Wagon Battle: Low Mileage Family Hauler Edition

"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
10/29/2015 at 00:57 • Filed to: None

Two wagons: both from the ‘90s, and both with a similar mission: be more practical than their sedan counterparts. However, these two ultra-clean wagons each tackle this mission with a different approach. Let the battle begin:

Both wagons wear aerodynamic styling, but the Taurus has the slight (rounded) edge. Both wagons utilized the the first generation of their respective platforms, with refreshed styling. The Legacy arguably made the bigger leap in styling from the previous generation, but the Taurus was sleeker from the beginning. The rear is a different story. Personally, I find the wrap-around taillights and blacked-out d-pillars of the Legacy more attractive.

Both interiors look like fairly pleasant places to be. The dashboard of the Taurus does look a little cheap thanks to the airbag cover seams (and other seams), but you do get a genuine front bench seat.

The back seats are actually fairly similar. They both look fairly comfortable. However, the Legacy offers two rear headrests, sculpted (sort of) seat bottoms, and a pull-out armrest. I won’t comment on rear leg room, since I’m not sure how the front seats are adjusted.

The Taurus has a larger cargo capacity. This makes sense; the Taurus is a bigger wagon. However, with the seats down, the difference is noticeable: 83 cu ft vs 69.6 cu ft. The width at the widest point in the back doesn’t look to be that different, thanks to the location of the spare tire in the Taurus.

The other big comparison are the engines and drivetrains. This Taurus has the 3.8L Essex V6, good for 140 hp and 215 ft-lbs of torque. Meanwhile, this Legacy has the 2.2L EJ22 good for 135 hp and 139 ft-lbs of torque. Keep in mind, the Taurus is ~300 lbs heavier (looking at max weights). Both use a 4-speed automatic, but the Legacy has AWD.

Now, the deciding factor: mileage and price. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has 53,000 km (33,000 miles) and is listed for $6,190 USD. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has 33,000 km (21,000 miles) and is listed for $1,190 USD.

I know what I would choose, but it isn’t an easy decision. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Taurus wagon in such great shape, but I don’t think I could say no to the price of the Legacy. Is the Taurus really $4,000 more wagon?

What’s your choice?

DISCUSSION (36)

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:00

3.8 V6 Tauruses have been known to blow headgaskets due to a manufacturing messup supposedly.

bob and john > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:01

subaru, by far

Boxer_4 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
10/29/2015 at 01:02

If the Legacy was an EJ25, then we would really have a fair comparison...

Boxer_4 > bob and john
10/29/2015 at 01:06

With that price and mileage, no doubt.

Still, I can’t help but be a little nostalgic for the Taurus wagon. We used to have one a long time ago.

DrJohannVegas > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:07

Only one of these was featured in the greatest car ad ever:

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:08

Legacy. I'd spend the 4 grand on a crashed WRX to swap into the Legazy.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:08

that’s indeed true. My parents had a taurus like the one pictured. it didn’t go well with us at all.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:33

Fun comparison. My dad bought one of those Taurus wagons new in 1993. It gave us nothing but problems and it wasn’t even that great of a car to drive or live with. Only bright spot was the torque from the 3.8 could get it off the line pretty good. When all 6 cylinder actually were firing anyway. Sold it in 1995. I can’t even imagine owning one now. I know the miles are low, and I don’t know how the owner has kept it from rusting into onlivion, but total CP at that price. I’d take the slower, smaller Subaru any day, even if the asking price on the Taurus was the same.

But as neat as it is to find low mileage old cars, if I was on a tight budget and needed a wagon I'd be looking for a Mazda6 first.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:43

Maybe it’s because our Taurus wagon sucked, but I’m not nostalgic for it at all. As an Outback owner, I’m nostalgic for real Legacy wagons. Seriously if Subaru had a Legacy wagon 2 years ago I would have bought one and if they came out with one tomorrow I’d probably trade my Outback in.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:44

Why are all old Subaru wagons red? I remember them existing in lots of colors when they were new but all the ones I see on the road any more are red or sometimes forest green. Where did they rest of the colors go?

Boxer_4 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
10/29/2015 at 01:48

I think we had ours 4 years. It was totaled before any longevity issues appeared.

Boxer_4 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
10/29/2015 at 01:51

That’s a good plan, but I don’t think I could tear into that Legacy.

There is something intriguing about an all original, super low mileage car like that.

Amoore100 > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 01:56

Are you kidding me? $5K less for a car with fewer miles, better reliability, a nicer interior, and likely drives better? How is this even a choice? Leggy wins all day any day. Still, I’d rather have a pristine 200K mile 850 wagon and drive it to the moon and back. High mileage is not always a bad thing :D

Boxer_4 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/29/2015 at 02:01

I was still quite young when we had our 1994 Taurus wagon, so I don’t remember much of it. I don’t believe we had any major issues with it, but it was totaled when it was ~4 years old. I believe ours was the 3.0L Vulcan though.

It turns out that the Mazda6 wagons (Atenza) is also quite cheap with low miles over there. Even cheaper than the Taurus.

Boxer_4 > Amoore100
10/29/2015 at 02:05

I never said it was a fair comparison ;)

I would much rather have the Legacy, too, but the opportunity to compare two cars that are very rarely (if ever) seen in near mint condition was too great to pass up.

Boxer_4 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
10/29/2015 at 02:11

I still see Taupe on occasion, but you’re right; it’s almost always Spruce Green, Ruby Red and Winestone that you see anymore. I guess they just sold a lot of them?

Shift24 > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 02:31

Ill take this over both of these. 5 speed, 140hp, and right around 3000lbs.

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/detail…

Kinja'd!!!

Noah - Now with more boost. > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 02:41

The legacy! I learned to drive in a 5 speed Outback so I’m biased. WRX swap + 2” body lift = budget adventure rig!

Amoore100 > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 02:42

The best I can do in terms of low mileage wagons is this 26K mile 1985 Maxima wagon for a tad under $7K ...still, pretty well preserved for 30 years young :)

Kinja'd!!!

Dat 80’s-tastic Nissan interior!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 04:27

Subaru!

deekster_caddy > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 06:27

Having worked on a few Taurii, I wouldn’t go near one. But I’ve never been a big fan of 90’s fords, so I have a bias. The 3.8 is a lot better than the 3.0 Ford put in the sedans. You’ll save a lot of fuel with the subie.

It’s a little alarming that the milage and price are so low on the subie though. Something seems wrong there.

deekster_caddy > DrJohannVegas
10/29/2015 at 06:28

good lord. I remember when that was on TV. Have some emphasis! Who is the enthusiastic vocalist?

Master Cylinder > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 06:32

Legacy for me. The Taurus is maybe slightly nicer but that price difference, plus the better styling and AWD of the Legacy make this one pretty easy for me.

shop-teacher > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 07:23

I was all set to pick the Taurus, because it has a third rear facing bench seat, until I saw the price. That is a mega crack pipe price!

functionoverfashion > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 08:18

This seems like a stupidly easy choice, with the price difference. They’re both almost new in terms of mileage. That might be the lowest-mileage Legacy on Earth right now. Maybe the same for the Taurus? But $1,200 would get you a rusted out piece of s*** with 150,000 miles around here. That seems like a steal for $1,200.

jjhats > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 08:31

neither is reliable. I would be in the legacy cuz when it blows up your only out 1500 bucks

Pixel > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 09:19

I have owned versions of both cars(‘91 taurus, ‘96 outback).

Taurus wins hands down on interior volume, seating(8 with the third row flipped up), and ride comfort.

Legacy/outback wins on winter driving, and reliability(by not much though, given I drove the taurus longer and abused it harder).

Amusing note, the taurus pictured has the rare “picnic table” option in the back. Part of the cargo floor flipped back into a table, complete with drink holders. I retrofitted one into my wagon, and found it completely useless for anything but really confusing people.

Kinja'd!!!

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 09:56

Griswold wagon>Subby wagon

but you’re right it’s hard to justify the price difference so I’d get the subby as well. But if they were both the same price I’d get the Taurus.

Kinja'd!!!

Boxer_4 > Amoore100
10/29/2015 at 13:48

That’s a nice find!

Boxer_4 > Pixel
10/29/2015 at 13:56

That picnic table is amusing...

The interior volume was impressive in the Taurus. I seem to recall that we fit a two person glider chair at one point. It was a tight fit, but it did fit. The separately opening rear glass was also a nice touch. I think our only gripe with the cargo capacity was how tapered the aerodynamic rear hatch was. The cargo area could have been even more useful if the hatch was a little more squared off.

Boxer_4 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
10/29/2015 at 14:01

I always found it amusing that Ford went to the trouble of designing this modern looking, aerodynamic wagon, and then equipped it with wood paneling.

Boxer_4 > deekster_caddy
10/29/2015 at 14:07

The 3.0 Vulcan wasn’t great. We had one in our wagon, and my grandfather had one in his ‘00 sedan.

There is no odometer picture on the Legacy, but I don’t doubt the reading based on the overall condition of what I can see. Someone must have bought it and just didn’t drive it much. The prices of used cars in Japan that don’t have a cult following or aren’t Kei cars are ridiculous. The Legacy is definitely one of those cars. There are a couple listed (by different sellers) around those miles and price.

Boxer_4 > Noah - Now with more boost.
10/29/2015 at 14:09

I like your thinking, but I don’t think I could tear into that Legacy with that few miles.

Boxer_4 > shop-teacher
10/29/2015 at 14:14

There’s a ‘95 Taurus LX wagon on AutoTrader right now that supposedly has 18,000 miles. It’s only $2,900, and in the correct country, too!

(no pictures, unfortunately).

Pixel > Boxer_4
10/29/2015 at 14:17

Ford didn’t. The Taurus was never offered with wood paneling. They added that for the movie.

Boxer_4 > Pixel
10/29/2015 at 15:08

Huh, you’re right. I could have sworn that I had seen at least one (on the road) with fake wood paneling before.