replace 1991 Corolla Wagon with ..... ???

Audi's are made by VW; if you've had any recent experience with VW, you'll probably steer clear of that... Focus, made in Mexico. If you get one made well, you'll get a decent car. If not... The Imprezza Sport is a decent car. Reliable, powerful, and a Blast to drive. This is a decent choice. Change the timing belt when you should or you'll be walking. Outback. Are you talking Legacy Outback? These are also pretty decent. Again, watch the timing belt. These cars came with 2 engines, a 2.2 and a

2.5. I can't remember which one is Interference, but whichever it is, when the belt breaks the engine is done!

I was looking for a small wagon, too, and went to a couple Subaru 'resellers'. There are two UCD's that sell ONLY used Suby's near where I live. The Imprezza is a Kick Ass car! Unfortunately, it is too small in the rear for my needs. The Outback (Legacy) is just about right, and works well for my purposes. But, then I ran into a Solara with 38,000 for $2,000 more than the best Suby I saw with 80,000 for $8,000...

I guess my NEXT car will be a Wagon...

Oh, I didn't realize that. I have heard about problems with VW when I initially thought about the Passat Wagon (which looks nice, but I'm spoiled with Toyota reliablity!) Thanks for the heads-up.

:-|

These are the two wagons I'm looking at:

Subaru Impreza Wagon

and Subaru Outback Sport:

From the specs it's hard to tell them appart, but I guess the exterior body is done differently for each.

I didn't even know about Legacy wagons, but just checked, they seem to be a bit more pricy. (In fact I see an Outback line and a Legacy line, but no Outback Legacy)

Yeah, wagons really shine in terms of practicality for me, a sedan is too awkward for carrying cargo, and I don't need or want a truck or mini-van.

I'm curious to see what others suggest... (by the way, was there just not enough demand for the Toyota Wagons so that they decided to discontinue them? Anyone I knew who had one loved theirs)

Esmail

Why replace it?

IMHO there isn't a suitable replacement available.

(I own a 92 Corolla Wagon)

You could find an independent mechanic to do the job for a lot less...

Agreed...

There is not a suitable replacement available from Toyota

Agreed.

I vote for fixing your car and driving it another 20 years!

Just curious, how much do you think that would be?

and also, once the clutch starts slipping, how soon does it go totally bad? Ie impossible to drive?

Well .. I don't know about that :-) I suspect the failures will mount (I think the suspension seems a bit springy). This is my only car, and not a hobby :-)

Plus I really am concerned about the total lack of airbags (I could live w/o ABS) but airbags are a must.

Esmail

better a mechanic answer this question...

The failures will mount, but they are manageable.

Spend a little and you will have a good car for the foreseeable future..

Why are airbags a must? You have lived this long without them...

You planning to get in an accident?

It's interesting how people's expectations of safety increase over time. I think about that when I see people's shock at my saying that bicycle helmets are silly.

It wasn't really that long ago that cars didn't have airbags, and then it was a few years before they had them for anyone by the driver. And yet, people didn't seem to feel particularly endangered.

Geoff

Anyone that rides a bike without a helmet and drives a Corolla Wagon can't be all bad...

btw I do wear a helmet on my bike, but I FIRMLY believe everyone should have a choice...

I don't feel particularly endangered.

I still vote for you fixing your wagon and not taking on new car payments just for a bag or two...LOL

Hiya Geoff and Scott,

No, I don't plan on getting into an accident, but I can't control everything ;-)

While I see what you are saying, I do think it makes sense to make use of things that help you stay safer. Obviously I'm not super-concerned because in that case I would have bought a new car earlier.

But now that the car is 15 years old, and problems are more likely to start with it due to its age, it seem to make sense to *me* to look for a new one.

Just because people didn't use penicillin before when it wasn't available doesn't mean it's a bad idea now :-)

Re bike helmets .. I didn't use to wear them, but I do now. I'm quite comfortable with my own riding skills (twice solo across the continental US), plus numerous "shorter" rides. But I've also been hit by a car, and the helmet did help me.

I had a friend who died of head injuries while cycling, and it wasn't a very bad fall, he just hit is head in a bad way. Had he worn a helmet there is little doubt he would have survived.

I like my Corolla Wagon, the best car ever. If Toyota made one still today, I'd buy one tomorrow w/o hesitations. I just don't have the time/inclination/$$ to deal with the various problems down the line, I'd rather invest the money into something from this century :-)

Cheers,

Esmail ps: Does either of you know what year they stopped making them? Just curious.

Maybe Toyota didn't want Corolla and Camry wagons competing against SUVs or minivans??

Here might be an answer to your NEED for air bags...LOL

I"ve been hit a number of times....

Each time I've had my helmet on and it did not help.

All my crashes have been very slow speed.

One I ended up on the hood of a beautiful gals Vette.

She apologized profusely and asked if there was ANYTHING she could do... Being the gentleman that I am....I let her buy me a new wheel...LOL

Let's face it...you have talked yourself into 'new car fever'....

LOL

Sorry to hear that. You're not riding your bike against traffic, are you? I think the safety guideline is to ride your bike in the same direction as traffic is flowing.

Yes two times were against traffic and totally my fault.

I feel better riding against traffic in certain circumstances, but it does put me at risk.

I take responsibility for those 'hits'.

The others were not against traffic.

You can get hit either way....LOL

Dang! I'm just astonished you've been hit on your bike so many times.

They weren't Canadians, were they?

Oh well, I'd get prepared to get figuratively hit by Canadians after your "chicken" remark about them--oh oh :-)

Don't expect us Americans to come to your assistance [chuckle]

The whole problem is not having ABS and Air Bags on the bike.

I don't have DRLs on the bike either... Although I do have a great headlight and tail light system. No hits at night...

The Canadians are still chickens....

LOL

Hell, I certainly don't take any offence to any remark made by him, I've been hurt worse by a mosquito bite...

I also agree that you should fix the car and save your money.

The clutch isn't be that big a deal. Find an independent garage that specializes in Toyotas and have them check for anything else that they recommend.

My '88 Corola sedan had 175,000 before it got too tired. I replaced it with a new '04.

Jerry

Well, it is a shame that Toyota stop making wagons for the US market but they are available for European market. Since a Toyota wagon is not available to you, I would go with Focus wagon. I have one ('01 Focus wagon with 1.6 liter engine) and could not be happier. It is a nice and problem free car. It is automatic and it get mid 30s mpg on the highway. Earlier Foci were problematic but 2001 and onward, they are rock solid. I bet it is also the least expensive one to buy and maintain among the cars in your list.

ahmet

turkey

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are available for

Focus wagon. I have

nice and problem free

problematic but 2001

buy and maintain among

Also, I would suggest you check out Mazda 3 Sport and Mazda 5 (if availabe in the US). They are nice cars too

ahmet

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Thanks! I am looking at the Focus Wagon seriously .. and another friend just e-mailed me pointing to Mazdas.

Thanks again,

Esmail