[kaishang]

What do you think about buying a BMW station wagon?

Practical or a waste of $100,000 and might as well buy a Commodore for 1/3 the price?

[johnnydad]

I think the lower spec 5er and E-class wagons are, if you can afford the initial outlay, the perfect all-rounders for a family of 4 or 5.

The E60T we had in Europe was just superb. Sure, a Calais V Sportwagon is fun to drive and spacious but a couple of years down the track it might be feeling a bit worn and superseded whereas the Germans still feel fresh.

And if you don't need all that space a 323i or 320d wagon is not much more than a Holden.

[sbce90]

Is that a rolling shot? How much more road is there before they end up in the sea??

I agree totally with johnnydads comments but I just can't see myself buying one unless its a totally bonkers version like the E63/M5/RS6. You also won't look like a sales rep with a BMW/Audi/Merc.

[John_01]

Isn't a 5 series sedan big enough already?

[cruvon]

looks good if properly modded and is practical but would prefer an X3 or X5 over the wagon if had to buy something for space or even a 5 sedan if could do with it's space/height limitations over the 4WD"s. Plus if you tried reselling a wagon not sure how much love it would attract.

[kaishang]

I test drove an X5 back in 2006 and it was nice, but it just didn't drive like a sedan. Seems like a station wagon would drive like a sedan + 100kg.

[bcoz]

Originally Posted by kaishang

What do you think about buying a BMW station wagon?

Practical or a waste of $100,000 and might as well buy a Commodore for 1/3 the price?

If you're wondering how popular a 5er wagon would be in Oz compared to a sedan, just look at carsales.com.au with the following currently listed for sale...

- 109 F10 sedans, zero F11 wagons (but 10 F07 Gran Turismos)
- 289 E60 sedans, 11 E61 wagons

If resale is a concern, I think you'd be able to offload a 5er sedan quicker (and for greater resale value).

[kaishang]

SUVs like the X5 get the concessional tax treatment in Oz due to their having >200mm ground clearance don't they? Which makes them cheaper than station wagons, just because they are a '4WD which farmers need'.

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by kaishang

SUVs like the X5 get the concessional tax treatment in Oz due to their having >200mm ground clearance don't they? Which makes them cheaper than station wagons, just because they are a '4WD which farmers need'.

SUVs used to only have 5% import tariff and passenger cars 10%, but that's no longer the case. Both are now 5%.

As for wagons, I'd rock a C63AMG estate

[mmmmQuattro]

I love wagons.
Don't know why, I just do.
Our 320 wagon is a bit small, but a Commodore one was a bit too big.
If you have to stop to think to justify the 5 series wagon, then you can't afford it. It is the car to get when money is no object.

I have been looking a used ones which are now about $70k...

[johnnydad]

Originally Posted by jp330Cic.au

It is the car to get when money is no object.

Maybe, but buying one now you get a current model until it is 7 years old. If you hang on to it, like an E-class, it makes good sense vs 2 Commodores perhaps.

[Chris.G]

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

As for wagons, I'd rock a C63AMG estate

Definitely one of the most hectic family wagons out on the market second to the RS6 avant.

[Scooterman]

[QUOTE=kaishang;8612560]What do you think about buying a BMW station wagon?

Practical or a waste of $100,000 and might as well buy a Commodore for 1/3 the price?



Putting resale aside (they all suck and if you buy a car for that buy a cheap one) for mine the argument of BMW Wagon v. Commondore Wagon is no different than BMW Sedan v. Commondore Sedan.

From my experience BMW wagons are not significantly dynamically inferior to the sedan, especially in the real word and are better than X's in that regard. In reality the 5 wagon seems to have as much or more space than an X5 too.

RS4 wagons rock!