Best fast car to carry bikes, any recommendations?

[onespeed]

Recommendations please!

Ive always had 2 cars the weekend toy; (currently 996 Cab, previously 964rs, 944 turbo...) and a daily cheapie (currently A6 Avant 1.9tdi 156k). However I now commute to London by train and hardly drive the 996 as most weekends Im cycling (MTBing or road riding -triathlon). The missus is now pregnant so using the 911 is likely to be even less likely, Ive come to realise that I need one car which can carry 2 bikes inside comfortably without too much hassle (the A6 can take 2 MTBs stood up with the front wheels out and the forks mounted in the spare wheel well) so I can have fun whilst driving to where Im riding.

My current thoughts are:

2003 RS6
2001 RS4
BMW 5 Series touring (shame no M5)
Cayenne s (not really my thing)

Im struggling for other ideas, I really only like German cars (definitely no Japanese stuff) and would rather buy something at least 4 years old to avoid massive depreciation.
Right now Im quite keen on an RS6, just a little scared of the fuel economy and not sure whether they have the battery in the spare wheel stopping me mounting my bikes in the car!

What are others out there driving??
Simon

[CraigW]

I currently have a 2003 RS6 and previous to that had a 2001 RS4, as a load carrier the RS6 feels much bigger, particularly for back seat passengers.

[onespeed]

Thanks

Which one is more fun to drive and is there a notable difference in fuel consumption/running costs?

[WildCards]

Some Merc AMG estate thing to complete your list, although I doubt it'll compare to the Audi or BMW. Come on, it's got to be an RS6 shirley?

[CraigW]

onespeed said:

Thanks

Which one is more fun to drive and is there a notable difference in fuel consumption/running costs?

HMM, hard to say, I dont see a descernable difference in fuel but in repairs etc, get a warranty, I'd say the RS6 much more costly.

Fun to drive, the RS4 felt more nimble but the RS6 is so effortlessly rapid, starting again I'd go RS6 every time.

[mk1fan]

'Most fun to drive'

Well as a driver's car it'll be the 5-series Touring. Although in everyday driving on the public roads the Audi's. All down to personal choice as to what you want from your car. But, in reality, they're all big heavy cruisers.

Personally, I'd go for the RS4 but they ain't that big for an estate car. The current A4 Avant is smaller than the current Golf Estate!

[Stedman]

Why do u say Shame no M5?

Although they do have the puny fuel tank, so lots of fill ups as u blast down to morzine/les gets!


E55/63 would do nicely.

Or dare i say it...535D!

[Pheedbak]

ya know m5 tourings not a bad idea .. also did you specify a budget?

Phil (moutain biking leg end)

[threesixty]

Im in the same boat for my next wagon.

Subaru Forester? lots of space, same underpinnings as the impreza and they certainly have some go.

Im currently leaning towards something smaller but with a towbar, towbar racks are excellent. Then making sure that I can fit a couple of bikes in the interior when strictly nessecary, hopefully save me some bother keeping the thing clean.

[PomBstard]

threesixty said:

Im in the same boat for my next wagon.

Subaru Forester? lots of space, same underpinnings as the impreza and they certainly have some go.

Im currently leaning towards something smaller but with a towbar, towbar racks are excellent. Then making sure that I can fit a couple of bikes in the interior when strictly nessecary, hopefully save me some bother keeping the thing clean.

I use a Forester - turbo is quick but they're not that big in the back when half of it is taken by baby seat! Which is why I use a roofrack. 3.0-ltr Liberty/Legacy is an alternative, but I'd be having a 5-series wagon if I could get one out here with a manual box.

[onespeed]

Budget 25-35k
The M5 touring is only about 1 year old so wont yet fit in my budget, dont think the earlier model was available as a touring?

[digger_R]

E34 was I'm not sure about the E39 though, you'll have to shop in Euroland to get one easily

http://www.autoscout24.de/List.aspx?vis=1&stat...

[Stedman]

E39 was never produced as an estate...although i vaguely remember hearing that the head of M div. had the only one ever made.

[Chris71]

I've just been pondering this (in the realms of fantasy I'm afraid) and I came to the conclusion the M5 Touring was the best candidate if money is little object. Otherwise, have you thought about the MG ZT-T or a 'basic' BMW 540?

Some meanderings on my blog if anyone's interested: http://chriscarblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/top-five-...

[onespeed]

MGZ-T? You cant be serious?! My friends would never talk to me again and my wife would divorce me!

540i Touring worth looking at. Current M5 touring looks good, but I want to buy something that has done most of its depreciation. The RS6 has lost about 40k in 4 years....

[Chris71]

onespeed said:

MGZ-T? You cant be serious?! My friends would never talk to me again and my wife would divorce me!

540i Touring worth looking at. Current M5 touring looks good, but I want to buy something that has done most of its depreciation. The RS6 has lost about 40k in 4 years....

Why not?

It's got a meaty V8, rear wheel drive. Admittedly if you're interested in posing or bragging rights its kudos amongst those who aren't in the know and its statistics won't do much for you. However, they're supposed to be a riot to drive. Not the fastest way of getting from A to B (although I suspect it would show an old 540i a clean pair of heels), but good fun.

[CraigW]

take a decent RS6 for a decent drive and your search will be over, as I mentioned previously not as nible as an RS4 BUT, I have a road in wales that I know very well and have driven many many times, 10 miles of twists, sweeping bends and long straights, I know every inch, every bump, camber, pothole. I have driven the RS4 and the RS6 along it very late at night over christmas, I wasnt hanging around, the RS6 was quicker.

Incidentally and this may be down to driver skill, I dont proclaim to be the best driver on the planet but I'm reasonable..so..

The RS6 was also quicker on this road than Maserati 3200, F348 GTS, TVR Griffith 500, lotus elise 111s, Porsche 996, Impreza P1

Good luck & enjoy your search!

[Pheedbak]

onespeed said:

MGZ-T? You cant be serious?! My friends would never talk to me again and my wife would divorce me!

540i Touring worth looking at. Current M5 touring looks good, but I want to buy something that has done most of its depreciation. The RS6 has lost about 40k in 4 years....

Its ok mate ill still talk to you as long as you keep fixing my bike

[onespeed]

Yep, discussed with the wife. Rover=divorce....

Re. RS6, I think I will definitely be getting one.
Please could someone post a photo of the RS6 spare wheel well, is the battery mounted there? The reason I ask is there is kit you can buy from Audi which allows you to mount the forks from your MTB there to carry 2 bikes; Ive copied this and fabricated it from some wood for my A6 Avant which cost me about £2, keen to fit this to the RS6.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/gl/gallery/gallery/15...

[Dave 500]

onespeed said:

Please could someone post a photo of the RS6 spare wheel well, is the battery mounted there?

The battery is indeed in the wheel well no spare on the RS6 just a can of goo and a compresser