Yeah, I guess the problem with older high mileage Japanese stuff (at least Toyota and Honda) is the resale is too damn high. In this case, you do get a much better value by buying American, especially if you can handle some minor issues yourself. Mazda and some of the other second tier Japanese brands tend to be cheaper like American cars in the used market, which is why I don't think the Mazda6 wagon is a bad idea.
By the way, the Gen 2 CTS wagons seem to be getting cheaper. There are many under $20k now. This is a vehicle I might consider adding to the Rondo replacement list, although I fear maybe they wont be as reliable as the Rondo.
Malibu replacement
Re: CTS w/ manual trans
Fun fact: The CTS-V wagon 6M is 70 lbs heavier than the AWD CTS wagon V6 with auto. The CTS-V wagon A6 is 103 lbs heavier than the AWD V6 wagon. AWD adds 223 lbs to the CTS wagon. The "Premium" (highest) trim wagon adds 74 lbs. Making the lightest CTS wagon available a RWD at 4,031 lbs.
Fuel economy:
2011 CTS RWD wagon with base 3.0L V6 (the one that has 270hp @ 7000rpm) and weighs 4,031 lbs: 18/27
2011 CTS AWD wagon with base 3.0L V6: 18/26
2011 CTS RWD wagon with 3.6L V6: 18/26
2011 CTS AWD wagon with 3.6L V6: 18/26
Pointless other fuel economy trivia:
2011 CTS-V wagon manual: 14/19
2011 CTS-V wagon auto: 12/18
12 is sweet.
Magnum AWD 3.5L V6: 15/22
Magnum AWD RT (Hemi): 15/22
The Vibe/Matrix may actually be an option based on a conversation I had today about interior room.
Fun Vibe/Matrix facts, upon looking into them:
The 2nd gen was 2009-2010, and that brought a new optional engine: the 2.4L from the Camry. This engine was also offered with a 5-speed automatic and from a drivetrain perspective, wouldn't totally suck. 158hp, and probably decent midrange so it would drive alright.
These vehicles were recalled for unintended acceleration.
A 2009 FWD 2.4L Vibe weighs only 2,856 lbs.
Mileage:
2010 Vibe FWD 1.8L auto: 26/31
2010 Vibe FWD 2.4L auto: 21/28 (or 21/29 depending on what you believe)
I think the 4-speed auto may have gone into the AWD cars, in which case:
2010 Vibe AWD 2.4L auto: 20/26
Interior room across all compared:
Front legroom: less than a 1" difference between them but the CTS is the best and the Vibe is the worst
Rear legroom: CTS and Vibe are equal. The Malibu Maxx has almost 1" more than the Magnum. Both are 4+ inches more than the other two.
Front headroom: All about the same
Rear headroom: Malibu Maxx and Vibe are the best, and the dsame, followed by Magnum and CTS in last. Not much difference though.
Front hip room: Magnum is the clear winner due to sheer width with the others all pretty similar. The Vibe is 1" less than the CTS and Malibu, as expected.
Rear hip room: Magnum wins at 55/5" and the CTS and Malibu Maxx trail with around 53". The Vibe is reporting 43.7" which has to be a typo. This one is important.
Front shoulder room: Magnum is ahead by 1", followed by CTS and Malibu Maxx with the same. Vibe takes up the rear with 3" less than the middle two. As expected.
Rear shoulder room: Magnum ahead again by 2" to the nearest competitor (the Maxx), followed by the CTS and finally the Vibe (down by a full 5" compared to the Magnum)
Luggage volume (seats up): The order is exactly what you'd expect. Vibe at 20.1 cu ft (about the same as my Caprice trunk except you need to stack shit to the ceiling to get that), Malibu Maxx at 22.8, CTS at 25.4 and Magnum at 27.2.
Seats down: The order changes slightly. The loser is now the Maxx at 41, followed by the Vibe at 49.4, the CTS at 58 and the Magnum at 71.6.
Passenger volume: CTS is a loser here at 97, followed by a tie between the Maxx and Magnum at 106 and the winner is the Vibe at 111 (not sure about this one, either).
Fuel economy:
2011 CTS RWD wagon with base 3.0L V6 (the one that has 270hp @ 7000rpm) and weighs 4,031 lbs: 18/27
2011 CTS AWD wagon with base 3.0L V6: 18/26
2011 CTS RWD wagon with 3.6L V6: 18/26
2011 CTS AWD wagon with 3.6L V6: 18/26
Pointless other fuel economy trivia:
2011 CTS-V wagon manual: 14/19
2011 CTS-V wagon auto: 12/18
12 is sweet.
Magnum AWD 3.5L V6: 15/22
Magnum AWD RT (Hemi): 15/22
The Vibe/Matrix may actually be an option based on a conversation I had today about interior room.
Fun Vibe/Matrix facts, upon looking into them:
The 2nd gen was 2009-2010, and that brought a new optional engine: the 2.4L from the Camry. This engine was also offered with a 5-speed automatic and from a drivetrain perspective, wouldn't totally suck. 158hp, and probably decent midrange so it would drive alright.
These vehicles were recalled for unintended acceleration.
A 2009 FWD 2.4L Vibe weighs only 2,856 lbs.
Mileage:
2010 Vibe FWD 1.8L auto: 26/31
2010 Vibe FWD 2.4L auto: 21/28 (or 21/29 depending on what you believe)
I think the 4-speed auto may have gone into the AWD cars, in which case:
2010 Vibe AWD 2.4L auto: 20/26
Interior room across all compared:
Front legroom: less than a 1" difference between them but the CTS is the best and the Vibe is the worst
Rear legroom: CTS and Vibe are equal. The Malibu Maxx has almost 1" more than the Magnum. Both are 4+ inches more than the other two.
Front headroom: All about the same
Rear headroom: Malibu Maxx and Vibe are the best, and the dsame, followed by Magnum and CTS in last. Not much difference though.
Front hip room: Magnum is the clear winner due to sheer width with the others all pretty similar. The Vibe is 1" less than the CTS and Malibu, as expected.
Rear hip room: Magnum wins at 55/5" and the CTS and Malibu Maxx trail with around 53". The Vibe is reporting 43.7" which has to be a typo. This one is important.
Front shoulder room: Magnum is ahead by 1", followed by CTS and Malibu Maxx with the same. Vibe takes up the rear with 3" less than the middle two. As expected.
Rear shoulder room: Magnum ahead again by 2" to the nearest competitor (the Maxx), followed by the CTS and finally the Vibe (down by a full 5" compared to the Magnum)
Luggage volume (seats up): The order is exactly what you'd expect. Vibe at 20.1 cu ft (about the same as my Caprice trunk except you need to stack shit to the ceiling to get that), Malibu Maxx at 22.8, CTS at 25.4 and Magnum at 27.2.
Seats down: The order changes slightly. The loser is now the Maxx at 41, followed by the Vibe at 49.4, the CTS at 58 and the Magnum at 71.6.
Passenger volume: CTS is a loser here at 97, followed by a tie between the Maxx and Magnum at 106 and the winner is the Vibe at 111 (not sure about this one, either).
Re: Malibu replacement
You may recall that my dad briefly owned a 2009? Vibe with the 2.4L before getting rid of it in favor of the Honda Fit. I think he said the Vibe would get well above the EPA ratings, which wouldn't surprise me. I wouldn't be shocked by low to mid 30s on the highway given that this engine and trans combination in the heavier Camry is rated better (31 highway).
Re: Malibu replacement
The hip room in the back seat is worrisome, at a full 10" narrower than a Malibu Maxx and CTS. That can't be right. Can it?
Re: Malibu replacement
There's no way it is that much narrower. I would go sit in one and see. Numbers can only tell you so much.
Re: Malibu replacement
MSN Autos agrees with cars.com. Very weird. MSN auto lets me compare 5 cars so here are the 5.
Exterior:
http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/e ... &v=t105972
It's not really any narrower than the others.
Interior:
http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/i ... &v=t105972
Exterior:
http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/e ... &v=t105972
It's not really any narrower than the others.
Interior:
http://autos.msn.com/research/compare/i ... &v=t105972
Re: Malibu replacement
Mazda6 wagon representative sample:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 1913&Log=0
2007, 84k, $9k
Cheapest CTS wagon in my area on autotrader:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 3982&Log=0
2011, AWD, Luxury, 3.0L, 55k, $19.5k
2006-2007 Malibu Maxx LTZ (these seem to sell though there is one that's been there for a long time):
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6215&Log=0
2007, LTZ, 40k, $11.5k
Or a Malibu Maxx SS:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6013&Log=0
2007, SS, 74k, $10k
2009-2010 Vibe or Matrix:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6103&Log=0
2009 Vibe, 2.4L, FWD, 47k, $11k
Magnum:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 0765&Log=0
2005 R/T, Hemi, AWD, 100k, $9k
$10k is the new sweet spot for used cars for normal people.
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 1913&Log=0
2007, 84k, $9k
Cheapest CTS wagon in my area on autotrader:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 3982&Log=0
2011, AWD, Luxury, 3.0L, 55k, $19.5k
2006-2007 Malibu Maxx LTZ (these seem to sell though there is one that's been there for a long time):
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6215&Log=0
2007, LTZ, 40k, $11.5k
Or a Malibu Maxx SS:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6013&Log=0
2007, SS, 74k, $10k
2009-2010 Vibe or Matrix:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 6103&Log=0
2009 Vibe, 2.4L, FWD, 47k, $11k
Magnum:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale ... 0765&Log=0
2005 R/T, Hemi, AWD, 100k, $9k
$10k is the new sweet spot for used cars for normal people.
Re: Malibu replacement
Does AWD do anything for you? I guess in New England it does have some advantages, although I managed to drive without it in Maine through 8 or so winters without ever really getting stuck (except for that time I put the summer tires on the Camaro in April thinking the last snow was behind us).
Re: Malibu replacement
I take that back; I did daily drive my sweet 88 4Runner for my second to last winter in Maine. It was nice being able to drive through any amount of snow whenever wherever and do stupid stuff in unplowed areas 
Re: Malibu replacement
Ok, so the Caddy is twice the price with the worst mpg (which matters now!??? Just kidding) so that is out?
Looks like the Vibetrix is small in the back by almost a foot.
That leaves the Maxx, Magnum and the 6.
I like the Magnum because it looks cool, and has a Hemi so if anybody asks, you can say yes.
I would fully endorse the 6, but the wagon version is slightly less stylish than the sedan. Still probably the most fun to drive (the Magnum might even beat it)
I would rate these options:
1: Magnum
2: 6
3: Vibetrix
4: Maxx - it just looks weird to me.
My opinion should have no bearing on the final decision.
Looks like the Vibetrix is small in the back by almost a foot.
That leaves the Maxx, Magnum and the 6.
I like the Magnum because it looks cool, and has a Hemi so if anybody asks, you can say yes.
I would fully endorse the 6, but the wagon version is slightly less stylish than the sedan. Still probably the most fun to drive (the Magnum might even beat it)
I would rate these options:
1: Magnum
2: 6
3: Vibetrix
4: Maxx - it just looks weird to me.
My opinion should have no bearing on the final decision.