I'm thinking of the next car...

[shedpress]

So, I will be selling the GTI in the spring and I have been itching for a wagon for awhile. I have been looking around on cars.com, ebay, the forums for a few months now and have made a list of possible wagons:

1. Audi A4 avant - 1.8t preferred, quattro, B5 or B6 body style.

2. VW Passat wagon - 1.8t preferred, 4motion is a maybe, but I understand they are hard to come by with a manual and a wagon, B5 preferred for the more simple body items (no chrome trim, all red tails, etc), B5.5 would be fine too since it has some nice additions.

3. VW Jetta wagon - I can swap some of the parts from the GTI over to this, 1.8t or VR6, I know a fair amount about the MK4.

4. Volvo V70 wagon - 1998+, 4wd on the Cross Country, I helped Greg with his and would have lots of knowledge through him.

One thing it must have is a manual transmission. I do not want an autostick, or anything like that. I won't be driving on a daily basis, so when I do drive the car, I want to be able to enjoy it. Leather seats would be preferred too.

Also, I like the idea of 4 wheel drive. That's something that the Jetta doesn't have. I don't need it, but it would be nice. I'd like to keep the price at around $10k-$15k so at that price, the miles should be around 30k-70k.

I will probably not mod it right away so I'd like to find something that I'll be happy with for a while until I (the cashflow) choose to mod it (wheels, drop, some cosmetic).

If you have any suggestions or know of any possible problems with any of my choices, please let me know. I'm willing to learn more and hopefully find a really nice wagon. Thanks.

[db]

I was pretty much in the same boat as you a few years ago...of course I decided on the B5.5 Sedan over the wagon. But I also have been watching the wagon market for awhile. A4s are nice but pricey...I mean on the one point they hold their value but hurts when you are buying up. Tuff to find something with low miles for under 25K...but since you are not in a rush you could find something.

Passat wagon...buy Fryguys

Jetta wagon backseat room sucks.

Volvo's dunno anything about them.

Best of luck with the search.

[eurotrashed]

There was a jazz blue color concept 2.9 litre syncro MKIII Golf Estate on ebay.co.uk a few weeks ago... it was cheap. Import one. Or smuggle it over the border.

[shedpress]

Originally Posted by db

A4s are nice but pricey...I mean on the one point they hold their value but hurts when you are buying up. Tuff to find something with low miles for under 25K...but since you are not in a rush you could find something.

Passat wagon...buy Fryguys

Jetta wagon backseat room sucks.

Thanks for the input, Davey. I didn't know that Joshy was selling his. Makes me think...A4s are not that expensive if you go for the B5 chassis with a medium amount of miles (40k-80k).

Originally Posted by eurotrashed

There was a jazz blue color concept 2.9 litre syncro MKIII Golf Estate on ebay.co.uk a few weeks ago... it was cheap. Import one. Or smuggle it over the border.

no.

I'm thinking the the Jetta wagon is on the low end of the list. It has about the same amount of cargo room, but I'd want a more spacious back seat.

[eurotrashed]

If you want a spacious back seat get a Tercel, Yeah, thats a Toyota.

[NotoriousDUB]

I have a B4 Passat and it's roomy as all hell. If/When down the road I upgrade, it would be for a B7 A4/S4 Avant.

I don't think the Volvo XC came in a manual, but I could be wrong.

[duke]

Originally Posted by NotoriousDUB

I have a B4 Passat and it's roomy as all hell. If/When down the road I upgrade, it would be for a B7 A4/S4 Avant.

I don't think the Volvo XC came in a manual, but I could be wrong.

I don't think the XCs did either. I've never came across one.

[shedpress]

Originally Posted by duke

I don't think the XCs did either. I've never came across one.

I think you are both right. That's what the volvo guys are saying as well.

[NotoriousDUB]

I read that first part too quickly. The V70s did, just not in XC guise. Was the V70 offered with AWD without being an XC70?

[shedpress]

Originally Posted by NotoriousDUB

I read that first part too quickly. The V70s did, just not in XC guise. Was the V70 offered with AWD without being an XC70?

Not that I am aware of. The V70R and XC were AWD, but not just the V70. I've been looking around and most V70s are auto trans. A guy on CePA works at a volvo dealership says 99% of the V70s that come in are auto. I've been digging around and a few manuals have popped up. 2 of my buddies have V70 T5M and have found them rather locally in the past couple years, so there is still hope for the Volvo.

[NotoriousDUB]

I need to get learned on Volvos

[shedpress]

Originally Posted by NotoriousDUB

I need to get learned on Volvos

volvospeed.com <-- lots of helpful info

So the Jetta is off the list. Here's the revised and in this order:

1. B5 or B5.5 VW Passat wagon
2. Volvo V70
3. B5 Audi A4 avant

I'd like a decent amount of space in the back seat. Both Passat and V70 have ample back seat room. I haven't been in an A4 backseat before, but from what people tell me, it's smaller than the Passat.

[NotoriousDUB]

Yeah, I meant to reply but I forgot Thanks for the info though.

I would go for the Passat, but how much room do you really need? And that V70 is smooth, too. Oh the decisions!

[Handeye]

The B5.5 wagons have the style. Here's one that you didn't have listed.

http://www.bmwofhumboldtbay.com/used...4e04562d72ee30

[TT225]

I think the BMW is a little out of his price range. My vote is for the passat or Volvo.

I'm also looking at trading the car in... with me moving to CO in a few months, getting something with 4wd and nice big tires