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Pros: Wagon convenience, sedan ride
Cons: 'Loose tooth' shifter knob
Advice: Buy the wagon, get small SUV convenience for half the price
Few true small wagons (not hatchbacks) remain in the market, so I went to test drive one. For the price it is an extremely good deal. People will pay twice as much for a wagon on stilts - a car-based SUV. The car rode well, but the variable steering took a little getting used to. The engine had more kick than I had expected, and the wagon didn't appear any less powerful than the Reno that shares the same engine. For the ultimate bang for your buck, the wagon makes more sense than the sedan or Reno hatch. Too bad people can't see past the stigma. The new model has OBDII as of 2006, so diagnosing any problems will be much easier than it was for 2005 Forenza owners. I've got mine on order.