and tiguan… wet driving is fun!
AU falcon ex-taxi on LPG.