This week's Six of the Best is inspired by the VW Golf R Mk8 estate. It's a very good uberwagon, in fact, sharper to drive than before and still more than fast enough. But it comes at a price: one comfortably more than £40k, in fact. So what's out there that fulfils the same role for half the money of the lightly optioned Golf?
Obviously, if you were considering the Golf R estate, but have been put off by its price, it makes sense to start our sextet with the old model. This may not have the latest torque-splitter drifty-wifty stuff, but it offers near enough the same power (310hp) from the familiar EA888 2.0 TSI, so it's only a whisker less frisky with 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. Of course, it also has 4Motion dependability and the Golf R's hallmark of everyday useability.
Actually, this is where the old car is even better. That's because it comes with an infotainment system that isn't about to be recalled due to its terribleness, real buttons to make adjustments easily on the move, and, to top it all off, it has a plusher and better-made interior. It's just as practical, too.
Why this particular example, out of the many in the PH classifieds right now? Well, for no other reason than it's white; I don't recall seeing many in that colour and I think it looks good. And with just 16,000 miles since it left Wolfsburg in 2017, it seemed to be good value, too, at half the price of the new one. And it still comes with a VW warranty - albeit a used one - from the franchised seller in Chelmsford.
Sadly, we couldn't find an M5 Touring for our budget. But what about this? Sure, it has two fewer cylinders and 'just' 306hp, but that's good enough to get you and your dogs from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds - in other words, quick enough to face-plant a Labrador onto the rear screen. It has something else to shout about as well. Look at the pictures and there, in #9, is a stick thing. And it has six numbers, in an H-pattern written on the knob. Yes, a manual. Amazing.
Arguably, the F10 isn't the prettiest five BMW has made, but in F11 Touring form it's shown in its best light and adds more than a useful amount of lugging capacity at the same time. The Carbon Black paint and Dakota leather of this example adds to its desirability, as does the M-Sport package with those handsome, twin-prong seven-spoke 18-inch rims that aren't too overblown.
It also comes with a decent amount of kit that includes a panoramic roof, plus, with just 53,000 miles on the clock, two-owners and 'an excellent BMW service history'; there's not much to mark it down, is there? Well, except that it's not an E61 with a V10, but that wouldn't have a stick and three pedals, so it's swings and roundabouts, really.
I just had to include this Volvo V70 R in the running. Sure, the V70 R might not have been the best-handling estate car of all time, but this is a 2005 Model Year car. That makes it the facelifted model, which is significant. It means that among the mild styling tweaks - clear lenses front and rear, along with a refreshed interior - it had the expert hand of one Richard Parry-Jones on its tinkered-with suspension.
Rumour has it that, when Ford bought Volvo, RPJ had a V70 R on order but, after he borrowed one for a trip to Wales, he was so unimpressed that he cancelled it. That's when he set about making it work better on UK roads, and this 2005MY was the fruit of his labours. It came with that cracking 2.5-litre, five-cylinder, turbocharged motor, manifesting a thumping 300hp and 295lb ft of muscle. It'll hit 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, and that potency is delivered securely to the road through the Haldex-based all-wheel drive system.
What I like most is that it's stealthy. Few people expect a Volvo estate to come with that sort of firepower, which is a huge part of its charm. And this one looks absolutely charming in its Magic Blue Pearl with Gobi Leather. According to the seller, it's just had a set of new Pirelli P Zeros and a transmission service to go with its 'comprehensive history file' from a mix of Volvo and specialist repairers. Yes, there are faster cars on this list, but I have to say, this one keeps turning my gaze.
Seeing as we've been unable to deliver a full-on M product in this list, we had to have something from Affalterbach. In fact, there are many AMGs on PH in our price range right now, including a few E63s. But I happen to know the editor is partial to C, so this W204 should please him. Maybe.
At the time, it had the £50k market pretty much to itself. BMW had to yet to change its mind on the M3 Touring and the RS4 was on its break between B7 and B8 generations, which meant it was a C63 or nothing. But this default was no disaster. Back then you got that frankly astonishing naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 with 457hp. Yes, it was tied to a seven-speed automatic, but are you really going to whinge about that when there's rampant torque and a muscle car soundtrack that carries on to 6,800rpm? And it was happy to indulge those high revs on account of its big bore, short stroke configuration.
Everything about this one delivers on the looks front, too. Those deep skirts, drilled discs, quad-exhausts and, of course, the flared arches that hug a set of pretty, 16-spoke AMG alloys wheels so intently. And if you're going for a bad-boy car, which the C63 has always been, then black with black and privacy glass rather seals the deal. Whatever you think of its looks, though, it's ultimately the engine that's the kingpin here - that much missed M156 V8, which makes this easily the quickest car here.
Wherever you find mention of a C63 wagon, an Audi RS4 won't be far behind. And if looks concern you, and you find the C63 a little brash, maybe the softer lines of the RS4 Avant will be a more pleasing approach. But it was no softie when it came to the important bits. The 4.2 FSI V8 wasn't quite as heavy hitting as the C63's motor, but look, here's the thing: when it's still metering out 450hp at 8,250rpm and that's saturated with 317lb ft between 4,000-6,000rpm, what difference does a few percentage points make? Are you quibbling? Nah, thought not.
Still, the Audi V8 isn't as revered as the AMG 6.2, but again, don't let that dull your lust, because it certainly doesn't sound dull. Compared with the deep-throated Merc, this is a more aggressive screamer that howls rather than thunders, and its freneticism at the top end defines its character. The seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch gearbox meters out a steady, default torque split of 40:60 (front to back), with a crown-gear centre differential and Audi's torque-vectoring Sport diff at the rear. It isn't the most playful arrangement, but one that offers relentless grip and stability, plus a decent balance that avoids heaps of understeer and even a bit of power oppo on a saturated day.
This one brightens up our list with its radiant Sepang Blue and those perfect-looking V-spoke 20-inch wheels. And just like the C63, there's no escaping its RS credentials thanks to those bulging arches and whacking great oval tailpipes. As I said earlier, though, it manages some discretion, too, by not being too shouty. Until you give it some beans, that is.
Okay, for our final entrant, I'm throwing in a curveball. Yes, it's a Skoda, and not even a vRS at that, but these Superb estates are about the best load-luggers there are. So if you think it's a dull choice, well, sorry, but it happens to be a good one if you need to move a lot of stuff quickly. That's because it fits the speed criteria on account of coming with an EA888 boosted up to 280hp - not quite as much as the Golf R, but enough to sprint you away from the lights and on to sixty-odd in 5.8 seconds.
I remember driving one of these when they were first introduced. It wasn't a Sportline and looked just like a TDI 150 from the outside. The number of people who were taken aback by its speed was many, and it made me smile for that reason alone. This one isn't a boggo spec, though. It's a Laurin & Klement, which means it's incredibly well equipped, right down to the Canton sound system with subwoofer, hands-free tailgate and TV tuner.
It may not be the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to cornering, but genuinely, if what you want is a quick car with perhaps the most enormous boot this side of an E-Class Estate, then you may want to consider this. And I am not throwing this into the mix just to be contrary; I have long said that the Superb Estate is one of the most fit-for-purpose cars on sale. I'd just rather it were a Sportline, that's all.
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