Station Wagon Appreciation Thread

Car I learned to drive on was the family car; 1967 Dodge Monaco stationwagon. The car was an executive car and my dad bought it with 2500 miles. It had power everything with a split bench seat, as he was 6 feet and mom was 5 feet.

I remember going on ski trips to Vermont(Stratton Mt) in that car. Parents, 7 pairs of skis, boots and clothing for 7 days and food for the house, which my father commodeered from his colleagues at work. Of course, 5 kids asking when are we going to be there. 1st trip was to Expo in Canada and luggage flying off the roof as my father was not the handiest of people and never got the hang of securing the bags to the roof rack.

Driving ig was trully like a land yatch, it floated over the road and leaned hard on the softest of curves. But it could hold massive amounts of things and with 1 finger steering and blow on the pedel brakes; the systems were just so over hydrolic powered it was scary.

Lots of good times in that car and memories. Everyone had a station wagon back then.

 

28,000 miles since the engine swap, still running great! More to do this year.
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The original SUV, always referred to as a station wagon in the ads. I'm trying to pick one up this spring to tow my airstream. Looks wrong towing it with a newer pickup and I've always loved the GW's. Tough to find them in good shape now, though.

 

Plenty of 'perfect' ones from WagonMaster.....at about 2-3X what I paid new for my '88 Waggie....;-) cool costs more & more lately......

 

Not sure how many. But I know estate diesels are very popular in Ontario. Friends son was the used car manager at a Mercedes dealer. He couldn't keep any kind of estate diesel in stock even 70's Mercedes. People liked them for winter beaters.

A nice thing about Canada, if its unmodified and over 15 years old, we can import nearly anything from Europe.

 

How are you liking it?

I bought a 993 C2 to replace my IS-F last week, then decided it was probably too nice to blast through the snow and salt every day and pulled the trigger on a 325xi touring as well.

04 with sport package and manual trans.
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993, black BMW wagon and 355s... You and I are too similar!

Next I predict you'll buy a Maserati GranTurismo GTS.

 

I've considered them. I like the Wagoneers. Do see decent ones on EBay under $20k from time to time. My parents had an 83 LTD with the 360. My older brother and his friends got into off road. Brother got a new Toyota 4X4 in 88. By 89 the Toyota was dead and he was trying to kill the Jeep. He never did. They are very tough!

 

I also have an E46 325xi Touring. AWD and manual transmission. Super daily driver, although it's getting a little long in the tooth now.

I love this thread. I am debating upgrading my DD with a new wagon and this is such a great resource.

 

This GW was exported 1988 new to Switzerland until I bought it in 2002 from the 1. owner and brought it to Germany. You see them very, very seldom here.
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I hope to god VW brings this to North America once they start making awd vehicles in Mexico this year. I test drove a GTI and Golf R in December. Fast, awd, great interior for the price, solid fuel economy considering the speed. It's the complete package if VW quality and longer term reliability is getting to acceptable levels.

PS: driving even at 7/10 on the street it's hard to feel the difference between a GTI and Golf R, chassis or engine. I don't you'd be able to tell without snow or being on a track. The MK7 is one of the best sorted cars I've driven.

Shame GM dropped the Cadillac wagon. ATS(V) wagon would hit the spot too. Outstanding chassis.
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Very nice looking car! Do you know will the awd come with a manual?

 

Not yet, but I don't think it's even been sold in Europe for that long. Golf R hatch comes with manual but I just can't bring myself to drive a hatchback at this point in my life.

 

VW USA teased an AWD/diesel/manual golf R wagon but that clearly didn't happen...

Not holding my breath. I'll keep nursing along 4.2 liter ticking time bomb in my S4 avant...

 

An oldie of my mini wagon.
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my new '64 belvedere wagon. 472 race built hemi, 5spd (Tremac tko600), '69 Hemi roadrunner dana 60 and complete K member.
No PS no PB, took it for a short run when it got home and it's gonna be fun
Cant wait to lay some rubber in the spring!
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That is freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks!

 

Will it be OK if I just photoshop your engine into my '56 Town & Country wagon?
Tkx.

 

Sorry...missed this...

From what I understand they were built in '98, '99 and 2000 for the Euro and Japanese markets. They were not available in North America. I'm not sure if this was a decision based on production capabilities or some other reason. At this point there may be a dozen in Canada. There is at least one in the US right now as I drove mine to Scottsdale for the auctions. I haven't inquired as to the legality of importing one to the US.

Every time I drive the car it puts a smile on my face. Driving it from Calgary to Las Vegas/Los Angeles/San Diego/Scottsdale in 4 days can test one's appreciation for a car. This rig never failed to satisfy or impress.

 

now THAT is awesome!!
what a cool MoPar

 

Yes haha!

 

Thanks! Always wanted to try out an original hemi. I can't wait to launch it at 5000rpm and see what it feels like.

 

I picked up a new wagon. 355Dreamer found it for me. Looking forward to making it my new rally wagon.
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hmmm.....maybe a step too far......

edit: a bit close putting this into the station wagon thread....even Audi does not call the A3 an Avant, but rather a sport-back...hair-splitting?....or hatch-back?
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