With the popularity of the BMW X3 and X5 these days, the BMW 5 series wagon has taken a backseat to the sport utility vehicle craze and, it was recently announced that the newly revised F10 (we’re not using the E prefix anymore) 5 series wagon will not be coming to the US. Instead, we’ll be left with the newly developed 5 series Gran Turismo, which, from what it appears to me, is trying to be a sedan/SUV/wagon all in one. Whatever it is, when I saw it in person, it just didn’t work for me. It’s too big for my tastes, which is sadly the case with most new cars these days.
Let’s take a look at simpler times, when you could have a good, honest BMW wagon with a V8 and rear wheel drive:
The seller states:
2000 BMW 540iT Wagon, Sunroof, 6-CD Changer, Alloy Wheels, Remote Start, Navigation. 66,992 miles
With no reserve, the bidding is still under $10,000, which is a steal for a car with this much hauling capacity and power. Just the thing for that trip to the Hamptons. And an even bigger question looms: will the Hamptons embrace the Gran Turismo as much as they have the 5 series wagon in the past?
-Paul
That was a good deal. Unfortunately, it was an automatic or it would have been very interesting!
Came close to buying one of these a couple of years back. Best wagon design of any manufacturer IMHO. A/T’s are a $4500 time bomb though according to what I’ve read.
I think BMW makes the best looking wagons (not including the latest stuff). AN M5 Wagon would be the ultimate. The one thing I have noticed about E39 wagons in my area is that they seem to rust pretty out quickly. A manual would make this a lot more interesting.