Hi,

We're looking at buying a new car, as we've just had a baby and I've just bought a new bass amp that literally doesn't fit in our old Nissan Pulsar.

We're keen on something like a Subaru Forester - It's got lots of space (and isn't a wagon - f*** wagons), but doesn't look like a big dumb 4x4.

We basically want to look at other options similar to a Forester - comfortable, large, but not "HAY GUYS I GO OFFROAD EVERY WEEKEND THAT AINT LIVING THIS IS LIVING MATE" large, if that makes sense. We want to spend less than $20k on a car, and we want it to be good and reliable.

Also don't flame me for being a soccer mum, you dorks. Wagons are for homos, and I need boot space/leg room.

Thanks heaps.

errr a Forester is a wagon dude....

More of a 4x4 body though. Know what I mean? It isn't a big long sedan with a huge f***ing boot. It's more "boxy".

I know f***-all about cars, FYI.

I just drove one of the new Rav4s 3000km around NZ.

It drove really smoothly, handled the light offroad stuff we did and was really really comfy.
The plus over the forester is that it has more boot space. Seriously considering getting myself one now
Plus, they look like a little prado almost! :P

and yeah, the beauty of a car at that height is its easy for you to get the bub in and out

Get a Forester?
They're actually pretty decent cars.

I'm a "HAY GUYS I GO OFFROAD EVERY WEEKEND THAT AINT LIVING THIS IS LIVING MATE" 4x4 driver (I suppose) so my advice might not be for you.

Also, As mission said, Forester is a wagon.

For that type of car I have always liked the look of the land rover freelander.

Datsun 120 :)

Yeah nothing wrong with a Forester, probably have higher running costs than other alternatives though due to big 4 cylinder engine, awd system etc. Parts are also pretty exxy.

I've heard you can't tow anything with a subaru or it breaks the computer or something. Sounds pretty gay and the dude might have been pulling my leg but I think he said them & evo's can't be used for towing so if you plan to tow a caravan or bike trailer, ask the dealer first I guess. Or google!

You might be able use an evo for towing - it has the tow hook opening,well it looks like it anyway, not sure how many people do but I wouldn't :) I'd use my big dirty f*** off V8 Ute for that..if I had one.

+1 for the Forester, probably the only Wagon/4x4 I'd get as well.

had a forester a while ago and if you are over 6 foot tall you won't be able to fit a baby seat properly in the back. Get a wagon.

XR6!

Subaru Forester - It's got lots of space (and isn't a wagon - f*** wagons)

AHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
and this has highlighted the exact reason small, incapable 4WD's are so prevalent. People refuse to believe they're just wagons on stilts.

Its just a wagon, and really narrow at that, and if you get the auto, you get the worst, slowest, sloppiest auto box ever.

Get a commodore sportswagon.

X5

AHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
and this has highlighted the exact reason small, incapable 4WD's are so prevalent. People refuse to believe they're just wagons on stilts.

Its just a wagon, and really narrow at that, and if you get the auto, you get the worst, slowest, sloppiest auto box ever.

Get a commodore sportswagon.

No. Sportswagons look like s*** (imo). I'm not spending $15k-$20k on a car that I hate the look of just 'cos Old Mate on the internet says they're just as good.

I don't give a f*** about the Foresters 'capability' as a 4WD - As I said, if I ever take it off road, it'll be on the beach, and even that will be f***ing rare. It for space/comfort/aesthetics. If you have a legit issue with a Forester as a vehicle (IE: I think [this similar car] is better because it has better power / better reliability / better fuel efficiency), then let me know. But please don't recommend me a wagon when I specifically said I don't want a wagon, just because you like them more or whatever.

Territory.

Buy my Car

Ford Focus hatchback, got heaps of room in the back with the seats folded down, can fit Drums, 2 guitar amps and guitars.

You might be able use an evo for towing - it has the tow hook opening,well it looks like it anyway, not sure how many people do but I wouldn't

the towhook is for towing the EVO out of sandtraps etc...

Towing anything heavier than a skateboard with an evo would be instanity.

instanity

Me rikey

Fair enough if you don't like the look of it pharcyde, it just seems to fit the bill for what you're describing you need, albeit a bit expensive. I don't like the forester cos its narrow and rather small inside for what appears on the outside to be decent-ish in size. If you're hell-bent on getting a 4wd cos you refuse to believe they're a wagon, then look at all the cars in its class, xtrail etc.
If i was you and needed a wagon but didn't want a corolla/commodore wagon, i'd be looking at a Nissan Stagea. Now that's cool.

last edited by Mr Hardware at 21:21:07 28/Sep/09

just get the forester.

or a mitsi outlander might be ok too.

We're looking at buying a new car, as we've just had a baby and

That automatically qualifies you for a 4x4. Go and get the biggest one you can find. Your baby will be a lot safer. As a matter of fact, just get a big f*** off truck.

To answer your question, I have nfi. Unless you have money to burn I wouldn't recommend paying an assload for your car. What's wrong with a regular commodore?

Just rent one when you need one.

Genius ^

also, wagons are hot now.

Currently sussing out the Mazda 3 hatchbacks. Judging by the pics I can see on carsales.com.au, they seem to have a decent amount of legroom (well, moreso than our LX Pulsar), with lotsa bootspace.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Also just to note: I don't need f***tonnes of bootspace. Just more than your normal small-medium sedan can provide. I need decent legroom, and I want around an '05 model and above ideally. I don't *need* a Forester, we just liked the look of them really.

Any other large 4-door hatchbacks you guys could recommend? Also, I hear Mazda 3's are super safe and reliable. Confirm/deny?

mazda 3's are great all round (except for being boring)

otherwise good hatches that spring to mind:

Ford Focus
VW Golf
Hyundai i30

I love my Mazda 3, I am 6 foot and there is plenty of leg room, I have the seat enough far forward so there is legroom for the person sitting behind me. Ancap rating of 4. 108kw so was one of the more zippier of the small sized cars.

That automatically qualifies you for a 4x4. Go and get the biggest one you can find. Your baby will be a lot safer. As a matter of fact, just get a big f*** off truck.

you got it. A prerequisite of having a baby is buying a giant 4wd so you can be sure that you kill everyone in an accident except your own family... after all, the parents and baby in that corolla didnt deserve to live, your family is much more important.

Maybe they should rename the baby bonus to the SUV bonus.

you can tow with a forester, s*** you could tow with a motorbike if you wanted - but you're in a big car with a small motor
something has to give, eventually - probably a clutch or gearbox while towing.

when i was reading your post i was picturing a crewman X8 (holden commodore ute but 4 doors)
think a commodore sedan with a ute tray instead of a boot

get a hard lid for the back and theres your ample storage space

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c168/OzJavelin/cross8-1.jpg

Any other large 4-door hatchbacks you guys could recommend?

Yep, Ford Focus. It is a great family car, have 2 car seats in the back on mine, well I did, and and got tons of boot space, plus the seats fold down flat (the bottom seats foldup) giving u tons of room in the back. They go pretty decent too.

Yes i'm biased cause in trying to flog my car off, but im only selling it cause I got a company car and we have 4 cars at the moment for 2 people.

05 Ford Focus

hahah, Mr Hardware, asif recommend a commodore over a subaru.

had a forester a while ago and if you are over 6 foot tall you won't be able to fit a baby seat properly in the back. Get a wagon.

sprinkleborginator is half right.

we got a forrester for spook jnr, and while the capsule was laying down, i had to drive everywhere, because i coudlnt use the passenger seat in the front, appart from that its been good.

i saw one of these driving through sunnybank with a baby capsule and it got me interested in cars again (briefly)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZjmzV8tVbRM/R1RKaMQYtXI/AAAAAAAAAE8/-rUTlbgexyU/s1600-R/toyota_caldina_gt_t_st246w.jpg

last edited by Spook at 05:30:59 29/Sep/09

http://www.autospies.com/images/uploads/large/SP32-20060226-214205.jpg

Engine Size/Type
4.2-litre, double-overhead cam, 32-valve direct-injection V8.

Power
309 kW at 7800 rpm

AWD

as i've driven both Eds, i do feel qualified to comment. And whilst not true in all cases, in this case the Holden was a crapload better than the Subaru.

VW Tiguan although it's more than your $20k budget so I got no other suggestions.

Focus, Falcon or Territory.

FORD fo lyf.

mazda cx-7?

spook is that a mazda 3 mps???

that's not a new mps, looks more like a wrx or something

new mps looks alright, don't like the grill bit in the front bar

ohhhhhhh it's a toyota caldina...

looks s***ty imo. and only comes in slushbox form, ugh.

last edited by orbitor at 11:13:58 29/Sep/09

yer. its a caldina gtfour!

slushbox = perfect for disciplining kids while driving

you've changed, spook, you've changed

you used to be cool spook

im still cool, i just have loads more money!

to buy slush boxes?

the davwoo is manual

there will be no slushbox purchasing for a few years

i like autos cos i dont like downtime
plus why do something yourself when it can be done for you
that being said, i do enjoy a zap in a manual every now and then, but they're just too much like hard work day in, day out

Manuals are s*** loads better but I will admit in heavy traffic they can get tiresome.

I don't get why you would pay more for something that gives you less performance and higher fuel consumption*, that's really pretty lazy :/

*granted some newer autos challange this statement

haha hardware, just go buy a skirt now

we won't think any less of you

hey, i had my manual car for over 2 years and i got very tired of 1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-3-4-2-1 in just one suburb

im so awesome at changing gears, i dont even know im doing it;

i go 1-2-3-4 to southbank and back everyday with a heavy duty clutch and there is no f***in way i'd get an auto

everytime i have to drive an auto i'm glad i don't own one

i suppose it's just plain personal choice then.

1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-4-3-2-1-2-3-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-3-4-2-1

the reason you dont like manuals is cause you drive like a pussy

really qmass
how should i be driving

like a dick I guess?

har har har

autos are so horrible though

i know what gear i'm in in my car, autos don't know what gear they want half the time

and then it wants to drop to 6th gear when you're doing 40km/h so you have go to up 2 gears to get some speed up to get to 60 then it drops back down to 6th etc

f*** autos

I've owned both Auto and Manual cars, I like driving the Manual better.
However if I had to put up with peek hours highway traffic as the majority of my driving time it may cause me to swing back to the Auto.

Auto is arguably superior for beach driving too... as long as it doesn't overheat and turn everything off, which a lot of the 'Not quite a 4wd'-wagon type cars actually do.

i know what gear i'm in in my car, autos don't know what gear they want half the time

Yeah, obviously you've only experienced bad autos. Yes, i will absolutely admit that i'd prefer a manual (how can you get it wrong) to a bad auto any day. But to a good auto? Now that's a different story. In my car i know exactly what gear i'm in at all times, if the torque converter is locked up or not, exactly how much throttle at what speed will bring what reaction from the auto. After almost a hundred bloody thousand kays you'd damn well hope i would too.

audi A6 i drive along the great ocean road a couple of months ago s*** me to tears with wanting to change to 6th gear going around a corner or something retarded, the only thing that saved it was the padel shift

autos are s*** because changing gears with a clutch is fun.

hah, im gonna drive the great ocean road in 6 weeks and im hiring a manual purposely and i'm an auto lover! imo on that kind of road it'd be perfect for a manual, rite?

Yes

k

Where you hiring your car from, do they do the non usual hire cars?

I'd like to get a drop top (MX-5) to do that drive but I looked around a while ago and couldn't find anyone hiring that sort of thing.

Budget Melbourne CBD
they and most places'll hire you an astra convertible

last edited by Mr Hardware at 13:22:20 29/Sep/09

If I was to replace my current car I think with another awd wagon then I would opt for Subaru Legacy GTB or Toyota Caldina GT

lucky you didn't find any mx5's mission, you'd look gays as a hairdresser in one of those

Waiting for that comment!

But there is really no other drop top 'sporty' car that won't cost the earth to hire :/

way to derail thread into penis measuring over something completely trivial.

get a motorbike (n a sidecar for the amp/kid) :D

I had a 2007 XT Forester for two years. While mine was modified to suit the road they are a fantastic car. The non-turbo ones are definately not fast but if you're not into fast cars are fine for general traffic driving.

They aren't all that roomy. I'm over 6ft which makes it a 3 seater as no one would comfortably fit behind me. The book is useful when you fold the rear seats down but I wouldn't say it was hugely bigger than a Commodore etc.

Towing - They don't have a huge tow limit. I towed my 5m Aluminium boat ok, but I wouldn't want to tow it around Australia with that. They're just not heavy enough to tow easily.

Offroad - I have seen plenty of Foresters on Fraser Island etc but never took mine off the road. Obviously the biggest problem with them is ground clearance.

If you're not planning to use it offroad or very little have a good look at the forester and compare it to say a Subaru Outback. I also looked at Delica's which are a fantastic car if you can find a good one that has had the known cooling issues sorted. They carry heaps of stuff, have low range and are very comfortable to drive around town because you sit nice and high.

If I was to replace my current car I think with another awd wagon then I would opt for Subaru Legacy

Like there is anything other than Subaru in NZ!

Yeah im with Mr HardWank on this one. I got over MT in s***ty brisbane traffic, especially being stuck in traffic on the gateway/M1 so i got myself an auto with cruise control and power everything, soft cock style.

Here to recommend VW Golf.

Trying to get my mum to buy one at the moment. MkVI is ~ $25K with a 90kW 1.4L Turbo (6 spd manual).

make you sure you fit it out with a massive front mount intercooler that requires you to cut most of the front bar out so everyone can see it, loud blow off valve and a 3" exhaust + canon

last edited by paveway at 15:48:59 29/Sep/09

last edited by paveway at 15:49:28 29/Sep/09

MkVI is ~ $25K with a 90kW 1.4L Turbo (6 spd manual).

These are pretty good, my brother has one.

The turbo is mainly good for the torque curve, I think it's around 200nm @ 1600rpm. The engine is super smooth and the gear box/clutch is also nice.

We recently bought an i30cw diesel wagon (never thought I'd by a Hyundai but it's actually pretty good and gets endless good reviews - plus the wife wanted it). The diesel is good for 255nm @ 1800rpm, more torque than 2.5l petrol at much lower rpm and less fuel consumption.

These have more room in the back and boot than hatches as they have a longer wheel base. There's still plenty of room with the front seat set right back, even for me and I'm 6'2".

Although you said no wagons it may be a suitable choice as you'd probably get the petrol variant for close to $20k drive away. Then you'd have a new car which will cost you f*** all for at least 5 years.

yeah that's a pretty sensible choice mission, the i30s are pretty decent aye

my wife also had a mazda 6 a while ago and it was also terrible with the baby seats. You could get a 2nd hand outback if you wanted to stick with a subaru. You could also get an 07 - 08 prius for about the 20k mark which has heaps of legroom in the back with enough boot space.

i dont mind the look of i30's either


id buy one

They really should have named it i30 2.0.

Actually if you get the petrol 2l version, that's what it is! Awesome. Just the car to go and pick up your stocks of iSnack 2.0.