My neighbors’ clean and utilitarian 325i wagon was recently demolished by a texter in a Prius barely 50 feet from our shared garage. Now they’re on the search for another German wagon, so what a great time for Wagon Week! Theirs was a rear-drive automatic, but today’s takes it to another level with the ability to row your own gears with all-wheel drive traction. It’s not that fancy, but that’s what I like about these E46 wagons as they get a little older. They’re clean and can be had without an overload of technology while still providing a luxury sport experience. With a rare combo and low miles, this is a very enticing wagon.
Author: Nate
Syncro Westies are a special breed, but today’s Vanagon is cut from an interesting cloth – or lack thereof. While most Westfalias’ tops popped up with a cloth tent, later models like this example could be had with a plastic high-top. What is lost in aerodynamics is gained in weatherproofness, creating a cozy loft and more mounting space for the rack-loving van crowd. While the top sticks out, the overall aesthetics are upgraded but pleasantly subtle, with upsized steel wheels, the great South African grille/light combo and tough bumpers blending into the colorless white/black scheme. The more I look at it, the more I love this van, and we haven’t even gotten to the mechanicals! Those are as good as they get, with an upgraded turbodiesel and Syncro four-wheel drive. No reserve will make this a fun auction to watch, though the low mileage and strong option and upgrade lists will probably take it out of most people’s price range.
Click for details: 1989 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Syncro on eBay
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I was driving to San Francisco on the picturesque I-280 last week in my E28, and came upon a nice E30 325i touring. I’m sure it was easily overlooked by the rest of the drivers on the road, but I approached it excitedly, wondering what enthusiast was driving this rare (to us) longroof. The middle-aged woman driving was unassuming, but she got major points in my book for car choice whether she knew it or not. The E30 Touring is becoming much more common as the 25-year block is lifted, and we’re all better for it. They’re attractive and utilitarian cars that lift the mean coolness of roads everywhere. Today’s is a simple 318i and mileage isn’t listed, but the AC Schnitzer wheels are a nice touch and overall it appears very clean. The lister has a host of E30 wagons in pictures, meaning you’re buying them from someone who realizes how cool having one of these in the US is. The flipside is that he also knows how much people have paid for them recently, and is charging over twice what a non-Touring 318i would cost.
Click for details: 1989 BMW 318i Touring for sale on Washington DC’s Craigslist
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Today we have a Geländewagen that covers a lot of ground, and not just in the typical all-terrain beast way. Sure, it can do all the badass stuff, but it’s looking unique and clean with a low-mileage diesel and an amazing interior. Seriously, plaid AND jump seats?! It all looks pristine and the price reflects it. If red is your color and you want to have a little of the GWagen panache without the overwrought AMG details, this is a great choice.
Click for details: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 300GD on eBay
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Reader and stellar commenter Ry alerted us to this awesome German military medical vehicle over on the Samba, always a cool source for some unique VWs. It may be located in Germany, but it’s a cool combination of military looks, diesel power, and shockingly low mileage. The interior is set up to be a radio vehicle, but as with any T25, it’s easily convertible. We’ve seen some astonishing prices for Vanagons in the US, so while this isn’t a mega-Syncro Westy, it’s a very cool, very clean VW van that could be bought and imported for very little.