OT: sportwagen

[fishwhisperer]

The great thing to me about the sportwagen/alltrak is the height of the rear hatch, which most of the non-Subaru wagon options in the US can't match. The V90 and Merc E450 both have taller rear ends but are also huge everywhere else. We are on our third Audi Allroad ('23 A6 this time) and love it but it's also a very long car and has a pretty low ceiling height in the cargo area. OK for road bikes (can easily fit mine, the wife's, and my son's) but flat bars needs to be twisted a bit.


The A4 Allroad like Marvin's is pretty close in size to the Jetta variant IMO. Could be worth a look (acknowledging that it's spendier than a Sub and approaching nice minivan territory). I also really like the V60 Volvo (esp. the PHEV) but it's smaller and more expensive.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Wagons are such amateur utility vehicles.

Same is even more true of most CUVs and SUVs based on sedan platforms. Usually shorter in length but higher than their wagon counterparts, and I've never really had lack of height being an issue.

Having a sufficiently long wagon did allow me to haul items such as a 6-ft ladder, numerous elongated boxes, and the such.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by .RJ

Sure but a lot of these repairs are less than just the sales tax on a new car, and if you're relying on the dealer for out of warranty work - or expect you wont have some of these repairs on any car at 120k miles - then that's a fool's errand. They have a revolving door of techs, dont treat their techs well and in general do a poor job of standing behind their work. $7000 to replace a turbo is borderline criminal.

If the indy cant handle the repairs on a newer car then find another shop - its not like modern Audis are any more complicated than anything else if they have the updated scan tools and good techs.

I think your perspective is colored by where you reside. I'm sure this is easy to do in NoVA, but away from the big metropolises, this is a very difficult task.

The local indy Volvo repairs place in Madison can't be arsed to answer the phone, and it seems more geared toward the older vehicles whose repairs can still be mostly handled by indy shops (which is to say, before the manufacturers made almost everything dependent on diagnostic software with a hefty price tag).

In a large enough metro area, an indy shop could probably have enough clients with newer vehicles but refuse to give the stealerships money. Much less likely in smaller places.

[zap]

edited

Originally Posted by echappist

I think your perspective is colored by where you reside. I'm sure this is easy to do in NoVA, but away from the big metropolises, this is a very difficult task.

Boy, this turned out to be the case for me.

I had an excellent MB Indy in N. Bethesda just outside D.C. 40-75% of the cost of what dealers charged. Plus I could stand there and watch him work on my car. Mercedes can be shockingly easy to work on compared to Audi's and BMW's.

Moved to Cary NC (Raleigh/Durham metro) 8 years ago. Not exactly a small metro area but certainly nothing like metro D.C.. Best (by reputation) MB indy shop is roughly 10% less expensive than the local dealer. Plus they won't let me in the shop.

drifting. We purchased a new Lexus IS350 F Sport earlier this year. Last month I went to the nearest Toyota dealer to get a 6 month oil change. $92. I shed a tear.......I don't think I paid so little for an oil change since the early 90's.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by echappist

I think your perspective is colored by where you reside. I'm sure this is easy to do in NoVA, but away from the big metropolises, this is a very difficult task.

Yeah, you're not wrong and its why I put the caveat out there about tools and techs. If you ask around the local enthusiast community they'll tell you who is good.

Still there's no way I'd take a vw/audi to a dealer for repairs outside of warranty, they're just notoriously bad.

[mass_biker]

These are disappearing breeds… and maybe more auto than velo, but the overlap is real I think.
V8 wagon-petrol fueled-fire-breathing-dragon + Ritchey road logic; are these last of our dying breeds?

MB

[dmitrik4]

Originally Posted by .RJ

Are there any wagons left for America? I dont really count the S6 Avant or M5 in this, given the price/performance and there's no way that I would treat it like, well, a family car.

Not really, in terms of “real world car I don’t feel bad throwing a dog or muddy bike into.” The RS6 is awesome but a) not dropping that kind of coin; and b) not adding a 2” hitch receiver to it.

[dmitrik4]

Originally Posted by .RJ

The few times I've rented a van I feel like I'm driving a bus. I dont think I could get used to it.

Sometimes I look at things that might be a bit more, i dunno, luxury and then I remember my VW is paid for and does 95% of anything I'll ever want to do with a car.

Right? And honestly, adding an IS20/38 would take care of most of the rest of it. Better off replacing my NC with a 911 convertible or a Boxster if I’m itching to spend money.

[Duvivr6]

Originally Posted by dmitrik4

Not really, in terms of “real world car I don’t feel bad throwing a dog or muddy bike into.” The RS6 is awesome but a) not dropping that kind of coin; and b) not adding a 2” hitch receiver to it.

Does the Outback count as a wagon? I love my Gen6 XT, sadly no manual available.

[robin3mj]

I know a few braver or more iconoclastic souls, but in my experience the minivan really belongs to the 3+ kids demographic, of which I am a member.
They’re big, but they drive smaller and park more easily than most SUVs of similar length.

You can pry my Sienna from my cold, dead hands.

We also had a manual TDI Jetta wagon, which we swapped for a gas/auto version basically for free due to the diesel “scandal” after 8 years and about 70k miles. Traded that for a 3 row SUV to complement the van, but I would love to have the new MB with third row jump seats or the big Volvo if funds allowed.

[GonaSovereign]

Originally Posted by Duvivr6

Does the Outback count as a wagon? I love my Gen6 XT, sadly no manual available.

It’s too bad Subaru decided to put CVTs into their cars. If you are OK with an older car, you can find manuals. I owned a few manual Subarus (incl a Legacy wagon) and the transmission was not bad.

[R3awak3n]

The outback would not really be more fun with a manual though, its underpowered and a perfect fit for a slushbox. Its a great car though but I don’t think every car should have a manual.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by martl

Are you comparing the Outback to the 5 series touring and the A6 Avant?

Volume behind back seats/with back row folded
5 Series 570l / 1700l
A6 Avant 565l/ 1680l
Outback: 560l/1820l

Nope, any of those compared to the VW Jetta/Golf SportWAGEN...Shame the makers are going 'all-in' on 'SUV' type rigs..

Yes, yes, true 'Wagons' but BIG BUX...My NEW 2017 GSW, 'S', 4 Motion was about $24K all in...about half of the BMW/Volvo/ETC types 'out there'

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by echappist

I think your perspective is colored by where you reside. I'm sure this is easy to do in NoVA, but away from the big metropolises, this is a very difficult task.

So true. Now that I am retiring I want to get ride of the boring Avalon Limited I've been commuting with and get back into something sportier and most likely European. But any repairs would mean most likely going at least 60 miles to a dealer in SLC or probably just as fair to find a good Indy shop. So with that in mind I'm thinking once again, Miata is the answer instead.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by dmitrik4

Right? And honestly, adding an IS20/38 would take care of most of the rest of it. Better off replacing my NC with a 911 convertible or a Boxster if I’m itching to spend money.

Counting the days at this point before I take it to the VW indy with a list and a stack of money and to call me when they run out.