The big, fast(ish), old estate car appreciation thread

I’m a lover of estates, and in particular fast ones. Currently I own a not that fast Skoda estate but before that I had a 245bhp AWD Subaru legacy which was brisk and really didn’t look it. I often find myself browsing ebay/autotrader and there’s lots of gems/potentially bankrupting estates there that are realllly appealing. Also, if cars continues to go the way they are, estates could be a dying breed!

So, show us yer finds!

V70r? 240BHP 5 cylinder turbo… Imagine being a child in the rear facing seats in 1998!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112300892035?advertising-location=at_cars&atmobcid=soc5&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&make=Volvo&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&price-from=500&price-to=5500&radius=1500&sort=relevance

3.0l c class, a lot of engine for £3.8k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110278931543?advertising-location=at_cars&atmobcid=soc5&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&make=Mercedes-Benz&minimum-badge-engine-size=3.0&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&price-from=500&price-to=5500&radius=1500&sort=relevance

I bought a Saab 9-5 Aero estate a couple of years back for £900. 250hp or so – could certainly shift. Turbo lag was pretty full on, almost caught me out exiting roundabouts a couple of times

Yeah there’s something about a 9-5 or 9-3 aero…

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201131330197?atmobcid=soc3

10 years ago I had a C6 Audi RS6 Avant, which was a proper train (5.0 V10 twin turbo). Down to the Alps with 2 bikes in the back, masses of space and speed, it was a brilliant all-rounder for its time. Full bore gearchanges provided your ears with a most welcome thunderclap. But a rather heavy beast when trying to flick it through tight corners.

My mate had a Citroen XM V6 estate years ago. It was a big wafty, comfy thing but if you floored it on the motorway it was pretty fast. It really didn’t like corners though

I always wanted a 540 touring with the rare manual box. 4.4 V8 that sounds awesome, goes like the clappers and is ripe for forced induction. I couldn’t find one at the time so bought a Cosworth powered Capri.

I haven’t looked at them for ages but damn, they’re aging well.

I don’t fancy my chances of finding one now for less than a squillion quid.

I had a few RWD Volvo’s when they were dirt cheap. Good fun for sliding around in with the most comfortable seats I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t go back unless I get get a mint 240 with some kind of boosted redblock in it.

This is probably make me unpopular, but I have one and it has been an absolute joy to own and drive:

Does this count? My old B7 RS4. Probably more fast than fastish.

MsBeej described it as a “drug dealer with a family” car.

I love a Q car fast estate.

Had an Impreza Turbo wagon back in the day, and a 300bhp awd Volvo V70R, which was rapid with a huge boot.

I’m currently trying to justify the maths for swapping my 3L diesel A6 for an S6. A lot less showy than an RS6, but with 440hp it’s still not exactly the sensible option.

@sharkattack oh my, yes please.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-BMW-5-Series-540i-Sport-5dr-Auto-ESTATE-Petrol-Automatic-/185239589183?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

OH GOD… Think I’d better have a moment to myself… 😲

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-BMW-5-Series-4-0-540i-Touring-5dr-/284471855267?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

I had an Audi A4 3.0Tdi Avant manual with 240 ps and 500 nm of torque. It was in SE spec, standard 17” wheels, debadged. Looked like a 2 litre Tdi, went quicker than a GTi between the gears. On the SE suspension it didn’t crash about either. Perhaps not big enough for the OP though.
Was thinking about getting a Superb 3.6 4×4, but the DSG put me off at the time.

I absolutely loved my Mitsu Legnum VR4…only 2 drawbacks – fuel economy (20mpg is driven very conservatively, but on quick drives, it was below 10mpg) and the rather short oil change frequency for the AYC gubbins.

They sold for £35k when new and I got mine for £3.5k many years later, but it was fantastic. 300bhp at the wheels, a viciously severe clutch but it drove very well – didn’t really like low speeds (but suspect the clutch didn’t help that), felt very nice at normal driving speeds and felt superb at spirited speeds.

Driving to Laggan and back from Stirling area and it was full tank door-to-laggan-to-petrol-station (a half mile from my dor).

A mate had the earlier version of that @sharkattack, stainless through exhaust, I could hear when he was within 1/2 mile of the village let alone the house.

We went to Wales in it once and the heater control was knackered, I had the hottest setting blasting onto my legs the whole way there and back. I sounded lovely, cost a fortune to run and was quite entertaining when driven on open, high visibility roads.

I am hopeful of a Golf R estate as a future car for me, maybe.

300bhp enough?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154770812737?hash=item24090f2f41:g:5LoAAOSw5~dhy1qx

OH GOD… Think I’d better have a moment to myself… 😲

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-BMW-5-Series-4-0-540i-Touring-5dr-/284471855267?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

That thing is awesome but it’s been up for sale for literally years. The price is wildly optimistic.

I absolutely loved my Mitsu Legnum VR4

That’s another car which was on my hit list when I was young and dumb. They were just too hard to find, I never actually saw one.

Does everyone realise that they also made an Evo 9 wagon?

@perchypanther is that a huge drip tray under that Aston?

“Sir, your shooting brake is soiling my gravel driveway”

Edit: Meanwhile a young Donald Trump looks on, thinking ‘that’d look pretty good in gold’

I didn’t like this at first but now I’m rather a fan:

It’s ‘only’ a 4cyl 200bhp though but whilst the V6 is the better and more suitable engine I wouldn’t want to give up 10mpg for it. Ideally I’d have an air sprung V6 model with the slightly later 9 speed box, if I were richer and climate change wasn’t a thing.

This is probably make me unpopular, but I have one and it has been an absolute joy to own and drive

X Type? Just a compromised Mondeo. My dad had one, was the worst decision he ever made (his words) as it was smaller than the equivalent Ford hatchback. I had to agree, especially since he traded in an ST for it 😣

My last car was a Le Mans Blue E91 335D which the obligatory remap to 350bhp, that was a truly amazing car and was a great mountain biking trip wagon, kept it for 7 years/ 75k miles. Like one of these…

Then as I found out how much space baby seats take up as we were starting our family, the 335D had to go for something bigger. I was going to get a 5 series (540i), but they aren’t actually that big, so had a great excuse to go for a real dream car. I picked up a Mercedes E63 (W212) with the bi-turbo 5.5L a year ago and it truly is a special car and is actually more fun to drive than the 335D at lower speeds, as it exudes character, especially in the wet!! It can also happily cruise like a soft compliant luxury car if you slacken off the settings.

It wants to go abit like this, everywhere…

Really like this 159. Best powertrain of the range with a proper Italian engine and a 250kg advantage over the 3.2 for not having the q4 system.

Rare beastie too with that spec.

@teaandbiscuit isn’t it a mirror so the concours guys can see the state of the underside?

I love that Volvo.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255320690922

Not big or fast I’m afraid. But £4k for a Lada Riva? What has happened to the world?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109217642222?advertising-location=at_cars&atmobcid=soc5&body-type=Estate&fuel-type=Petrol&include-delivery-option=on&min-engine-power=200&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&price-from=500&price-to=11000&radius=1500&sort=relevance

321bhp vauxhall insignia. Talk about sleeper!

Not big or fast I’m afraid. But £4k for a Lada Riva? What has happened to the world?

Future classic 😉

A very long time ago I worked as a driver for Europcar. I used to get sent all over the place to pick up cars for customers who’d rented one to pick up at the airport. Best car I have ever driven was a Volvo T5. I had to drive a very broken Corsa down to Manchester airport, and pick up the T5 to take back to Newcastle airport. Trip there was considerably slower than the trip home. At one point I hadn’t actually realised just how fast I was going up the M6 that car was so fast and so comfortable. Thank goodness no officers of the law or speed cameras were around to see 😁

@teaandbiscuit isn’t it a mirror so the concours guys can see the state of the underside?

You’re letting knowledge and facts get in the way of my lazy jokes 😀

I am tempted by the opening picture/Autotrader link for a £3k V70R…..

I’ve currently got a galaxy which is on it’s last legs and now the family is a bit smaller I don’t need such a big car.

I keep dreaming of a fast estate, the S4 looks nice or maybe a 330d, probably my sensible head will end up with a 520d. It’ll have to wait for a while for funds to allow but I can keep on dreaming – unless the galaxy dies sooner than I’d like

@ta11pau1

To paraphrase Clarkson – 260hp, 230,000 miles, £1500; what could possibly go wrong?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112240788428?model=V70&fuel-type=Petrol&make=Volvo&price-to=5500&radius=1500&sort=price-desc&body-type=Estate&include-delivery-option=on&price-from=500&minimum-badge-engine-size=2.0&advertising-location=at_cars&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=ka309ez&page=2

In the early 1970s, eccentric Englishman John Dodd took possession of a home-brewed monstrosity that used a 27-litre Rolls-Royce Merlin engine as its primary power source.

Does 2013 now class as ‘old’?

Rumor is that the one right hand drive SportCombi, SORN’ed in 2012/13, is hiding in a barn under a cover waiting it’s day at Sotheby’s in 20 years time….

Oh, and

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1969134&i=0

I had to drive a very broken Corsa down to Manchester airport, and pick up the T5 to take back to Newcastle airport.

I assume satnav took you via Settle, Kirkby Stephen and Alston? Shouldawoulda…

This would be the one for me. Shame they never (officially) made them…

Although this would do as second choice option.

Really like this 159. Best powertrain of the range with a proper Italian engine and a 250kg advantage over the 3.2 for not having the q4 system.

Rare beastie too with that spec.

Massive Alfa fan, had loads over the years. 159 was a great looking car (maybe the one of the best looking estates ever?) but was completely meh to drive.

156 GTA Sportwagon on the other hand… proper job.

I assume satnav took you via Settle, Kirkby Stephen and Alston? Shouldawoulda…

Not sure satnav was a thing back then @matt_outandabout!😂 As it was I managed to get lost coming out of Manchester airport and ended up heading for Preston! I wasn’t the only one – I pulled up in a services carpark to check the road atlas and there was another guy doing exactly the same for exactly the same reason. Not my finest navigational hour. The day after I was driving a Rover Fastback and that was quite good fun too.

AutotopNL is a great channel for cars, apart from the normal exotica 1000bhp stuff, he has the odd thing like this 480bhp 850 R.

Nothing, nothing, nothing, EVERYTHING!!

Also
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353615704487?hash=item52552371a7:g:9RgAAOSw1FphEVGA

Hi Jon! I looked at the Jaguar, they are nasty inside and very few actually available second hand.

Holy Moly. The last time I was in a T5 my mate had just bought it for £1800 and he trashed it for years with no bother.

“This vehicle is an ideal investment opportunity , You could put this car away and your money will grow , Classic cars are better investment than property in this current financial climate .”

Yeah mate. With investments you’re supposed to buy low and sell high, not pay 10k for a ropey old Volvo. It was an investment for YOU not the mug who buys it.