I am wondering where to start? Is there a place to look, a data base, that will advise me the desireabliity of certain vehicles, what might be ease of operating, things to watch out for, etc. I introduced my self as one looking for an older station wagon to be a daily driver for a short commute and comfortable to tow a lightweight fiberglass trailer. Should I assume all stationwagons are rear wheel drive or did some of them go to front wheel drive in the 1980's. I am following the on-line ads in my area and there are different wagons shoing up but they look like they are major resorations. They declare that its all ther, but I suspect that it will take more time and expertise that I do not have. I am looking for a wagon like my father in law had, hardly used, but still important to carry that 4x8 sheet of plywood. When he died, mother in law replaced it with a Civic and was on the other side of the country and my Subaru was new at that time. Any models to recommend, some have suggests Volvo. Do any have fuel econmy comparable to a contemporary small pickup? or are they major gaz guzzlers. Like I said, I reading the forums, but I am looking for a place to start. I always have the option of putting significant money into my sub and hope for another 50,000 km. but I am looking for some more comfort.
You have no brand or model in mind? That's different. What did your dad have? Pre-1982 Ford wagons had simple technology. GM had gone faster with Computer-based diagnostics. So did Mopar. Those are pretty well, the Plywood-sized wagons. I like Mopar and Ford, but I carry my plywood on the roofrack in my smaller Fairmont, and up to 10 foot lengths of lumber or tubing, inside. Fox-bodied Ford wagons were built until 1986. The straight -SIX (very reliable, but under-powered at 85 HP is simple and cheap to fix, but they stopped making them in 1982. The 4-banger 2.3L was available with a Turbo version at 145 HP in the Fairmonts and Zephyrs, until 1982, but available in Mustangs with up to 210 HP until 1989 (maybe later). Those are CHEAP on gas. On a US gallon, you can get up to 30 MPG (HWY) and 23 MPG (City). The bigger Ford wagons run mostly V6 and V8 engines, with so-so efficiency. Mopar biggies stopped in 1977. Ford and GM produced big wagons until the late 90's. The older you go, the more attention it will need. Some parts are hard to find, especially Pre-1980, except for the plywood-sized wagons. Mine is fine because of the Mustang's popularity. I can take a long roadtrip and find a fan-belt in most roadside gas stations, or a water pump, or... The big 3 wagons all have quirks, but all the recalls (TSBs - Transport Safety Board notifications) have corrected the key aspects. So if you found a Barn Find, that was kept within the MFR's warranty and never got the factory recalls fixed, then A) You'd be one of the luckiest folks here, and B) you'd go the dealer to see what ones were missed. Hope that helps.
Still pretty easy to find parts for the big 80's GM wagons also. the hard part is finding the whole wagon. then GM had the frontwheel drive smaller wagons in the 80s and into the 90's great mileage, plenty of torque, lots of room, and easy to park.
