Avant - is it the best wagon?

[Cymru1]

Been thinking, whilst in the pub...if I/we S2 avant owners ever sold
our pride and joy what would be a WORTHY replacement?

I have no intention of selling but was wondering what else is out there for
the same value (S2 money - not RS2).

I know you can get some good machines, S2 Coupes, RX7's, A6's,
Intergrale's, beemer's, etc but they are not avant's/estates.

So what comes close, if anything - T5 R's, Alfa V6?

Any Idea's - (remember to stick to budget, no RS4's!)

[S2central.net]

I honestly think you would be very hard pushed to find anything with similar performance levels along with 4WD traction and all that practicality of the estate car format.

Only thing really springs to mind in that price range is a Subaru Legacy Turbo Estate - but nothing like the build quality of Audi - nor its longevity and reliability either.
I suppose there is an 850 T Volvo in estate format - but FWD so not in the same league for all weather fun and frolics. Very capable (if dull) car though.

[Cymru1]

Damn..forgot about the Subaru's.

Not my cup of tea tho, I knew it wouldn't be easy to find
something as good as the old 80 Avant.

[S2central.net]

Only reason I rememberd it as a guy I used to work with got one - he paid half of b11gger all for it... He used to run an 20V Coupe in the states and loved it. He liked the performance potential of the scooby (has a mate that tunes them) but hated the build quality and generally plastic feel - but you get what you pay for !

[trevithick]

The way prices are at present, an S4 Avant (find an owner who needs to sell).
But again its' the build quality thing.
T

[Jamo]

S4 Avants are going for silly stupid price, one went for 7k that had 7k of MRC work and was 430 bhp and K04 turbos

[dest]

B5 S4 no question!

[Key Walshe]

Not sure what they're going for nowadays, but the import only top spec Nissan Stagea are a very tunable motor, as they share alot of the running parts with an R33 Skyline GT-R. They're a rare beast, and I guess insurance won't be kind with its imported status, but with the 6cyl turbo and GT-R drivetrain, it should provide a capable car with a few tasteful mods. Whether or not it'd be comparable to an S2 I couldn't say, but they've certainly got more power, and Skylines aren't renowned for bad build quality (usual Jap rust to look for). Another one is the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 - but compared to the S2 they don't seem as sporty in standard trim, and the rear is f'ugly as sin! They sound nice though, they're a V6 aren't they?

I've at times considered what I could buy to replace the S2 Nothelle, but nothing comes close other than a B5 RS4 but they're almost twice the price - plus not built as good! I did consider a Legacy B4 but insurance is sky high too, must be the fallout from the Impreza being the weapon of choice for all wanna be criminals and racers.

An Audi A6 2.5TDi V6 quattro spec'ed up abit I always though would make a nice, sensible, yet pretty car all rounder. It'd be boring compared to an S2, but a good choice for those who do bigger milage

[PeteRR]

S4 Avants are going for silly stupid price, one went for 7k that had 7k of MRC work and was 430 bhp and K04 turbos

The Nogaro one?, it did indeed seem rather bargainious.

[Henkjan]

An Audi A6 2.5TDi V6 quattro spec'ed up abit I always though would make a nice, sensible, yet pretty car all rounder. It'd be boring compared to an S2, but a good choice for those who do bigger milage

sensible allright, but no replacement for an S2 mate... I have a C5 model A6 avant quattro 2.5TDI (the 180hp version) as my daily drive and it is sloooowww... chipping it to 220hp would not change this one bit. it's way too heavy and the tiptronic takes the life out of it... it is an excelent daily drive, allround a nice car, but can't replace an S2.

Other alternatives then...

• maybe an AMG spec'd Merc C wagon? probably more expensive.
• or the Alfa 156 GTA wagon. build qual again...
• Mondeo 220 (fwd)
• Volvo 850 T-R (is also 4wd)
• a fast Saab (fwd again)

[Jamo]

The Nogaro one?, it did indeed seem rather bargainious.

Yep, it sold on audisrs for 7k did a trip to le-mans had the bodywork sorted on it then was up for the sale as the new owner wanted an RS4 http://audisrs.com/about6086.html