[QUOTE=Mama Zappa]
A station wagon would be nearly ideal but those are harder to find.
[/QUOTE]
I think the Mazda 3 wagon and the Mazda 6 wagon are both nice looking. I beleive the 3 wagon gets 30+ on the highway as well. not sure about the 6.
The ford Freestyle supposedly gets 30mpg as well, and is larger wagonish.
I just recently bought an '06 Honda Element (after a good amount of research), and I love, love, love it.
Reasonably cheap (got mine for just over $19k, since they’re clearing out the stock for the '07 version), decent gas mileage (about 24-26 mpg with my driving habits), AWD (and it’s supposed to handle snow really well), and TONS of room on the inside. Seriously, there’s about a foot of headspace above my head- unless you’re like 8 feet tall, you won’t have any problems. It’s also one of the top-rated vehicles for durability and resale value.
Drawbacks- only four seats. That’s the only drawback I’ve been able to see so far.
[QUOTE=crazyjoe]
I think the Mazda 3 wagon and the Mazda 6 wagon are both nice looking. I beleive the 3 wagon gets 30+ on the highway as well. not sure about the 6.
The ford Freestyle supposedly gets 30mpg as well, and is larger wagonish.
[/QUOTE]
Good suggestions. I had a Mazda 626 sedan, years ago, and really liked it. I’ll do some research and check into what they have nowadays.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Thus, you do *not * want a Mini.
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My friend is 5’10" and she does fine in the mini. They’re VERY roomy.
The Ford Focus station wagon is inexpensive and fun to drive. Much better mileage than it’s steroid-enhanced SUV brethren, and employee pricing is available as well, making it an even better deal.
And one of the nine color choices is a very pretty blue! 
Just a little bump to see if Mama Zappa ever picked out a new car?
I just bought my first brand new car, a Toyota Matrix. It’s really a Corolla wagon, which is why it comes up consistently as the lowest cost of ownership for the first 5 years. The back seats fold down for decent carrying space.
I bought it brand new because it’s holding its value so well that you actually pay less per mile remaining than you do if you buy it used. In over a month, I haven’t found anything annoying about the features. Mine even turns the headlights on and off automatically.
I love the Ford 500 I bought!
(Yes I know it was recalled yesterday)
Super roomy inside and since I was coming from a truck I wanted something that sits up a little higher than most cars, the 500 fits the bill perfect. Plus the trunk is huge! Ford markets it as being able to fit 8 bags of golf clubs, I don’t golf. However after a little run to the feed store the other day I can tell you that it fits 4-40lbs bags of Beet Pulp, 2-50lbs bags of soy hulls and 1-50lbs bag or rolled oats. 
Barrels
[QUOTE=Barrels]
I love the Ford 500 I bought!
(Yes I know it was recalled yesterday)
Super roomy inside and since I was coming from a truck I wanted something that sits up a little higher than most cars, the 500 fits the bill perfect. Plus the trunk is huge! Ford markets it as being able to fit 8 bags of golf clubs, I don’t golf. However after a little run to the feed store the other day I can tell you that it fits 4-40lbs bags of Beet Pulp, 2-50lbs bags of soy hulls and 1-50lbs bag or rolled oats. 
Barrels
[/QUOTE]
Hehe, I think you need a pickup there, Jethro.
Yeah the 500 is a nice looking car. IIRC it’s a little underpowered though.
Scion xA or xB are possibilities for taller drivers, xA has slightly better milage (and looks imho). The minni is nice, but a large guy looks silly driving one (looks like Noddy ).
Toyota Matrix is another option, with Civic like performance in a bigger body.
I’ve owned a Frod Focus wagon for 6 years and it’s never gotten more than 24 mpg (automatic) and has had quality problems. They may have de-bugged it by now. It has more cargo capacity than most of the small runabouts and is similar to the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe.
I am looking seriously at the Honda FIT, sport model. All of its seats (except driver’s) fold FLAT to give huge (for its size) cargo/sleeping capacity and it can take a 9-foot surfboard, flat (not hat I have one). The Honda Element can take a surfboard (or similar long item) vertically thru the skylight, located at the REAR, for that intended purpose.
I wonder why you wnat a high level seat. The extra height of a vehicle makes it more top heavy and prone to rollover in side crashes and panic swerves.
[QUOTE=Mama Zappa]
We own a 10-year-old Dodge Caravan, and an 8-year-old Honda Civic. Both have been pretty good cars, though lately the Caravan is starting to have mysterious things go wrong with its electrical system. Stranding us once (in Canada) and nearly stranding me the other day despite having a new battery and alternator since the Canada incident. So, it may be time to start shopping. Plus we might still be able to get a 2006 model year car.
Love the Civic. It’s the second Civic we’ve owned (the older one was totalled in a wreck or we might still have it). It gets great mileage and is very reliable. Trouble is, I’m a tall person and that thing sits low and I have trouble crawling into and out of it. Otherwise I’d happily go over to the Honda dealer and buy one to replace the Caravan.
We’d get an Odyssey minivan but really, we don’t need that big a car 99% of the time. I can rent a minivan when I need it. My next choice would be a Honda CRV but it’d sure be nice to get something with somewhat better mileage.
So - what would you folks suggest we investigate, given these parameters: Relatively high seating, very reliable, good mileage.
I’m still hoping we can find out the problem with the Caravan (motto: “Don’t laugh - it’s paid-for!”) but if we can’t I want to start car-shopping soonest. Perhaps the mere threat of being replaced will cause the Caravan to shape up 
[/QUOTE]
You say you’re in Canada, so I’d strongly suggest looking at an All-Wheel-Drive vehicle. Once you own one, you’ll never go back.
I’ve got a Ford Escape, and absolutely love it. AWD, 200HP. About as easy to manoever as a mid-sized sedan. Sporty road manners. Rugged, good looking, and functional. They can be had for very good prices now - especially the 2006 models.
Another interesting new vehicle is the new Ford Edge. More of a crossover between an SUV and a wagon than the Escape, it’s getting pretty good reviews.
The Mazda version of the Edge is the CX-7. It’s getting good reviews, and looks like a sweet vehicle.
Seat Ibiza…best car I’ve ever had.
[QUOTE=Sam Stone]
You say you’re in Canada, so I’d strongly suggest looking at an All-Wheel-Drive vehicle. Once you own one, you’ll never go back.
…
[/QUOTE]
Actually, we’re in Virginia… the Caravan nearly stranded us in Canada, hence the problem (it’s an awfully long walk home!)
Thanks all for the assorted suggestions. We looked into a lot of them online, it was good to have some ideas on what to concentrate on.
The latest repair on the old Caravan was a brand-new starter. We did the math, and realized we had spent several hundred dollars more in repairs than a new car payment would be, so we bit the bullet and went car shopping. We did ultimately wind up with a Honda CRV - a 2006 model. We didn’t want to buy the 2007 model because it had so many design changes and we didn’t want to be guinea pigs… plus we found that dealers were more interested in “dealing” when attempting to unload their remaining 2006 inventory. We actually had trouble finding one without four wheel drive - that was all most of the dealers had in stock, and we decided we didn’t need that so the mileage tradeoff was not worth it. Finally found a 2-wheel-drive model and we’re happy with it though I miss those sliding side doors!
[QUOTE=ScareyFaerie]
Seat Ibiza…best car I’ve ever had.
[/QUOTE]
I thought Skodas were the better VW platformed cheep cars. And wouldn’t you rather have an Audi A3 or S3?
