Suggestions for family car

[Dr. Flyview]

My parents' 2000 Dodge Caravan we've had since 99 is finally dying. I'm looking to find them something fun.

Budget: 10k preferably less
Reasonably efficient: no SUVs or V8s
Relatively modern: 1995+, mom doesn't like the old school boxy look.

I was thinking maybe an e46 or e39 touring if the e46 is too small. The e39 touring seems to be pretty rare though. How would a Jetta TDI compare to these? Benzes?

Not really interested in Japanese cars even though they're probably the safest choice for reliability.

Suggestions please!


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[bmwm5lover]

Luxury+reliability+easy to repair+ good on gas = Volvo. Hands down.


Text me back or call me.

[Blackedout95]

Never seen those the words in the same sentence as volvo...

E39 wagon would be perfect but yes hard to find in lower km's. We have sold two the last year each had roughly 175000+ on them and some minor rust.. they were $9kish. The one guy has gas consumption down to 9L, not bad at all!

The E46 wagon is a good choice too, slightly less rear leg room but easier to find with lower km's and apart from the standard stuff no major faults. One customer of ours has had one for years and loves it.

If neither of those look at an audi wagon maybe, slightly more expensive though. They DO offer luxury reliability and safety.

[bmwm5lover]

[quote=Blackedout95;1587783]Never seen those the words in the same sentence as volvo...

If neither of those look at an audi wagon maybe, slightly more expensive though. They DO offer luxury reliability and safety.[/QUOTE]

Audi is probably the worst european option, especially with those Autotragics and interiors that fall apart ( the way the buttons wear out on the climate control boggles my mind until this day), bad turbo's, electrical gremlins, RUST, etc.....( and I am not even talking about high mileage cars either).

Volvo's are not the same they used to be back in the 80's and 90's, no other euro manufacturer offers that same bullterproofness of the oldschool european cars,
but after owning over 10 Volvo's in our family, from 93-05, from as little as 80K t0 ones with over 430K, I can handsdown, without a doubt say they are very, very dependable/reliable vehicles. They are also surprisingly good on gas and they have probably the best seats(most comfy) I've ever sat in, and they hardly rust.

[Blackedout95]

I was joking mostly but can agree they do take a lickin and keep on tickin. However in saying that and servicing many, they run but it aint always pretty.

Now that I know your family was dedicated to volvo strongly I can better understand what is wrong with you LOL joking joking, volvo owners are great people.

[ericdalinda]

its not exactly FUN per say...


http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ426453629

but it is well within your price range and V6 power the trunk is big enough to fit 4 sets of golf clubs.

its been my mothers since day one, and Ive put maybe 1000KM on it but i hardly use it since i work downtown.

[TSI]

Passat wagon would be another possibility. Not as upscale, but good quality and should be cheap-ish.

[Dr. Flyview]

Thanks, I had kind of forgotten about Volvo, how are Saab's?

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[dbworld4k]

My car. LOL!

Anything but a minivan...

[bmwm5lover]

Originally Posted by Dr. Flyview

Thanks, I had kind of forgotten about Volvo, how are Saab's?

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Cheap, fairly robust, but have quirks. Now that they are no longer in existence, parts will become scarce and finding someone capable to work on them may be a challenge, but they are kinda like cheaper Volvo's. From what I've been told, don't touch anything post 06, that is when GM really made them more domestic.

[bmwm5lover]

Originally Posted by Blackedout95

I was joking mostly but can agree they do take a lickin and keep on tickin. However in saying that and servicing many, they run but it aint always pretty.

Now that I know your family was dedicated to volvo strongly I can better understand what is wrong with you LOL joking joking, volvo owners are great people.

Yes, we love them in the family, they have served us very well.
They have a few things to look out for, but otherwise, if you know what you are buying and what to look for, they are great cars.

The problem is all the ones owned by women who don't do any maintenance and drive until they stop running or when the repairs are a fortune all at once.

[chia]

Originally Posted by bmwm5lover

Luxury+reliability+easy to repair+ good on gas = Volvo. Hands down.


Text me back or call me.

Sorry to thread jack, but I'm looking for a car for my ma as well. She currently has a 2000 Acura 3.2TL.

I've been looking at Volvo's. I don't know much about the models, but the 2006 S60 is what I've been looking at.

There's no Volvo stealership here, and there's also a lack of mechanics that deal with Euro imports specifically:

Will any decent shop (that mostly work on domestics) be able to maintain/fix a Volvo?

Do these require regular or premium gas?

[Robb]

2006 VW Jetta are fun.
I drove a GLI, but Id stay away from the turbo's.


http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ425012743

Have mom test drive it and compare it to a Hyundai Sonata (Korean)

[lvan]

Originally Posted by Robb

2006 VW Jetta are fun.
I drove a GLI, but Id stay away from the turbo's.


http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ425012743

Have mom test drive it and compare it to a Hyundai Sonata (Korean)

Yeah, but I know a friend that has one, and he says that 2.5L burns a lot of gas for what it is. I have been told that gas is going down to 99c a liter in a month from now, so it may not be too bad.

[Eurostyle]

Originally Posted by lvan

Yeah, but I know a friend that has one, and he says that 2.5L burns a lot of gas for what it is. I have been told that gas is going down to 99c a liter in a month from now, so it may not be too bad.

The day that happens i'm buying a tank! Too bad we'll never see that.