YES.

...and that pic was taken a while ago, it's higher now.

I still don't know exactly WTF I'm looking for.
I've never touched, been interested in, or wanted a VW anything before...
Am I looking for an older vehicle? Is there a newer model that would suit what I need? I'm lost on the model/year here. I KNOW NOTHING VW.
*sits in her shame corner*

A TDI VW Jetta wagon would probably be your best bet... I think they started selling the wagon version in '03, and they still make them, just in a different body style.

Even a Golf or a Jetta sedan would probably suit you well depending on how much stuff you take camping with you... I've crammed all of my camping gear into my Beetle before.

the TDI is not cheap.

i had no idea the protege 5 had electrical issues. that sucks. rust is usually minor to none from what ive seen, but yeah i have seen one with the rusty quarter.

Prof. Chaos. Your VW must have been a piece of crap because my 99.5 jetta never got below 600km for city driving, never mind the amazing highway mileage i got.
i had 2 issues in the cars 2 years with me (which i put over 100,000 km on those 2 years years) and those issues were one rubber seal on the coolant flange and one cracked coil. both changed on the side of the road in 10 minutes.
(i had some steering issues to but that was because it was so low so thats not an issue with the car, more a mix of the streets and my stupidity for having a daily with 1 1/2" of clearance from the oil pan)

it would be ridiculous to buy a 1.8t for mileage. i know it gets decent mileage but you also have higher cost of fuel and maintenance. ( i know you didnt suggest the 1.8t, i just wanted to point out it wouldnt be the best option.

I have a very hard time buying that. Sorry. I know of at least 5 people in my surroundings (yes, I actually counted) with Golf City's, which have the same engine, and they all get what I was getting with mine. I know cause they always bitch about it, and they don't drive their cars hard... And we're talking 2008-2009 models too, so the running poor issue is thrown out. VW rates it at 8.4L/100KM so we know that's the absolute best conditions rating, and is garbage for its class. I reset the trip computer EVERY time I fuel up, it's a pet peeve I suppose, and I have never seen it go past 575km doing highway driving (was doing Kingston-Quebec on a regular basis last year, 550km trip). I get 800+ with my A4...

I'm not bitching about the reliability, all that went bad on mine was the mass air flow and that stupid downpipe in 2 years time. I sold it to a friend of mine and still see the car daily, and I know it's looked after properly, but it does suck on gas.

Posted by bandi A TDI VW Jetta wagon would probably be your best bet...

QFT

You might be able to find one around for relatively cheap too, because a lot of them have high milage.

For my 2003 TDI Jetta Wagon apparently it's worth $6,000 US private sale. It was a few years ago that VW offered my dad $7,000 CDN for it. There's nothing mechanically wrong with the vehicle, and it runs great...it's just got 373,000 on it and has a bad case of road acne going on. You'd probably be able to find one for cheaper too if it was a base model (mine's got almost every option available). The entire reason I have that vehicle is actually because my dad wasn't going to get much for it.

I don't really have any complaints about it at all...
Oh...it burns through taillights faster than the average vehicle. But with all the money you'll be saving on gas, it won't make a difference

all this said, i say get an aerostar i lost my virginity in one when i was 17 and always thought they were studmobiles

Posted by shadowedsmile QFT You might be able to find one around for relatively cheap too, because a lot of them have high milage. For my 2003 TDI Jetta Wagon apparently it's worth $6,000 US private sale. It was a few years ago that VW offered my dad $7,000 CDN for it. There's nothing mechanically wrong with the vehicle, and it runs great...it's just got 373,000 on it and has a bad case of road acne going on. You'd probably be able to find one for cheaper too if it was a base model (mine's got almost every option available). The entire reason I have that vehicle is actually because my dad wasn't going to get much for it. I don't really have any complaints about it at all... Oh...it burns through taillights faster than the average vehicle. But with all the money you'll be saving on gas, it won't make a difference

I'm leery about buying a vehicle with over 150,000 on it - even if they do go forever I kind of want the vehicle for as long as possible.

Posted by Yield I'm leery about buying a vehicle with over 150,000 on it - even if they do go forever I kind of want the vehicle for as long as possible.

my friend has 800 000 km on his 1998 grand prix

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! my friend has 800 000 km on his 1998 grand prix

Noted. Why haven't I heard of these magically-undying vehicles before?!

ps- I grew up in a camaro family.

Posted by Yield Noted. Why haven't I heard of these magically-undying vehicles before?! ps- I grew up in a camaro family.

like above, 3800 equiped cars are ridicoulously boring, BUT the 3800 is semi good on gas and will run forever if you change the oil. I judge the quality of an engine by its scrap yard price, if its cheap they are usually in good order when they get to the wrecker and they have lots, if the engine is pricey... watch out
up here a used quad 4 will set you back more than the car it came from
a used 3800 will set you back 100$

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! like above, 3800 equiped cars are ridicoulously boring, BUT the 3800 is semi good on gas and will run forever if you change the oil. I judge the quality of an engine by its scrap yard price, if its cheap they are usually in good order when they get to the wrecker and they have lots, if the engine is pricey... watch out up here a used quad 4 will set you back more than the car it came from a used 3800 will set you back 100$

I am car literate enough to change my own oil ;)
I actually love cars, I've just never had a boyfriend who was comfortable with me learning more about them than he knows. I'd love to be a car buff/mechanic.

well if you are looking low maintenance, dont car about looks and want a comfortable ride, police surplus impalas are brutally reliable, have dual zone climate and are fun to drive

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! well if you are looking low maintenance, dont car about looks and want a comfortable ride, police surplus impalas are brutally reliable, have dual zone climate and are fun to drive

I need a lot of space for camping gear though. I'm wondering if this would suffice?

Posted by Yield I need a lot of space for camping gear though. I'm wondering if this would suffice?

lets just say, police car HUGE trunk, my grand prix is a similar body to an impala, i can fit in the trunk with room to spare, im 250 pounds 6 foot.

and i dont know in your neck of the woods but 4 year old cop cars go for about 2 grand

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! all this said, i say get an aerostar i lost my virginity in one when i was 17 and always thought they were studmobiles

How dare you say the word of the evil Henry Ford II

Posted by Yield I'm leery about buying a vehicle with over 150,000 on it - even if they do go forever I kind of want the vehicle for as long as possible.

It all depends on how old the vehicle is, and what it is...I bought my 93 Civic hatchback with 256,000 on it, drove it for 3.5 years...only reason it's parked is because I was offered the Jetta (powersteering + winter tires + other such nice options...and I was moving to Northern Ontario for a bit..my Civic would've sucked on the ski hill I was living on). It hasn't been touched since August, but I took it out of the garage and for a drive...started right up, still ran well.

But, a Civic hatchback is probably not what you're looking for haha...

Highway km aren't that terrible for vehicles, it's city km that kills the car.

Posted by nostra-YOUPPI! my friend has 800 000 km on his 1998 grand prix

But it doesn't have a body or transmission any more.

my 2.0 got 600km with hard driving, dont forget chaos yours was automatic no?
My 2.0 has a NOS button for passing people on the highway, Id press it the airconditiniong would go off and Id have 10 more hp!

Posted by Yield Noted. Why haven't I heard of these magically-undying vehicles before?! ps- I grew up in a camaro family.

you want domestic AND reliability... GM W-body.
Lumina/Monte Carlo and Grand Prix.

fuel economy, sorry... the 3100 V6 is a bit thirst in a 3500lb car.
the 3.8L is a better engine, but again, the displacement versus mileage... you just can't get away from a four cylinder or a diesel.