New or Used: Valium or Sadism?

TTAC Commentator GS650G writes:

I am looking for a station wagon in lieu of a mini-van or CUV/SUV. Whereas before almost all intermediate cars were available in station wagon trim it seems only European brands and a few Japanese brands such as Subaru offer a true station wagon any longer.

I would like to move up a bit and go with either a BMW 3 series wagon or Mercedes R Class. Both trade in the 22K to 28K range. I don’t care for Volvo or SAAB wagons and their recent ownership changes has me concerned about the brands.

The Beemer and M-B seem like well-liked cars with practical carry space along with excellent driving dynamics. I’m not concerned with repair costs since I do my own work no matter what I drive.

So which would be the better choice, a 328i Wagon or a M-B 320 R? I would also compare to a M-B E-Class wagon if the price was right.

Sajeev Answers:

Modern cars are a bit complicated. And German cars are more than a bit complicated. I hope you don’t think you’ll fix any and all problems with these vehicular choices, unless you are a service tech in said brands. And you’re gonna need a service tech if you buy a Merc or BMW in this price range. So it doesn’t really matter which money pit you buy.

My opinion? You are biting off more than you can chew. The smarter move is to choose the unexpected, the almost station wagon: get decent down payment ready and buy a new Honda Crosstour. Did I just say that?

I’m okay with the Crosstour, as I normally loathe anything CUV-like. Yes indeed, the proper minivan or SUV floats my boat. And the Crosstour, name notwithstanding, is not much of a crossover: it’s a wagon in the slightly-tall Subaru tradition. While I find it’s schnoz somewhat CUV-loathsome, the rest of the package is appealing. Ish. Plus, it never needs expensive BMW or Mercedes parts. Buy that and be happy for years to come.

Steve Answers:

The guy wants excitement, not Valium. He’s also obviously an aspiring sadist.

Do you have any idea how complex these cars can be to diagnose? I have heard of BMW’s going into limp mode just because an aftermarket radio system was installed. Took six months for the dealership to figure that one out.

The R-Series contains all the parts that had broken down, or were about to, on the Barnacle Bitch. Airmatic suspensions. A cooling system that managed to constantly piss on itself. A navigation system that could get lost in 14 different languages. My mechanic is certified to work on Maseratis and even that couldn’t help us from getting stumped when it came time for diagnosing issues.

For me the BMW wins hands down. It has a far more sporting character. An exceptionally successful model run. Tons of great information at the enthusiast sites and beyond. Did I mention that Car & Driver bequeaths this golden child with the top position at the comparos whenever Csebe Csere falls asleep at a press conference? The Crosstour, Venza and E-Class are as dead-ass boring as an ADAM computer convention next to the Bimmer.

Long story short. If you must blow your financial brains out, the BMW is the way to go. That is unless you want to consider a Maserati. Do you live near Atlanta by chance? If so my mechanic would be happy to give you a hell of a deal to support his yachting hobbies. Actually, just kidding. The BMW will be pricey but fine… and it’s the better vehicle.

Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder. In a rush? Don’t be shy about asking to cut in line.