So I am in the need of a new car or vehicle - help me choose

Long story short:

driving to river to go fishing 
lost 
another driver finds me randomly in the fog as I'm about to turn out to figure out where I am
bang, crash, pow! 
hit me in the driver side door...glass everywhere 
i'm fine, just scratches.  kayak is fine too! whew.
but oops, there he goes...driving away into the fog 
car totaled..need new (used) one

I had a bead on a nice volvo v70 xc this weekend but the guy sold it to someone else =(

here's what I'm looking for, see if it makes some sense:
wagon/suv/crossover
capable of being a daily commuter for me (65 miles/day each way) or wife (10 miles/day each way) so mpg is somewhat important
low roof so I can put the *#$^@ heavy marauder on top
factory roof should be able to accept either a yakima or thule j rack
fold down rear seats and long enough to sleep in since i sometimes will drive overnight to go fishing

with that much I've come up with the following:

Volvo V70 XC AWD
Subaru Outback Legacy AWD
VW Passat wagon (??)

any other ideas or fallacies with the above? 

I love my wimpy 07 Tacoma 2wd 4cyl...looks lame but gets almost 30 mpg and has taken me from the tip of baja to So. Oregon without twitching. It has a flat shell and is as low as the other rigs you're looking at but room for smelly wet junk.

Check out the Jeep Compass,
I was looking for a vehicle with the same criteria as you mentioned and came up with this;
Low roof, SUV styling, Room to sleep in back, 29 mpg., Towing capable

Many options out there. For loading kayaks, I love having a beater pickup with a lumber rack. I don't have to shoulder the boat, just lift the bow onto the rear cross bar, walk to the back of the yak and shove it forward. I put a little pvc roller on the bar to make it that much easier.

But you're after a different sort of vehicle, and since you asked about the Passat...

I have a Passat wagon, and so far, five years in, I love it. It's smooth, quiet, refined, fit and finish are very good. It has a wonderful little turbocharged four cylinder that makes 170 hp and delivers 30 mpg on the highway. It's not a sports car, but does pretty well. Leather seats make it "date worthy". There's an all wheel drive option available, but only with a bigger six cylinder engine, and it's a much heavier/pricier package. It has a factory rack, I'm sure you can add on Thule or Yakima as you wish.

Best,

Paul

I am a Honda convert, and am really enjoying the used 2000 CRV I bought. As soon as I get some yakima q towers it'll be great for yak hauling. The roof is a tad lower than my mazda B2500 with a shell.

Sorry to hear your car was destroyed...  Has happened a couple times to me as well!

I've seen some really great deals on Craigslist recently and I have been dreaming of a new fishing vehicle myself.  Have the commuter car already, so not that worried about the gas mileage if I am going to only use for trips and weekends. 

Been looking at Toyota 4runners, which it seems you can get from 2k-8k in fair conditions.  But I have seen many a 4cyl pickup truck go for around 2k on CL.

I had a 6 cly Toyota Tacoma (2000) and LOVED it! Used lumber racks to haul my yak(s) but got a camper shell later on for tentless camping trips...worked really well till scallen introduced me to the Euro Van by VW. Been very pleased with my decision to trade in the truck for the van. I now travel and sleep in comfort and have plenty of room for my toys There's so much to be said about being able to travel in a self contained / self sufficient vehicle even when the weather does not cooperate

Anyway, good luck on your decision!

I am a Honda convert, and am really enjoying the used 2000 CRV I bought. As soon as I get some yakima q towers it'll be great for yak hauling. The roof is a tad lower than my mazda B2500 with a shell.

Another CRV'r here. Gets almost 30 MPG hwy and enough room for gear. It's my fav yak hauler to date.

Z

Im sure you checked out this thread already, but if not....  It gives a rundown on some members and their vehicles.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,14071.0.html

I really enjoy my Audi A3, I think it satisfies all your criteria but one.  Split rear seats.  It gets decent enough mileage at about 24/30.  wish it had a factory rack but it takes a thule w/o any issue.  You can find A3's now in the low to mid 20's used on CL in the 2.0 version FWD.  Don't buy a 2006, get a 2007 or more recent.  If you can get the spring for an 3.2 AWD Quattro, totally go for it, otherwise the 2.0 FWD is still a real firecracker.  I like the body on the A3's, as far as subwagons go.  Very low roof , especially in S-line package with sport suspension.  So super easy on ye ole' lordotic curve.

But unless your 5'2", ain't no one sleeping in THAT trunk comfortably, even with the seats down.  It ain't made for sleeping, that's for sure.  But i've spent a night or two in the front seat laid all the way back, including the night before Elk, to take advantage of the seat warmers.  No holiday inn, but it'll git 'er done in a pinch.

corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
toyota      toyota   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
toyota      toyota   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
toyota      toyota   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
toyota      toyota   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer
toyota      toyota   +  tiny trailer
corolla      corolla   +  tiny trailer

$12-13,000 for the car...and 28 (town) 35-38 (hwy) thereafter.
$250..........for the trailer.........you can haul many boats...
you can haul 20-foot 4x8's...2x12's...full plywood sheets...
you can haul firewood...you can put a contractors lock-box
on the trailer and have "lockable space" for ancillary gear.

No theory here.
I's what I have.
I love it (squared).

would never go back to an ASTRO van....or anything.

Judd

I worked for Toyota's for three years as a service manager...  Every car they make is great.  Especially the Tacoma like sbd said.
We serviced 5000 cars a month.  Mostly maintenance since Toyota's are soooooo reliable.  I'll never buy another car.  The highlander and rav4 are real nice also.  I've been in so many vehicles over the years and Toyota is so good.  I've seen tacomas running strong with half a million miles on them.  At my dealer if you offer a hundred over invoice on most cars you'll get it.  good luck

Bassman.......the Corolla comes pre-drilled and tapped for a trailer bar.
$80 off-the-shelf item.

OK.....they make tent-trailers, small and light.
Kayak fit fine on tent-trailer.

I mean, I'm not sell'in toyotas or corollas or trailers.......
I just find that sedan-mileage is good.
I find that a small trailer with good low profile does not raise the gas mlleage.

Judd

GF is looking to sell her Toyota Pick up, it is a 1995 ( I think) extended cab. 2WD, 5 spd, pwr, AC, with 110,000 on it.  This is set up for camping/kayaking.  It is a decent Man/kayacking vehicle.  We build a plywood build up in the bed which we refer to as the "plywood storage system.  She went on a tour of the US after she finished grad school. the set up allows you to store your plastic bins in the truck and still be secure.  I thought about buying it when gas was pushing $5, but gas came down and I like the room my F-150 gives me.  I am not sure what she was going to ask for it, or if she was going to sell the Thule Rack system with it.  I will try to find out more.

PS The Volvo's are starting to get some bad rap's on some of the blogs out there.  I figured that would happen after Ford bought them out.  Same with Saab, I can't believe how badly GM screwed that car company up.

The only thing I know about the newer subaru's is to always watch your tire pressure. The tires on the new sub's can be pricey!

Other than that my subaru-owning frineds love theirs, so congratulations!