Which wagon to buy?

tomWc · Post by **tomWc** » 15 Nov 2005, 11:25

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a near luxury wagon for my wife and kids, and volvo is near the top of the list along with the MB e320 and the audi wagons, subaru coming up in the rear because they are hard to find with luxury appointments.

When considering late model year v70/90 volvo wagons, which do you think are the best, and why? Should I shoot for a RWD late 90's v90? or go with a FWD v70? If I go with the v70, then do I go with the post 850 98-2000 version or the 2001 new generation? I have no need for the traction control or the mechanical complexity of the XC.

I want to spend less than 14k and all of my choices fit in there, even though the MB is a little stretch.

I live in atlanta, and we've got alot to choose from, making scarcity less of a factor in my decision.

Should I just bag the volvo and go for the gold on an e320 or get some japanese steel for the reliability factor? Audis kinda scare me, I know too many folks with VW electronic issues, but they sure are sporty.

Thanks for your thoughts.

tdawg · Post by **tdawg** » 15 Nov 2005, 11:42

An E320 wagon feels much bigger and heavier than a Volvo wagon, but it's all really up to your preference. RWD is nice for handling in the Benz, but FWD is just fine for normal driving in a Volvo (and maybe nicer when it comes to slippery situations) -- it's just when you crank up a turbo that FWD is noticeable. Where longevity is concerned, MB and Volvo are probably closely matched, though I wouldn't be surprised if the Mercedes were more expensive to fix. You're pretty much guaranteed a long engine life with a Volvo, considering I've personally taken 2 to just about 200k miles (and both are still driving with subsequent owners). But again, I think it's mostly a preference thing.

saltydog · Post by **saltydog** » 15 Nov 2005, 14:37

one thing I can tell you for sure that you've got right, is BE VERY ASCARED of the Audi......bolt nitrous to a yugo....probably slightly more reliable without that hand in your pocket feeling (& we're not talking good hand here)

turbotim2 · Post by **turbotim2** » 16 Nov 2005, 04:57

Agree with saltydog, stay away from Audi. Also, this may not be concern to you but the Volvo seems to hold its value better than the MB. We found this to be the case when we were recently looking to buy.