Anything Jap to replace an E39 BMW

[steve-V8s]

A while ago I had a BMW E39 530d estate, had it from newish and kept it for about 12 years. Since then I have had various German equivalents but they and most modern stuff disappoints with its plastic fall apart nature. When things fail you look at them and it is obvious that they failed because 4p was saved in the build. Not something I found with the E39.

The obvious thing is to go back to an old 530 but I was wondering if there is an equivalent iconic Jap car. Ideally I would like an estate or large hatch with rear wheel drive with a reasonably agreeable engine. I don't need somewhere to plug in a telephone/store music/ or an electronic women with a map to tell me how to get places. I just want something that is nicely engineered with nuts and bolts holding it together not brittle plastic clips.

Don't mind something older or ugly, there is no requirement to be fashionable. Would prefer a car rather than something on stilts that you need to climb up into.

Any suggestions ?

[350Matt]

lexus gs300 or g350

[Bdevo3]

Nissan laurel or stages
Toyota chased or aristo
Mitsubishi legnum vr4

[Axeboy]

Toyota Crown Athlete V Estate

1JZ-GTE Turbo, very well built, RWD, Premium Model etc

[kurt535]

350Matt said:

lexus gs300 or g350

+1 or their 4 X 4.

Once you've had Jap, there's no going back

[TommoAE86]

As devo said - Nissan Stagea gets my vote just because I'm a fan of 80's & 90's Nissan's

[samdale]

My next car needs to be a practical one. A forester sti is currently in the lead.
Various Jap imports would fit the bill but not many in estate form.

Nissan stagea?
Mitsubishi galant/legnum?

[colin79666]

Subaru Legacy sports tourer if you are prepared to go 4wd. The mid 2000s models are pretty robust. Some plastics look cheap but like various Japanese models they actually stand up well.

[MurderousCrow]

I was in a similar quandary, posted a thread here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I finally decided on a Forester STi, but there were a few good options. My second choice would probably have been a good Nissan Stagea RS Four - just for the rarity and coolness. But good ones with a manual 'box are VERY rare. Next choice would definitely have been a Legacy. As others have mentioned, maybe a Legnum VR4 or even a Lancer estate:

http://www.evo.co.uk/mitsubishi/evo/6345/mitsubish...

Regards the plastics, you may steer away from the evo or impreza-derived type of car (Forester / Lancer). The interiors are pretty solid in my experience, but don't have the nice feel of many German cars from the same period. Would agree with the poster who mentioned the Legacy being more refined.


Edit: sorry I somehow missed the requirement for RWD.

Edited by MurderousCrow on Sunday 25th February 12:36