My '89 740 sedan is due for retirement soon, after I hit the magical 200k (I promised myself that when we bought the car 5 years ago. I know, I know, it can go further...).

Don't crucify me - but I can't make up my mind between a used 850 wagon and a used Subaru Legacy AWD wagon.

The 850's got at least 168hp, rock-solid safety, and it's a brand I know and love. But it's also going to be a pain to find a decent one with TRACS (we live in the mountains, plenty of snow and such), and it's got a reliability record that does not match up to the Legacy. Specifically, you people are scaring the hell out of me with tranny woes and evap worries. I will not be able to buy a car that will require another $2200 of repairs 6 months after I buy it.

The Legacy's got rock-solid reliability, a lower purchase price, all wheel drive, and brand loyalty which seems to run high, presumably for a reason. But it's also got a meager 135hp (still, up from the 114hp the 740 sedan's got...), and a safety record that is above average, but obviously below the 850's. I will not be able to look at myself in the mirror if my wife and kids get in a major accident, and something terrible happens, only because I was too worried about having to spend another $2200 for repairs 6 months after I bought the car.

A sick, twisted compromise of sorts would be to pick up a used Lincoln Towncar, get the safety, above average reliability, and give up the wagon idea, without giving up ALL the extra room that comes with a wagon. I've secretly always wanted one of these, but since I'm only 28 years old, hardly matching the correct Towncar demographics, I've never dared voice this longing. Still, how could 100,000 senior citizens be wrong?

Thoughts, anyone? Thanks in advance.