Topic: New Vehicle Decision-Help (Subaru, Honda or Volkswagen?)

[cherhs]

Hello all...my first time using forum. We (husband and me) have it down to 4 options to buy or lease (have never leased before)- 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i wagon, Honda Accord Sedan, Honda CRV or Volkswagen Passat Wagon. Top needs are Optimum Safety, Reliability, Best one for Winter Driving, Cost (of course), Sporty upscale Style. I will be main driver. Hubby has a pickup (GMC Sierra). I currently have a 99 Buick Lesabre Limited. I often transport our 2 collies and my elderly father who uses a walker. We live in SNOW and blizzard country between Nov-end March/April. I've checked consumers mags, weighed our needs and pros and cons of each vehicle. Would appreciate input from those who have experience with above 4 vehicles (Good and Bad) to help me(us) hone in on the final and right decision. Thanks in advance!

[Smainville]

I have not owned any of these but if I was in your shoes it would be the Subaru Outback 2.5i wagon, look no further and fufill your wish.  Very reliable, durable, proven AWD system, great looks.

[tpl]

Subaru with 4 good snow tires as well.

They are all good, but the Subaru will work the best for the longest in bad conditions.

(Message edited by tpl on May 08, 2005)

[ovr50]

Cher - welcome to the Forum. My initial thought is you have a diverse set of choices - 2 wagons, 1 sedan and 1 cute-ute. What style do you want? If you are looking at cute-utes, you could eliminate the sedan and expand the utes sector (RAV4, Hyundai, etc). Conversely, if wagons are what you want, you have 2 excellant choices and I would take the Subie of the two (but neither Subie nor VW are tops for reliablity, but both better than average). Why is the Accord sedan in the mix? A good car for sure but there are other good cars to consider if its a car (sedan) you want. The Subie does seem to fit your needs the best but I think you need to redefine your list first. Just my initial thoughts.

[jpd]

I have a used Outback (2001) since few months and I am very happy with its behavior during last winter. So I do agree 100% with what was said previously. The 2005 Outback will fit your needs. You will need to install a special "barrier" for the dogs!

[AVToller]

Welcome. Having owned and enjoyed both a VW and a Subaru, I would definitely recommend the Subaru. My Forester was perfectly reliable (very diferent from my Golf) and very good in the snow. The Outback wagon is very comfortable IMO. CRV could also be a good choice, but I personally prefer the Subies.

[cherhs]

Thanks all for advice so far...in response to Ovr50...it does sound like I'm somewhat diverse but I guess the answer is I can be somewhat flexible. The Honda Accord is because of it's overall good record and fact back seats fold down for collies although wouldn't be the ideal. The Volkswagen because my brother said it would be great...I have yet to try one (it may be more his dream than mine but it does meet large # of our general needs (sight unseen yet). The cute-ute CRV just because it's a Honda and the safety record...I have yet to actually try one to see if it would meet all my needs. The other utes I have looked at in consumers mags and for each other one out there, there was a personal reason why outruled. We have tried the Subie and although there were little things I would change in appearance, overall we really liked it (except of course the price is more) Basically just trying to get a feel for any clear problems I might not have found in my research so far, in any of the 4 so I can rule any of them out completely.

[S60]

Welcome to the forum!

Your list of needs *Top needs are Optimum Safety, Reliability, Best one for Winter Driving,*

When you mention safety 1st in your list,I will recommend you have a look at the new Volvo V50 T5  with  AWD.

If Volvo is not a consideration the Subie will fill your needs.

[hondasalesguy]

If winter driving is one of your most important concerns you should get a 4WD vehicle. The Passat is well below average in reliability and with the 4WD system and loaded up with leather/sunroof, stability management, etc, you will be well over  $40K.. The Accord is a good car and with snow tires is decent in the winter but is still FWD. The CR-V is not a full time AWD system, it is on demand so that when the front wheels lose traction, the rear wheels engage. The 2005 model also has a stability management system called VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) which prevents understeer (also called push, when the front end of the vehicle doesn't want to turn on slippery surfaces) and also oversteer (less likely to happen in a CR-V but this is when the back end of the vehicle fishtails) So with the 4WD on demand, the VSA, ABS brakes, and front, side and side curtain airbags, the CR-V is very safe and competent in adverse weather.

However... even though I am the resident Honda freak on this forum, I will admit that the Subaru system, which is true all wheel drive, with all wheels being driven all the time, is the most capable system on the market. (Along with the Audi Quattro, which is obviously at a much higher price point)The Subaru will handle all weather conditions, and the wagon body style is very space efficient. Some people don't think wagons are "cool", but the new generation Outback is a very handsome vehicle IMO. Depending on where  you live, there may not be as many Subaru dealers as there would be say Honda, Toyota, etc. (The dealer in my city closed last year)

I'm not sure about cost on the Subaru, a loaded Honda CR-V is $33,500 before freight and taxes, but a well equipped cloth model is $2100 less.  

Decide whether you guys prefer a Wagon or an SUV, see which one will handle your special needs better (especially if a wheelchair is ever something you may have to be putting in and taking out of the vehicle.) That would make any traditional 4 door sedan not as good a choice. If you do lean towards the Subaru you could always get the Legacy Wagon, less ground clearance than the Outback but other than that it's pretty much the same car for less money. A bit less "flashy" looking too if you prefer flying under the radar.

[Driver]

I recommend Subie as well. However, if you will be hauling some payload regularly (the Outback is a heavy vehicle as it is), then you could use some  boxer turbo power. You could add to your choices the outgoing model Forester XT as they would probably be available at attractive prices from your local Subie dealer (since the 2006 model with revised snout has arrived).  The XT, being a turbo, would give you exceptional performance in high elevations, as non-turbo cars normally starve for air at high elevations.

just my 2 cents.

[jpd]

Cherhs, I agree a new Outback is quite expensive! It is a real beauty though! But it was too much for me and I decided to look at the used car market! As it was said previously in other threads, you can get by now a 2002 Outback with low km and still some warranty for around $20k. And it is just an example!
I really like the Passat Wagon too, with AWD, various engines including TDI...a fantastic car but also quite $$$.

[WW]

Land Rover Freelander maybe?

[ovr50]

I think if you check you will see the Freelander is not as reliable as the 4 on the list, and it's not cheap. Doesn't seem to add anything to the list already, IMO.  

The Volvo wagon was a good alternative suggestion tho.

[reggin]

If the Outback is a littel too expensive, why not look at a Legacy Wagon?!?  It is the same car underneath, and may fit the bill exactly!

[y2chuck]

based on your criteria, the Subie fits the bill.  Since you didn't mention any domestics, suppose you're not interested, so how about a RAV4 as well?

[cherhs]

Thanks again everyone...really helpful advice. Concern about the Volvo V50 was that new on market so no data yet in Consumer Reports mag. We did seriously consider the Subaru Forester but a bit too "utility" looking for me personally although everything else about it seemed very good and the "looks" department swayed me more to the Outback and little cost difference between the 2 (also ride and interior more in line with what I'm used to (I have never had a problem with my Buick Lesabre (like sitting in a theatre when behind the wheel..car basically drives itself)..only reason looking for new is loss of warrenty and like to have a newer one for reliability. Thanks for the advice too re waiting (e.g. 06 Forester = lower prices on 05...might even consider that for the Outback but likely not out until Fall. I can't forsee hauling much payload or much off road or mountainous driving (maybe a trip to New Brunswick ) so Outback 2.5i would more than meet power needs. Hondasalesguy your input much appreciated re pricing info. We plan to have an indepth visit with our Honda dealer very soon to do some test drives. I'm also interested to know if Fuel economy is decent on the Outback...I've read some areas it doesn't always get as much as company claims. Also ergonomics extremely important for driver and passenger seats as I have chronic lower back problems/pain. Thanks again all.

[cherhs]

Thanks, Did look at RAV 4 but hubby and I had a Ford Bronco years back and just didn't like the spare tire on the back so ruled that one out. Wish we could consider domestics but the Asian companies just seem to have the edge at this time ..hopefully domestics will catch up soon as we always went that way in past and this is a first going to Asian vehicles. Hard to beat some of their track records based on Consumer Reports. Also wanted to thank jpd re considering a used Subaru outback (never know). I will also check out the Subaru Legacy Wagon..didn't try it when we were at the dealers. Going by there tomorrow so may do a test.

[barrie1]

You might do better getting another leSabre as you will probably get the best trade-in for your old Buick on a new one. They still build a very nice car.

[ovr50]

If you have back pain/problems, be sure to really check out the seating positions, both driver and passenger, by taking as long a test drive as possible. Some vehicle's seats are better than others and it's an individual thing as to whether you'll be comfortable in the long pull. I just went thru one of those situations and I wish I had done more checking in advance (and I did drive the vehicle in question for over an hour but it was the passenger seat that caused the problem - often driver's seats have many settings but the passenger seat has few settings). Just a word of caution (it's expensive to make a mistake).

[Craig]

If the Outback is a little pricey, what about the Legacy 2.5i?  Test drove that car recently, and thought it was fabulous.  Unless you desperately need a raised suspension, the Legacy is a much better deal.