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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    11,740

    Small, reliable AWD hatches?

    No subarus. A subaru killed my childhood dog, Lyla.

    I want to buy a reliable, small, awd, preferrably a hatch or wagon so the dog can have a spot, non-SUV, preferably four door, that I can beat up. Unless its an Aztec or maybe a Juke, I care not an ounce what it looks like. Its job is to be dirty and not break. I don't care if its slower than the first coming of the Spaghetti Monster.

    In this category, I've only found the discontinued Matrix, which are few and far between, the SX4, which is also discontinued and rarely seen, but oddly enough clicks the boxes and comes in a manual. Are there any domestic options that are reliable these days? Mazda's are front wheel, as are all the other little washing machines like the Yaris, Fit, Scion iM, etc. The hatch lexus CT and the volvo c don't do awd and I'm not sold on their reliability.

    I'm willing to lose a few doors in the back if I have to. I'm willing to compromise on mpg. I don't care what it looks like.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    27,308
    What about the Honda Crosstour? Too big?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Before
    Posts
    27,917
    Suzuki?

    (edit) color me duh, you alreadu mentioned the sx4. So what if it's used, you can buy a new engine for like $400 and virtually any shop that works on sub/toy/hon/ will wrench on it.

    I wanna get one and put some blown up turboed monster engine in it, but I already have enough cars.
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    1,744
    So, what you're saying is that you want a Subaru.

    Mitsubishi Lancer came in an AWD hatch with a turbo. Not sure if manual. Should be reasonably reliable.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Looking down
    Posts
    50,491
    That new smaller Honda crossover, what is it, the HRV? Looks pretty nice, at a nice price.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    1,744
    Same with the Mazda CX3.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    LV-426
    Posts
    21,126
    New or used? Price range?

    Re: Toyota Matrix -- the Pontiac Vibe was the same car, different styling, also available in AWD.
    Quote Originally Posted by powder11 View Post
    if you have to resort to taking advice from the nitwits on this forum, then you're doomed.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    27,308
    Quote Originally Posted by The Tortoise View Post
    Mitsubishi Lancer came in an AWD hatch with a turbo. Not sure if manual. Should be reasonably reliable.
    Not sure about the Lancer specifically, but I think Mitsubishi is near the very bottom of Consumer Reports' reliability rankings.

    edit: yeah, here's the list http://www.consumerreports.org/cars/...best-vehicles/

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    panhandle locdog
    Posts
    7,836
    Just buy a Subaru

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    2,023
    Ford Focus RS

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    11,740
    Overly picky, but the crosstour and frankly all cross overs or small SUVs arent really what I'm looking for. I want something small. Preferably used and price doesn't matter too much, but I figured if I was to get what I want, a small, used, likely japanese hatch, that it wasn't going to break the bank. I'll keep my s4 wagon for fun driving. This request is for pure utility.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    11,740
    Quote Originally Posted by Kopi_Red View Post
    Ford Focus RS
    amen.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Idaho
    Posts
    10,953
    Had an '08 Matrix as a beater work commuter (have a 6 hour round trip every other week or so) and it worked as intended. Slow, ugly, reliable, okay mpg, stuck to the road, and inexpensive. A colleague just bought a new hybrid Rav4 and it is pretty nice for what it is.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Before
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    27,917
    1992 Toyota Corolla awd sw is da bomb too.

    Your neighbors may shudder and threaten to sue for property value loss when you park it in the street, but at some point we all have to decide whether we're in a beauty contest or not.
    Merde De Glace On the Freak When Ski
    >>>200 cm Black Bamboo Sidewalled DPS Lotus 120 : Best Skis Ever <<<

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Bellevue
    Posts
    7,431
    In that vein, a Tercel wagon could work too

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Gaperville, CO
    Posts
    5,845
    Honda Element AWD. Honda reliability. Lots of space. Easy to hose out dog dirt. Widely available. Some manuals out there. 4-6K should get you a decent one.

    But their AWD sort of sucks. Get a subaru.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Your Mom's House
    Posts
    8,302
    Since you have the S4 for when you absolutely NEED AWD, why not just buy a FWD car? Then you have way more options, save a bunch of money, and FWD with a decent set of snow tires will be fine 99% of the time.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Eburg
    Posts
    13,243
    Subarus don't kill dogs. Drivers kill dogs.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    The best neighborhood in hades
    Posts
    4,553
    Golf R32. Have fun while you're at it.
    "One season per year, the gods open the skies, and releases a white, fluffy, pillow on top of the most forbidding mountain landscapes, allowing people to travel over them with ease and relative abandonment of concern for safety. It's incredible."

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    5,707
    Used Audi A3

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Looking down
    Posts
    50,491
    Quote Originally Posted by Big Steve View Post
    Subarus don't kill dogs. Drivers kill dogs.
    That's funny.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    10,906
    Get rid of the dog.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    关你屁事
    Posts
    9,532
    1990 Civic Wagovan w/Realtime4WD

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    No of SoBo, So of NoBo
    Posts
    2,284
    A lot of folks seem to really like the Mazda CX3. It comes in AWD and is supposed to be very fun to drive.
    Outlive the bastards - Ed Abbey

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    11,740
    Quote Originally Posted by adrenalated View Post
    Since you have the S4 for when you absolutely NEED AWD, why not just buy a FWD car? Then you have way more options, save a bunch of money, and FWD with a decent set of snow tires will be fine 99% of the time.
    I've thought of foregoing the AWD for a simple reliable front wheel hatch. Anyone had an experience with the Mazda 3s or the Mazdaspeeds? For front wheel drive, they seem to be right in the wheel house otherwise.


    Quote Originally Posted by Big Steve View Post
    Subarus don't kill dogs. Drivers kill dogs.
    You are the Charleton Heston of subarus.

    Quote Originally Posted by guroo270 View Post
    Golf R32. Have fun while you're at it.
    No more germans.

    Quote Originally Posted by 54-46 View Post
    Used Audi A3
    No more germans.

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