Doge

Not into cults

Dan333SP

Fair enough. Could you spare a few minutes to talk about Lord Xenu?

datlas 

Are you making yourself clear?

himespau 

I like the idea of the new Kia Niro, but it probably handles like a Kia and is too tall for you. On the other hand, a crossover with a claimed 50 mpg sounds like it'd let you carry stuff and still fit people with decent mileage (and no added diesel tax).

LiquorLad

Van or bicycle rack. Pick one.

Abe_Froman

Nope, I sold a couple diesel ones.

Edit: They were sedans though. I can't actually say definitively they're made in wagon.

Doge

My comment was the wagons were all gas. Auto Trader has 0 E class wagons in the country Diesel.

I have an E320 CDI - Diesel - already and I don't want to give it up even with 200K on it. It is at the point it will most likely cost more to keep than to get a new car and I have the spouse factor. So I am looking.
Wed am I'm going to drive from San Clemente to Grand Junction. 793 miles. I kinda think I could make it on one tank if I was light on the pedal (21gal X 40mpg). I'm not going to try as it is too close. But there are very few cars that that would even be a debate.

Doge

What do you think of this?
Cars for Sale: Used 2012 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTEC 4MATIC for sale in Phoenix, AZ 85020: Wagon Details - 449387230 - Autotrader

kydeadhead

Not sure you can convince your wife of this,but if it's been serviced regularly and hasn't had a bunch of short trips that don't get it warmed up properly,200K isn't that much for a diesel.

Doge

You are correct - on both accounts.
"Boring" is the issue. The engine is fine. It needs seat / interior work and the kids were rough on it. That R320 looks good. I can't figure out why the MPG is so bad on the R series.
Mine is in perfect running condition. However every other little thing from AC fan, water pump and belt adds up, and even the odd glow plug or injector seal leak - "small things" reminded me of what Benz maintenance can cost. I work at home and do 25-30K/year.

nycphotography

Best bike in trunk car is my Chrysler T&C.

Bikes travel upright along the left side, on bungie strap, 30 sec to load/unload. zero disassembly required.

Abe_Froman

R classes are really nice. Nicest minivan in the world, and I mean that in a good way. You might want to check out some CPO cars though to compare. You'll pay a bit of a premium, but MB usually has pretty good programs with them...longer warranty, APR, sometimes maintenance included or payments waived for a while.

I can do a short bit of research when I'm in the office tkmorrow if you like...check retail/auction prices on the car, run carfax if you like.

gregf83 

Because it weighs 10,000 lbs. Beautiful car but a fuel hog.

Doge

Thank you very much, but not ready yet. The closest is 300 miles away. I think we will pull the trigger about June.

79pmooney

I think Doge has better gas mileage in mind. It would keep the bikes very secure parked anywhere.

blazin

My neighbor just got one of these. He also has a Subaru Outback. The Niro is both shorter than the Subie in both senses: less high and less long. I don't think you could get a single bike in there without putting down the rear seats, even with wheels off.

himespau 

Good to know, I'd thought it was bigger than that. Oh well, I'm nowhere near the market myself at the moment.

seypat

Not what you are looking for and not made anymore, the Mazda 5 is the most versatile vehicle I have ever owned. That includes the pickups I have had. I have 2 5s currently. It is a very good car for the high schooler or college kid. It needs more power, but still a hoot to drive. It is just a bigger version of the 3. A TD Mazda 6 wagon coming to the states is rumored to be out there. It hasn't shown up yet, though.

If you really want to haul bikes, I suggest a GM cargo van, the extended, long frame. I have/had numerous ones through the years. Like the one before it, the current one has nearly 200K on it with no problems yet. Get the 3500 with the 6 liter and a 3:73 rear end. It will get around 17+MPG on the highway if you keep your foot out of it. The Duramax diesel is available on the 3500 also. It rides a lot better than the 2500 pickups I had. I carried some 16ft. pieces of siding in it the other day and could still close the rear doors. That is room for a lot of bikes and support gear.

Abe_Froman

One car I was really surprised with was the Honda Fit. There is a TON of room in there. All the seats fold down flat into the floor....you could set up a table and have dinner for 4 in the back of the thing. I'm 6', and I can get in and lay down flat in the back.

seypat

What about the Volkswagon Alltrak?

2017 VW Golf Alltrack All-Wheel Drive | Volkswagen

seypat

The 5 surpassed my beloved 90/91 Civic Si Hatchback as my favorite ride. That was a fun/versatile car. The 5 just needs more power and more interior sound insulation. Between those 2, I had a couple of GMC pickups. Nice vehicles, but not very fun to drive, park, etc.

Abe_Froman

I have an Infiniti G37 right now. I don't like it lol

I'd never had a decent car, much less a fast one. So I wanted to spend a bit extra, and get something 'fun.'

I can now officially say I do not, and will not ever consider driving fun or exciting. I want quiet, comfortable, with a bunch of space to move crap with. Basically, my long dead grandfathers Cadillac

himespau 

I have fond memories of my mid-late 90's Olds 88. My wife called it an old man car, but it rode smooth, was incredibly comfortable and had all the features I could ever want. Speaking of big cars, when I was in high school, I drove an 81 Ford Granada. At 6'2 or so, I could comfortably lay down all stretched out and take a nap on either the front or the back bench. I only wish I'd had enough of a social life to have done something my parents would have approved of less than take naps on those benches.

seypat

My dad used to say he wanted a Caddy/Lincoln that was long enough that when he turned at one end of a city block, the back end of the car was still coming around the other end of the block!

Doge

Maybe. Very close to the BMW 328d (which is Diesel) xDrive - 40mpg and like the 328d - a bit small. I ideally want 2 bikes plus 4 total passenger config and high mileage.

Passengers are wife and me and junior and/or teammate sister.

The bikes are wife and mine for 2K trek (So SoCal to CO someplace) and then maybe 1-2 on top, but junior and teammate/s normally have bikes in their trailer. Trips are normally 1k miles each way and about 500 miles at the destination. Utah I70 is posted 80mph speed limit, CO is posted 75. The speeds are pretty good and bike racks, trailers etc cost more fuel and wind noise. And in the day buddy had racks fly off the car. While I'm sure that was user error - I can't get it out of my mind. Then I forget racks are there and am parking garage challenged, I either can't use one, or forget and that is bad.

So far those used E350 Benz's @ ~ $23K look real good, but mpg is less than desired.
The BMW may work. Plan is to take a car (non BMW) in for service and see if I can use a service loaner car and find out.
I'll likely be buying pre-owned.