What fast wagons/hatchbacks are on the market? Possible new(ish) vehicle purchase

docwyte said:

In reply to Stefan :

I’m 6’ 200lbs,  wear an xl shirt.  I’m also all torso, so I have a hard time fitting in some cars.  Miata for instance is a total no go for me.

I’d definitely plan on 18” wheels, probably pss10’s Etc.  I need to sit in an RS and see how I fit and how it compares to the R.

i know the R is nicer inside and better ride, question is if the RS performance and personality can overcome that

Similar to my co-worker, though he’s thinner than you.  He fits just fine.

Make sure it’s in Sport or Race Mode, if you test drive it, as it’s a bit take in normal mode.  It’s a fun transition though :) 

How about a panamera?  They are hatchbacks, though not as big as an E class.   How about a 2014-ish E63, it was the start of the turbo models, they are going for $50k or so these days I think.  

Kia stinger? 

You might as well just buy a new one since you missed out on this. 

In reply to Sonic :

Not a fan of the panamera, fugly!  Plus while they're a hatchback perse, they're really not what I'm looking for, which is a box with a rear door on it.  That way I can actually carry stuff like athletic equipment, my dog, etc...

Local Maserati dealer has a '14 E63 AMG wagon for sale.  I know it's a bad idea, especially since it's at the top of my price range AND it has 52k miles on it, but I'm going to have my car broker friend call them for me and find out the true cost, plus look into the cost of a warranty for me.

I've gone through autotrader and found a few CPO'd '18 Golf R's that look promising.  Low mileage, more warranty than a brand new one with the CPO and I'd save at least $5k.  Hmm. 

Also found a decent '17 GC SRT locally, could add a Mopar 5/100k warranty for $1500, write it off and get 30% back from Uncle Sam.  Enticing.

I need to drive some cars and see where I want to go.  I've driven a GC SRT before, but I need to drive a Golf R in 6MT and DSG back to back, plus find and drive a Focus RS.  Then go check out that E63 wagon.  Because insanely powerful wagon...

E350 4Matic wagon

E550 4Matic wagon

Just make sure they are 2009 or later. 

docwyte said:

In reply to Sonic :

Not a fan of the panamera, fugly!  Plus while they're a hatchback perse, they're really not what I'm looking for, which is a box with a rear door on it.  That way I can actually carry stuff like athletic equipment, my dog, etc...

Local Maserati dealer has a '14 E63 AMG wagon for sale.  I know it's a bad idea, especially since it's at the top of my price range AND it has 52k miles on it, but I'm going to have my car broker friend call them for me and find out the true cost, plus look into the cost of a warranty for me.

E63 gets my vote!  Love those wagons.

Go for the G-Wagen they have there. Totally bonkers....So just perfect. 

In reply to bmw88rider :

LOVE the G! Had a 320 diesel for a week in Tokyo which was terrible.

the USA g550/g63 is the Only thing I want to upgrade to from my 200 series

I taught the OP said no AMG?  Why I went with the “regular” ones. 

In reply to dean1484 :

Didn't think the '14's could be had in the $50's.  That's the top of my price range and depending on the cost of an aftermarket warranty, may still be too expensive.  But I wanna find out!

In reply to bmw88rider :

I'm not a fan of the G wagens.  I ride in enough real military vehicles to know that I have no desire to overpay to ride in a gussied up one on the street by choice.

docwyte said:

In reply to bmw88rider :

I'm not a fan of the G wagens.  I ride in enough real military vehicles to know that I have no desire to overpay to ride in a gussied up one on the street by choice.

The newer ones drive real nice.  I definitely wouldn’t describe it as driving like a military vehicle.

What's your budget? I think the 2010ish Rav 4s are <15s 1/4 mile & @6s 0-60mph. Probably not warrantied, but that may not be needed for a Rav 4.

^^

I am interested to see a guy who is shopping golf r and amg wagon, would look at a Rav4? 

For sure, it's easier to brainstorm when a budget has been decided. Rav 4 seems to fit nicely into the niche of not-too-small, not-too-big, nor unreliable, expensive to maintain, hard to work on, easy to drive, affordable, SUV, etc.

Not too exotic though, but then again many of the suggested cars aren't either.

​

Care to elaborate on what is money pit(ish) about your gx470? I’ve never heard anything but glowing reliability reviews.  

In reply to hvoxi :

Rav4 = crossover.  Definitely a no go for me.  I want a wagon/hot hatch or a ridiculously over powered real SUV. 

Budget is really dependent on what type of vehicle it is.  Allow me to explain...  A real deal SUV weighs enough that it falls underneath an agricultural tax code.  I make it my company vehicle and I can depreciate the entire value of the SUV in a single year.  Basically that means I get 30% of the purchase price back at the end of the tax year. 

So while my budget for a wagon/hot hatch is more like $40-50k, I can flex up to $60-65k on an SUV as I'll get around $20k+ back on the SUV that I won't on the wagon/hot hatch.

I can make a wagon/hot hatch a company car and depreciate it too, but it has to be over a 3 year time period and I think the maximum I can depreciate each year is around $12k.  So I'll get some money back, but a much smaller amount and over a longer time period.

In reply to Carbon :

Mostly its been every single wear item going out at once.  So tires, brakes, both front axles, radiator, alternator, battery, belts, plugs, filters, fluids, shocks plus a water leak from the drivers side roof rack foot.  The straw that's breaking my back is the rack and pinion end seals are leaking plus the timing belt/water pump is due in about a year.

Secondary air pump is still original as are the rear air bags, both of which will probably need to be replaced shortly.  Even with me doing almost all the work I've put $5k into it this past year.  The rack and timing belt job are another $4k alone.

So the E63 AMG wagon I was all hot about has issues.  #1 its been in an accident.  #2 it was a NYC car.  So more than likely rust on every under carriage fastener and treated poorly.  No go.

The GC SRT I was all hot about as it was optioned exactly as I wanted has a branded title and 2 accidents.  Ugh.

So plan is to go check out a DSG and 6MT Golf R and see what they drive like.  Try and check out/drive a Focus RS.  Check out and drive an R package Volvo V60 wagon to see if I like it enough to buy a Polestar version sight unseen.  There's another E63 AMG wagon for sale locally but I feel its over priced by at least $15k.  Ironically the place selling it is owned by a patient of mine, which makes me going up and being hard on the price awkward.

As said above would a Stinger GT work? It has a hatch, but not quite as wagon-y as some of the other options.

Jag also made a wagon that looks amazing (XF Sportbrake), not sure on the power numbers though. You could probably pick up a 1 or 2-year old example and slap an extended warranty on it.

In reply to CobraSpdRH :

Just like the Panamera, I'm just not into the "sportbak" that manufacturers are trying to foist on us instead of a true wagon.  Yeah, the Stinger has a hatch, but it's not a hatch/wagon shape, so that still means I can't carry the stuff I want to carry like athletic equipment and my dog.

Why Audi decided to bring us an RS5 "sportbak" vs the RS4 avant I'll never know.  I'd buy an RS4 avant in a heartbeat!

Is Jaguar still making that wagon?  Hmm, time to do some googling!

Ooh, they are still making the Jaguar F type S Sportbrake!!

https://jalopnik.com/jaguar-xf-sportbrake-wagon-not-dead-yet-and-still-a-g-1833261600

Looks like $46k can get you a new one. 380hp supercharged v6! Not bad.

In reply to dculberson :

I checked one out online and they look awesome!  I need to find one at a local dealer and see/drive it in person.  This could be my next car!