I currently drive an 04 TSX and i love the car, but with all the time i spend outside, skiing, climbing and mtn biking i would really love to have a little more room and i cant see myself getting a truck or suv. so i think that leaves me with a wagon. the problem is a want a MT car.

so far these seem to be my top options:

2005 Legacy GT 5MT (only the '05s had MT, this is probably going to be a tough car to find, i think i will give the 06 AT a drive)

Volvo v50 T5 AWD (nice looking car, but with all the options i am looking at we're close to 40k )

You guys have an other suggestions? I want a reliable car so i have kinda steered clear of the A4. And i know, i need to get out there and test drive! hopefully soon

 

Why not hold on a couple months and wait for the RDX?

 

A3 too small? (reliability aside)

Saab 9-2? 9-5?

BMW 325xiT?

My wife and I just went through this. The RDX was too far out on the calendar (wife's due in May). She didn't like the A4 Avant very much. She hated the interior of the V50 (that weird center console). And we couldn't find a 325xiT anywhere. So when it came down to ordering and waiting or finding one out there somewhere she went with the A3. It's decidedly smaller then the BMW but way more fun and 10k less. She got DSG but the 6MT was fine - not as good as the Acura but fine.

 

Depending on the price range, you should look at the Subaru Outback XT. While the Legacy has bigger brakes, the Outback XT performs on the street very well, and has the beefier suspension to handle off-road (great on gravel roads, snow) if you want to really get into the wilderness. And you can get it in a manual...

 

not a bad idea...never really considered it cause it was a little more SUVish. I will have to take a look again.

 

I like the looks of the A3, it might be a little small, i really like the idea of 4 doors and its a little hard to put audi's reliability aside. Consumer reports never speaks very highly of them and i tend to follow their suggestion.

not really a fan of bmw's other than M's and i have looked at the saabs, but that reliabilty just comes up again.

 

that might not be a bad idea. the increased ground clearance might be beneficial.

 

But the 9-2 is really a Subaru Impreza though, so reliability should be similar to the Legacy you are looking at. I heard you can get a pretty good discount discount on those... I've read the best deal people got was like $7k off the 9-2 Aero, for about $20-21k (last year they had GM employee discount + rebate), which is a very good deal for a Impreza WRX twin with leather and the extra luxury goodies... I think at this time of the year you can get around $3k-4k off...

BTW, I think the Legacy GT is offering a $1500 rebate still till end of March, might want to look into that too.

 

New or used 2003-2006 Volvo V70r with MT. Should meet all your criteria: space, reliable, nice interior, MT. Plus it's FAST 300 hp/300 tq.
You should be able to get an '05 at invoice (36k) or a used one for around 25-30. We've had a v70 in the family for years now and I've taken it on LONG roadtrips in the winter (snow/ice) without a single problem. I really like the v70 and would absolutely not mind replacing my TSX with one if i had to. The suspension is rock-hard and I like the steering feel as well.

 

thanks for the input guys.

phireze, i would definately have to look at a used v70r, i want to keep it under $30k.

I have been looking pretty hard online and i am starting to really like the Outback 2.5 xt limited wagon. the only thing that concerns me will be the handling due to the increased ride height. a test drive is definately in order.

 

Those come in MT?

 

impreza wrx wagon?

 

i like the wrx for the performance, but its a little small and i really cant see myself stepping down from a tsx to a wrx.

thats why i though that the legacty gt wagon would be perfect, but no MT in '06 so unless i found an '05 it's out.

 

Forester XT?

 

not quite sporty enough.

 

well i test drive a Outback XT Limited 5MT....the turbo is nice the car definately has some pickup. the handling wasnt too bad for having such a high center of gravity.

the car definately wasnt as refined as my tsx, but then again there is a lot more room in the back

the throw on the manual was also pretty long, i would definately want to get the short shifter mod.

all in all it was a pretty fun car I will definately have to take it for another drive.