2005 OBXT 5MT alternative?

[Michael Aos]

Originally Posted by rasterman

Anything to the new Passat wagon? I like the new shape, haven't been up close to one yet though.

Thanks, that's the kind of reply I was looking for -- I didn't even know there was a Passat wagon.

I haven't heard great things about (modern) Volkswagon reliability though.

[Michael Aos]

Originally Posted by John E Davies

If you want a manual transmission, the TL SH-AWD may work for you. It has an excellent six speed and the cars don't sell well. In 2011 we found a like new car with just 7000 miles on it and paid $34K out the door, taxes and everything. No way would we have considered paying $43K for a new one.

The TL would be for my wife, and she'd want the automatic.

We don't really have a problem with buying used. All 3 of my vehicles (2003 Tundra, 2004 Astro Cargo, 2005 OBXT) were purchased on Craigslist.

As I mentioned, coming from the 2005 OBXT, I really liked the RDX.

My wife hadn't been particularly happy with the RDX and kept lamenting the loss of her 2003 Accord EX-L.

After driving my 2005 OBXT for ~2wks though, she suddenly appreciates how great the RDX really is!

[Michael Aos]

Originally Posted by rasterman

Possible exceptions for the Mazda 5 & the Tucson- possible because they're the right shape but I didn't think either was fun.

I mentioned the Santa Fe because it's now offered with a 264HP turbo.

I'm curious to see what the 2014 WRX wagon (if it's offered) looks like.
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[Michael Aos]

Originally Posted by st3mpy

the cheapest option is to get your Outback back into shape.

We paid extra for lifetime "free" oil-changes on the RDX and a 7yr/100K mile warranty.

So we're probably going to keep it for (quite) a while. We had our 2003 Accord EX-L for 10yrs. Up until 2011 I was driving 1991 Legacy wagon w/~187K miles.

Off the top of my head, my choices are:

Just drive the OBXT
Swap the OBXT for something else (up to maybe $20K) for myself
Swap the OBXT for something else for my wife, and inherit her RDX
Dump the OBXT and just drive my truck

[rasterman]

Originally Posted by Michael Aos

I mentioned the Santa Fe because it's now offered with a 264HP turbo.

I'm curious to see what the 2014 WRX wagon (if it's offered) looks like.
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I know hyundai has done some new high performance engines but didn't know they had one in an SUV yet. I'm slow to trust Hyundai with anything other than cheap, despite their recent improvements and posturing.

Does the santa fe share platforms/parts with anything else? Any aftermarket uptake on it?

I am a Hyundai fan, we have one in the family. But what I like about them is that you can buy the cheapest model with the cheapest trim and give it the most basic by-the-book maintenance and have basic transportation for a long time on little money. I don't look to them for fun, nice, easy, fast or any of that. So far the deal works great on these terms.

[subiesailor]

Not exactly a newer car at its age and model version. The OB in that generation wasn't really a luxury vehicle like the Acura Badged stuff either.

[Michael Aos]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

Not exactly a newer car at its age and model version. The OB in that generation wasn't really a luxury vehicle like the Acura Badged stuff either.

Yeah, I was just thinking today this 2005 OBXT is already 8+ years old.

To be honest, I hadn't previously looked at Outback's from that era, but it's my understanding the OBXT Limited retailed for around $32K back in 2005. That's not cheap.
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[Michael Aos]

Originally Posted by rasterman

I am a Hyundai fan, we have one in the family. But what I like about them is that you can buy the cheapest model with the cheapest trim and give it the most basic by-the-book maintenance and have basic transportation for a long time on little money. I don't look to them for fun, nice, easy, fast or any of that. So far the deal works great on these terms.

I'm right there with you.

My grandpa bought a Hundai sedan (Accent maybe?) before he passed away. Probably late 1990's to maybe 2000. My grandma quit driving, so now my sister has it. It just keeps going and going and I don't think anything has ever been done to it.
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[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by Michael Aos

I'm right there with you.

My grandpa bought a Hundai sedan (Accent maybe?) before he passed away. Probably late 1990's to maybe 2000. My grandma quit driving, so now my sister has it. It just keeps going and going and I don't think anything has ever been done to it.
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Those early Hyundai cars were a mish mash of older proven tech the shop techs anytime we got one on trade at the Saturn dealer always would have a competition to see how many parts they could identify as being from GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota etc. Regarding design etc. My understanding of it was that in the early years Hyundia licensed rights to use old designs that were more or less being phased out by the major Auto companies or had already been retired. They simply cherry picked the old proven systems and parts and built cars out of them. Not really a bad idea if you think about it.

Today however Hyundia has its own engineering group all their engines and systems are more or less their own designs.

[rasterman]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

Not exactly a newer car at its age and model version. The OB in that generation wasn't really a luxury vehicle like the Acura Badged stuff either.

It still isn't! I think the closest they ever got to building the same car was the 2005 TL vs. the 2005 Legacy GT. And those are still plenty different cars.