I second the vote for a Volvo wagon but offer my example (1991 240) to your requirements: > Cheap.... Ease of repair (I try to do my own the 240 is quite straightforward, well laid out and stuff easily accessible in the engine compartment > Great gas mileage (above 20 mpg) I get 30 MPG and have, reliably, for 12 years now. > Low roof line with the ability to attach roof racks > (so I can easily load my kayaks) This is my #1 love of this car - I can reach the roof!! I have factory racks that, with foamies, will accommodate 2 SKs side-by-side (unlike Subaru's factory rack). I also have some Thule gutter towers and 78" bars that I can mount over the whole works and stack on boats to my heart's content. I can pick up any of my boats and lift them onto the rear bar unassisted. (at 5'7" and not exactly a gym rat) > Enough room to haul camping and paddling gear for > two.... Heck, I've even camped in the back of the car ( remarkably comfortable with the back seat flat down and a thermarest). > Stick shift and a reasonable amount of power (needed > for trips of six or seven hundred miles). OK, the 240 is a little short on power but it has gotten me over the river, through the snow and up the hills for 189,000 miles so far with no sign of letting up yet!!! I simply keep the revs up (like, don't even try to stay in 5th gear on a serious hill). > Steve Cramer voted for a "Volvo station wagon. > Perhaps a 740 series with turbo and 5-speed." I have to tell you that, in addition to the 1991 240 I have a 2001 Volvo V70 T5 5-speed (the front-drive, high pressure turbo, 247 HP 'station rocket'). I have Thule bars mounted on my euro rails and all the good things about loading kayaks, etc are still true (and I get an amazing 25 MPG). But even after having it for 2 years I am unable to part with my 240. (Much to the dismay of my shuttle participants!) I saw a shot of a 240 in Canoe & Kayak a few year ago under the heading of "classic shuttle vehicle". Yup, 5 boats on top and a bunch of (WW) boats stuck in the wagon end. Jennifer *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jan 12 2003 - 12:23:30 PST
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