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Sports Wagons - The wave of the future?
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50 percent Hemi, wow, that's a big portion. Aren't there 3 engines options in total?
Read yesterday that there will be an even hotter SRT version of the Magnum and 300, that'll be interesting to see. Wonder if they'll offer manual trannies?
-juice
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
-juice
you're right, i wasn't thinking of dealer orders as opposed to customer orders.
yeah, dealers should turn over those hemis quick because if the manufacturer keeps up that kind of production pace, paying MSRP won't last for long at all, regardless of the engine.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The word "sport" is going to mean something different to everyone out there. Lets leave it at that.
Now can somebody please try to provide a legitimate contender in the same price range for the Magnum? I would like to see actual viable contenders... not $50K to $80K luxury cars. I mean something that someone would actually consider buying for the same money. After all, that is the position most people are in. If money were not a serious consideration, then the list of comparisons would be too great.
The company that created the Sport Wagon , Crossover SUV craze is Subaru. The 2005 Legacy GT Limited Wagon is a true contender against the Magnum RT Hemi Wagon. Test drive both, I think you will like both, but I think you will be more surprised at the power of the Legacy. The Magnum has some size that is nice for larger drivers. An SRT model Magnum or Sti Legacy wagon would be awesome.
I belive that first Sport Wagon was Volvo 850 T5R and not Subaru. There were always high powered versions of MB E class and BMW 5 series.
Krzys
I guess you might include a Passat W8 wagon as well, but it's not as fast.
On the budget side, a Mazda6 wagon, but torque will seem deficient compared to the Hemi, no doubt.
And yes, both are coming, a Magnum SRT and a Subaru Legacy STi, can you imagine? I'd looove to compare those puppies!
As a matter of fact, Mazda is building a hopped up 2.3l turbo Mazda6 to compete with the EVO and STi, though I think it'll be a sedan. What if they made a wagon version of that car?
Subaru has had turbo Legacy wagons in overseas markets for a long time, not sure if they pre-dated the T5R (a cool ride).
They actually sold a Legacy turbo wagon from 1990-1993 or so, 160hp back then and really good torque for its era.
-juice
I know a lot of people that have bought a Subaru and they totally swear by them. They won't drive anything else. My real question is whether it will hold someone my size, I'm 6'5".
Anybody know whether it is accommodating of someone my size?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
We have an '02 Legacy and for me it has room to spare, and I'm 6' even. Headroom is tighter than the Forester. We have a moonroof, you'd probably have to get one without that option (so avoid the Limited models).
I'd say you'd fit in a Forester, maybe in an Outback without a moonroof. The Legacy and Outback wagons especially have raised roofs, so you get a little more headroom that similar cars tend to offer.
I agree - they call the Outback the Sport Utility Wagon, but the Legacy GT is actually a LOT sporiter - bigger front brakes, quicker steering, shorter effective gearing, less weight, lower center of gravity, lower profile tires, and tighter suspension. Sportier in every way, basically.
Nothing is for sure until we see it. ;-)
Just rumors, but they seem to come up again and again (Legacy STi). I read about the Magnum SRT in a car mag.
-juice
There are other euro wagons like the MB E-class, but those are truly upper-crust mommy haulers and not sport wagons. The BMW wagons are nice but not very fun. Now the Audi S4 Avant or S6 wagon is another story but the price point is very high.
Outback made them popular. Absolutely.
-juice
Until the RS6 or the 545i wagons are released in the US, I settle for what I think is 'fun'.
BR
Peter
540iT (sport package + 18" M-sport wheels w/ S-03's)
What's odd is that a 540 with the sport package pays a gas guzzler tax, while the less efficient X5 does not, because of the truck loophole.
Lame. The 5er wagon is better in every way.
-juice
I've driven Suburbans in suspension-breaking rough country, but that's a lot of work, not sport. It was a truck fercryinoutloud, basically a panel truck with windows: truck frame, live axle, leaf springs, bias-belt lugged tires, high center of gravity, pair of rear doors. Not much fun to drive with numb loose steering, bouncy ride, and no grab handles, but sure could haul the goods and raise clouds of dust.
Also, wagons are built on car chassis, right? So imagine that: the "wagon" idea is now so trendy that GM is trying to slip the Suburban elephant into our little play tent?! So there's our answer: sport wagons ARE the wave of the future ;-)
And this forum provides useful opinions and evaluations on just what sort of "sport" that is!
In essence they make room for the rebates, but the price is not necessarily any lower than it was at the intro.
A Magnum Hemi for under $30k is IMO a good value. I bet in 2 years it will have $3000 cash back - but it will also retail for about $33k.
As with any new technology, it's probably wise to see how well it fares before taking the dive, that I agree with.
-juice
Rebates are a mixed bag, they kill residuals so it ends up costing the same in the end. I also think the automakers just increase prices (in some cases 6 times a year) to make room for those rebates.
-juice
Bob
Bob
According to Car and Driver, the Armada and Durango are very close in performance. Picking nits for the most part to say one is quicker than the other. Durango is slightly behind in 0-60, slightly ahead in the 1/4 mile.
I think performance is certainly a draw for the Magnum and I haven't heard anyone say the power was ho-hum unless perhaps they stepped out of an extremely high performance car. Granted some folks have different tastes in performance, but typically the powerband of a V8 matches my driving style well. My 4cyl VW diesel being the exception.
power and weight are only part of the equation. Gearing makes a HUGE difference. And, of course, the peak power numbers don't tell you about the entire power band, either.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
And yes, I do think people buy into the Hemi marketing even if they find the interior is cheap in their opinion. Priorities, I guess.
-juice
Dodge Magnum
Mazda 6
Ford Freestyle
Volkswagen Passat
Subaru Legacy
Luxury wagons
Audi A4 Avant
BMW 3 Series
Mercedes C Class
Volvo V50
Jaguar X Type
Thanks,
Michael
You might also stop in at the weekly Mazda chat tonight and see what folks there have to say!
PF Flyer
Host
News & Views, Wagons, & Hybrid Vehicles
The Mazda Mania Chat is on tonight. The chat room opens at 8:45PM ET Hope to see YOU there! Check out the schedule
As the the "Hemi fad", it's firing on all cylinders here. Chrysler 300C's are all over the place (I see several each day), along with "tuned" Accords, Hummers, Excursions and plentiful oversized vehicles, each with only one person inside. Do they care about gas prices? I doubt it.
The A3 is quite small, I went to see one at Rockville Audi. It has not been prepped and their demo was wrecked, so I could not test drive it. I imagine the 2.0 FSI feels a lot different than the 'bu's V6. Lighter and sportier.
The Maxx can pass as a family vehicle, it's a lot bigger, tons more rear legroom. I've only driven the sedan, but handling is on the soft side. The V6 is torquey, though.
-juice
if anyone here does compare two as driving, etc., will enjoy hearing about it!
Someone shopping at a Subaru store is most certainly looking for AWD, so this apples-to-apples would have been a better comparison IMO.
-juice
Or am I not in step with the average consumer here?
;-]
-juice
-juice
Compacts are where it's at.
:-]
Other countries you get a compact with tight suspension, direct steering, and good power. Takes some skill but lots of fun. Pretty much any import manufacturer makes a sport compact. American companies started doing it too, because no one outside the US wants a Camaro.
In the US, car companies market V8s with marshmallow suspensions, slushy sticks, and wiggly wheels, and call it "performance." Absolutely no skill required. Just glue a rocket to your tail and light it. Just try not to do anything like turn or brake. Thus is the legacy of the Camaro, GTO, Mustang, and Charger.
The thing is, once you've drived one of the import sporties, it's hard to go back to one of those straight-line, hum-drum tail-rockets. Trust me, it's a religious experience realizing what's SUPPOSED to happen when you take a turn fast.