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How bad an idea is this?

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
http://www.autotrader.ca/a/BMW/3%20Series/RICHMOND/British%20Columbia/5_15475573_20060918162202741/?showcpo=ShowCPO

It sure looks like a good idea... But I'm guessing I'd live to regret it eventually.

Nothing imminent, but this lies in the realm of my post-Dakar car purchase budget. I loved my WRX, but packing it up with stuff for our kid and us (strollers are such a PITA!) required too much tetris thinking.

I'm definitely going to be looking at something bigger.

Opinions? It's a slow day on site...
 

stevew

resident influencer
Sep 21, 2001
40,494
9,525
i doubt the three series wagon would be much bigger than your wrx was interior wise....

but i'm biased...i've always preferred the five series bmw's.
 

Yeti

Monkey
May 17, 2005
877
0
yeti cave@the beach
A friend of mine has a 3 series wagon diesel. We were able to throw 2 enduro bikes, bike repair stand, tools and tons of gear in there with room to spare. Boot is big enough imo. Have absolutely NO experience with strollers. The 5 series is bigger though. Haven't driven the 5 series, but from the passenger seat it felt a bit heavier than the 3 series.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
I find the 3 series pretty small, but I'm 6'4 and we have two kids.
There's just no rear seat leg or headroom and the cargo area (with seat up) is pinner.
They are a blast to drive (MIL has a 6sp wagon) and the baby/stroller phase is short lived (at least for us, we just got sick of dragging all that **** around and went straight to diaper in back pocket)

For us, the ideal wagon size is an e-class merc which can handle the family and our two german sheps.
My mom's volvo v70 is also a nice sized car for a family. Driving experience is 'meh' at best though.
I wish I still had our passat tdi wagon; that was a great car.
 

Toshi

Harbinger of Doom
Oct 23, 2001
38,030
7,549
If you buy a BMW get a normally aspirated I-6 one. I think both of the ones from the original post would be fine, but as many have pointed out the 3 series isn't that big at all. Strollers and car seats are huge.
 

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
strollermonkey...

They're big. Anything "jogger" style is massive. Can't fold down the seatbacks due to kid in child seat... the WRX was just *this* much to narrow to fit the stroller in flat across the back of the hatch. It had to be up on a weird angle... The Mazda3 hatch is slightly wider, but still a bit of a PITA.

I think I'll have a look at the 3 series wagon and see... I'm not a fan of wood on my dash. I guess I could adapt...
 

CBJ

year old fart
Mar 19, 2002
12,861
4,159
Copenhagen, Denmark
Biggest problem is the rear facing child seats which take up a huge amount of space. I have a Volvo XC70 which has more space and a much much bigger booth. I have two boys to fill up the car.
 

AngryMetalsmith

Business is good, thanks for asking
Jun 4, 2006
21,077
9,781
I have no idea where I am
Just get a mini van and be done with it. You can haul ridiculous amounts of gear and kids. Make sure to get one that has tinted windows and no bike stickers so park rangers will not suspect that you're riding somewhere you're not supposed to.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
Just get a mini van and be done with it. You can haul ridiculous amounts of gear and kids. Make sure to get one that has tinted windows and no bike stickers so park rangers will not suspect that you're riding somewhere you're not supposed to.
They are the best stealth shuttle vehicle but I find them soul-crushing and refuse to own one.
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
Guy I work with wants to hot rod my Subby wagon..."Its the same base mototr as the WRX...we could do so much with it..."

It may happen...just no fart cans. I cant help but admit I like the idea of better handling and a little more get up and go.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Sooooo much more legroom in the back of a 3-series than a WRX. The WRX was fun, but my brother's 3series could fit people without feeling cramped. It's at least one "size" larger, despite possibly similar outward appearances. The wrx hatches don't even really have a "trunk" area, it's a hatch and not a wagon. Big difference.
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
...or an old school Chrysler New Yorker. The one that came with a Captains hat and a Coast Guard certification...


(Becasue it was such a boat.)
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
Bullsh!t, I can make the tires on a Dodge Caravan scream going both uphill and downhill.
True story...there I was...

Bought our mini van via military sales program, had it delivered to Denver. Flew in from Germany (First time we lived here...) and picked it up a one of the Lithia dealers. Guy was very cool, shows me all the gizmos and gadgets, I drive off. I fought the Loser Cruiser and lost...wife got her grocery getter. Only thing I insisted on and got was premium sound.
But anyway...beautiful spring day in Denver...sunglasses on...ZZ Top Lagrange comes on, I crank it up.
I start thinking "This might no be so bad after all..."
Convertible with 2 cute girls pulls up next to me, I look over and think "My life, is over..."

But it is way faster then a mini van should be. In a year back in Germany I have gotten no fewer then 8 speeding tickets in it.
 

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
Just get a mini van and be done with it. You can haul ridiculous amounts of gear and kids. Make sure to get one that has tinted windows and no bike stickers so park rangers will not suspect that you're riding somewhere you're not supposed to.
NEVER! But maybe. Not yet... Maybe with another kid. I think I'd sooner go big wagon though. Those V70s are massive.

V70R AWD!
 

Yeti

Monkey
May 17, 2005
877
0
yeti cave@the beach
Sooooo much more legroom in the back of a 3-series than a WRX. The WRX was fun, but my brother's 3series could fit people without feeling cramped. It's at least one "size" larger, despite possibly similar outward appearances. The wrx hatches don't even really have a "trunk" area, it's a hatch and not a wagon. Big difference.
Do you reckon I could throw 2 bikes, riding gear, some tools and two people in a 5-door WRX?
 

Yelo

Monkey
Aug 3, 2008
290
1
Quebec city, Quebec, Canada
Just get a mini van and be done with it. You can haul ridiculous amounts of gear and kids. Make sure to get one that has tinted windows and no bike stickers so park rangers will not suspect that you're riding somewhere you're not supposed to.
NEVER! But maybe. Not yet... Maybe with another kid. I think I'd sooner go big wagon though. Those V70s are massive.

V70R AWD!
Let's face it, kids stuff is so huge it's almost your only option, we only got one kid, we manage to fit a baby seat facing reward in a Kia Forte 5 after trying almost every models in the store, only one was fitting almost properlly.... Strollers are getting bigger and bigger too...

And for what it might be worth to you, from the auto repair man point of view, if your not doing your maintenance/repair work by your self or making ridiculous amount of money, don't touch anything German/european unless you buy brand new and plan to sell as soon as the warranty is gone... I would admit that most of them drive really well and are fun to drive but I will never have one of those, But I still love them, as long as people buy those crap, I'll never be in need of work.... ;)
 

Beef Supreme

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2010
1,434
73
Hiding from the stupid
Skip to the part where you realize you will use the jogging stroller about 4 times and keep the WRX.

Pro tip: You will use a cheap $25 stroller with umbrella handles ten times as much as some bulky piece of crap.
 

Jm_

sled dog's bollocks
Jan 14, 2002
18,852
9,557
AK
Do you reckon I could throw 2 bikes, riding gear, some tools and two people in a 5-door WRX?
It's not worth it to try. You can fit two bikes in there, but it's cramped doing so and you are risking messing up the interior as it's scraping everything going in and out. The newer WRX "hatches" have a smaller cargo area than older wagons did, improving rear legroom, but the rear legroom still sucks. I used my wagon to transport my bike and a drumset once. You can cram a lot in there volume-wise, make no mistake, but bikes are big and obtuse. I checked out the 2010-2011s extensively when I was considering a new car.

So, yes, kind of. Possibly have to take off the seat post or something, but it's really the size where I wouldn't do it. Put a hitch and a rack on that and be happy. I know in a pinch I could, but I wouldn't want to. I'd rather have a bit more room.
 

worship_mud

Turbo Monkey
Dec 9, 2006
1,464
2
i'm pretty sure this is the european DH's standard means of transportation, Citroen Berlingo





it takes a complete stroller in the trunk, without having to fold it up.
 
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Yeti

Monkey
May 17, 2005
877
0
yeti cave@the beach
i'm pretty sure this is the european DH's standard means of transportation, Citroen Berlingo





it takes a complete stroller in the trunk, without having to fold it up.
Over here in Switzerland every downhiller's dream is a VW T4 or T5.
I've always dreamt of having an STI but since I would mostly use it to go riding with a buddy, it doesn't seem like a good idea anymore, even though I'll take my dh bike to the dealer at put it in one to see for sure.
If that doesn't work I would get a VW Caddy...most practical thing ever and start karting with the money saved from not buying an STI :rolleyes:
 

HardtailHack

used an iron once
Jan 20, 2009
6,628
5,443
Don't get a Citroen, they had to get a bailout for a reason.

VW still seem to have quirky little electrical gremlins but not quite like they used to, Japanese cars are the way to go, in my opinion.