Automobiles

[zetroc]

Wagons are great. I grew up in them and have always wanted a Pontiac wagon, like a '65 Tempest. That would be awesome.

[Philster]

I just finished reading "Gold Plated Porsche" by Stephen Wilkinson and enjoyed it. He takes an old 911 SC and restores it. Spending more than it will probably ever be worth even though he does almost everything himself. There are some sections which give you too much air-cooled tech but over-all the book's great.

It's fun to think about doing a resto and what car you would choose. Right now, I'm lucky that I don't have the space for that Land Rover Series III pick-up build. What do you dream about?

[jitahs]

I will have nightmares of this guy yelling at me for hugging the right side and going too slow:

[NCC1701]

Always have enjoyed the 911's in general, this one sticks to the road like glue given it's all wheel drive:

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[ned]

When driving a BMW doesn't give you the attention you think you deserve, chrome it!


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[David Tollefson]

I saw a Caddy STS with a full chrome body a few weeks ago... Nearly blinded me.

[Jason Musgrave]

Well I'm gonna move forward with plans to build a 2wd Toyota truck for fun. Looking for a decent '87 - 94ish truck to start with. This is gonna be fun!

[rmplum]

It would make just too much sense to offer this in a wagon:




I made it over 600 miles last weekend on a tank with the bikes on top giving the finger to aero and dragging around AWD too (it's a 4Matic). That little 2.1L works great with the 7-speed auto, effortless to drive. It's not a 0-60 rocket, but highway passes are surprisingly easy, and it's remarkably quiet inside. Not particularly fun to drive (or look at), but about as practical as a $60k vehicle can be.

[sbornia]

It would make just too much sense to offer this in a wagon...

I think I read that the wagon was coming later this year, around September.

[Philster]

I think I read that the wagon was coming later this year, around September.

If only there was an AMG version. Can't believe there is no 335 wagon. BMW has totally lost the plot.

[rmplum]

There are already E350 and E63 AMG Wagons available here, both with 4Matic, but I have not seen the diesel version mentioned yet. It would be neat.

[davids]

Americans don't like diesels.
Americans don't like wagons.

[72gmc]

Americans don't like diesels.
Americans don't like wagons.

Wish I could dispute this but I'm not in the market for the foreseeable future. Something like an Allroad with TDI or BMW's diesel touring car would really tempt me in other circumstances.

[nahtnoj]

BMW has totally lost the plot.

All their SUVs have awd, so why must the 3 series wagon have it too?

The aughts brought us some very interesting wagons - S4, allroad, S6 Avant, E55/63AMG, M Coupe, Z4M, etc. - don't see that happening again.

[Blue Jays]

"Something like an Allroad with TDI or BMW's diesel touring car would really tempt me in other circumstances."

Audi would do well to simply offer a roadish A4 wagon rather than the 1.50" loftier AllRoad variant.
Plenty of people have little interest in taking their cars where increased ground clearance truly is a necessity.

For goodness sake manufacturers also need to recognize cyclists are among their most enthusiastic wagon/SUV buyers.
At least design the vehicle so that a typical bicycle can be stood upright with one wheel removed, with saddle attached.

It is not going to excite people at the Thursday night Hot Rod show...yet curious how a Mercedes-Benz E350 wagon will haul bikes. A diesel version of that wagon would be sweet indeed! Quiet, comfortable, and with great utility.

[rmplum]

At least MB had the foresight to use the hidden rack mounts on the E-Class sedan, which made fitting my Yakima system relatively painless (one quick trip to the hardware store).





The Tesla has these as well FWIW.

[Matthew Strongin]

At least design the vehicle so that a typical bicycle can be stood upright with one wheel removed, with saddle attached.

Very few SUVs, let alone cars, have that kind of room. When I got my last car/truck, I went around to dealerships with a tape measure. I ended up with an FJ and it barely fits my moderate 72cm saddle height.

[jitahs]

Americans don't like wagons.

It's just nomenclature. Newer Outbacks are extraordinarily popular here but they're essentially cuvs, its ride height nearly identical to a cx-5's, which drives much more dynamically but has a higher roofline.

Manufacturers are becoming good at dropping the center of gravity, modding suspension geometry and the "safety" software is so good as to make traditional distinctions sorta irrelevant. In fact manufacturers are moving to infill, Honda looking to make a taller Fit/shorter CRV, for example.

[jitahs]

Plenty of people have little interest in taking their cars where increased ground clearance truly is a necessity.

Most people buying suvs have that "commanding vision" thing going on. That and hit height.

[joosttx]

It's just nomenclature. Newer Outbacks are extraordinarily popular here but they're essentially cuvs, its ride height nearly identical to a cx-5's, which drives much more dynamically but has a higher roofline.

Manufacturers are becoming good at dropping the center of gravity, modding suspension geometry and the "safety" software is so good as to make traditional distinctions sorta irrelevant. In fact manufacturers are moving to infill, Honda looking to make a taller Fit/shorter CRV, for example.

tell that to honda. I would give anything for a accord stationwagon but have to settle for my poorman's panamerica aka crosstour. I suspect that the cost of goods on a CUV is much use than on a station wagon while the price is probably similar.