GRM: Which wagon?

So I'm considering a fun wagon as a winter DD and spare car, so I don't have to borrow my parent's X5 as much when my car breaks. I have a BMW E36 prepped for autocross, so it's loud, stiff, and low. I don't have winter tires for it so I've stopped driving it this winter, plus it needs a lot of maintenance after 220k so I'm taking this winter to work on it. I currently drive a X5 3.0i with winter tires but I'm looking for my own car to not use their spare car.

Requirements:

15+mpg city (what I get with the X5 but would rather use regular gas at that fuel economy to save $10+ per fill up)

Automatic (I can drive manual but I'd rather get an auto for once)

Good power (V8-ish so it can move even wiith an automatic)

Wagon (so I can haul parts from the E36 around)

<$7k

I've been thinking a Dodge Magnum RT is right for me. Otherwise, I can go German again with a 540i or E500 wagon, but they require premium gas and add complexity. What other options are right for me? How reliable is a Magnum?

MINIzguy wrote: How reliable is a Magnum?

Well there's a lot of unplanned pregnancies out there and MOPARS aren't known for their reliability either.

captdownshift wrote:

MINIzguy wrote: How reliable is a Magnum?

Well there's a lot of unplanned pregnancies out there and MOPARS aren't known for their reliability either.

Perhaps the unplanned pregnancies are due to lack of Magnum?

secretariata wrote:

captdownshift wrote:

MINIzguy wrote: How reliable is a Magnum?

Well there's a lot of unplanned pregnancies out there and MOPARS aren't known for their reliability either.

Perhaps the unplanned pregnancies are due to lack of Magnum?

Or a Magnum of champagne?

Roadmaster

old_ wrote: Roadmaster

Will an old Roadmaster get me 15mpg city? I was thinking they would be getting 10-11.

What's your budget?

old_ wrote: Roadmaster

Buy my 540iT so I can buy a Roadmaster...

floatingdoc wrote: What's your budget?

<$7k

Saab 9-* sportcombi in the newest vintage you can find that is well taken care of. The turbo 4s are plenty strong and they have as much space as an E39 5 series. A 100k mile 9-3 from 08+ should be out there within your budget.

Allroad.

$7,000 cash and I'll sell you my Passat Wagon 4Motion.

I've driven a V6 Saab 93 and that thing moved pretty well. The turbo 4 could be a contender as long as the 4cyl economy makes up for having to put in premium gas.

How are Passat V6's? Removing the entire front clip to do a timing belt is pretty off putting.

MINIzguy wrote:

old_ wrote: Roadmaster

Will an old Roadmaster get me 15mpg city? I was thinking they would be getting 10-11.

My old LT-1 9C1 averaged 15 in the city. It was in desperate need of a tune up.

I bought this RT with 65,000 miles a few months ago. It has a BORLA Exhaust and K&N filter - It sounds great! <img src=""

I too have a crazy, no-expense-spared e36 M3 that's kind of stupid on the street. My regular daily is an '01 (e39) 525iT manual. Stock power, a set of non-adjustable KW coilovers/rear shocks/rear ride height links. It has the BBS/BMW style 5 wheels w/ 135/45-17 Conti DWS, and gets close to 30 mpg in steady state highway driving. I average about 24 mpg and while it's definitely a "momentum car", I spend a lot of time at large throttle openings.

It's a great highway car, and surprisingly agile in the twisties. It isn't fast, but it's not a slug. The M54B25 motor has no significant defects to overcome, unlike the cam chains/tensioners/guides on the V8 cars. And the inline 6 cars got rack and pinion vs. recirculating ball, so they steer WAY better. That you want an automatic means you avoid the crazy manual penalty on these which can be 50%.

I suspect my next car, if I don't keep this forever, is an e60 535iT or a 335d wagon, either in automatic. I'm finally OK with manual in my race car, old car, old truck, modern convertible and track day car. I'll tow the trailer and drone to work able to drink coffee in traffic...

In reply to MINIzguy:

Our '10 9-3 manual gets 26 most days and over 30 on the highway. The later years had a 5 speed auto so I suspect similar from those.

I vote for the Magnum. I've not heard of any reliability issues that make it worse than any other vehicle of that age.
The Roadmaster is an ugly pig, sorry. The Magnum is great looking. I'll also submit for your consideration one Volvo V70R. It's not a V8, but a boosted 5 is not far off from a V8.

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/project-supra-cross/98740/page3/

5.3L donor truck, Volvo 245, stir briskly

2.5L turbo legacy or H6 legacy wagon

IS wagon might not have the grunt, but the chassis and handling is solid, same goes for the TSX wagon.

Just for consideration, premium is about $.20 more than regular. Unless your parents' x5 has an aftermarket Paris-Dakar 50-gallon tank, it isn't $10 more per fill up. More like $3-4. Which still adds up. :)

sobe_death wrote:

old_ wrote: Roadmaster

Buy my 540iT so I can buy a Roadmaster...

and where are the details for this??

MINIzguy wrote: I've driven a V6 Saab 93 and that thing moved pretty well. The turbo 4 could be a contender as long as the 4cyl economy makes up for having to put in premium gas. How are Passat V6's? Removing the entire front clip to do a timing belt is pretty off putting.

Mine is a transverse VR6 so when the timing chain had to be replaced the engine and trans are pulled, then separated because the chain lives between the two. 300ish hp, awd, and gets 18 in town 26 highway.

Appleseed wrote:

MINIzguy wrote:

old_ wrote: Roadmaster

Will an old Roadmaster get me 15mpg city? I was thinking they would be getting 10-11.

My old LT-1 9C1 averaged 15 in the city. It was in desperate need of a tune up.

I also got about 15 city in my Roadmaster. It knocked down almost 22 average on the way to the Challenge and back, loaded down with tools and tires.

Everyone loves a Roadmaster, but they are too heavy and geared too poorly to really move. And once you fix the gears the MPGs will vanish. That ride quality though...

Also, every Roadmaster is now 20 years old and was built in arguably the worst era of plastics and interior quality for GM. So many rattles.

jfryjfry wrote: Just for consideration, premium is about $.20 more than regular. Unless your parents' x5 has an aftermarket Paris-Dakar 50-gallon tank, it isn't $10 more per fill up. More like $3-4. Which still adds up. :)

Premium gas around here (northern Illinois) is 80-90 cents more than regular.

Since you're temping with an SUV how about a Toyota 4Runner? Reliable as gravity, regular gas. Even the v8s will get 17-20 mpg. Stout enough to tow.

GF has a magnum RT AWD, it has been reliable so far in the year or so she has owned it. It is very hard on suspension components, having double wishbone with a huge number of bushings and links to go bad. Engine has been reliable other than burning some oil, we did have some issues with the transfer case and transmission. Trans dipstick seal went out and moisture accumulated in the fluid, replaced the fluid and it has been working fine since. The transfer case has a plate that is removed for a TSB. The driveline does have a LOT of lash, so tipping in and out of the throttle results in a clunks a lot of the time.

It really is a nice highway cruiser, very comfortable and quiet for its age and it can haul lots of stuff. The RWD versions can tow a decent amount. We have got it to 18mpg on the highway, around town it gets about 15mpg no matter how you drive it.

Some other weird mopar stuff, some came with a load leveling "nicomat" suspension in the rear that is extremely expensive to replace ($250+ each shock!), and unfortunately the springs correspond to those shocks.

MINIzguy wrote: So I'm considering a fun wagon as a winter DD and spare car, so I don't have to borrow my parent's X5 as much when my car breaks. I have a BMW E36 prepped for autocross, so it's loud, stiff, and low. I don't have winter tires for it so I've stopped driving it this winter, plus it needs a lot of maintenance after 220k so I'm taking this winter to work on it. I currently drive a X5 3.0i with winter tires but I'm looking for my own car to not use their spare car. Requirements: 15+mpg city (what I get with the X5 but would rather use regular gas at that fuel economy to save $10+ per fill up) Automatic (I can drive manual but I'd rather get an auto for once) Good power (V8-ish so it can move even wiith an automatic) Wagon (so I can haul parts from the E36 around) <$7k I've been thinking a Dodge Magnum RT is right for me. Otherwise, I can go German again with a 540i or E500 wagon, but they require premium gas and add complexity. What other options are right for me? How reliable is a Magnum?