Subaru Wagon and/or Honda Element question

[Ned B]

Hey Subaru wagon or Honda Element Owners... I'm in the market for a reasonable grocery getter as a 2nd or 'work' vehicle. Only catch is, It Must be able to easily fit two 8' long photo backgrounds (on tubes) inside (or on a custom built roof rack). Will they fit inside in a late 90's to current Subi Wagon or Element? Diagonal is fine, they just have to fit without being too obnoxious.
Or any other smaller economical wagon? Jetta, Volvo, old Mercedes... (getting out of economical, but if I snag a diesel Mercedes wagon, I'd move up..)

 

[fnjeep314]

I have an 05 Outback Wagon XT. With the back seats folded down, I think that you could easily fit something that is 8ft long diagonally. I also get 23-24mpg on the highway, and 19-20 in the city. Mine is the turbo'ed version, my wife has the non-turbo Subaru wagon and she gets 23-24mpg in the city and 28-30mpg on the highway. This is all with crappy CA gas. You could add about 2-3mpg for non-CA gas.