Best PNW DD for under 5k?

[Turf1600]

I gotta get rid of my vert. My commute is not kind to it, this past snow storm proved it to be incapable in those conditions - and I can not have children in a convertible.
I need something that's good for the mountain, coast, hikes, snow, gravel, etc. I'd prefer a wagon but 4 doors are a must.

At this moment I'm thinking about e39s, e38s, a 325ix sedan, audi with quattro, a 2000's ish forester - or saying fuck it and buying a new subaru.

Help keep me sane. You guys have lived up here for a while - what's a versatile, family friendly car?

[e30austin]

E34 525i or E36 325i.

[bmwm42]

An e39 takes my vote mine has been with me about 8 years and extremely reliable plenty of space and great on gas. It has plenty of power, is fun to drive and super easy to maintain.

[Twelvizm]

A 4 Door MKIV Golf TDI, or B5.5 Passat Wagon TDI.

[e30austin]

A 4 Door MKIV Golf TDI, or Passat B5.5 TDI.

LOL wut

[Twelvizm]

He asked what the best DD for hauling a family was. Which has some implied facts that should be taken into consideration.

It must be reliable
It must be a car that you don't care about the kids trashing the interior, because they will
As a DD it must get the best gas mileage possible.
As he said, it must do well in the snow.

Here is where you put your passion aside, and make a rational decision. A diesel VW is the best bet.

Keep the bimmer though. The twisty roads on the weekends are going to call your name.

[bmwm42]

Adam some people have no clue what a dd is suppose to be.

[hendrixvodu]

My daily for the past 6 years has been my e38 love her one of the best cars I've ever owned

[Twelvizm]

My daily and backup family hauler:


My Wife's daily, and the default family hauler:


Because of those cars, the E21 can be free for fun shit.

[ME30W]

I just went through the same issue with trying to drive my e30 in the winter. I ended up snagging a fantastic deal on a 98 Subaru legacy, great maintenance records for about a grand.

I got to keep my e30, and can let the subaru deal with the elements.

[Ryann]

I can see where Adam is going with that, but the TDI timing belt service is super expensive. Also, in order to make a simple repair to the cooling system or even change the accessory drive belts on that Passat the entire front of the car has to come off.

Subies have expensive issues too. I'd go *gulp* Toyota or Honda.

[ck_taft325is]

Honestly, under 5k you're going to get a beat Subaru. Maybe land a forester with some miles and have to drop $300 + for a timing belt for piece of mind.

I would go with a newer (ish) Subaru for the PNW. The AWD will seem unnecessary all the way up until it snows the 2" we get a year and every driver on the road is stuck in a ditch.

I just sold my '02 WRX and it was amazing in the elements. Really sold me on having one again at a later date but I couldn't pass up the offer I got on it. Especially since it had 200,000 + miles.

How many "family" are we talking? 1 kiddo?

[Wanganstyle]

Honestly, under 5k you're going to get a beat Subaru. Maybe land a forester with some miles and have to drop $300 + for a timing belt for piece of mind.

I would go with a newer (ish) Subaru for the PNW. The AWD will seem unnecessary all the way up until it snows the 2" we get a year and every driver on the road is stuck in a ditch.

I just sold my '02 WRX and it was amazing in the elements. Really sold me on having one again at a later date but I couldn't pass up the offer I got on it. Especially since it had 200,000 + miles.

How many "family" are we talking? 1 kiddo?

A subaru timing belt is $40 any where. Go to autozone

A sohc subaru timing belt is easier to change than a M20 timing belt. If you bought a DOHC subaru I feel bad for you.

Water Pump and idler set shouldn't be over 80bux

If you get raped by boxer engine hipster tax might as well buy a cargo bike also for mor tax

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Mlarsen]

Just buy a honda, the whole point of a dd is something that is reliable. Good mpgs, and easy to fix.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Just buy a honda, the whole point of a dd is something that is reliable. Good mpgs, and easy to fix.

Something in the 2000-2006 Honda Civic range.