Battle of power: Estate edition (M5 VS E63 VS RS6)

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Since I'm a wagon fan and all, those are pretty tasty treats. But unfortunately, only one factor, no manual transmission. That can make any car to the most most fabulous to the most dullest in a blink of an eye. Here are my comments of each of these big wagons:

-Car = Good. Bad. Verdict-

1. BMW M5 Touring = M5 agility, M5 looks better than sedan, M/T high possibility since the sedan has one on the USDM version. Not available in the US, SMG tranny, the infamous i-Drive. The best alternative than the sedan.

2. MBZ C63 Estate = Massive torque, only big EU wagon available in US, somewhat stealthy looks. Possible reliability issues, looks too bloated for its looks, stealthy looks. If you like big German super fast wagon, well this is the ONLY choice you have.

3. Audi RS6 Avant = Gorgeous looks, massive power, idiot-free quattro AWD. Again, no plans in the US, a bit on the heavy side, most people will ignore it. Another good car that we won't see here in the US, pity for us Yanks.

Others (suggested by YSS):
4. Dodge Magnum SRT-8 = Best bang for the buck, available right here right now, swoopy looks. Puny compared to others here, Dakota-like front-end, again, no manual tranny. You can buy it anytime.

5. Holden Commodore SS/Pontiac G8 GT wagon = Better than the SRT-8 in every way, available with a 6-Speed manual, Holden reputation. 50/50 chance to be seen here in the "land who despises wagons", reliabiltity too soon to be determined, likely to be short on power compared to the SRT-8. Lets keep our hopes up, THIS the best wagon for the money.

-> I could add more hi-po wagons to the mix. But to keep it on topic, for a hi-po German wagon, the only thing on my mind as of date is still this one:

^ But of the three above, I'd take the Audi, all-season, all the time super sports German wagon.

Rankings:
1. Audi RS4 Avant
2. Holden Commodore SS/Pontiac G8 GT wagon
3. Audi RS6 Avant
4. BMW M5 Touring
5. Dodge Magnum SRT-8/Chrysler 300C SRT-8 Touring (EDM)
6. Mecedes-Benz E 63 AMG Estate

 

[Kent]

only one factor, no manual transmission. That can make any car to the most most fabulous to the most dullest in a blink of an eye.

I agree with you for the most part on the above but I don't agree with the quote.
I love running my own gears but to say an awesome car is no longer awesome due to an auto transmission just doesn't work for me.
Since this is all a matter of opinion I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm just saying I disagree.

All in all, I'd have to say the Audis have always been the wagons I liked the most. That said, I am a fan of Subaru wagons as well as some of the less common wagons like the IS wagon.

Right now my parents are looking into new cars and I might get them to try a wagon or two if I can manage it... Only problem is my dad, he's old enough to remember days when wagons weren't exactly sporty.
None the less, he knows my passion for cars and will more than likely take my advice if I say "test drive this." I'll be hoping for the best.

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

RS6 hands down. AWD, fastest acceleration, best p/w ratio, and it looks the most natural as a wagon.

 

[Philly]

That can make any car to the most most fabulous to the most dullest in a blink of an eye.

The Audi has DSG....

Second best thing to a manual, and a very good replacement. A DSG GTI is probably more desirable to the manual version it seems from who I have talked to.

 

[YSSMAN]

Others (suggested by YSS):
4. Dodge Magnum SRT-8 = Best bang for the buck, available right here right now, swoopy looks. Puny compared to others here, Dakota-like front-end, again, no manual tranny. You can buy it anytime.

5. Holden Commodore SS/Pontiac G8 GT wagon = Better than the SRT-8 in every way, available with a 6-Speed manual, Holden reputation. 50/50 chance to be seen here in the "land who despises wagons", reliabiltity too soon to be determined, likely to be short on power compared to the SRT-8. Lets keep our hopes up, THIS the best wagon for the money.

The Magnum SRT-8 is a wonderful car, but its a shame that Chrysler never was serious about making one for hardcore enthusiasts. A stick would automatically make that car so incredibly awesome, and yet, they won't do it... God forbid Chrysler EVER listens to their customers...

The Commodore SS-V Estate on the other hand just seems like its the perfect wagon made available, anywhere. It looks shockingly good, it goes like stink (well, mid 5 second runs to 60 MPH), but it actually gets the sporting credentials because of the all-around good chassis and suspension, and best of all (like states several times before) the manual transmission.

Did I mention its presumably quite cheap and screwed together quite well?

===

God I hope Holden sends a few of them this way with Pontiac badges on the hood...

 

[neanderthal]

theres quite a few viper owners who manage to put thier cars into the hedge for various reasons. thats understandable, with a high performance car of that nature.

but a wagon, my friend that is supposed to be as friendly as a puppy. and you dont want a reputation for making cars that make thier way into hedges. that might be the reason for their reticence on manual transmissions.

 

[Wolfe]

Contrary to what my own brand loyalty prescribes, I'd love to choose the RS6. It looks great, the interior is great, it's the fastest, and its AWD means it's the best year-round supercar of the three. Audi really knows how to build impressive sportswagons-- oh, wait. Not quite. The RS6 is only available with tiptronic, at least for now (@philly cheese: They might release a DSG version in the future).

Even excluding the fact that it, too, has an autotragic, the E63 doesn't really stand out from the other two for any reason, IMO. I don't really like its interior, the exterior is neither impressive nor offensive, and it slightly outaccelerates the M5 yet wouldn't keep up around a track. The torque converter simply finishes it off.

Conveniently, all that's left is the M5, which is fine by me. I like its styling, I like the interior (and having spent a day in an E60, I don't even mind the iDrive), despite being the slowest car here it's more than fast enough, it's RWD, it handles very well for its size and weight, and best of all, it isn't even available with a slushbox. The SMG isn't perfect, but I don't think I could stand to own a BMW that doesn't let you turn the DSC off, so I'm fine without the u.s.-market 6-speed.

theres quite a few viper owners who manage to put thier cars into the hedge for various reasons. thats understandable, with a high performance car of that nature.

but a wagon, my friend that is supposed to be as friendly as a puppy. and you dont want a reputation for making cars that make thier way into hedges. that might be the reason for their reticence on manual transmissions.

What's dangerous about a transmission that gives you more control over the car than an automatic ever could?

 

[neanderthal]

What's dangerous about a transmission that gives you more control over the car than an automatic ever could?

in the wrong hands.....

remember, and auto will very very slightly blunt the edge of the power as you accelerate in your regular car. now add 350hp. and give it to the mocha frapuccino drinking idiot whos not concentrating on the road.

 

[Philly]

(@philly cheese: They might release a DSG version in the future).

Really? I would assume that VAG would offer their top auto box on one of their sportiest cars...

I'm disappointed.

 

[YSSMAN]

Wouldn't it have to be the S/R-Tronic gearbox (as Audi calls it), otherwise known as "E-Gear" from Lamborghini? I thought the DSG box couldn't handle that much power yet... By DSG, I mean the "official" DSG boxes...

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

I agree with you for the most part on the above but I don't agree with the quote.
I love running my own gears but to say an awesome car is no longer awesome due to an auto transmission just doesn't work for me.
Since this is all a matter of opinion I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm just saying I disagree.

All in all, I'd have to say the Audis have always been the wagons I liked the most. That said, I am a fan of Subaru wagons as well as some of the less common wagons like the IS wagon.

^ Every person has its own 'personal preference'.

-> That is the reason I still like the RS4 the most, but I love rare wagons the most, just like you. All I need is to see a Forester STi and an Evo IX Wagon MR.

The Audi has DSG....

Second best thing to a manual, and a very good replacement. A DSG GTI is probably more desirable to the manual version it seems from who I have talked to.

^ Unfortunately, I've never got to drive any VW with a DSG, so I can't comment as of yet. I'd like to try out the DSG in the future.

The Magnum SRT-8 is a wonderful car, but its a shame that Chrysler never was serious about making one for hardcore enthusiasts. A stick would automatically make that car so incredibly awesome, and yet, they won't do it... God forbid Chrysler EVER listens to their customers...

^ Yes they listen, but they only came up an SRT-8 with a slush box. They did deliver but came up to short.

God I hope Holden sends a few of them this way with Pontiac badges on the hood...

^ I hope they did that, too. Because I would be happy if they did.

 

[forza2.0]

Wouldn't it have to be the S/R-Tronic gearbox (as Audi calls it), otherwise known as "E-Gear" from Lamborghini? I thought the DSG box couldn't handle that much power yet... By DSG, I mean the "official" DSG boxes...

S-tronic is DSG. R-tronic is e-gear.

Audi are apparently working hard on a DSG/s-tronic transmission to handle the power and fit in the car. The current layout of the A6/RS6 drivetrain makes it more difficult than having it in a golf/a3/tt.

 

[YSSMAN]

Ah, I knew was one and the other was the other; I just couldn't remember which was which. Correct me if I'm wrong, R-Tronic/E-Gear is a sequential system similar to SMG/F1/Cambrocasia which uses a single clutch instead of the two in DSG?