Could I please have some advice?

My 99 9-5 Saab wagon is on its death throws. We want to get a lower emissions vehicle, but we also need a similar amount of space for my wife's work. Consumer Reports says a new 9-5 wagon gets 14/33 mpg. Saab says it has 73 cubic ft of storage space with the rear seats down.

We were trying to avoid purchasing an SUV as we do a fair amount of highway driving and parking around us is tight. Is my only option an SUV? Are there any station wagons on the horizon which would justify my continuing to glue together my wagon?

Thanks much for your help,

Gary

Hi Gary,

We're pretty much waiting on a hybrid mini-van to show up. Otherwise, the options for larger vehicles are:

- Lexus and Toyota Highlander hybrid SUVs
- Ford Escape hybrid SUV (and Mercury)
- Saturn VUE hybrid-lite
- Camry hybrid (sedan)
- Honda Accord hybrid (limited states at one time)
- Prius hatchback hybrid
- Honda Civic hybrid (rear seat does not fold down)

Recommendation: Cost of repairs to get another year vs. risk of more repairs needed this year. But I don't get the impression the hybrid minivan will be here until 2008, at the earliest. What is irksome is Toyota has them in Japan, but Japan only.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

You don't say what kind of work your wife does, or what sort of things she has to haul around.

Looking at Prius spec's:

From

http://www.toyota.com/prius/specs.html

Looking under "capacities," there are 96.2 cu.ft. "passenger volume," and 14.4 cu.ft. "luggage space." Since the rear seats fold down, much of that passenger volume is available as luggage space. The hatchback makes it possible to load larger objects as well.

If your wife's stuff will fit in a Prius, you definitely have the emissions and fuel economy issues solved.

I know my Prius has way more room than my Civic, and way more than a Hybrid Civic, since the Hybrid Civic does not have fold-down rear seats.

It's amazing having a roomy car that gets better fuel economy than my motorcycle.

It may be that your wife needs more room than a Prius provides, but it's worth considering.

Harry

Gary, Take a look at the Mariner and Escape Hybrids. Highway mileage is excellent. If you drive the speed limit or slightly above you will meet or Exceed the EPA numbers (29 for 4wd and 32 for FWD). I easily get 31-33mpg in my 4wd Mariner by setting the cruise at 65. Even though most people won't achieve EPA numbers on any vehicle...you can get the same HWY mileage with the Escape/Mariner Hybrids as you will the Saab, but you will nearly double your city mileage without even trying. I don't know how the two will compare price-wise with the options/features you want so obviously that will impact your decision. One thing to consider is that the Escape/Mariner Hybrids are not in demand like the Toyotas are so you can get them for far less than sticker (mine was almost $2000 below sticker).

As for parking it, check the specs....the Escape/Mariner is over 15 inches shorter in length while sacrificing only 7.5 cu ft of cargo space. My Mariner also came with the reverse parking sensors which make paralell parking a breeze despite not being able to see the front of the vehicle behind you.

Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner Hybrid:
EPA 32/29 4wd & 36/31 FWD (City/Hwy)
Length: 174.9 in
Cargo: 65.5 cu ft

Saab 9-5 W
EPA 20/30 (City/Hwy)
Length: 190.6 in
Cargo: 73 cu ft

-Tim

2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid AWD
Black with Pebble interior
Premium Package with Nav & Moonroof



Current ODO: 26,152
Typical Drive: 20 min crosstown in heavy traffic (3.5mi there and back twice a day)


532 Gallons of gas saved
That's 10,642 lbs less CO2 emitted

I consider my Prius to be pretty darned spacious. I'm pretty tall and yet if I set the front seats so I fit in them there's still enough leg room for back seat passengers. Headroom is excellent. As for the capacity to haul stuff, I suspect that it would be comparable to the 9-5 given that they taper similarly toward the rear. The 9-5 might have an edge when it comes to length.

This is a great time to buy a Prius since you can find them on dealer lots in large numbers, so I would suggest having a look for yourself.