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Tag: Wagon

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2004 Mercedes Benz E500 4Matic Estate

 

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.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 Mercedes Benz E500 4Matic Estate

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1987 Volkswagen Quantum Syncro Wagon

The B2 Quantum has always been an interesting car to me. As my first car was an Audi 4000CS quattro, there were aspects of its Volkswagen sibling that I really liked. First, while I wouldn’t say that the Quantum was more handsome than the 4000, it was certainly more distinctive looking. There are some downright odd angles on the Quantum, but somehow the design pulls it off. It’s also more rare to see them, or at least it felt so when I was driving around in the 4000. Then there were more practical things; for example, unlike Audi who ran the odd 4×108 pattern for slightly larger brakes, the Quantum stuck to smaller stock and retained 4×100 mm wheels. That made upgrades a bit easier and gave the Quantum a signature look with the GTi-sourced snowflake wheels. You could also get the 5-cylinder in front drive sedan configuration with the GL5; it was something Audi offered early on but had dropped, instead having only the Coupe GT be the front drive 5-cylinder. But the real trump card for the Quantum was undoubtedly the Syncro Wagon, as there was no Audi B2 wagon available in any configuration:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Volkswagen Quantum Syncro on eBay

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2008 Mercedes Benz E350 4Matic Estate

 

I am officially dubbing this week “Mercedes Week” for myself. The majority of my recent posts have been BMW’s as that is mostly what I am in the market for but since the universe sadly does not revolve around me, I figured I best mix it up. What spurred this line of thought was a friend who suddenly found himself in the market for a new vehicle and asked for my help finding one. He wanted a wagon, preferably one with AWD as he lives up a particularly nasty dirt road in Vermont and his budget was about $10k. As with most folks in my native state, his first choice was a Subaru Outback and he found a couple solid examples right away. However given that he wasn’t completely married to the idea of having a Subie, he asked me what else he could get in the same price range with similar functionality. A4 wagon prices have stayed strong, particularly on the manual ones but the E-Class wagons, well those have depreciated significantly despite being a rather reliable rig. I found a few of these in his price range and a few that were decidedly not, clearly this one is the later.

At first glance I didn’t much care for this particular example, I’m not a big fan of tan interiors or light woodgrain accents. I much prefer a nice alcantara or perforated leather wheel, subtle dark wood trim if wood at all. However the more I scrolled through the pictures the more I began to appreciate the vibe this car is putting out.  It conjures up images of trucking kids to private school and neighbors in a freshly minted subdivision waving to each other in acknowledgement of their mutual success. While that might not sound all that great I think it perfectly captures why this car is a solid option for the enthusiast with a family, ultra sleeper status. Nobody expects they grey wagon with a beige interior to be a fun drive anymore than they expect the Inquisition. A set of sticky tires, upgraded sway bars, bushings, and CAI would make for an entertaining and very incognito daily driver indeed.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2008 Mercedes Benz E350 4Matic State

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Double Take: 2002 Audi S6 Avant

Amongst unappreciated Audis, the C5 S6 seems to be pretty high on the snub list for enthusiasts. Complaints that they were overly complicated and underwhelming were understandable in some regards as the C5 S6 only came in Avant and automatic form to the U.S.. Indeed, at the same time as the S6 was offered, you could get a twin-turbocharged Allroad 6-speed for a bit less money than the S6. Since it was effectively the same car with a manual and height-adjustable suspension, one would wonder why Audi would offer the S6 at all. However, compared to some other Audis of the same vintage, the S6 holds some advantages. To lighten the porky C5 up slightly, the S6 featured some aluminum body bits up front. Unlike the previous turbocharged inline-5, power came from a capable V8 – rated at 340 horsepower, it was effectively the same motor shared with the S8 and nearly 100 horsepower more than the V6. The S6 also got a special and unique version of the Ronal-made Avus wheel at 17″x8″, instead of the 17″x7.5″ on the B5 S4. Inside the S6 was much the same as the rest of the C5 lineup, though sport seats were standard as with the S8. However, for second or third-hand owners, the big advantages to the S6 are the steel suspension in place of the air-controlled suspension the Allroad featured – a complicated system that has proven failure prone. Additionally, the belt-driven V8 doesn’t have the same guide issues of the chain-driven later V8s in the S4 V8. True, you are still subjected to the transmission woes of this generation Audis – but properly cared for, even the weak-spot transmissions can go for some time. Today I have two examples of the S6 Avant; which is the one to buy?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2002 Audi S6 Avant on eBay

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2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate

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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.

Click for details: 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate on eBay

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