Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon. Cheap, reliable, fairly easy to find, especially on the coasts.
But if you want fun AND utility, I say a Ford Escort Turbo Wagon.
:)
Hauls tons of stuff, AND gets 35mpg+ if driven like a grandma. Usually I only get around 27, for some reason I can't quite keep my foot out of it...
--sarge
4g63t
HalfDork
11/29/10 6:35 p.m.
How about the one I walk by everyday on the way to my bay.
One of two (And the only one still in existence) factory built Ford Taurus SHO wagons.
Shaun
Reader
11/29/10 8:26 p.m.
http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?146308-EuroSport-Tuning-850R-FOR-SALE
might be a little spendy
But it will eat front tires like mad.
mndsm
Dork
11/29/10 8:47 p.m.
4g63t wrote:
How about the one I walk by everyday on the way to my bay.
One of two (And the only one still in existence) factory built Ford Taurus SHO wagons.
The masses will clearly need proof of this.
Are the Volvo 850s any good? I wasn't sure about any Volvo's post '90s. Are they reliable?
Shaun
Reader
11/29/10 10:26 p.m.
The poster formally known as 96DXCivic wrote:
Are the Volvo 850s any good? I wasn't sure about any Volvo's post '90s. Are they reliable?
I have had really good luck with mine, which is pretty normal. There are a half dozen or so common fixes (pcv (cheap), strut mounts in the front (cheap), rear main seal (expensive), heater core (cheap), air con evaporator (expensive).. The optioned out turbo ones have lots of doo dads that break and are a PIA to fix. NA volvo 850 wagons with manual seats, no sun roof, and and the less complicated climate control will persist for a long time with basic maintainance and they have under-stressed drive line- the 5 speed manual boxes are very tough. The turbos will run a long time too, but they will cost more to run and it is easy to make them stress all the driveline bits. the 98-00 awd cars have a really weak component- the "angle gear" which grenade pretty regularly and are expensive. All the 94-99 and most of the 2000 cars use an Aisin AW automatic 4 speed transmissions that are interweb rumored to be "weak", but I have rarely read about them blowing up. Change the fluid, add a cooler, go. They are very non fussy slush boxes that stay in gear and do not shift much and couple well with the torque of the I5s, especially the turbo variants. There are lots of all of them pouring into junkyards these days. Parts are reasonable at- fpcgroton.com. I think history will treat the 93-2000 Volvo's well. It's the FWD dynamics that are the deal breaker for people, and Volvo made the steering and brakes very disconnected compared to the RWD red blocks, so they are not much fun on the twisties past 7/10 even with IPD stuff and good dampers. On a long drive they are superb with the comfy seats, long gearing, low wind noise, and gobbs of torque. The choppy around town ride smooths out too. yada yada yada.
RedBrik
New Reader
11/30/10 10:32 a.m.
I'll cast another vote for a late 7 series Volvo turbo wagon. Cheap as dirt, haul lots, some very good aftermarket support showing up in the US now, as well as great junk yard support! Several factory manual tranny options, as well as adapters for anything from a T5 to a Getrag, to a Richmond Gear, etc, etc.
850's are much more plush, but the materials quality isn't as good as 7's, and they suffer from a lack of go-kart quotient around town.
Do bear in mind though that old Volvo's are like an automotive fungus. You bring one home and they'll infest your car collection then prove very difficult to get rid of.
RedBrik wrote:
Do bear in mind though that old Volvo's are like an automotive fungus. You bring one home and they'll infest your car collection then prove very difficult to get rid of.
Quoted for truth. Damn, I've had 5 of them now!
Have you considered the NEW SHO wagon?
Or the Lamborghini Wagon?
Or the CTS-v Wagon:
wait, that's actually real
Junkyard_Dog wrote:
Kendall_Jones wrote:
The 850 turbo wagon (855) never came with manual trans. non turbo yes (and turbo sedans), but sadly not in the wagon.
KJ
I know of at least two locally that say otherwise, and have seen several others for sale online.
These cars were not swapped, but it can be done fairly easily from what I've read. They are somewhat rare, but they do exist!
Exactly, the guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
11110000 wrote:
Step 1, find a 740 Turbo wagon with 5spd.
Step 2, pop in a MBC set @ 14psi.
Step 3, drive it like you stole it while hauling almost anything short of a hot tub.
I paid $350 for mine, and got years of enjoyment before it blew up.
Rule number 1: Never take advice about increasing boost from a guy who blew up his engine. Just kidding, $350 for years of enjoyment sounds like a good deal.
Shaun
Reader
12/2/10 6:56 p.m.
SgtRauksauff wrote:
Mitsubishi EVO wagon??
--sarge
As a fast wagon fan, that is utterly fantastic. Is it real?
Shaun
Reader
12/2/10 6:59 p.m.
In reply to Shaun:
Yes, it is real..... Love it!
jrw1621
SuperDork
12/2/10 7:18 p.m.
That wagon was only sold in the US for one year, 2004, and it was not an Evo just a Lancer. Officially called the Lancer Sportback in came in a base version and a RallySport version. The only engine was the big 2.4L 4 cyl but unfortunately AUTOMATIC ONLY.
I helped and encouraged my nephew to buy one. It was a left-over model and he paid $13.5 for a new car with a $19k sticker.
The wagon was sold as an Evo Wagon in other countries.
I like this one better:
http://polybushings.com/pages/k-carwagon.html
I had that woody version only it was blue. Good cheap transportation.
Another one of my vehicles my wife wouldn't ride in...she was glad when I blew up the engine.