What's the best estate car ever?

[Z06George]

If we're allowed one offs then this...

If not phase 1 V70R.

[jimbop1]

gaz1234 said:

m sport 135i

It's an M135i.

[TimJMS]

There is only one, and its been mentioned several times.

[sjabrown]

sawman said:

This had to be well up the list:

Another vote for a DS Safari. Not fast, but so so comfortable and don't look their near 50 years of age.

[Tiger or lion]

Stagea R35 or R34

[va1o]

E61 M5

[Clivey]

sjabrown said:

...and don't look their near 50 years of age.

Sorry - although I really appreciate them, I have to disagree with that. To my eye, the Safari just isn't as well-resolved as the saloon and cabrio and has aged more quickly as a result.

[redtwin]

Urban Sports said:

This.

I quickly scrolled through the thread to see if anyone else knew what the best estate car ever is.

So happy to see that you, me and Clark aren't swayed by big wheeled wannabees.

[graeme4130]

StottyEvo said:

This car makes me wish I was 40



Oddly I wouldn't entertain the saloon version. If I had a family with kids and a dog I'd have bought one new and kept it forever. Beautiful

4.2 v8 with a 8200rpm rev limit

Why 40?

I've owner both b7 and b8 Avant rs4's, and although I'm possibly in the minority, I prefer the b8 all day long

Not driven an e61 m5 estate, but had an e60 m5 and didn't get on with it at all (in fact, it wax the shortest I've ever owned a car)

If money was no object, an FF Ferrari is a stunning bit of kit

[GeordieInExile]

A500leroy said:

http://www.parts-specs.com/photos/0650173-Volvo-24...


Surely the mighty Volvo 240?

The car that pops into my head whenever someone says 'estate'.

[BarbaricAvatar]

The whole point of an estate is extra space. A lot of the specials mentioned have a capacity barely bigger than the average family hatch, so are completely pointless as estates.

The most capacious i've encountered was an S210 Mercedes E-Class:

[Colonial]

Saab 9-5 aero

[Coatesy351]

Might be a tad thirsty in the UK.

[gizlaroc]

BarbaricAvatar said:

The whole point of an estate is extra space. A lot of the specials mentioned have a capacity barely bigger than the average family hatch, so are completely pointless as estates.

The most capacious i've encountered was an S210 Mercedes E-Class:

Yeah, best for load space without a doubt..

Big square boot...



Loads of room even with the seats up....



But the 211 is not that much smaller and still feels modern enough now and has that Merc feel which the new one misses out on.

[Harji]

No mention of the Subaru Legacy? Mine was ultra reliable, and comfortable, and judging by the amount of ancient Legacy's I saw in the California mountains packed to rafters (reliable, did I say that before) and able to transport heavy goods for many many years.

[Sir Fergie]

All road version of the current A6 look interesting to my eyes.

Other candidates - the 504 was already mentioned - so I feel like giving an honourable mention to its successor the 505.

Octavia Scout

Legacy Outback

Mk 4 Mondeo Estate - 2.5 t for extra sleeper appeal

Last but not least - I think 406 HDi merits mention.

No one has mentioned the Xantia yet - so I will

[cptsideways]

I'd have one of these, huge, cool & has a chassis. The Hilux of road cars, though they had a propensity to rust quite a lot so not many left

[steviegunn]

Surely it this:



Or does it fail for starting life as an ambulance?

[FBP1]

Another vote for the CX Estate - I had one as a surf wagon/ party bus for a few years and it was marvellous.

Re the DS - I think these have the potential to be another split screen VW type classic in coming years . They look great with the roof rack on and still have great ideas like the split tailgate, seats that fold down into / out of the floor and that magic carpet ride.

I will admit to a bias though - my old man was the Citroen distributor for S Wales back in the 60/70's so we had a never ending stream of these cars for a while.

Hopeless early fabric covered hydraulics finished the rep though, although that was sorted with the later systems. I would now give anything for one of the rare decapotable ds's for my ultimate garage.

Edited by FBP1 on Tuesday 29th July 10:17

Edited by FBP1 on Tuesday 29th July 10:18

[StottyEvo]

graeme4130 said:

StottyEvo said:

This car makes me wish I was 40



Oddly I wouldn't entertain the saloon version. If I had a family with kids and a dog I'd have bought one new and kept it forever. Beautiful

4.2 v8 with a 8200rpm rev limit

Why 40?

I've owner both b7 and b8 Avant rs4's, and although I'm possibly in the minority, I prefer the b8 all day long

Not driven an e61 m5 estate, but had an e60 m5 and didn't get on with it at all (in fact, it wax the shortest I've ever owned a car)

If money was no object, an FF Ferrari is a stunning bit of kit

Because at my current age and maturity it doesn't meet my requirements, I'd drive it far too hard and I don't have a garage to store it in yet It would be wasted on me!

Was the M5 an auto by any chance? Fabulous car, except for the SMG III being the worst gearbox I've ever experianced