If your hot button is reliability like you had with the L/C I'd do Sequoia or 4Runner depending on what size you need. If you want all the options (leather, etc.) your budget will buy a nice 2016-2018 limited 4Runner around here. Not worried about leather, you can find 2020-2021 SR5 4Runners here. They're not the v8, but they're bulletproof.
2015 Limited for $27k as an example
That C5 RS6 is wildly unreliable and extremely costly to maintain. As cool of a car as they are, that's a hard pass for me. After some research into parts availability, I've decided to also pass on the B7 RS4. Apparently, it's so bad that you sometimes have to park the car for a few weeks while you wait for parts to show up, and that's if you're lucky enough to find them.
4Runner is definitely on my radar, however, since Toyota didn't change a damn thing on them for over 15 years I don't see the point in spending mid-upper $20k's on a newer one. I'd rather find an older one with the V8 with under 150k miles on it. I found out the hard way that everything breaks on those around 100-120k miles, so if I find one that's made it through that maintenance (and has the records to prove it) then it should be good for another 100k miles.
I'm checking out that BMW wagon in a week. That's really a go/no go car for me, if I like it, I'll buy it, since it's such a unicorn. If I don't like it I'll either wait for an Audi A6 avant 3l supercharged to pop up nearby or wait for a good 4Runner V8.
In reply to docwyte :
E91 is a wagon not a sports car. An auto with the right options (sport seats, etc) is still a great car... If it's got enough room for your needs.
4Runner is the easy button but.. Would a sequoia fit in your garage?
docwyte said:That C5 RS6 is wildly unreliable and extremely costly to maintain. As cool of a car as they are, that's a hard pass for me. After some research into parts availability, I've decided to also pass on the B7 RS4. Apparently, it's so bad that you sometimes have to park the car for a few weeks while you wait for parts to show up, and that's if you're lucky enough to find them.
Since neither of those is a wagon (at least here in the US), how about a C7 S6 (also not a wagon)? It's a much more modern car so shouldn't have parts problems, and with the TSB out on the oil supply turbo failures that shouldn't be much of an issue any more. Nice versions (30-40K miles) are going for right around $30K on BAT.
docwyte said:That C5 RS6 is wildly unreliable and extremely costly to maintain. As cool of a car as they are, that's a hard pass for me. After some research into parts availability, I've decided to also pass on the B7 RS4. Apparently, it's so bad that you sometimes have to park the car for a few weeks while you wait for parts to show up, and that's if you're lucky enough to find them.
4Runner is definitely on my radar, however, since Toyota didn't change a damn thing on them for over 15 years I don't see the point in spending mid-upper $20k's on a newer one. I'd rather find an older one with the V8 with under 150k miles on it. I found out the hard way that everything breaks on those around 100-120k miles, so if I find one that's made it through that maintenance (and has the records to prove it) then it should be good for another 100k miles.
I'm checking out that BMW wagon in a week. That's really a go/no go car for me, if I like it, I'll buy it, since it's such a unicorn. If I don't like it I'll either wait for an Audi A6 avant 3l supercharged to pop up nearby or wait for a good 4Runner V8.
You want the 07-09 than. I actually looked for these the other day as I miss my '07 Limited V8 (the 10 speaker JBL system was pretty damn good as well). The only one I found with less than 100k miles was asking $21k IIRC. As great as a truck as it, I'd have a hard time dropping that kind of coin on a 15-year old truck with 90k miles.
I had a Q5 with the 3.0t, same motor as the SQ5 for about a year. Great car all around, had an APR stage 1 tune on it that brought out a lot mor power than a stock SQ5 for around $700. I'd recommend. This would be the same motor in the A6 wagon that you mentioned as well.
In reply to OHSCrifle :
I'm not looking for a sports car, I've still (thankfully) got the 996 Turbo in my garage. I need an all weather family/dog hauler. Doesn't necessarily have to be as large as the Land Cruiser (although that was nice at times) since we have my wife's Cayenne. I do need something larger than my old Mk7.5 Golf R though.
Sadly a Sequoia won't fit in my garage. The Land Cruiser just barely fit, and the Sequoia is quite a bit longer. My driveway really isn't any longer than my garage, so I can't even leave it outside...
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
I was really only interested in the RS4. That was the only car I was willing to give up the utility of a hatchback for. Then I was waved off not only by my friend that used to be my indy mechanic (he closed up shop) and the forums after finding out there's basically no parts supply to keep them going as a DD. At this point I want a wagon or SUV, just for the ease of carrying stuff.
In reply to z31maniac :
Yeah, I'm actually targeting one with ~130-140k miles on it. By that point all the stuff that wears out should've been replaced. I'll want to see receipts to prove that, of course. I just found on my old GX470 that at 110-130k miles I had to replace the alternator, radiator, both front axles, battery, suspension, timing belt/water pump, SAI pump, etc. Once all that's done, it's good for another 100k+ miles.
So I'd rather find one that's made it through that maintenance threshold, rather than buy one right before all that stuff needs to be done. There are several with around that mileage locally here for $10-13k. I'd still rather end up in a wagon though, they just drive so much better than a body on frame SUV.
This is the droid you are looking for:
2015 to 2017 V60 Polestar. Hard to find, but well within your budget. Everyone loved it.
In reply to fanfoy :
There's actually one for sale locally. Not sure about his asking price though, he's asking low $30k's. Which is definitely at the tippy top of my budget, especially with tax/title/tags to pay for. I might check it out Monday as it's fairly close to where the BMW wagon is that I'm also seeing that day.
I just came here to suggest the Polestar wagon.
In reply to JoeTR6 :
In checking for Polestar wagons across the country, the local one is definitely over priced, by $6k or so. There's another one with about the same mileage listed for $6k less, at a major dealer no less and those guys tend to have the highest asking prices of all. The other ones for sale are about the same asking price but have half the mileage.
In my experience someone that over priced isn't willing to see reality and won't accept a reasonable offer. Not worth my time to engage, as I'd be offering $1-2k less than the other one listed at the major dealer, so $7-8k less than what this guy is asking.
I'd messaged the Polestar owner thru autotrader a few days ago asking to see the car this coming monday and some questions. He responded but I hadn't written back yet. So I wrote back a bit ago laying out what I said above, that there are several at his asking price with half the mileage and the one with similar mileage had an asking price of $6k less. Told him I'd be looking to offer him a bit less than that, since the other car is listed at a major dealer and to let me know if he'd entertain that.
I don't expect a reply back...
In reply to fanfoy :
That's a damn good looking vehicle.
Heard back from the seller, turns out the later ones that I was using as comps on Autotrader have an inline 4 vs the V6 his has. Book value on his is still $7k less on KBB and $4-6k less on NADA, very possible that the books are wrong as these are quite rare. Anyways, he was polite enough in his first reply and condescending in his second reply, so I very much doubt that he's willing to move on his price at all. Pass...
Not sure if it's been suggested yet but early panameras are getting very cheap
It's a bit off the beaten path, but have you considered a Golf Sportwagen?
^^^I believe we've both owned Golf R's (I used to own a MK6 and MK7 Golf R)- the Sportwagen seems to have a good bit more cargo capacity and is well below your budget.
docwyte said:Heard back from the seller, turns out the later ones that I was using as comps on Autotrader have an inline 4 vs the V6 his has. Book value on his is still $7k less on KBB and $4-6k less on NADA, very possible that the books are wrong as these are quite rare. Anyways, he was polite enough in his first reply and condescending in his second reply, so I very much doubt that he's willing to move on his price at all. Pass...
Condescending because you told him your offer would be $8k less, without seeing it and without comparing apples to apples. If someone did the same when you were selling the L/C, you'd be testy in your reply too.
As far as book value, call KBB and ask when and where you can pick it up for the $7k less, surely they have one in stock.
In reply to roninsoldier83 :
Those are on my hit list, actually the 6MT, TDI versions. A nicely modded sport wagen popped up on the Western Slope that looks interesting, but it's got an APR tune and downpipe on it, both of which need to come off to pass smog here. Annoyingly the APR tunes don't come with a flashloader, so the car has to go to an APR shop to get flashed back to stock, smogged, then flash the tune back on.
In reply to Steve_Jones :
Yes, but my Land Cruiser was priced at book value, and I did get offers of $7-9k less, even with that. They still got polite replies from me. I get where you're coming from though and it's certainly the sellers perogative to price wherever they want.
I might have at least driven the local Polestar just to see if I were at all interested, then said no thanks and found a better deal. The Polestar wagons are fairly rare, unfortunately. I didn't realize that the later ones have the I-4 2.0l dual charged engine similar to what's in our XC60. That has amazing power for the displacement, but sounds like an angry vacuum cleaner. The I-6 is Thor's hammer, but it's a tad thirsty.
In reply to JoeTR6 :
Yeah, maybe? Right now I'm going to try and stay in the $15-20k range and there's no way a Polestar will be that cheap. My plan is to check out that E91 this Monday. If I like it and can come to a price agreement with the seller, I'll buy it. If not, I'll keep looking and at that point don't really have to buy something until next Fall. I'll just drive my daughters Xterra thru the winter and then the 911 when the weather changes.
A friend did send me a link to a nicely built Mk7.5 golf sportwagen. I'll reach out to the owner, the only bummer is it's tuned by APR and it won't pass smog here. To get it to pass I'll need to take the car to an APR dealer, have it flashed back to stock, get smogged, then flash the tune again. Then do that every 2 years. Or ditch the APR tune and get it tuned with a Cobb Accessport
In reply to docwyte :
A bit off topic, regarding the Sportwagen, I found it interesting that our state adopted a portion of California's CARB laws, yet folks in various counties here are completely exempt from emissions altogether.
With that said, I would be wary of buying a car with a down pipe and tune, especially if the owner is fairly young- I'm sure you probably feel the same.
If you decided you loved the car, well, I've always felt a fly and drive was worth it to find a nice unicorn at a reasonable price.
In reply to roninsoldier83 :
In general I'm wary of a car that's already been modded/built, unless I know the owner/shop that did the work. I'll have to feel out the owner of this sportwagen, my suspicion is he's not a 20 something kid, but I'll see. It does suck that emissions is basically just the Front Range, it makes it hard for us. Having to swap the downpipe/tune every other year would really blow. My friend suggested I register it in Montana instead, which I guess I could do.
I have truly horrible luck buying cars from out of state. Even after having a PPI done by a local marque shop, when I arrive I always find the car in not described condition. Either with paint/bodywork, missing body parts, mechanical issues that aren't trivial, etc. At this point, I basically refuse to do a fly n drive on anything that's not brand new, or basically brand new.
The Land Cruiser was a huge leap of faith purchase for me, but it only had 20k miles on it and a good friend, who used to be a professional mechanic, checked it out for me.
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