Storz
Dork
1/12/16 8:58 a.m.
The Fusion thread got me thinking, we should do a thread about wagons! So I pose this to GRM, what "modern" wagons are out there in the USA that could be still used as a do everything daily driver for a family man, and have a touch of sportiness to them? I know that Chevelle Wagon is awesome, but for *most of us we're looking for something a little newer.
*I realize this is GRM ;)
My contribution to the list - the Saab 9-5 AERO Wagon
It's not perfect (nothing is) but I found my answer to that question for now:
Dodge Magnum. With the Hemi, they can be quite fun.
In reply to Storz, dculberson:
Apparently, they need to be silver.
Mazda5 falls somewhere between wagon and minivan. Leaves a bit to be desired in the HP department, but its fun enough being tossed into corners, moreso than every other minivan and maybe even many wagons.
NGTD
UltraDork
1/12/16 9:13 a.m.
This is mine and it will be for sale soon. Selling to fund a rally car!
I'm actively looking for a 5-series BMW wagon with a manual transmission and the inline six. I've seen one for sale locally in maybe 3 months. It was fairly high miles and pricey. Go figure.
RealMiniParker wrote:
In reply to Storz, dculberson:
Apparently, they need to be silver.
All the ones around Atlanta apparently had 22" chrome wheels as OEM fitment. I lusted after these HARD for years but I've finally given up. Apparently they do NOT age well.
I had one of these with a VR6 and a stick:
It was fun until the usual VW gremlins showed up, then I cursed DukeOfUndersteer with it for a price he couldn't pass up.
What wagons do BMW, Audi, and Mercedes still sell here in the US?
Edit: how have we gone 9 posts without mentioning Volvo
These are often overlooked. We have a Volvo V50 T5 wagon. They were available AWD or FWD, automatic or manual. It's been great.
(not mine...)
The V70R has always been on my "want" list:
the timing chain setup in a 4.2 V8 S4 Avants scares me, but because of this design the cars are quite cheap. Sounds amazing, and proper manual with Quattro. Yum. B6's and B7's are modern enough to DD.
just keep fingers crossed you don't have to do this, close to a $4K job even as a DIY:
A bit of a Unicorn, but the Legacy GT manual wagon fits the bill as well. One year only (2005?) I believe...:
Although the Allroad was awesome, due to some life changes this is my current wagon. 280+ hp, AWD, handles well enough for a 4000 lb beast.
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If your wallet agrees, it doesn't get much better than a CTS-V wagon. 6-speed, Recaros, and burnouts on demand.
Can we consider the Toyota Matrix XRS/Pontiac Vibe GT a small wagon?
I don't think there's a better all-around wagon out there than a Volvo V90 with an LS swap, but that's not exactly modern.
For my tastes, the VAGs are too unreliable, the Caddy too small, the Subarus not luxurious enough, and the Saabs are well, a Saab.
But if I win the powerball I know what I'm buying.
or maybe the previous generation.
Well... not as modern or sporty as the euro wagons in this thread but I think I would still have a roadmaster.
bastomatic wrote:
I don't think there's a better all-around wagon out there than a Volvo V90 with an LS swap, but that's not exactly modern.
Except maybe an E39 Touring with an LS swap:
But part of me still wants to go all Fox-body parts bin on a Fairmont:
I will have to find some pics of the wife's 9-3 sportcombi manual. It would be so sweet with +1 rims, and some chassis bracing.
The CTS wagons are legit. Long and flat enough in back for a six footer to sleep. Can carry 800lbs of flooring.
The 3.6 is more GRM priced than the V and you can get it in AWD for snow country, but the V is better.
NGTD
UltraDork
1/12/16 10:34 a.m.
xflowgolf wrote:
These are often overlooked. We have a Volvo V50 T5 wagon. They were available AWD or FWD, automatic or manual. It's been great.
(not mine...)
I don't know about where you are but try to find a V50 T5, AWD, Manual. I tried before I bought my Golf. I found precisely 1 in 4 months of looking at it had way high KM on it.
The W123 300TD is the best all-round wagon I've ever driven. It's large inside, easy to drive, has great sightlines, is fairly safe (MB crash tested them, back in the 70's, before anyone was doing crash testing) and fun to drive slow. Electrical issues won't strand you, although getting the HVAC to work properly is a real issue. Still, just look at it: