Anyone find a truck/suv/sport wagon to satisfy ?

[joe in nashvegas]

I love my e28/m5 -
Just that I've got three cars and am thinking about going down to one.

Car 1: e28 m5 driver - high miles runs great
Car 2: fj60 landcruiser - slower than a benz 240d.
Car 3: 72 benz 280SE 4.5 sedan.

(I bought Car 1 to replace Car 3, just haven't got around to selling it...)

Anyone try one of those souped up toyota pickups (s-runner, x-runner) ?

How about some of those sport wagons ?

thanks...
joe

[psportoveloce]

I vote audi S4 wagon with 6-speed. Will 340hp be enough?


If not, then the RS4 is coming and has 420 naturally aspirated hp. Word is that avant may or may not make it to the US.

[psportoveloce]

Ooooorrrrrr:

The Volvo V70R (comes as a sedan too: the S60R). 6-speed and 300hp turbo-ed inline-5, AWD, lots of tuning potential. Also lots of neat details like the way the shifter on the manual is set up and the gauges.

[EuroShark]

I've been looking at these....





The Kaiser M35A2 6x6, built for the military, its a 2 and 1/2 cargo truck that can climb a 45 degree incline and is basically unstoppable... Way cheaper than an S4, and way meaner 8)

http://www.buschandbusch.com/m35a2.html

[Tammer in Philly]

You didn't specify a budget, but in the $30k range the Subaru Legacy GT wagon is pretty nice. Suspension is a little soft, but the motor is basically a detuned STi motor and is therefore very tunable ... I'm sure a stiffer shock/spring setup is available as well. They're surprisingly nice and quite capable, and of course very roomy.

-tammer

[lkfoster]

Ooooorrrrrr:

The Volvo V70R (comes as a sedan too: the S60R). 6-speed and 300hp turbo-ed inline-5, AWD, lots of tuning potential. Also lots of neat details like the way the shifter on the manual is set up and the gauges.

This is my leading contender to replace the M5. Lots more space inside for bikes and I can tow with it too.

[psportoveloce]

I can tow with it too.

haha, yea, i was at the track (laguna seca) and a guy used his to bring his ducati, and then proceeded to flog both of them in turn on the track!

[grahamular]

I have an '04 Subaru WRX Wagon as my DD...for $23k (new) I don't think there's much that can come close for the same price. 0-60 in 5.5sec, AWD, utility of a wagon, 25+mpg, and so far had not had a single problem in 30,000 miles. It feels a little cheap inside, but it's a blast to drive! The new Legacy GT wagons are nice too, but were a bit larger (and more $$) then what I was looking for. I sold a '01 330Ci to buy the WRX--best car-related decision I've ever made.

[Bryan in SB]

I have an 06 4Runner V8(300 lb/ft torque!!!) and love it. It's a replacement for our beloved V6 Passat that is currently for sale.


The wife didn't like the Passat much and as it was the DD and needs to move on, we decided on a 4Runner. I initially looked at an X5, Volvo XC90, Honda Pilot, E39 540i Touring and a VW Touareg.

X5 - Too expensive new, and too expensive used.
Pilot - Great vehicle, wife thought it too closely resembled a Minivan
XC90 and Touareg - Too expensive in all areas.
540 Touring - Loved it, wife wanted to 'sit up high'.
4Runner - Just right. V6 was nice, V8 is great. $25-$48k new with a ton of different options available. It will run forever, is built on a truck platform unlike other car based SUV's and will last awhile.

The S4 and RS4 are personal favorites as I have a sweet spot for VW/Audi, but with it being a relatively small car with a huge price tag, it's not quite in the cards.

My final two choices were the Honda and the 4 Runner. The Honda based on the Odyssey platform is nice, but the 4Runner offered the V8 and the truck based platform which I liked.

Good luck!

[dab]

Anyone try one of those souped up toyota pickups (s-runner, x-runner) ?

I'm very pleased with my new-to-me Dodge Dakota V8 extended cab. Loads of torque, and very handy as a work truck.

David

[lkfoster]

Ooooorrrrrr:

The Volvo V70R (comes as a sedan too: the S60R). 6-speed and 300hp turbo-ed inline-5, AWD, lots of tuning potential. Also lots of neat details like the way the shifter on the manual is set up and the gooahjez.

This is my leading contender to replace the M5. Lots more space inside for bikes and I can tow with it too.

Changed my mind, the SAAB 9-3 Aero SportCombi is starting to look good at a much nicer price. Quality isn't as good as the e90 325xiT, but it's a lot faster and can tow too.

[TimGinCentralNJ]

You didn't specify a budget, but in the $30k range the Subaru Legacy GT wagon is pretty nice. Suspension is a little soft, but the motor is basically a detuned STi motor and is therefore very tunable ... I'm sure a stiffer shock/spring setup is available as well. They're surprisingly nice and quite capable, and of course very roomy.

-tammer

I second that, Tammer. The stock 250hp/250 ft. lbs. of torque mated to a close ratio 5-speed (short shift kit is a must), rear LSD, 50/50 front/rear torque distribution (or 40/60 front/rear with variable torque distribution standard w/ the 5-speed 'tiptronic' style auto tranny), leather, etc is very nice...albeit not a BMW.

Go take a test drive...if you're willing to go used, you can find loaded '05 Legacy GT Wagons for sale for low-mid 20's and still under factory warranty. Those turbo motors are longevity-proven (one of my biggest concerns originally). Fyi, these cars are respectable in stock version, but coil-overs and/or bigger sway bars are among the most popular handling items (aside from ditching the stock Bridgestone Potenza RE-92A's which are dangerous)--probably one of the most popular performance upgrades is the Cobb Stage II ECU software update...runs about $600 and gets you into STi territory. Even w/ out the Cobb upgrade, the stock 0-60 time of 5.5 seconds ain't bad. And I'm getting between 21-26 mpg to boot!

I've got the Outback version of the same car...unless you need the add'l ground clearance (just under 9"), shoot for the LGT Wagon for the stiffer suspension and ground effects. Check out www.legacygt-dot-com. Nice bunch of guys there...not your typical 'ricers' FWIW.

Hope that helps! If I can provide more info, pls PM me.

Cheers,
Tim G.
'01 740 Sport
'05 Outback XT 5MT

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[psportoveloce]

the legacy is a great car. I have a friend with an XT outback and it's very neat. as Tim mentions, there are lots of good and fairly straightfoward modifications. If you want to go all out, that's also quite feasible. my brother works for a company that builds all kinds of crazy subarus and they have fun with these. they're going to build an STi with a turbo'd flat six that would have originally come from a legacy. my bro drives an STi with a turbo upgrade and a bunch of other stuff...something like 440hp at the flywheel....even if it's no longer street friendly...