OT: sportwagen

[Marvinlungwitz]

Untitled by Marvin Lungwitz, on Flickr

I can’t argue with a mini van being a great drag-around-every-outdoor-toy-you-have vehicle. We had an Odyssey when our kids were younger. Something like a MB Sprinter would be the ultimate.

That being said, I like driving smaller vehicles and we’re empty nesters now.

Also, it’s a nostalgia thing. We used travel to bike races in my friend’s Civic wagon. Usually 3 or 4 of us. (He had one of those white Italian bike racks on the roof. The name of the rack manufacturer has slipped from the memory banks (this was pre Yakima and Thule) - any one remember?). I always wanted a little wagon, and although the A4 is not small by 1980 standards, it’ll do.

Edit - maybe Fiamma?

[batman1425]

I like my '16 GSW. I want to love it, but I can't. I bought it CPO with 50k on it 3 yrs ago and it checks all the boxes for size, interior space, driving experience, maneuverability etc. On paper its the ideal car for me in the city, short of it being a hybrid, but the MPG are OK for what it is.

I just can't love it though. The suspension groans like crazy, lots of rattles and creeks, there's a wind noise problem with the door seals , persistent electrical gremlins, etc. None on their own are deal breakers and several are par for the course on a car this age and use, but they add up on the annoyance meter. Could be my specific one - I've had hot/cold (mostly cold) experiences with VAG cars in the past. Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but I expect a bit more from it given it's age, use, and how it's been maintained.

It's utility, and lack of sub $45k alternative that check the function and feature boxes keep it in the driveway. I've owned 4 different wagons in the last 20yrs and this will probably be the last one. A Hybrid Maverick or hybrid small SUV will probably be the answer.

[martl]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

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

We (rational car buyers) are all suffering.

Imay have kept up with VW cheating etc, but they killed this gem here.

Nothing since the Fiat Multipla 600 back in 1955 ever came close in terms of economy of space.

Seats 2 persons + 4 Bicycles + luggage easily/(4+4 with compromises), or 5 grown-ups + luggage comfortably, or 7 persons.

Overall length a tad under 15 ft (shorter than a Golf station wagon).
Had all the creature comforts: full leather interior, satnav, all drive assists, electric sunroof, park assist, etc etc

With the 170hp TDI, does 220km/h / 135mp/h
i usually got better than 40 mpg

[AngryScientist]

Everything was better in the 90's

[echelon_john]

La Prealpina

Originally Posted by Marvinlungwitz

Untitled by Marvin Lungwitz, on Flickr

The name of the rack manufacturer has slipped from the memory banks (this was pre Yakima and Thule) - any one remember?). I always wanted a little wagon, and although the A4 is not small by 1980 standards, it’ll do.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by martl

Nothing since the Fiat Multipla 600 back in 1955 ever came close in terms of economy of space.

As long as you dont hit anything, that looks terrifying

[Marvinlungwitz]

Originally Posted by echelon_john

La Prealpina

Maybe, were they painted white?

Internet search was not terribly helpful.

[dmitrik4]

Originally Posted by Duvivr6

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

Sorta, but there’s nothing “better” about it compared to the VW, IMO.

[.RJ]

Originally Posted by dmitrik4

Sorta, but there’s nothing “better” about it compared to the VW, IMO.

He should have bought the Outback XTR

[batman1425]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Everything was better in the 90's

I saw one of these for sale locally recently. They were asking a handsome price for it. Probably will get it too because of weirdos like me...

My best friend in HS had the sedan version of that exact car. His was white with burgundy cloth and a 5mt. I was very jealous.

[echelon_john]

Yep. Kind of an off-white/cream color.

Originally Posted by Marvinlungwitz

Maybe, were they painted white?

Internet search was not terribly helpful.

[echappist]

Originally Posted by 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

I like how the abbreviation can mean two things in this context.

Just to confirm, is that a sport wagon/ estate shown in your photo? The close-up shot kinda distorted the height of the hatch window (and made it look taller than it actually it).

Interestingly enough, the fanciest MB SUVs are known as the G-Wagen, wagen being the generic German word for any road-travelling vehicle. Which is also why renn wagen just means sports car, as opposed to sport wagon.

[rccardr]

Yes, that’s an AMG 63s, the hot rod version of Mercedes-Benz’s previous station wagon platform. Since discontinued, at least for the USA. Sad for me, wanted one for years but put it off, then they stopped making them.

New MB wagon is the E450, mild hybrid, all wheel drive, gizmos out the kazoo.
Mine was ordered in May, delivered mid-September & replaced my 2016 Sportwagen.

[martl]

Originally Posted by .RJ

As long as you dont hit anything, that looks terrifying

Well it is a child of an era when not yet every technical device was twice as expensive, three times as complicated and 4 times heavier than necessary, in order to protect the user from his own stupidity

--in the "participating in traffic" context, of course it also needs to protect you from *other peoples* stupiditiy. I get that. It also starts an arms race, because i now need to prtotect myself from the over-protected, thus heavy big and unyielding objects that some of the stupid people use.

..i sometimes wonder if humankind isn't shooting itself in the foot that way, in a long term/evolution type of meaning. Making stupid people survive while removing any accountability for own actions may not be the wisest strategy

[thwart]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Everything was better in the 90's

We had one of those in the early 1990s. Not a remarkable vehicle. At all.

Sold it and got the first generation Honda Odyssey (the one with the four-cylinder motor), which we used for several long-distance cross country trips with our kids and subsequently all the driver‘s ed stuff.

Sad to let it go ~ 2008.