need small suv or wagon

[robaincltnc]

Does anyone have an opinion on the Volkeswagon Passat diesel vehicles? I am getting ready to get rid of a royal PITA Volvo and replace. I need a small SUV or wagon. Any suggestions? This vehicle needs to be used, fuel efficient and around 15k or less.

[blackmercedes]

Originally Posted by robaincltnc

Does anyone have an opinion on the Volkeswagon Passat diesel vehicles? I am getting ready to get rid of a royal PITA Volvo and replace. I need a small SUV or wagon. Any suggestions? This vehicle needs to be used, fuel efficient and around 15k or less.

We have a Subaru Forester and really like it. Hauls lots of stuff fomr it's small size, decent fuel consumption and really well made. Buy a 2-3 year old one for cheap.

[engatwork]

Look at the Honda CRV that is old enough to fall into your price range. Should be quite a few out there.

[robaincltnc]

Are the Honda, Subaru and Toyota AWD's worth it? I had this on the Volvo..loved it but very problem prone..replaced 2k AWD unit on the Volvo.

[engatwork]

The only thing I have had to do concerning the AWD is to replace the rear differential fluid with the fluid that Honda recommends. About the only time I have ever felt it "kick in" was on a slippery grass or sandy surface.

[71Rcode]

Hey Rob --- I'm really interested in hearing about your PITA Volvo. I saw your post and considered recomending a Volvo --- my not-so-pretty 945T wagon. Which I find (at 142k) as reliable as the sun coming up. Just yesterday, I remarked to my wife (E320 driver) how much I love the old brick wagon, and how great it was to have its pickup truck-like cargo capacity.

Would like to hear about your PITA volvo. V70 perhaps? V90? Cross country? I've always wanted to upgrade from the '94 945T, but don't Volvo / Volvo-Ford ever made another model superior to the red-blocked RWD 940. The are not pretty...and you certainly don't look cool driving one...but man are those 940s reliable.

Regards, Chris

P.S. I am really curious to what you decide, as I find wagons to be an invaluable asset. Other models I have considered are a W124-series (94-95) E320 wagon. And yes, I too am totally considering moving over to a TDI Jetta. Unfortunately, the gen 5 models (new ones) don't include a wagon. Can you get a TDI passat wagon? I just did an autotrader search for a diesel wagon, and came up with zero results.

[robaincltnc]

go to volvoxc.com and do a search. My vehicle was a 2000 V70 XC. I had many problems with this vehicle. Replaced AWD last fall (2K), replaced blower motor for AC and Heat last fall ($400). ABS was intermittant and going ($1000) as was the Electronic Throttle Control ($1000)..Instead of fixing these I cut my losses. From what I read this vehicle had many problems. Visit that forum and look around. It will answer many of your questions showing the good and bad of Volvo. I think when ford got involved there were many problems with the vehicles.

I replaced with a 2003 Subaru Outback and love it!

[87tdwagen]

Originally Posted by robaincltnc

Does anyone have an opinion on the Volkeswagon Passat diesel vehicles? I am getting ready to get rid of a royal PITA Volvo and replace. I need a small SUV or wagon. Any suggestions? This vehicle needs to be used, fuel efficient and around 15k or less.

The Passat Diesel is really nice and fairly trouble free, only thing is a newer one will be hard to be had for under $15k. A VW Jetta Diesel is also an excellent choice, you can get this as a wagon and although is smaller than the Passat, it also costs less, both share the same TDI engine and the Jetta averages 40mpg, the Passat is slightly less, but well in the mid 30'smpg.

Being biased I would recommend a MB diesel wagon over any car

[raymr]

I've been reading good things about the Suzuki Aerio wagon. But I haven't driven one, or even seen one, so I have no idea if its really a POS or what. The specs sound pretty good though.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/suzuki/aerio/100640521/researchlanding.html