Help My Brother Find His 1st Car!

"stuttgartobsessed" (grantharmsen) 04/26/2014 at 18:36 • Filed to: None

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So my brother is between his junior and senior year at Duke University in North Carolina and is looking for his first car! I already suggested all of the Donks found on the Raleigh Durham CL but he was not interested for some odd reason. Anyway, he is an adventurous person; always rock climbing, camping, hiking, and skiing. Here is what he wants:

A wagon for under $4,500 that gets decent mileage and can fit all of his stuff. He also wants to be able to sleep comfortable in the back so something where the rear seats fold completely flat or can be removed is a huge plus.

I have suggested quite forcible a W123 Wagon and he was inquiring about a 2004 9-5 Wagon.

Oppo, what would you suggest? What are your opinions on the 9-5? Anyone have experience sleeping in wagons before and con recommend a comfortable one?

AM3R > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 18:39

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an E39 525iT or 540iT would be a good choice. If it's big enough an E46 wagon can easily be had for under $4500

Merkin Muffley > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 18:41

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tell him that I will personally help him find the wagon of his dreams in exchange for free cosmic cantina for a year.

stuttgartobsessed > Merkin Muffley 04/26/2014 at 18:43

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I'm not sure what "cosmic cantina" is but I'll let him know...

Merkin Muffley > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 18:45

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your brother has been in dirty durham for three years and he hasn't introduced you to cosmic cantina? You should be punching him in the face instead of posting on oppo for him. It isn't just that he doesn't deserve your help, he doesn't deserve your love.

Dunnik > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 18:48

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Almost sounds like he needs a full-sized wagon.

With a Corvette motor.

Gimmi-Sagan-Om-Draken > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 18:49

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Well I have a W123 and I can say that they are reliable but they are getting older so you have to expect some costs. If you want one you want an 82 or 83, they have turbos and don't have computers yet. The 84/85 have computers, I have an 83. I love them, they aren't really fast but with new injectors and proper maintenance they are quicker than the general population believes they are because of smoking examples that were not maintained and thinking a 240D is the same thing. But if you spend that little on a W123 you will pay the rest soon, a maintained one is generally 7k+ if you're lucky.

Merkin Muffley > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 18:51

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the serious answer is that he is in durham, so the correct answer is volvo.

cluelessk > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 19:42

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Honda Civic. Cheap reliable transport. Tons of aftermarket stuff if you want. Also after he graduates the car will probably worth just as much.

Then after school buy the car you really want. Unique and old stuff is fun but not a smart choice while in school.

stuttgartobsessed > cluelessk 04/26/2014 at 20:18

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I don't think he can sleep in the back of a civic. He's really after a wagon because he can sleep in it at trail heads for early morning mountain climbs. Plus he's not into the aftermarket scene.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > stuttgartobsessed 04/26/2014 at 20:39

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I would say don't buy a $4500 9-5, maintenance will kill you from what I know. Try instead a Subaru Legacy / Outback , a Honda Accord , a Toyota Camry (yes I went there), any wagon Volvo has ever made , a VW Passat (1.8T is very tunable), or, if slightly higher miles are ok, a Mazda 6 . I am looking for a car in the sun $8k range, and I've learned that SAABs, while reliable, can be expensive to maintain, and as far as the Benz, I'm just not sure if a 25-30 year old DD is the best idea for everyone, although I personally would buy a W123 in a heartbeat.

stuttgartobsessed > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/26/2014 at 20:54

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I agree with you on the, well on everything you said haha. He's not vehicularly inclined. Though he does build electric cars for the Shell competition in Huston and get to meet a british dude that is apparently the head technical director for the Ferrari Formula 1 team... I'm still getting details... Anyway, I should recommend a Volvo because DUH, and he is familiar ith Subarus (he bought one in New Zealand while he was studying abroad. The thing was a total beater crapcan and constantly burned and leaked oil and fluids.)

JCSchultzie > stuttgartobsessed 04/27/2014 at 01:04

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Early 2000s Volvo XC70s are capable, fairly reliable, fit absolutely everything, and the seats fold completely flat with the back. My family owns 2, a 2002 and a 2004, and both have had no problems in over a year (picked them up around the same time) besides things that were ignored by previous owners (the 2004 needed brakes) and tie rods which many Volvos need. Both are about 150k miles, both should last 100k more, and both were bought for just around $4000, leaving some money for leftover repairs for your brother.

It is a good car, it tracks perfectly straight on the highway and absolutely cruises. I hit 90 sometimes by accident because I just don't notice, whereas my Ranger really starts to complain anywhere over about 70. It tracks so well that to show people, I'll just take my hands off the wheel on a straight stretch, it doesn't turn. It's great in the snow, where my main strategy after a snowstorm was "clean off the windows and drive out of the snowdrift". It does not drift however. Also, it fits my entire dorm room inside the back. Fold down the rear seats and go, there is legitimately enough space back there to throw in an air mattress (may be a bit short for taller folks) and sleep. The engine is strong enough, but throttle response is poor, and fuel mileage is meh (the 19 gallon tank helps you keep going though). It takes probably a quarter of a second for the engine to react to any inputs. The steering also does not give very much feedback. And to be nitpicky, the cruise control, stereo, and wiper settings are not very intuitive, plus it's big so it's not the easiest to park.

Both cars have lived in New England their entire lives, and neither have even a spot of rust on them. For that $4000, you also get moderately comfortable leather heated seats, a sunroof, quality all-wheel-drive, and the fun of learning all of Volvo's gizmos and quirks for safety stuff, like the always-on headlights, automatic rear wiper when you put it in reverse, etc.

All in all, it is a fantastic car, and a hell of a deal at $4000. Because of Volvo styling, the cars appears much newer than 10/12 years old, and people are shocked when they hear what we got them for. I'd thoroughly recommend them for anybody who's looking for the utmost in practicality while not sacrificing good performance is less-than-ideal conditions.

bob and john > stuttgartobsessed 04/27/2014 at 16:44

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the 9-5 is a good choice.
HUGE amount of space,
unique. hard to mistaen
very good motors
nice interiors.
fairly reliable.

the bad: if something does go wrong....its goig to hurt.

stuttgartobsessed > Merkin Muffley 04/27/2014 at 18:37

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I'm sure he knows what it is, but as I've never visited he hasn't had a reason to tell me about it. Or he has and I forgot. It sounds delicious though.