If you can find a 96+ Volvo 850 wagon 5 speed or a 98 (stay away from 99+, too many electronics) Volvo V70 5 speed wagon. Either would have to be 5 speed manual 5 cylinder 2.5 liter non turbo with 170hp. Don't worry about miles on the odometer as long as it has a service history. These cars are dirt cheap right now because everyone seems to think volvos are heavy, inefficient and expensive to maintain. Far from it.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1996/vol...36/prices.html
Wagons have a CD of .32, FWD and much easier to maintain and work on than any other European car if you know how to turn a wrench. If you leaves all the work to a "professional" mechanic, they will take you to the cleaners. At 65mph we average 33mpg and 25mpg city on 87 octane. The leather on high end models tends to fall apart so look for cloth seats which are much more durable. The fewer the options, the more reliable its going to be.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/1996/vol...136/specs.html
All have front and side airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, ABS and traction control. Theres enough room in the back to comfortably sleep 2 people with the rear seats folded down or fit 4 bicycles on their side.
On our camping trip last week we averaged 28.8mpg with a loaded car driving 300 miles up and down highway 1 along the Mendocino and Sonoma county coast.
