Sad Days In The Car Shopping Realm

"M54B30" (m54b30) 11/05/2014 at 18:04 • Filed to: None

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Where have all the wagons gone?

My wife and I are looking for a new car. While a lot of you may recall that she green-lighted a Hellcat Charger when she returns from her deployment, I've continued looking. Why would I keep looking after a go-ahead on a Charger Hellcat? Not sure, I guess closure to know I looked at everything.

We love wagons and that has been the target of my search for the last week. I priced out BMW's only wagon - a 328 in either spark or compression mode. My 328d with basic options we would want (Xenon, Nav, upgraded stereo, heated seats + wheel, etc) quickly hit $50,000. Yeah, no thanks. That's serious dough for a 3 series.

No more Passat wagon, apparently, and VW's website won't let me build a Jetta wagon (or any model for some reason).

Audi's lone offering is the awkward and expensive Allroad. Blah.

Subaru offers a few offerings of "meh", "if I HAD to" and "wow, that's an expensive way to get a CVT AND shitty mileage" (looking at you Legacy).

And that pretty much sums up the wagon market unless I missed any. Guess I'll look for some late model E60 wagons at this point. I guarantee you we would have a Focus ST wagon if they offered it here. Sigh.

fhrblig > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:07

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I feel your pain. I work in logistics, and we would love to have a fleet of Focus or Cruze wagons.

Brian Silvestro > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:07

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I'd rather have a Hellcat Charger than any wagon currently for sale in the US currently.

But If the Focus ST wagon was sold here, I probably would've bought it instead of the Fiesta.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:07

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Mercedes has a wagon but it starts around $55k iirc.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:08

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I'm seeing A LOT of Mazda here. Also, hope your wife makes it home safe and sound, I got into some serious shit on my way home from deployment a couple times.

Steve in Manhattan > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:11

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2nd hand Charger wagon?

bob and john > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:12

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there is no jetta wagon. its the golf wagon once again.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 11/05/2014 at 18:13

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I thought it was a Mazda3 in the thumbnail.

M54B30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/05/2014 at 18:14

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yikes, that is some serious cash. Except for the hellcat, I'm looking for a max budget of 35-40k before rebates.

M54B30 > fhrblig 11/05/2014 at 18:14

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I saw some Cruze wagons last time I was in Germany, they are sharp

M54B30 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 11/05/2014 at 18:15

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I priced out a Mazda 6, but the manual stops being offered on the mid-level trim and Xenons are on the top spec. And only 185 horsepower didn't help its cause.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:17

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yeah... here's the Merc

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/vehic…

M54B30 > Brian Silvestro 11/05/2014 at 18:17

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I'd love a Hellcat too, but I think they'll be hard to find and marked up at the dealer. Plus a Focus Wagon would be maybe $5k after our down payment. 5k ain't bad at all

Brian Silvestro > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:20

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Dodge made a public statement a few weeks back making sure dealers don't mark up the Hellcat. It won't be marked up.

M54B30 > bob and john 11/05/2014 at 18:20

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blah. Nothing against the golf, but eh. A GTI wagon would change that.

burntartichoke > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:21

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I would have an ST wagon here too if I could...I wonder...if I take a vin off of a totaled ST to Germany...and find an ST wagon and import...? If only...

M54B30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/05/2014 at 18:21

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at least it's the E class - a 328 wagon semi-optioned is almost as expensive.

M54B30 > Steve in Manhattan 11/05/2014 at 18:22

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Hard to find, harder to find a with a Hemi, hardest to find in great shape with a Hemi

Übel > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:22

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The Jetta and the Golf are the same car.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/05/2014 at 18:23

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In Canada it starts at $72,800, though that has AWD standard.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:23

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Yeah. The AMG is like a lot.

M54B30 > Brian Silvestro 11/05/2014 at 18:23

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sweeeeet. Just 11 months until she's back and we go shopping....

bob and john > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:23

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the "jetta" wagon was just an extended golf...the "new" (mk 7) jetta is a complete POS, i'm so happy the wagon isnt based off that.
GTI wagon? TDI wagon + APR stage 1 tune. GTD wagon. ALL THE TORQUES

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Brian Silvestro 11/05/2014 at 18:24

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Hellcat New Magnum. Only logical thing to do.

M54B30 > burntartichoke 11/05/2014 at 18:24

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Try it and tell me if it works

Saracen > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:24

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The Mark VII Golf Sportwagen will go on sale early next year, and will be on VW's website by then. They are also doing to do an "Alltrack" model, not sure at this point if it will be a Golf or Passat based variant.

There is also the Acura wagon and the Volvo V60.

Brian Silvestro > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:27

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Well in 11 months you should have no problem finding one. Good luck!

Nibby > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:28

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The V60 starts at $35k

Steve in Manhattan > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:28

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Then your task has been set before you. Does Dodge do CPO? That might be the solution. They might also have a dealer network for 2nd-hand stuff on their lots.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/05/2014 at 18:31

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Yeah, but your money is worth slightly less than ours and you have more car taxes I believe.

WhereAreMyPants > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:32

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The new-ish Volvo V60 is absolutely fantastic, and it's not super pricey. The best part is that the cheapest drivetrain is the best, too.

The 3er wagon is even better, although it's quite a bit more expensive. The S.O. Just bought a 328d wagon, and she couldn't be happier.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/05/2014 at 18:32

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I don't think there is much more in the way of taxes, and after converting to USD it is still $65,000.

Svend > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:33

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Hopefully and I say hopefully the U.S.A. will look at the 25 year rule. There are so many estates/wagons/tourers/avants available here that just don't get all that much appreciation but none the less are still available.

On another forum I'm on the love of the Focus ST estate is falling away for the Skoda Octavia VRs estate but there are so many options I think you guys would have a field day and would be like a kid in a candy shop.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready 11/05/2014 at 18:36

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Yeah, there's something that for some reason makes cars nearly 10k more sometimes. I don't understand that one bit.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 11/05/2014 at 18:41

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Yeah, that's what I've seen too.

Arben72 > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 18:48

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Used cts v wagon. You can get one with less then 10k miles for 45-50k.

coqui70 > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 19:24

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Try a CPO 3-series wagon.

KirkyV > Svend 11/05/2014 at 20:27

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I want Peugeot to make a hot version of this:

I'm so glad they've apparently remembered how to build a good-looking car.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 20:31

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10/10 would hoon

Thunderface > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 22:10

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Nuff said

Carlitos the Fünfer > M54B30 11/05/2014 at 23:13

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Does this suit your fancy, good sir?

Svend > KirkyV 11/06/2014 at 01:45

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The Peugeot 508 SW GT 200bhp 2.2HDi (although mated to an auto) looks good and is quite rapid for an estate car.

Though I like the looks of the 508 RXH 2.0 BlueHDi.

KirkyV > Svend 11/06/2014 at 02:05

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The auto kills it, and I'm angling for an actual performance model of some description—admittedly, they're not really known for large family saloon-sized performance cars, but the Mondeo ST220 was such a roaring success that surely they have absolutely nothing to lose by building something similar.

I can see why you like the RXH - though, honestly, the 508 only shifted from 'nice car' to 'ooh, I might actually want that' with the most recent revision/facelift* - but I've never really liked the whole lifted, plastic-clad estate thing and, for me, AWD** is somewhat overrated.

...

*I really wish they'd go back to cycling through numbers with new models; the differentiation made everything so much easier! They could just loop back around, and build a new 101/201/301 and so on.

**On a car the size of the 508, I'll admit it may be preferable to FWD—but, even in that size-class, it's perfectly possible to build a fun FWD car, and a dull-as-bricks AWD car.

Svend > KirkyV 11/06/2014 at 02:45

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Auto kills it for the 3.6 v6 Superb and 4x4. The largest manual while also being petrol is the 1.8TSi and is FWD. Not fair.

I like the Octavia VRs for a midsize family estate with lots of performance but there really isn't anything for large size family cars with performance unless you buy a regular relatively powerful large car and work on it.

The Peugeot number sequence works and yet doesn't for me. You can seen it's progression but then stops at 10, though maybe it should continue (ie 308, 309, 310, 311, etc...).

I'm okay with 4x4 but prefer FWD. RWD doesn't do it for me especially after knowing several RWD car owners who in the winter either garage them or leave them on the drive way.

duurtlang > M54B30 11/06/2014 at 04:48

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Where have all the wagons gone?

To Europe. I'm shipping them back to the US, one by one (BMW E30), they just have to be 25+ years old.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > M54B30 11/06/2014 at 09:49

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Wow, I did not know that car was so anemic. Welp, scratch that off my list back to Volvos and Audis, damn this is going to hurt me financially.

M54B30 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet 11/06/2014 at 10:25

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yeah, they're pushing the efficiency a lot. I could deal with the low power, if I could get Xenon and heated seats on the Touring trim with the 6 speed manual. Maybe next year Mazda will start letting the options trickle down. Stunningly beautiful car though. Rumor has it a 2.2L Turbo diesel is in the works with more power but is bogged down by emissions issues.

M54B30 > duurtlang 11/06/2014 at 10:26

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All the years I was in Germany, I never bought an E30 :(

duurtlang > M54B30 11/06/2014 at 10:54

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There's a solution to that problem.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > M54B30 11/06/2014 at 12:08

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Sad that such a genuinely beautiful car is hamstringed by nonsense such as science and money.

KirkyV > Svend 11/06/2014 at 14:53

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You can't get the Jag XE with a manual and a petrol... I may have wept slightly when I first took a look at the configurator.

The Octavia VRs is nice, but I just don't really like VAG stuff—beyond the occasional Audi, and all the Lamborghinis, anyway. I don't mind enduring a little discomfort for the sake of fun, and VAG seem to be all about prioritising 'refinement' and so on over driver engagement these days.

Peugeot decided to stop at eight, because they've already made a few '09s' - the 309 GTi-16 springs to mind - and the whole naming scheme is based on 'something-oh-something'. I really think they'd be better off just going back to '01', and moving forward from there. Or, if they are going to insist on keeping model names from car to car, then they ought to just start reusing their most prestigious names in each class. So, 205, 106, 306, 405 and so on.

I don't dislike RWD, but most of my favourite cars are FWD, and I tend to find AWD cars a little dull, with a Subaru-shaped exception here and there.

Svend > KirkyV 11/06/2014 at 15:44

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The Jag XE is a bit out of my price range, certainly if I had some needed extras, so I'm sad but won't miss it unless I win on the Euro-millions or something.

Of the VAG cars I think Skoda and Bentley are the only ones I like. VW are okay but certain cars have a certain following like Audi does that put me off them, Porsche, Bugatti and Lamborghini do nothing for me whatsoever, yes they are fast but massively expensive and not really suitable for daily use in the U.K., Seat are a respectable brand who are more toward the younger market where they want something sporty, practical, economical and inexpensive.

Like you say, Peugeot are going to have to do something very soon with the model names, names like 1007 don't look or sound right.

KirkyV > Svend 11/06/2014 at 16:10

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Oh, they're all way out of my price range—I'm thinking about what's going to be available on the used market in a few years. And it's a bummer that there'll never be any super-Jag-depreciated XE petrol manuals.

When it comes to the more workaday VAG brands, my main issue is simply that I'd generally rather have one of their competitors. If we're talking ordinary cars, I'd take a Focus over a Golf; a Fiesta or 208 over a Polo/Ibiza/Fabia, and so on. And when it comes to hot hatches, I'd have a Fiesta ST or a 208 GTI over a Polo GTI, a Megane RS over a Golf GTi/R... I like the Octavia and the Up!, but that's pretty much it.

Svend > KirkyV 11/06/2014 at 16:29

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I'm quite wary of used cars unless I know there history. There are a few places I look where I know the car has been looked after. Like these on DW.

2002 BMW E39 M5 with 91k for £12,995.

That's a nice collection of cars you chose and I agree with them all. The Octy and Superb are my go-tos but the new Fabias look quite nice and the Citigo is cute.

KirkyV > Svend 11/06/2014 at 16:43

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I'm not too fussed about buying used, but I think that's just down to my having had very good luck with used cars in the past. I imagine a few truly bad experiences would make me a little more wary—but provided you're thorough, I think it's relatively easy to mitigate most of the risks. It certainly helps that I pretty much always shop for cars that have absolutely piddly repair costs - nineties Peugeots, mostly - so, if anything does go wrong, I know it probably won't break the bank.

Svend > KirkyV 11/06/2014 at 16:55

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I'm wary myself but I've helped quite a few people find the right car for them with known histories, right price, specs, etc... from Vauxhall Corsas to Audi Q5s but it takes a lot of looking and attention to detail which for myself I don't don't really do.