Need a new car...25K

Well, I've done the seats 4 and a dog thing with my 03 Subaru Outback for some time now and it fits the bill very well. Only thing outstanding about the car is the AWD system. Fit and finish is better than average. Engine is rough, power marginal, but economy is great. $25 K probably won't buy a new one, but you probably will get low mileage, 1 year old. Don't buy one if you are big. I'm 6' and 220 lbs and this thing feels like a roller skate. Also don't buy one if you can't do the repairs yourself, or trust your independant mechanic implicitly. Subaru dealer support stinks. One thing I do like about the car is that it is more carlike than trucklike considering the SUV status. Seats 4 and a dog puts you in an SUV. Don't even consider a sedan or a truck.

My .02.