I'm looking to pick something up before winter, but also ASAP. I'd like to spend no more than $10k, but would go a little higher if the car was worth it. MUST be AWD and automatic. Something that has a rep of reliability over issues obviously is preferred.

I was hell bent on getting a LGT, but I'm having a hard time finding the right one in our area and my price range. Last night I stumbled across a VW Passat 4 motion on eBay and it got me thinking, what other cars out there might be a better choice.

Interior is important. Thus why I'm picking the legacy over the wrx/impreza models. Leather with heated seats is also a big want. Station wagon or SUV is not out of the question either, long as it doesn't look completely ghey. Engine wise I'm open to anything that can get up and go that's not a gas sucking V8, so a nice V6 or 4cyl turbo is fine (not looking at the 4cyl non-turbo pigs).

Please discuss and help me pick a good all around AWD DD before the snow hits!!.

 

chipmunk slayer, buy a forester xt auto. that is what i have. leather with heated seats.

 

Audi allroad.

 

For once I think Fae is right

 

the WRX's in that price range are sometimes gas hogs, and the Passat 4 Motion will be a reliability nightmare as it's a VW/Audi. If you have to get one, I hear the 2.8 is the one to get b/c the 1.8t isn't enough to push around a big car.
BMW 325ix
Ford Escape Hybrid
Honda Pilot
Toyta CR-V
Honda Element
Impreza 2.5RS
Edit:
The Allroad is cool, but I'd have questions about the reliability.

 

+1 Forester (or any subie excluding 2010+ outback/legacy GT or 3.6R)
Forester is a good choice. Before we bought our 4matic(AWD) Benz we had a 2010 Legacy GT - same motor as the WRX and I believe the forester XT - i could be wrong on that. That was a fast car, it's what got me into buying a miata and putting a turbo on it. Had to lemonlaw the subie, if they ever fix the steering wobble in the 2010+ legacy's I will buy one again.

 

Good thing about the 4eat auto fxts is that they aren't gonna be whored on like every other boosted subie in the world.

 

the 2.8 is a turd

 

S60 with the five cylinder turbo. For that price you can get an R with the girltronic transmission. With the awd models just make sure you check out the seals on the angle gear and the exhaust bracket has been removed. Decent gas mileage in the non-r's, cheap to insure and maintain as long as the PO did his job.

 

Forester XT is a great choice but the 4eat sucks *****. Never downshifts when I want and always when I don't. Well when I forget that it's not a turbo'd Miata anyway. Great car, lots of fun in the snow, on gravel/dirt roads, empty fields....

 

Blah just floor that bitch and wait 3 seconds and there's your shift.

 

Never said there wasn't a work around

 

If I was going to get a Subaru in that price range I'd just make myself find the right Legacy GT. I like them the best overall out of the bunch. The Forester isn't bad, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Impreza isn't even on the list, those interiors are junk.

I almost bought a Audi A6 before I got this junk Taurus. Having heard a lot about problems with them, once I saw/drove it in person I passed.

Though I do like Volvo and the S60 is nice, its probably out of my price range. Esp the R.

BMW has a few AWD models I'd go for, but its the price range that kills the quality and mileage. Anyone know whats considered a high mileage beamer?

 

I just bought an R for 4000 about a month ago. Yeah, it has a million miles on it but don't think you can't find an awd non r with less than 100k miles for less than 10K. There's plenty out there just keep looking and stay off the forums, everyone thinks their car is a gift to humanity, thus requiring a premium to own it.

 

except for that pesky reliability part, I think you're looking for an S62 swapped E30 iX. with automatic transmission.

 

Freaking phone: post got cut off. Look at anything from 04-07. As far as bmw's get ready for expensive maintenance, a lack of maintenance (if a lease), and large insurance premiums. Stay away from the v8's. In my searches I've found on the e46's that the awd system can get spendy if not all the fluids were changed. You should be ok with one around the 80 to 120k mile range. Just be ready to overhaul the cooling system and possibly pcv system (Sounds easy but it's not cheap and can cause problems). But aside from the common e46 issues (Wiring, subframe cracking, etc) you should be ok. The e39's are similar but with seemingly less problems as long as you stay away from the v8's and the ones with the lame electronic suspensions. also the ones with the gm transmissions generally have problems around those mileages if I recall correctly.

 

50,001

 

There is a Volvo that fits every single one of these "help me pick a car" threads.

 

i have a friend who picked up a forester xt auto for 5 or 6k, it's pretty clean but has higher mileage, i think like 140-150. He likes it so far (only a few weeks now)

 

AWD Volvo. Pick it up from some old lady who drove it to and from church.