An Oppo Quandary: Wagon or Truck?

"Drew" (midnightdori) 03/22/2015 at 18:29 • Filed to: None

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So in the last few months, I've asked for advice on what truck to purchase, and written a defense of wagons. Now, if you don't mind all too much, I need to write out my quandary and maybe solicit some help. Ordinarily, like most of you, when I ask for car advice, I already know my answer, but I just want to be vindicated. Unfortunately, I'm in the rare position of having no clue what my answer is. So here we go, amigos. It all comes down to the above photo.

To set some background, the current fleet consists of: 2007 Corvette, 2005 CTS-V (first gen), and a 1995 Miata.

My two most favorite things in the world are racing cars and mountain biking. These hobbies, unfortunately, require some vastly different vehicular needs. With a CTS-V that's been the most unreliable thing I've owned, I've had to resort to desperate measures, hence hauling around two wheels bad in my track rat. In case you're curious, yes, a full-squish 29er large frame Giant Anthem X will fit in your C6. I mean, basically, it's an El Camino with a camper top.

So, sports fans, I need more room. And I'm trying to think ahead. So here's the ultimate DD question for the avid person that loves to shred single track, does track days reasonably frequently in a stupidly loud C6, has a dog, and doesn't have a clue on what to get next: wagon or truck?

I'd like to know, from those who do track days on a frequent basis, will I eventually arrive at a place in the next 5-10 years where I'll want to tow my car to and from the track? I live within 3 hours of a bunch of decent race tracks (4 off the top of my head, including COTA), and the C6 as I have it now is very streetable. I'd like to be able to DD something that's dynamically better than a body-on-frame truck, but if I'm going to outgrow having something that's street-worthy in the next five years, I won't bother driving over to my Cadillac dealer to see what their V Wagon inventory looks like.

What do you think? Grab a truck and have something that I can tow with? Or grab a wagon that'll be a blast to drive to the office and will get me to the trails with no issue?

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Let me know what y'all think.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Drew 03/22/2015 at 19:15

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CTS-v Wagooooooonnnnnnnn

PowderHound > Drew 03/22/2015 at 19:28

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Volvo wagon with an LS swap. Throw in some roof racks and a trailer hitch.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Drew 03/22/2015 at 20:03

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Jeep Comanche. You can get a REALLY NICE low miles example for around $5000 (much more than that it should be MINT). With the 4.0, they're hands down the best small truck from the period. The '91 or '92 will be a bit more powerful, and you don't have to deal with the Renix computer system, which is still fairly reliable, just a bit of a mess if it does go wrong and you don't know what you're doing. Now, I love me a decent wagon, but they won't do a truck's job.

ly2v8-Brian > Drew 03/22/2015 at 20:12

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Truck

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Drew 03/22/2015 at 20:54

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If you can get over looking like a lesbian, Outback XT/H6 (the wagony pre-'10 ones). You can two with the H6, too.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Drew 03/22/2015 at 20:58

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Truck. http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/why-everyone-n…

Matsayz > Drew 03/22/2015 at 20:58

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What about splitting the difference, Jeep Cherokee (XJ). We have a 1998 we got for $5k in AMAZEBALLS condition. Redonkulously easy to work on, parts are either $5 or $50. Everything is documented online/YouTube.

Gives you the space, back seats fold flat, Seats plenty, Hitch, Roof rack, Straight inline 6 (definition of bullet proof) and Parts are plentiful.

Matsayz > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 03/22/2015 at 20:59

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I like your response, only thing I'd add is Jeep Cherokee (XJ) for comparison to the Comanche.

Slant6 > Drew 03/22/2015 at 21:14

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I own both a truck and a wagon. Truck is a 1995 Tacoma and the wagon is a 2000 Saab. Both have 5 speed manual transmissions and 4 cylinder engines. I'll be selling the wagon to my dad for my brother. Why? The truck is more fun to dive. It's not as fast as the 2.3t Saab nor as nibble and the throw is miles longer but I like a little body role in my daily. It makes low speed turns seem like highspeed turns. And having a compact 4x4 is fun because you get all the ride height and none of the crippling size. And I get 21mpg around town which is the same as the wagon.