Need a new wagon- any recomendations

[manuboy]

about the "no auto" thing. Our honda just did it's clutch for the 3 and last time, so we picked up a Toyota Scepter with 130km on the clock for $5000.

Its the 3 litre (7 seats, two fold out) model which apparently has head gasket probs - which we had checked out. Other than that, it's slightly gutless but really farking nice to drive.

Has all the bits and bobs and is actually very good on gas. But thats just me -i'd never pay more than 6-7g's for a cage....if i can get something nice 'n reliable for less i will. My bosses both had Legacies, as did one mate, and they all spent more on the transmissions than i did on our wagon...they were 94 GT's tho...

[riffer]

Okay. I had a 1995 Legacy GT-B spec. 200kw, BBS alloys, 5-speed, Bilstein suspension, the works...

I'd have no hesitation saying it's the best car I've ever had.

Power is good, allowing for the afore-mentioned gap in grunt between 4 and 5000 rpms. This is caused because the first turbo works between 2000 and 4000, then the exhaust flow is transferred from the first turbo to second and it takes about a second or so to come on to boost so it feels like having two powerbands.

And accelerate it certainly does.

I had mine bouncing off the Jap speed cut-out before the end of the Terrace Tunnell in Welly taking off from the top of Vivian Street.

0-100 takes about 7 seconds - no fast for a bike, but for a car thats not bad. About a 15 second quarter-mile, so similar to a 350 chev powered manual Camaro or manual VK SS 5.0 Commodore (before they got so fat).

Handling is superb. Build quality very good.

I had mine from 78,000 kms until 145,000 kms, and only ever had ONE thing go wrong with it. However it was a biggie. The bearings in the gearbox layshaft went. This also happened in my R32 Skyline GTS-T so maybe it's my driving...

Something to watch out for in Legacys (apart from the obvious thieves):

they are VERY fussy about tyres. ALWAYS change all four at once. Having tyres of varying wear or even brands can result in varying cirumferences, which stresses out the diffs, and this tends to cause havoc with the gearbox.

As for fuel consumption, if you are going to drive like I do, don't expect great kilometeridge. The best I ever saw from 60 litres was about 495, the worst - about 250 kms so injudicious use of the accelerator will suck the gas.

Personally, I'd buy another one - if I had the money, but if I was buying new I'd probably go for an SS Commodore. However, I doubt I'd have the money to buy new...

I've driven both the 250T and the GT-B and the GT-B is waaaaay faster.

However, for real-world driving and family use, unless you absolutely need to accelerate like a very fast 250cc motorcycle, go for the 250T. Another bonus is, it's heaps cheaper to insure and you still get that awesome handling.

[Motu]

As someone who has to work on these things for a living - you wouldn't get me anywhere near a Subaru.The most stone reliable and easy to work on car out there (that also holds it's value) is the V6 Commodore.These things run forever,and if they do break down are easy and cheap to fix.

Take any post 1990 car out there and I'll challange you to a water pump replacement race - after 20mins I'll be pulling my gloves on and ready to throw a leg over my bike....

[onearmedbandit]

Tony, I'm in car sales in ChCh dealing in the sort of vehicle you're looking for. PM me if you want to talk about some options, I have a couple in stock that may suit you (1997 Mitsi Legnum 2.5 V6 5spd 4wd, have a stagea 2.5 4wd but only in auto, in fact don't think they're available in 5sp, but its bright yellow). Anyway, if we don't have it, and we've about 250 cars on our list, I have access to all the local wholesalers so I can show you around them.

[wari]

THere's only one answear to this question mate ...

ANd I got three wirds fir ya ...

CHrysler VAliant STation WAggon ...

WHy loose $2,000 a yeah onna JApper whenya can innvest $2000 a yeah inna classic and have a car worth more in what ya startedd with ...

An'in 5 years you'll have a pearler rather thanna pusser ...

doit man ... yeah doit doit doit ... :spudbooge :spudguita :spudbooge .. doit

[Hitcher]

Dispense with the foreplay and go straight for the Mazda Clitoris "Exciting Version". I think you'll be pleasantly supplied how well the rubber lasts and how far you can go on a litre...

[TonyB]

Dispense with the foreplay and go straight for the Mazda Clitoris "Exciting Version". I think you'll be pleasantly supplied how well the rubber lasts and how far you can go on a litre...

T'would seem to me, Mr H, that you may have been sucking on more than your second beer before you wrote that.
Thanks to all for the advice. I'll go and see Onearmedbandit tomorrow to see what's about.

[sels1]

I hear Legacys are the most stolen model, which means they are desirable to some people, but there can be insurance issues. I have heard of a few have big $ repairs too. Good car when they are running well.

For a practical family wagon you get good value from the Toyota range like Camery and Caldina. Fairly economical and very reliable. My last 4 vehicles were a Camery, 2 Coronas and a HiAce, they all had done well over 200k when I sold them with no repairs required - only tyres,oil and tune ups. They will rust before the motors give up.
Somebody else suggested Nissan Maxima/Cefiro - good cars also, They is a lot of reasonably priced import Cefiros around at the moment - check the car auctions.
We have had a few Mitsi's where I work - they went alright but started using oil very early in life. The other fleet vehicles were Toyotas which were definity lower maintenance and sturdier.

[Paul in NZ]

We have driven miles in wagons...

Our '93 Mitsi Magna has carried us 160,000 kn (210,000 all up) with little problem except it likes petrol.

Auto box has been good too...

Corners like a drunken hippo

Tyres are cheap.. Easy to service... HUGE load capacity.

Paul N

[FROSTY:Me]

Tony I must say I agree with Motu
The commo is a bloody good big wagon ---and don't be scared of high miles either.
On a personal note I agree with you on the stagea -I bloody love em
2.5 6 cylinder skyline rear wheel drive
the 4wd version can be a tad thirsty and I must say like the skyline the cabin desighn is a rather um tight for a bigger family.
My reason for the telstar suggestion are
1)5 real seat belts -lap and diagonal
2) cam chain motor so no belt break worries.
3) good sized cabin space.-roomy around the seats.
4) biggest boot area in its class.
5) bloody nice to drive

[TonyB]

Tony I must say I agree with Motu
The commo is a bloody good big wagon ---and don't be scared of high miles either.
On a personal note I agree with you on the stagea -I bloody love em
2.5 6 cylinder skyline rear wheel drive
the 4wd version can be a tad thirsty and I must say like the skyline the cabin desighn is a rather um tight for a bigger family.
My reason for the telstar suggestion are
1)5 real seat belts -lap and diagonal
2) cam chain motor so no belt break worries.
3) good sized cabin space.-roomy around the seats.
4) biggest boot area in its class.
5) bloody nice to drive

I do like the sound of the Telstar- but so far I haven't seen a 2.5 V6 one. Even the 2.0 is fairly rare down here. The one with the most choice (by miles) is the Legacy. Will have a fossic around today and see whats about.

[Sniper]

I would look at a Legnum wagon or a Subaru 250t wagon, and it would take alot to talk me out of a subaru, you just cant beat them perfect car !!
thats my 2 cents worth

Im always dubious on Subaru's basically, the parts from them cost heaps. And if you dont look after them, hydrolic lifters quickly become and expensive problem.

Has anyone heard of the rather neat and tidy Nissan Avenier, that is the perfect 4wd wagon. Wonderful, really wonderful

[Motu]

Telstar,Cronos,Eunos 500 etc are a money pit,I've got a couple of customers who wonder what the hell they did buying one,they can't stop spending money long enough to dump the things.They are prone to rear caliper failure and one has had 4 calipers,left rear is the most common and the dismantlers want $100 more for a left than right,we get them rebuilt now.The 2.5 V6 is dirty and noisy,but seems strong - we've had them in countless times overheating...water pumps,cracked top tanks,heater cores (remove the complete dash for that one,over 8hrs work) hoses,but have never pulled a head.Had one over heat so bad with a leaking water pump that it had no oil pressure,we pulled the sump and cleaned the baked on crap off the pick up and it ran sweet.

My 1993 Telstar wagon with 2 litre 12 valve has done 380,000 km,put rings in and new head on at 330,000 and the motor was like new inside,and I mean that - the pistons were still shiny.But don't buy one,the heads go soft and crack,then you have to buy a brand new cyl head.

I've never even so much as had a rocker cover off a commodore V6 - I've been working on one for the last 8 yrs that has NEVER had an oil change,it still has the same oil filter on as when I first saw it,if she would pay her bills I might get generous enough to change her oil,but while she is constantly in debt we only do enough to get her through a WoF.Treat your Legacy like that and see how far you get!

[sparrow_34]

I've got a NZ TX5 V6 2500 (mazda 626, mx6 engine, rebadged), 180000kms and have had the left rear caliper problem. Also I have just done the valve cover gaskets, very common problem on these motors. While I had the intake manifold off, I also did the front and rear engine mounts. They are a bit of a biatch to work on, but providing you keep on top of the small things the motors will keep on going.

[marty]

i had rear caliper problems on my TX5i - pulled it off, crc'd the fuck out of it, and put it back on. all that was happening was the handbrake shaft was binding. is that the problem you're talking about?