I'm not getting an outback. Forrester would be nice. Hadn't thought of the Impreza. Do they still have the 2.2 liter engine with the head gasket problems?
Aint getting a Merc either.
Just getting out of a 2013 Ford Focus - standard transmission so I was spared all the problems people have with the automatics. That doesn't mean that the radio didn't break twice or that the passenger doors wouldn't lock. But that's another story for a different website. Bike fit in the back though with the wheels on.
RAV4, CRV, Venza is a little bigger. Maybe an older Explorer. Need to carry pine straw, mulch, etc.
Looking at a 2010 and up, maybe spend $20k-ish.