Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Carter’s post yesterday on the 2004 Passat 1.8T Variant got me thinking about rather ordinary German estate vehicles. That Passat was truly a nice find, as it is rare you find a B5 or B5.5 Passat in such great nick. Lightning has struck twice this week it seems, as I’ve come across this tidy 2002 BMW 325xi Touring for sale in Oregon. While it’s not a manual, for most, the automatic would do just fine for a small family hauler.
When enthusiasts of Mercedes-Benz and AMG products think the W124, one car that doesn’t readily come to mind is the E36. Right at the end of the W124 production run and beginning of the in-house AMG marriage to Daimler-Benz, a special car was produced – and amazingly, it wasn’t the 500E. The E36 received typical AMG updates like the wheels, suspension and body-kit; a recipe we’re used to. But under the hood was a 24V inline-6 that was shared with the W202 C36 AMG, good for 270-odd horsepower and it could be mated to a manual transmission. It was also available in 4 versions; sedan, coupe, convertible and – you guessed it, Estate wagon form. They’re exceedingly rare to find, and this isn’t one. But it does have some of the key details – and unlike earlier’s AMG imposter, here’s a W124 AMG replica that pulls off the look perfectly:
If yesterday’s 2008 E350 wasn’t quite doing it for you, then perhaps stepping back four years will get you on board with the long roof Benz program. This 2004 E500 4Matic Touring looks crisp as can be in Capri Blue and the grey leather interior with dark wood accents really ties the whole package together. I think this is one of the best color combinations you can get on these or just about any car really. The polished silver wheels and chrome grille isn’t bothersome as usual when paired with this paint , a testament to just how nice a shade of blue it is. Given that the car has had 4 owners, all whom have lived in climates known to be less than friendly to cars so I’d look very closely for pitting and chips in the paint. It appears to be in the claimed “Like New” condition but until you see it in person, you never know.
What is clear is that the original buyer wanted to maximize the sporting aspirations of this 5.0L V8 powered wagon. AMG wheels and a factory installed AMG bumper do give this example a tastefully aggressive look. The aforementioned lump has just enough juice to backup the attitude, 302hp from a 5.0L engine isn’t the best hp per litre ratio, especially in a 4,320 lb car. However, with 339lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds, I don’t think you or your passengers would say the car is slow, especially if the folks in the rear facing third row seat.
EDIT: This is post is being republished because it was lost in transition to our new server. Sorry for the inconvenience! Also, please note the car had some spotty history as noted by a few of our commenters; Jim and Bart both found this Mercedes-Benz Forum link regarding this car – Post #1363
http://mbworld.org/forums/mercedes-vehicles/394687-wtb-e55-amg-wagon-i-know-s-long-shot-55.html#post6357144
The other day I wrote up two S6 Avants, one of which was a nicely presented lower mileage example. However, the asking price on that particular car – nearly $20,000 – had me questioning why you would select the C5 S6. Now, I’m a huge Audi fan, and 340 horsepower is certainly nothing to sneeze at – but for about the same money, I suggested that the E55 AMG Estate was perhaps a better bargain. That’s because the W211’s M113 supercharged 5.4 liter V8 churned out a simply staggering 470 horsepower and 520 lb.ft. of torque – and that was stock, with a warranty. Unlike the Audi, it was channeled completely through the rear wheels. And if anything, the W211 E55 AMG managed to look both really special, really understated and super aggressive at the same time. It signaled the passing of the torch from Audi to Mercedes-Benz for the mega-wagon market (at least, in the U.S.) and remains a seriously potent bit of kit which is available today for only a fraction of its original purchase price:
I give a lot of credit to Mercedes-Benz for sticking it out with one conspicuous model in their lineup: the E-class AMG estate. “Sport†is an understatement with this vehicle, given the amount of power lurking under the hood. For three generations, Mercedes-Benz has offered an AMG-infused estate, with US customers gaining access over the last two generations. While AMG has lent its name on the tailgate of many of their SUVs, this fast five-door has the mettle to back up the aggressive stance. With a lower center of gravity and a lusty, naturally aspirated V8 under the hood, entertainment will ensue for the serious driver. This 2007 E63 AMG estate for sale in California has just over 62,000 miles and should give the kids a bit of a laugh if you decide to hoon a bit.
