Josh Simonds
www.nixfrixshun.com
www.facebook.com/NFSspeedshop
www.bicycle-coach.com
Vsalon Fromage De Tête
Yup. Those of us in the US/UK etc see but the first act of these vehicles' lives.
I have heard and read the same thing about Landcruisers, 4Runners, etc. There's a floor to the domestic sale price, below which they take a sea trip and keep on keepin' on.
when my dad's first gen Mercedes ML class had 170k miles on it, he put it on the local classifieds and the next day a Russian from Sheepshead Bay came and bought it for cash with the plan to put it on a boat back to mother Russia to doubtlessly drive another 200k.
my name is Matt
luis prado alonso
Locking differentials in a Radio Controlled 4X4?!? Dang. That's neat.
Josh Simonds
www.nixfrixshun.com
www.facebook.com/NFSspeedshop
www.bicycle-coach.com
Vsalon Fromage De Tête
Oh man, I need that. NEED. Not want.
Yes, I'm an RC nerd.
Got some cash
Bought some wheels
Took it out
'Cross the fields
Lost Control
Hit a wall
But we're alright
I love wagons. A week in central London, watching hundreds of small wagons scoot through traffic, was almost painful. What the hell is wrong with Americans that we'd rather teeter around the suburbs in SUVs?
From Car & Driver's review:
Our fully loaded example came to $88,405. If there’s a time or a place for suggesting that an expensive car’s price seems too low, it is here. Wealth impersonator and 1980s icon Ferris Bueller said it best (even if he was describing a Ferrari): “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
So noted.
GO!
Additionally, Europeans get a far more complete options palette.
I remember taking a cab in Vienna once that was an E-Class sedan and it was a 2-liter diesel with a manual transmission and performance was totally sufficient, using probably half the fuel of the larger engined variations that are the only ones offered in the US.
I just built this on the MBUSA website. It quickly gets into the mid-$70K range....... Ouch..!! But I'm sure rear space is every bit as good as a giant SUV and it's a more drivable vehicle as well.
My desire for a Toyota Land Cruiser is well documented but the MB E-Class wagon is likely a much more practical car to use and probably has more room behind the driver, in a car weighing much less and with a smaller outside footprint.
It's clearly a luscious piece of engineering.
You already know the unfortunate answer. As 'mericans, we always think bigger is better. We northeast liberals do not represent the far larger F-150 pickup driving public that is the USA. There is a reason it is the #1 selling auto in the US of A.
* When we use it, my wife and I have an '09 Subaru Outback that replaced an '00 Outback that replaced a 90s Saab 9000 hatchback (still sad GM killed Saab).
** and possibly one of my favorite small hatchback's off all time is the Saabaru aka Saab 9.2x (Sold/Styled by Saab and built by Subaru on the Impreza platform. And yes, it still had the key on the floor between the front seats like a proper Saab)
--- a righteous 1980 nos international scout..
ronnie
I don't think it's that simple. It's fashion - about being macho, whatever your gender - as much as anything. Otherwise we'd still all be driving minivans instead of the SUVs built on the same platforms, but with less interior space and worse mileage.
And you bought a 9-2 instead of an Impreza?!? I thought my TSX wagon was obscure.
GO!
I do not mean this to sound sexist but I do feel bad for women who must drive oversized SUVs/Trucks because their husbands bought it from them (ex. Machismo). My otherwise very intelligent older brother bought the Ford Expedition EL (extended length) for his wife. By the time she damaged all four fenders (not because she is a woman but because she knows she is not a great driver and did not want something so big) he took the truck for himself and got her an Explorer which is what she wanted in the first place (they live in CO).
We already had the '00 Outback. I test drove the 92x Aero when GM was giving them away in late '06 and thought it would be a great second car (for the 'burbs of NJ) but our 1940s house wanted new plumbing and electrical so the car purchase was cancelled. I did get my motorcycle license and an '08 Yamaha Vino 125cc scooter as our "second vehicle" that was my wife's consolation prize to me for missing out on the Saabaru.
If you had/have the AWD TSX wagon that really is a unicorn. We looked at the TSX awd wagon before getting the '09 Outback (my wife hated the '10 Outback because it was bigger and she is the primary driver) but it was either not being brought over in AWD anymore or it was one of the years the wagon was not available. I do not really remember but that car is a keeper.
Still one of my favorite Top Gear episodes
truck.jpg
Yes, it has a black plastic grill and a fake hood vent. Its a TRD Off Road because that's the sweet spot. It's body-on-frame with an actual 4x4. Its not a TRD Pro because I'm not a flat-brim wearing dad. This is before I took off the running boards and chrome exhaust tip. $440 worth of add-on nonsense.
My lady got a Subaru Forrester because she has some goddamned sense.
My head hits the roof in a Tacoma.
Got some cash
Bought some wheels
Took it out
'Cross the fields
Lost Control
Hit a wall
But we're alright
This is what we replaced our jetta tdi wagon with last fall.
IMG_0407.jpg
Dealer had it at the back of the lot not showing up as new. It was a 2015 with 57 miles on the odometer but, priced as used. Salesman was incredulous we wanted to buy it. Almost an even trade for the VW settlement. It's the diesel, and I'm not sure I'll ever want to drive anything else. It is, as the man said, so choice.
This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the bike.
Still lusting at the S4 Avant here. Good compromise IMO.
The only Audi 4 wagon we Americans get is the Allroad.
img-1076442309-1484680815144.jpg
I'd take it, but wish I could have the S4. Or at least an A4...
Hey, the E400 is only another $25k.
GO!
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