Which Wagon is Best Wagon?

"gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish) 12/04/2015 at 21:32 • Filed to: None

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Long, and picture heavy

I believe my Blazers days are numbered.

That one time my truck got washed

She’s not gonna die, I know that, I’ve never owned such a tenacious vehicle. What I mean is, I can only daily drive a rattling, wallowing, agricultural example of wtf was GM doing other than cocaine in the 90s for so long. I love the thing, but only for sentimental reasons, objectively it is a terrible vehicle. I’m sure there are better kept ones, but mine has 312k on it now, and you can tell. Anyways, the gist of my train of thought is that I should save up for one of the things I actually want, instead of buying interesting beaters and selling them a couple months later.

Whenever I’m in a coupe, I feel guilty. Like I could be using the footprint of the car better. I’ve also grown up in station wagons. therefore, I think I need a wagon. I certainly don’t want less utility than my Blazer, but I want better driving dynamics and less 4 wheel drive. if I take the Blazer off the road, it’ll hang behind the house in case camping needs to happen up a road that pops two of my tires.

Without further ado, here are the wagons up for consideration. One of these, hypothetically, will wind up being an actually long-term car for me, be it found on craigslist, or imported. Because Canada is cool and we can import things that are only 15 years old.

The Volvo 240. I have loved them since I first saw one, and my favourite car of the ones I’ve driven was a 1979 244 with everything you can buy from IPD to redo the suspension. It was excellent. I actually liked it better than my friends E30 318is.....

I have only driven a 740 briefly, and I don’t like the looks as much as the 240, but they’re easier to find in good condition around here. usually in automatic though.

Essentially the same as the 740, but facelifted. Just a preference thing really.

Now we’re out of what I know well. I’ve never been the biggest FWD Volvo fan, but then I saw some videos of an 850 Turbo on the Nurburgring. Now I like them. I just wish I could see even one in person that didn’t have faded paint....

Germany time. I adore the E30 Touring. It’s the one that would likely need imported, at this point it’s cheaper than finding one here....

I once had a terrible and broken E34 Touring.....I want a good one. When done right, they just look amazing, very good to drive too. Also, the only manuals over here are ones that have been swapped, and that’s almost impossible to do properly.....

I’ve never driven an old Merc, but they always make me happy when i see them, usually beat up but still chugging along. This one is unlikely, they’re just a bit too impossible to find in decent shape.

These intrigue me a lot....a friend had one and loved it, I’m just not sure there’s any reason to choose it over the E34 when it comes to the Germans.

So there you have it. I don’t even know which I’m leaning towards.....it started with the 240, followed by the E34, so they’re the most likely. But who knows what will happen, maybe I’ll abandon any semblance of reason and get an AMC Eagle wagon or something.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 21:41

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E39 wagon?

gmctavish needs more space > BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. 12/04/2015 at 21:44

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Maybe....it’s a hell of a lot more electronics heavy than the E34, and more expensive, and I don’t like how they look as much. It’s on the long list, this is the short list believe it or not

d15b > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 21:47

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You too can have a red Volvo wagon to match your suit.

McMike > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 21:49

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Hoseum Leaveoutus - never too far from a clean car.

BmanUltima's car still hasn't been fixed yet, he'll get on it tomorrow, honest. > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 21:50

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Just keep looking I guess.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 21:51

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On the w124, great cars it just depends what you’re after. It’s going to be more luxurious, smooth, and better built (not to say e34s arent well built, they are. But w124s are like riding in bank vaults) than the e34, but the e34 is sportier, with a much better driving feel, more involved. After owning my w124 for a while I lusted for the sportier bmw and that’s what I have now, though not an e34. I’m also young and dumb.

d15b > d15b 12/04/2015 at 21:52

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In all honesty, a red wagon is a fantastic color. :]

I’m sure you will be happy with whatever you pick since you can IMPORT what you want.

gmctavish needs more space > McMike 12/04/2015 at 21:55

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In its natural habitat

gmctavish needs more space > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 12/04/2015 at 21:57

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I really like the bank vault feel, one of the main things I look for (not a deal breaker, but makes a difference) is how the doors close. Old Volvo doors close with a certainty that moder cars just don’t have, but old Mercedes doors...oh man. I think I had a spiritual experience feeling how well built my friends W114 is. Seriously impressive. the W124s can also be had with the excellent diesel...

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 22:00

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If you’re thinking of importing, why not a Stagea Series 2? be had with 4wd, turbo I6, and an 5MT. IMO it looks just as good as the Germans and Volvos from the same era.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 22:02

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I honestly thought I was the only one like this. I would always close the doors twice when getting out, just because I loved the feel so much. I can’t comment on the volvos, I’ve always wanted one but never actually gone through with it.

The way I’ve always seen it is mercedes are sporty luxury cars, and bmws are luxurious sports cars.

gmctavish needs more space > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 12/04/2015 at 22:06

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I’ve never driven RHD, so I’d have to experience that to see if it’s something I actually don’t mind. Plus parts availability, I was thinking of imported a better version of something we already got here so parts would be easier to source. I definitely like the look of Stageas though, Legnums too

gmctavish needs more space > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 12/04/2015 at 22:08

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You are not the only one. That is an excellent description.....I’m mostly a BMW and Volvo guy, but I’m interested in branching out into Mercedes

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 22:17

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Whenever I see Mitsubishis from that era I get sad thinking of how far they’ve fallen. The M35 Stagea started production in 2001 so it’s probably still too new to import, but it is based on the Infiniti G so parts wouldn’t be as bad. I don’t really care for its looks as much though. Probably too electronics heavy too.

You’re right, Idon’t think there are many Japanese wagons from the 90s that were sold in Europe as LHD and not also in the US/Canada.

not for canada - australian in disguise > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 22:52

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Needs more 156 Sportwagon.

Completely unreliable, but my god it looks fantastic. And it’s over 15 years old, if you want to go through the import process.

pip bip - choose Corrour > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 22:53

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this wagon.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 23:00

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http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n…

You would be my hero. 850R’s are great fun also. E34’s are nearly impossible to find in good condition in my experience.

shop-teacher > gmctavish needs more space 12/04/2015 at 23:11

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My personal favorite of all those is the 740. I just love how they look. Take that with many grains of salt, however, because I’ve never driven any of them.

gmctavish needs more space > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 12/05/2015 at 02:47

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Ohh I just saw one of those the other day. Yeah I rarely see any tourings, let alone a clean one

gmctavish needs more space > not for canada - australian in disguise 12/05/2015 at 02:48

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http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/532810…

Or just get one that's already here...

duurtlang > not for canada - australian in disguise 12/05/2015 at 04:03

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It really isn’t that unreliable though. It’s no Corolla, but it’s perfectly fine to live with.

duurtlang > gmctavish needs more space 12/05/2015 at 04:06

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Ha! I just bought one of those yesterday. €500, for a banger rally. LHD. 1997.

deekster_caddy > gmctavish needs more space 12/05/2015 at 06:57

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We have an ‘08 VW Passat Wagon.. It is very fun to drive, gets great milage and handles like a big german car should. The ‘08-’13 can be found with a 6 spd manual if you look enough, it’s a very easy gearbox, pleasant to use. The accompanying 2.0 Turbo motor is very fun, just right. I’ve never felt it to be underpowered. Ours has 115K miles on it now, had it since new, and it’s been very inexpensive to own. I highly recommend.

gmctavish needs more space > deekster_caddy 12/05/2015 at 13:21

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Hm....I don't know if I can afford anything that new, but I'll look into it, thanks!

deekster_caddy > gmctavish needs more space 12/05/2015 at 14:17

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Generally around $8k-ish that I’ve seen, but the MT cars are pretty rare.

WTFMPL's mom drives a brown wagon. > gmctavish needs more space 12/05/2015 at 14:43

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Pegasus wheels FTW.

WTFMPL's mom drives a brown wagon. > gmctavish needs more space 12/05/2015 at 14:45

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This too. This makes me happy.

gmctavish needs more space > WTFMPL's mom drives a brown wagon. 12/05/2015 at 14:47

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One of the main problems with 850s is they didn't come with those wheels. They really should've

gmctavish needs more space > deekster_caddy 12/05/2015 at 14:50

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That’s cheaper than I thought...yeah I don’t know if I’ve seen any here. My dad was looking at getting a ‘12 Passat TDi wagon, but wound up keeping his current car. Kinda disappointed about that

WTFMPL's mom drives a brown wagon. > gmctavish needs more space 12/05/2015 at 15:11

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Agreed. I almost (irresponsibly) pulled the trigger on a first gen v70R a few months back. It had those same rims, and they just stand out so well on the boxier 90s wagons.