Wagon wonderings...
Discussion
Afternoon all, looking for some guidance from the Gassing Station massiv..
I'm after a fast, classic estate. Will be a weekend car for visiting my local C&M and Bicester Heritage.
Budget is around £10k. Doesn't have to be the most engaging to drive as will usually be accompanied by kids and dog but does need to be reliable and ideally rare and attract the right kind of attention. Ideally something that might accumulate a bit of value over the next 5 years or so...
Short list is as follows:
Volvo 850 T5-R/R or V70 R
Audi S4 (B5 or B6)
C32 or C55 AMG
Alfa 156 GTA
Been to see a few of each except the Alfa. 850 is very cool but would be the oldest and probably therefore requiring the most attention? C55 seems like the most sensible option but prices have increased rapidly recently so feel like I'm paying for the hype? B5 S4 is the cheapest and I really like it but am terrified of their reputation.
Interested to hear peoples thoughts? Thanks!
I'm after a fast, classic estate. Will be a weekend car for visiting my local C&M and Bicester Heritage.
Budget is around £10k. Doesn't have to be the most engaging to drive as will usually be accompanied by kids and dog but does need to be reliable and ideally rare and attract the right kind of attention. Ideally something that might accumulate a bit of value over the next 5 years or so...
Short list is as follows:
Volvo 850 T5-R/R or V70 R
Audi S4 (B5 or B6)
C32 or C55 AMG
Alfa 156 GTA
Been to see a few of each except the Alfa. 850 is very cool but would be the oldest and probably therefore requiring the most attention? C55 seems like the most sensible option but prices have increased rapidly recently so feel like I'm paying for the hype? B5 S4 is the cheapest and I really like it but am terrified of their reputation.
Interested to hear peoples thoughts? Thanks!
No BMW in your list.
I have this 550i and it's good. You should get one - if you can find one - for around 10. Mine is 55 reg so cheaper tax but that makes it doubly rare.
What's to like -
It has a big v8 which is reasonably basic and therefore quite reliable
It's not massive but just about the right size if you ask
They're reasonably good fun to drive with enough thrust to be entertaining and when I recently changed all the suspension arms on the front I realised they have quite good steering feel too
I have this 550i and it's good. You should get one - if you can find one - for around 10. Mine is 55 reg so cheaper tax but that makes it doubly rare.
What's to like -
It has a big v8 which is reasonably basic and therefore quite reliable
It's not massive but just about the right size if you ask
They're reasonably good fun to drive with enough thrust to be entertaining and when I recently changed all the suspension arms on the front I realised they have quite good steering feel too
A good 850 will get under your skin. Doesn't handle particularly well, isn’t THAT fast, its a box on wheels but buy the right one and it will instantly feel like that old pair of trainers you always wear. Almost infinitely practical, huge owners club support, very tuneable if thats your thing and a good one won't lose any money. I don't think the V70R is there yet for me....
Another oldie, and I don't particularly rate them, but lots love the Saab 9-5 Aero estate. It is a looker and I guess all of the above applies...
Or, slightly smaller and more modern, but still leftfield, a 9-3 Estate in V6 Turbo XWD flavour...?
Another oldie, and I don't particularly rate them, but lots love the Saab 9-5 Aero estate. It is a looker and I guess all of the above applies...
Or, slightly smaller and more modern, but still leftfield, a 9-3 Estate in V6 Turbo XWD flavour...?
ATM said:
No BMW in your list.
I have this 550i and it's good. You should get one - if you can find one - for around 10. Mine is 55 reg so cheaper tax but that makes it doubly rare.
What's to like -
It has a big v8 which is reasonably basic and therefore quite reliable
It's not massive but just about the right size if you ask
They're reasonably good fun to drive with enough thrust to be entertaining and when I recently changed all the suspension arms on the front I realised they have quite good steering feel too
I’ve actually got an E61 as one of our two daily drivers - an LCI 530d on 182k miles, which I have a lot of affection for. So it would need to be something else for the weekend…I have this 550i and it's good. You should get one - if you can find one - for around 10. Mine is 55 reg so cheaper tax but that makes it doubly rare.
What's to like -
It has a big v8 which is reasonably basic and therefore quite reliable
It's not massive but just about the right size if you ask
They're reasonably good fun to drive with enough thrust to be entertaining and when I recently changed all the suspension arms on the front I realised they have quite good steering feel too
biggbn said:
A good 850 will get under your skin. Doesn't handle particularly well, isn t THAT fast, its a box on wheels but buy the right one and it will instantly feel like that old pair of trainers you always wear. Almost infinitely practical, huge owners club support, very tuneable if thats your thing and a good one won't lose any money. I don't think the V70R is there yet for me....
Another oldie, and I don't particularly rate them, but lots love the Saab 9-5 Aero estate. It is a looker and I guess all of the above applies...
Or, slightly smaller and more modern, but still leftfield, a 9-3 Estate in V6 Turbo XWD flavour...?
A 9-5 is on the sub-list, but find in the main most are riddled with rust…Another oldie, and I don't particularly rate them, but lots love the Saab 9-5 Aero estate. It is a looker and I guess all of the above applies...
Or, slightly smaller and more modern, but still leftfield, a 9-3 Estate in V6 Turbo XWD flavour...?
Can understand your commentary on the 850..
rainmasterb said:
SimonTheSailor said:
3lr flat six Subaru wagon ?
Also on the sub-list but just not quite sure they have the garage impact I m looking for - ie just cool to have and behold if I can t drive it that oftenrainmasterb said:
SimonTheSailor said:
3lr flat six Subaru wagon ?
Also on the sub-list but just not quite sure they have the garage impact I m looking for - ie just cool to have and behold if I can t drive it that often
guyvert1 said:
Literally just seen this… might be a stretch in the budget but worth a phone call tomorrowrainmasterb said:
Also on the sub-list but just not quite sure they have the garage impact I m looking for - ie just cool to have and behold if I can t drive it that often
Not the one to buy if you just want to admire it. Probably the most fun to drive and fastest in the real world, certainly for the money.Other Subarus to consider:
GC8 WRX estate (the mk1 Impreza WRX, in estate form)
Legacy RS Turbo (the mk1 Legacy, these are very rare, you might struggle to get a good one for 10k these days)
Legacy GT-B (the mk2 and 2 Legacy, these are twin turbocharged)
The newage WRX estates
The Forester XT, or even a Forester STI
Non-Subarus:
Reliant Scimitar GTE, Fiberglass body on a steel chassis, Ford V6 engine, 4 speed manual with overdrive, live rear axle with a Watts linkage, and I think Princess Ann had a few of them, but I'm not sure, others may confirm?
Gilbern Invader Estate - I bet you've never even heard of it. Much the same as the Scimitar, only made in Wales, and the Welsh make better fiberglass apparently.
Volvo 1800ES - perhaps a bit beyond your budget, it's been a while since I checked
Lancia Beta HPE - If you can find one
Then, something a tad newer, the Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon, the V6 AWD Jaguar X-Type, the Mondeo ST220, Passat W8, or even an Audi RS6, the C5, 4.2L twin turbo V8.
biggbn said:
Or, slightly smaller and more modern, but still leftfield, a 9-3 Estate in V6 Turbo XWD flavour...?
I had a 9-3 V6 sportwagon FWD with the Hirsch performance tune on it ,was good fun and always got comments where ever I went. I'd have a 9-3 V6 "Turbo X" Sportwagon in a hear beat. Or even a Carlsson.
Forums | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff