Greetings all,

I have a 1991 Corolla DX Wagon (5 sp manual) with which I have been
exceedingly happy over the last 15 years. Incredibly reliable and cost
effective. Just reached 99,000 miles (I walk and cycle a lot).

I am now ready to replace it with a car which has airbags, ABS and in
general is more new. I think the clutch might be starting to slip on
this car, and I don't want to sink @ $1000 into replacing it (the cost
according to a Toyota mech).

Unfortunately Toyota decided to discontinue the Corolla Wagon (and the
Camry Wagon too) otherwise my choice would be easy. (Is 1996 the last
year the Wagon was available?)

The Matrix just doesn't appeal to me, so reluctantly I am looking for
alternatives.

So far I am considering the following wagons:

Subaru Impreza Wagon
Subaru Outback Sport
Audi A3
Mazda 5? 6?
Ford Focus Wagon(?)

Any others that would equal my Corolla Wagon? I really wish Toyota
would not have discontinued this great car. If Toyota made one
still today, I'd buy one tomorrow w/o hesitations.

Thanks,
Esmail

ps: I am really shocked to discover that mpgs for cars have not
improved much during the last 15 years. I regularly get 36 mpg on
the highway with my Wagon, but I can't seem to find any wagon like
it now. Most wagons I see now have mpgs in the middle to high 20s
at best.