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I don't know much about those high spec Legacys but I sure like the look of them and thoroughly approve of your purchase Northwind. How many BHPs has it got then?
Nice choice NZCol but have you got the roof bars yet?
Or more importantly, is it the .1 or .2?
My mates still blasting around in his legacy, 2.5ltr flat four petrol machine.. 160k odd now but still looking like a decent vehiqule 👏
Nice motor that 👍
The Tesla model S shooting brake
I think thats that’s the one that towed a jumbo 747…
It was indeed, someone reckoned that, given a long enough rope, it could raise the Titanic! A slight exaggeration, but that big oil burner produces humongous amounts of torques. 550 lb ft, apparently.
Count Zero..unless things have changed in subsequent years ..expect only 10-12 k miles per full set ( x4) of tyres …on a Touareg .
I spent 2k inside a year on tyres alone back in 2006.
Up until recently, I was doing around 4500/year! That’s going to probably double, but owning a Touareg is purely hypothetical at this time. Were I in the position to be able to afford to buy a V10 Touareg, I’d possibly consider getting an old Smart fourtwo diesel for commute purposes, which is 15 miles each way, at around 90/gallon, only using the VW for really shitty weather, and for weekend and holiday excursions.
How about a 535i touring?
It’s big. It’s fast. It’s an estate. Any questions?
Another Scandi lover here.
My Saab 9-3X remapped to 240 bhp.
Acceleration in 5th - 50-80 mph is amazing for a 1.9 oil burner.

Failed its PPI I'm afraid so bailed on the purchase - lots more fish in that sea so keeping my powder dry. Ideally want to find a manual GTS. With roofbars ....
Been a lot of chat on the previous pages about some 'fantasy' estates and yet no-one has mentioned these

For the real 'money no object' spec I'm sure it could be altered with some Vantage V600 bits...
.
More realistically these look a hoot, and might be half sensible

My father looked at one years ago, was about £15k, baulked at the running costs and bought a two year old 2L diesel 75 instead for £10k. His 75 is now worth about £1k, the V8 ZTs are heading for £20k. That £14k difference would have paid for a lot of fuel and tyres, sometimes the daft option is the more sensible.
Chrysler 300c Touring with a 5.7L V8 Hemi. Manages a stunning 12mpg 😂

<div class="bbp-reply-author">davosaurusrex
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I don’t know much about those high spec Legacys but I sure like the look of them and thoroughly approve of your purchase Northwind. How many BHPs has it got then?
It is bog standard at 260bhp (the manual version gets 280bhp, not sure whether it's a hardware or software difference, but the manuals are usually about 33-50% more expensive too). 260 seems like a perfectly good number really.
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I'm still sticking with the Merc E; 320 or bigger in avantgarde flavour. Will razz all over most of the ^^^^ without getting out of 3rd.
not sure whether it’s a hardware or software difference
Auto boxes tend to rob some bhp but at this level a nice auto box makes sense. Not the cars to be gunning through a manual box.
In this case the engine output's different too. Much rather have the manual tbf, auto is nice for wafting
The facelift Spec B auto box is meant to be a bit more eager to shift, plus you have the flappy paddles and the si drive thing.
I'm on the lookout for a UK DM facelift 3.0 Spec B at the moment, 245bhp is enough for me 🙂
I love a fast estate, my last car was a B7 S4 and I’ve currently got a F31 335d, both brilliant but I still miss the V8!
<div class="bbp-reply-author">ta11pau1
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The facelift Spec B auto box is meant to be a bit more eager to shift, plus you have the flappy paddles and the si drive thing.
I’m on the lookout for a UK DM facelift 3.0 Spec B at the moment, 245bhp is enough for me
Yeah, I can add flappies if I'm so inclined and I thought I would, but not sure now.(though, the tiptronic lever feels intuitively the wrong way round for me, upsgifts are "away" and I feel like they should be "towards")
TBF I think I'd have rather had the facelift 3.0 overall, but the LPG and lower tax on this daft thing actually make it fairly sensible.
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Technically an early V8 S4 would just creep into my price range, but I couldn't bear the potential running costs of a 15 year old V8 S4, it would probably bankrupt me!!
If money was no object I'd have a 2.7 bi-turbo RS4, stunning cars and probably a decent investment. Oh and an RS2 and 1st gen RS6 alongside it!
TBF I think I’d have rather had the facelift 3.0 overall, but the LPG and lower tax on this daft thing actually make it fairly sensible.
There's an LPG converted 3.0 facelift estate near me, it's a little overpriced at £5500 but doing the maths it would save me around £40-50 a month... Insurance is actually slightly cheaper Vs non-lpg car for some reason!! I'll see if it's still there in a couple of weeks as I won't have enough put away until the end of this month.
I had the S4 for 10 years, the only reason I sold it was that it was starting to cost big money to maintain (£1500 each fro the last two Mots) and I was starting to worry that something big may go.
Dunno how I missed this thread, but hey ho.
current wagon is an RS Q3 performance tuned to just under 500bhp with 95 Ron and just over with 98+.
standard 0-62 was 4.5 so I’d imagine low 4s or high 3s are realistic.

Very nice ..but it ain't an estate car ..
Tourag and x5 have been posted so I’m in 🙂
<div class="bbp-reply-author">hanchurch
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<div class="bbp-reply-content">I love a fast estate, my last car was a B7 S4 and I’ve currently got a F31 335d, both brilliant but I still miss the V8!
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Had a go of my mate’s 335d, blimey they shift!
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Does that Q3 even have a boot! 🙂
Yep

I think I could fit that entire interior into my boot.
I suppose a Mazda 6 is a large estate car (XL enduro bike in boot, wheels off, seats up & cover pulled over). It is fast on windy roads because of its amazing cornering, something VAG cars have never been good at (couldn't do dynamic chassis design if their lives depended on it, the sporty models might cheat by breaking the inside front wheel on corners to alleviate this I'm told).
On and on ..
The Touareg & X5..at least fulfil part of the criteria in as much as they are large & fast ..a Q7 would maybe get you a pass ..but with a Q3 ..sorry but you can't come in son ..😁
It’s fast, and in a state at the moment so I’m still in.
Love me. Pleeeeeeease 🙂
Well why didn't you say that to start with ...😂
A Q3? Move on!
Has the Skoda Octavia been mentioned yet?
How’s that Octavia 1.0TSI working out for you?
I’d admit the Q3 if it was my list, I’d also include all the other SUV’s because in essence they’re all derivatives of an estate car.
My mate has an SLine diesel Q3 and I recon it’s a surprisingly good vehicle, probably underrated because it looks like a squashed Q5 and most people see the Q5 as an equivalent of an X5 or something.
SUV's are derivatives of hatchbacks not estate cars. The Q3 is from the A3, which is a hatchback and there is no estate version of the A3!
Yip, still have them in.
There’s an LPG converted 3.0 facelift estate near me, it’s a little overpriced at £5500 but doing the maths it would save me around £40-50 a month… Insurance is actually slightly cheaper Vs non-lpg car for some reason!! I’ll see if it’s still there in a couple of weeks as I won’t have enough put away until the end of this month.
So I went to have a look at this car today, had a test drive of it and oh my, I stuck it in sport# mode and pulled away quickly onto a busy roundabout, dear god it grips and launches with zero effort required 😀
It's still a bit over-priced and it needs a couple of bits sorting (wheels could do with a refurb, and rear parking sensors don't work) but to drive it's awesome, and the boot is massive.
This thread is relevant to my interests! I have a fairly rare (import only) 4WD turbo estate, can you guess what it is?

Not a scooby....!
Toyota Caldina GT-T 4WD turbo, which has the same engine as the MR2 turbo / Celica GT4. Big enough without being bulky, two bikes in the back easy, or four on the roof with passengers.
It's an Avensis that's packing heat!
<span style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 22.4px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I’d admit the Q3 if it was my list, I’d also include all the other SUV’s because in essence they’re all derivatives of an estate car.</span>
Nah, you're not getting away with that. They may be based on an estate chassis but they're not adding any more practicality to the party....most SUV's aren't even 4wd. They drive worse than their estate cousins, cost more for no additional benefit, and are essentially just fashion accessories. So a completely different category.
I've been looking at BMW 530d x-drive estates. Crickey ivy....they are some machine. I could just about afford one on a PCP deal....i'll be in the market in a couple of years so currently top of my list. The only thing is that they are a bit bland looking on the outside.
This thread is relevant to my interests! I have a fairly rare (import only) 4WD turbo estate, can you guess what it is?
Not a scooby….!
Toyota Caldina GT-T 4WD turbo, which has the same engine as the MR2 turbo / Celica GT4. Big enough without being bulky, two bikes in the back easy, or four on the roof with passengers.
That's awesome - 250bhp and literally no-one will know what it is! The headlights look like they're painted on though!
The Caldina is very rare in the UK. Maybe things have changed, but I fancied one a while back, and back then you could probably count the numbers on 2 hands (I'm not even sure you needed that many). There wasn't an owners club or anything. And of course there are some obvious difficulties sourcing parts for motors that rare too. Not great for a daily driver.
That's ace, do like.
Why are there SUVs in this thread? And a Q3 is definitely not big.
Keep eyeing up E63 estates to replace my diesel version...might be the last time I get to have a big petrol estate.
Crap picture as it's pissing it down, but the new MTB carrying/winter commuter machine is home 🙂
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245bhp of AWD japanese sleeper wagon goodness 😀
Why are people posting their ‘look at me’ SUV’s in an estate car thread?
Have an RS4 which is ace, but also have a hankering for an old brick shaped Volvo T5R, like the police used for pursuits and as seen in the BTCC
and are essentially just fashion accessories.
Not for me, they’re not. I’m finding it increasingly difficult getting in and out of ordinary cars, the higher seating position is a huge advantage, and I don’t need the size or carrying capacity of a longer car. But you’re right, they’re not an estate.
Anyway i have a e220d premium plus amg. So many toys. Not decent fast but not slow in any way and looks like a very fast estate. This in blue. (I just cant get photos to work on android mobile)
The Caldina is very rare in the UK. Maybe things have changed, but I fancied one a while back, and back then you could probably count the numbers on 2 hands (I’m not even sure you needed that many). There wasn’t an owners club or anything. And of course there are some obvious difficulties sourcing parts for motors that rare too. Not great for a daily driver.
I owned a Celica GT4 before and it's pretty much the same car, so lots of help on the GT4 forums and specialist mechanics. My local Toyota dealer has no problem getting parts, often single model parts too. I've owned it 10 years but haven't done big miles mind as it is a bit thirsty!
A mate suggested I take off the bodykit and put a standard Avensis bonnet on (with front mount intercooler) for a real street sleeper!
Three of my favourite things ..( other than family of course)
My car ( it's big and quite fast) , my bike and my favourite local place to ride ..
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Also drive an Insignia Sport Tourer 160( estate ) as a daily commuter ..while the missus enjoys the Audi..
@hodgynd how do you find the Insignia?
Thinking of getting the 170 SRi VX line.
Quite fancy the VRX 2.8 4wd but a bit out of my budget.
I've been driving my Dad's 15 plate Insigia country tourer the last few years, (it's the 2.0 165bhp diesel one) which has raised suspension and 4x4 like the audi allroad - it's a big, heavy tank of a thing but it's very comfortable for wafting along. Just don't be in a hurry!
Chris ..other than the fact that it has just had a new clutch ( full ) ..I've never really had any problems ..
It's quite a comfortable car ..and plenty fast enough ..I still like driving it and the tech inside has come on leaps & bounds since my 11 plate version ..
Thanks Neil - what year is yours?
2011..
It was 1 year old with 17 ,000 on when I bought it ..it now has 113,000..so just run in really ..😁
@ta11pau1, very nice!
Ta! Have you got your rhino bootliner yet? I think I'll get one too as it looks to be the best option to cover the rear seat backs when folded.
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Legacy - the forester is much higher/squarer car, there is a slightly raised version of the legacy which is the outback.
Just tried my XL 27.5 FS bike in the back, technically it will go in with both wheels on but the front tyre tests on the front seat headrest so front wheel off it is.
Should have got the outback. 29r goes in with room to spare..

Nice! That's a newer outback though, the outback for my model is basically the same body just with higher suspension and some body moldings, so no extra space inside.
@ta11pau1, I got the liner but the boot's completely full of wheels and tyres right now, I'll get you a pic once it's empty again.
It's not quite perfect tbh, it should be taller at the front to better protect the front seats but still, it's very good. I made do with a big brown tarp for years in the mondeo and I wish I'd just done it properly and got one of these.
@ta11pau1, I got the liner but the boot’s completely full of wheels and tyres right now, I’ll get you a pic once it’s empty again.
It’s not quite perfect tbh, it should be taller at the front to better protect the front seats but still, it’s very good. I made do with a big brown tarp for years in the mondeo and I wish I’d just done it properly and got one of these.
No worries, I have a big tarp at the moment, it does the job but I really need a proper boot liner before winter gets here! 😀
Have an RS4 which is ace, but also have a hankering for an old brick shaped Volvo T5R, like the police used for pursuits and as seen in the BTCC
I'd love a big old Volvo. Was it the 850, the last RWD one? The early V70s can be kinda cool still, but that's a proper Volvo. Getting into classic car territory there though. Dangerous game unless it's just a toy.
owned a Celica GT4 before and it’s pretty much the same car, so lots of help on the GT4 forums and specialist mechanics. My local Toyota dealer has no problem getting parts, often single model parts too. I’ve owned it 10 years but haven’t done big miles mind as it is a bit thirsty!
The Japanese cars do tend to share a lot of parts with models available over here. However, I've known people wait for months to get something like a windscreen sorted (through an insurance company) on an import because it's so difficult to source. My own experience of imports is fairly positive, but when it's a daily driver, you do run a risk of it being off road for a while if you can't find parts in the UK.
I'd love a UK Spec B but can't swallow the £550 a year tax, the imports are nice but then I'm not sure I could spend £10k on a car more than ten years old.
My Jeffsy goes in the back of my legacy without removing the wheels.
My Vitus Escarpe (1234mm wheelbase) will fit in the legacy with both worlds on, but only with the bars at the front and the front wheel ends up resting on the front seat headrest so it'll get dirty very quickly.
<div class="bbp-reply-author">butcher
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I’d love a big old Volvo. Was it the 850, the last RWD one?
940/960 is the last RWD, 850 is the first FWD/AWD. If I could've found a well preserved 940 turbo I'd have had it tbh, I was <this> close to buying a scabby one for £1250 and just throwing boost and underseal at it forever
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First trip out with the bike in the back of the legacy, the tarp does the job at the moment while it's dry and dusty...
Volvo 'specialist' in Denny has some decent old volvos, last time I was there (admittedly 5+ years ago) he had a few turbo models...
Looks ace.
Like CountZero said, I find getting in and out of a normal car awkward now - I got my spine broke by an idiot driver, so getting in and out of my saloon has been a challenge ever since, my wifes squashy is so much easier. The down side is the 'outlaw' can't get in a high car, so I'll really hiss her off when I get a higher up car.
I think it might be a big/fast/people carrier/thread needed.... although don't need to transport more than 4 folks and....4 CATS... and bikes...
Here's mine
More along of the lines of quick than properly fast but plenty of midrange torque with the batteries. Bit of a blunt instrument but enough grip and pace to be amusing using the flappy paddles on the right road and a relaxing cruise the majority of the time with the adaptive cruise and DSG. I like it.
No pics of old Vauxhalls yet?

Gawd knows why that numberplate reads "desired", it should read "despair"
Vauxhalls have never been cool nor desired.
The Omega was rather decent...did the police not have a special edition of it called the Senator?
The Senator was a separate model. They did a 3.0 GSI that was a machine and a half, well, for the 90's at least.
Vauxhalls have never been cool nor desired.
Lotus Carlton.
although I’m not sure if that still qualifies as a Vauxhall.
Is that coming from the voice of experience then Soma ?
I drive an Insignia Sport Tourer ( to give it is full moniker ) as a daily commuting machine ..fast enough with 160 horses ..looks ok to my eye from every angle but the front ( too much chrome ) and keeps up with most other 2.0l machines ..including BM's, Audi's & VW's...I like driving it and pissing other people off when they can't lose it ( I don't mean driving right on their bumper by that )..
It's fun to drive ..might not be on " The Cool Wall" ..but then thats part of its appeal for me ! 😁
