Estate vs Saloon
Discussion
Bit of a random question...
Considering my next car (probably something like an e39)
I rarely use my boot, but although it's large, the opening makes it difficult to get large objects in there.
Besides the obvious difference (more loadspace) any other advantages / disadvantages of an estate over a saloon?
Specifically thinking handling, fuel economy, weight distribution, NVH, etcetcetc.
Considering my next car (probably something like an e39)
I rarely use my boot, but although it's large, the opening makes it difficult to get large objects in there.
Besides the obvious difference (more loadspace) any other advantages / disadvantages of an estate over a saloon?
Specifically thinking handling, fuel economy, weight distribution, NVH, etcetcetc.
After getting an estate years ago, I'd now always get estates - never had a security related problem, and I like the flexibility of load space, folding rear seats, and rear wash wipe 
Never had a problem with NVH or handling on my current 328i, might notice it more on a more sporty machine?
Never had a problem with NVH or handling on my current 328i, might notice it more on a more sporty machine?bmw tourers are often a bit more expensive.
there is a little more chance of rust in my experience around the top of the boot in the touring, but then usually less in the boot tyre well.
IIRC the e36 touring has better weight distribution than the saloon, this may be the same with the e39.
easier to get dead bodies into the touring, though harder to conceal once in there.
there is a little more chance of rust in my experience around the top of the boot in the touring, but then usually less in the boot tyre well.
IIRC the e36 touring has better weight distribution than the saloon, this may be the same with the e39.
easier to get dead bodies into the touring, though harder to conceal once in there.
All of my decent BMWs have been Tourers except two, that two were a 1 series hatch and M3 Coupe
I will likely never buy a saloon BMW nor any other type of car where there is an estate counterpart, as a saloon just doesn't fit in with our lifestyle
FWIW I also prefer the look of 99% of estates over their saloon counterparts
I will likely never buy a saloon BMW nor any other type of car where there is an estate counterpart, as a saloon just doesn't fit in with our lifestyle
FWIW I also prefer the look of 99% of estates over their saloon counterparts
I had two E39 saloons and one Touring and the Touring was the best of the bunch. I had heehaw to put in it mind, mid twenties with no family, dogs or requirement for carting stuff about but still I loved it.
I don't believe it was any noisier than the saloon either though this may change for more leggy examples. I found the tourer handled better too, but again that may be down to a comparison of specimens of varying conditions!
I doubt you'd regret plumping for the hearse.
Edited to include a note about the Tourings air suspension. I replaced most of it (except the compressor) just before 70k. My mighty subframe bushes were well shot by then. Ride quality and handling before and after was night and day. An expense you'll be spared on the saloon.
I don't believe it was any noisier than the saloon either though this may change for more leggy examples. I found the tourer handled better too, but again that may be down to a comparison of specimens of varying conditions!
I doubt you'd regret plumping for the hearse.
Edited to include a note about the Tourings air suspension. I replaced most of it (except the compressor) just before 70k. My mighty subframe bushes were well shot by then. Ride quality and handling before and after was night and day. An expense you'll be spared on the saloon.
Edited by Crombers on Tuesday 3rd January 21:53
For many cars the saloon looks better. It also has a safer boot compartment but realistically, if you want something from the car, the fact it is a saloon wont deter you.
Saloons are less practical, so they suggest you enjoy driving.
Aside from that, why the hell isn't every car an estate, like in the efficency driven world that is germany :P
Saloons are less practical, so they suggest you enjoy driving.
Aside from that, why the hell isn't every car an estate, like in the efficency driven world that is germany :P
I run around in a BMW tourer(e91)
Always thought I would never have an estate but there you go.Doesn't feel like it's an estate driving it either.
I especially like playing tetris with the camping gear,thats my favourite
To be fair mind we do seem to have a lot of camping gear.Can get 2 bikes and an extra box on the roof or upto 4 bikes on the rails.
Pretty good really and will buy another one.
Front storage is a bit lacking mind and the glovebox is like a large matchbox.
Always thought I would never have an estate but there you go.Doesn't feel like it's an estate driving it either.
I especially like playing tetris with the camping gear,thats my favourite
To be fair mind we do seem to have a lot of camping gear.Can get 2 bikes and an extra box on the roof or upto 4 bikes on the rails.
Pretty good really and will buy another one.
Front storage is a bit lacking mind and the glovebox is like a large matchbox.
Crombers said:
I had two E39 saloons and one Touring and the Touring was the best of the bunch. I had heehaw to put in it mind, mid twenties with no family, dogs or requirement for carting stuff about but still I loved it.
I don't believe it was any noisier than the saloon either though this may change for more leggy examples. I found the tourer handled better too, but again that may be down to a comparison of specimens of varying conditions!
I doubt you'd regret plumping for the hearse.
Edited to include a note about the Tourings air suspension. I replaced most of it (except the compressor) just before 70k. My mighty subframe bushes were well shot by then. Ride quality and handling before and after was night and day. An expense you'll be spared on the saloon.
Almost exactly what I was going to type as it mirrors my own experiences with 8 (I think) E39s to date, two of them Tourings. I didn't *need* a Touring at the time, but they were the best condition E39s I could find at those times of looking. I don't believe it was any noisier than the saloon either though this may change for more leggy examples. I found the tourer handled better too, but again that may be down to a comparison of specimens of varying conditions!
I doubt you'd regret plumping for the hearse.
Edited to include a note about the Tourings air suspension. I replaced most of it (except the compressor) just before 70k. My mighty subframe bushes were well shot by then. Ride quality and handling before and after was night and day. An expense you'll be spared on the saloon.
I found the saloons tidier handlers though and "lighter on their toes" as it were, but could almost swear the estates had a better ride quality, softened off a touch, although that could just be as you say, the difference between the self-levelling air shocks vs. the saloons' standard struts and springs.
Wind, road and tyre noise is as well insulated in one as the other, to the point of only remembering I was driving an estate when looking in the rear view mirror. The extra weight can be felt in the performance of the car, and it returns around 10% lower mpg/range per tank accordingly.
Most E39s at this age will need some suspension rejuvenation and indeed do benefit greatly from it - well worth the expense - which is quite a bit more for the estate thanks to the self-levelling air suspension system (although that's nowhere near as ruinous as the earlier electrohydraulic systems BMW used).
Without the lifestyle demand, I'm content with saloons and if I needed a bigger boot, would go to an E38 Seven before going to a Touring.
Look sare highly subjective, personal aesthetic preference is for saloons in Sport spec and Tourings in SE. For an everyday driver to use and abuse, yet still derive pleasure from though, I think the E39 can be a rare case of less is more - a 523/525/528/530i manual SE on 16s and standard rather than sports suspension is one of the best chassis you can plonk yourself on top of.
Edited by Zwolf on Wednesday 4th January 20:07
Some estates have inferior rear suspension but ones with "proper" set ups (like the E91 3 series tourer we have) appear to have no real downsides. A tiny bit more weight but that's it.
Easy to reverse, can fit our dog in, the split tailgate is brilliant. It's not a very big estate but it's the shape of the boot area that's useful IMO.
Easy to reverse, can fit our dog in, the split tailgate is brilliant. It's not a very big estate but it's the shape of the boot area that's useful IMO.
The previous generation 3 series saloon didn't have folding seats, so taking long loads involves a roof rack!! Even simple things like a bicycles can't be carried in the boot unless you break them down to component parts.
One of the reasons I went for my 93 is that it had folding seats, so it swallows 6ft loads with ease and 4 x 2ft timber isn't an issue either
One of the reasons I went for my 93 is that it had folding seats, so it swallows 6ft loads with ease and 4 x 2ft timber isn't an issue either
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