Help basinbeater choose a car

I am completely lost in the automotive world today. I am forced to sell my 2009 bmw 128i because it is too small. Between the 7th grader carpool twice a week, kids hockey picking back up, it is just too small. It has been glorious zipping around the valley and rowing through the gears and listening to the online 6 sing.
My initial thought is get a 540i again. But the good manual 540 from e39 and e34 generation are getting old.
What is decent out there in the world? I want. V8, no turbo, manual transmission, midsize sport sedan.
I can't believe I am saying this, but is the turbo v6 Audi engine worth a damn?
What to get. I am despondent.

Maybe I'll try to get a super condition e39 2003 540i. Can't think of what else to get. Maybe a cts-v?
Target price is $12k would prefer closer to $10k, but for something that absolutely tugs at the heartstrings maybe $15k.

This wagon has my eye on carsandbods right now...
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/36Y...w-525i-touring

I think we’ve got 4? C8 Allroad and at least 1 RS6Avant owners on here now so hopefully everyone chimes in.

I love the wagon, bar none. The V6 is a velvet hammer and does well in all drive modes and the body swallows people and gear. I rock a Thule Motion XT XL box on trips which is nice to keep gear out of the car and let the humans and dogs enjoy the space. Really minimal impact on mileage too which the thing excels at to begin with.

That said, follow the IG thread bringatrailerwagons to stay on top of the comings and goings. You wrench so there’s lots of options out there for ya.

I’ll be following along with interest.

.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...71ba5a4166.jpg

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We do have a land cruiser when we need to haul lots of people and gear, and I do enjoy driving when I have a fun engaging car.
Not opposed to a wagon, but manual transmission wagons are getting rare and command a premium. Maybe a 3 series wagon with a 6 speed would do the trick. Or a sedan.

My mom had a TDI Jetta Wagon. It was shockingly fun to drive, so I could actually see an Audi being pretty darned fun, so long as it doesn't fall apart. I like the torque curve on turbo diesels in general.

Supercharged e39 540 wagon

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2000-bmw-540i-81/

N/A e91 Sport Wagon w 6spd

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...orts-wagon-11/

If you can get yourself off the manual requirement and have some coin to spend, I’d be looking at the Panamera Sport Tourismos - they aren’t getting what owners want at auction and are incredibly good (and reliable) wagons. Will blow the doors off a lot too which last I checked was pretty engaging.

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

Target price is $12k would prefer closer to $10k, but for something that absolutely tugs at the heartstrings maybe $15k.

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That price is really going to pigeon hole you. How many miles and how old are you willing to put up with?

You can find a bunch of aftermarket parts for the G8 GXP, SS, Caprice aussie sisters.

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Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater

My mom had a TDI Jetta Wagon. It was shockingly fun to drive, so I could actually see an Audi being pretty darned fun, so long as it doesn't fall apart. I like the torque curve on turbo diesels in general.

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On this note the B8.5 allroad is a total hoot to own. I took mine well over 150k and there’s at least 5 others here with similar experiences.

Stage1 for fun too. Full time Quattro w 40/60 bias too up to ‘13/14 models.

Find a sorted one and let er rip.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-volvo-v70r-18/

I need to get over the manual want. I tried to get over it and join the modern world a couple years ago if you recall. I bought that black e550. Great car by all measures, fast, comfortable, spacious. I got bored. I missed the engagement of a lighter weight car with no turbo lag that was responsive and engaging. The best all arounder I have had to date has been the e34 540i. Car had it all, size was perfect, comfortable, super engaging to drive, pretty fast. It had the magic. This little 1 series kind of has the magic. I need a car with the magic again.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2000-audi-s4-69/

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

I need to get over the manual want. I tried to get over it and join the modern world a couple years ago if you recall. I bought that black e550. Great car by all measures, fast, comfortable, spacious. I got bored. I missed the engagement of a lighter weight car with no turbo lag that was responsive and engaging. The best all arounder I have had to date has been the e34 540i. Car had it all, size was perfect, comfortable, super engaging to drive, pretty fast. It had the magic. This little 1 series kind of has the magic. I need a car with the magic again.

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Golf GTI, Golf R

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...orts-wagon-11/

It sounds to me like you don't want a different car, you want another car

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...orts-wagon-11/

Yeah, I actually do need a different car. The 1 hitter is great, but too small. I gotta put three 7th grade boys in the car in the morning tomorrow, and my hockey gear in the trunk, and on the way home at the end of the night, I will need to have my coaching gear, and both my kids hockey gear in the trunk. The trunk on the e34 was big.

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

I need to get over the manual want. I tried to get over it and join the modern world a couple years ago if you recall. I bought that black e550. Great car by all measures, fast, comfortable, spacious. I got bored. I missed the engagement of a lighter weight car with no turbo lag that was responsive and engaging. The best all arounder I have had to date has been the e34 540i. Car had it all, size was perfect, comfortable, super engaging to drive, pretty fast. It had the magic. This little 1 series kind of has the magic. I need a car with the magic again.

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You want N/A rwd 6-spd “magic” get a 996 911.

Seriously.

Analog in all the right ways. None of the air cooled issues or price. Pure lightweight driving experience. Well sorted examples are still on the edge of reasonable pricing and incredibly fun to drive.

4S example for your awd needs with extra juice.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

You want N/A rwd 6-spd “magic” get a 996 911.

Seriously.

Analog in all the right ways. None of the air cooled issues or price. Pure lightweight driving experience. Well sorted examples are still on the edge of reasonable pricing and incredibly fun to drive.

4S example for your awd needs with extra juice.

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I'd like to see you get half a 7th grade kid in the back seat of that.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

You want N/A rwd 6-spd “magic” get a 996 911.

Seriously.

Analog in all the right ways. None of the air cooled issues or price. Pure lightweight driving experience. Well sorted examples are still on the edge of reasonable pricing and incredibly fun to drive.

4S example for your awd needs with extra juice.

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I have quite liked the 996 cars I've driven. Had a nice canyon run in a buddies 4s variant. Nice car.

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Originally Posted by Touring_Sedan

I'd like to see you get half a 7th grade kid in the back seat of that.

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I fit a 4th grader (barely) in the backseat now. I believe that counts as more than half a 7th grader.

Your move, sir.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

I fit a 4th grader (barely) in the backseat now. I believe that counts as more than half a 7th grader.

Your move, sir.

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Lol it's comedy when I do drop off at school, the boys climbing out of the back are dropping crap on the ground, trying to hand bags out of the back seat and contort themselves out of the car while their classmates watch with amusement.

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

I fit a 4th grader (barely) in the backseat now. I believe that counts as more than half a 7th grader.

Your move, sir.

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Does he store the hockey gear in his own anus, or yours?

What about a Panamera?

Hey!

You want magic, I give you magic, awd, manual, within budget. All that stuff. Then off you clowns go porschefying.

As a fellow 128 owner, I don’t know what I would replace it with. It feels like it balances everything I want in a car so well. 7th grader? Can you get by with the Land Cruiser until they are driving themselves?


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When I had the Rover there were a few guys on the forums that did a Getrag 6 SPD swap on their 4.2 Supercharged Rovers. Maybe get a Tahoe and do an LS/manual swap.

Focus RS with a roof box?

I have a 2017 allroad. I love it's size and how it handles, but I hate the transmission. It's a fucking eternity between when you push on the pedal and when it decides to actually throw power at the wheels. It would be so, so much better in a manual. In other words, be careful about "getting over" the desire for a manual. Automatics suck.

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Originally Posted by basinbeater

Yeah, I actually do need a different car. The 1 hitter is great, but too small. I gotta put three 7th grade boys in the car in the morning tomorrow, and my hockey gear in the trunk, and on the way home at the end of the night, I will need to have my coaching gear, and both my kids hockey gear in the trunk. The trunk on the e34 was big.

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Manual bmw x5

They came with manual in the first series


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While it's no 1 series, something interesting within your budget could be a Volvo V50 with the M66 trans and AWD. Few of them floating around out there with the R-Design package I believe, although that probably wouldn't be easy to find. Same platform as my little C30 with the same T5 engine, so it should be a hoot to drive. Golf Alltrack could be an interesting option too that can be found with a manual. Again, not exactly a BMW, but at least good enough to have a decent time driving and either of these would be leagues better than most the soulless CUVs that plague our motorways these days.

Not saying to buy these ones but just some examples I found doing a nationwide search so you can see what I'm talking about:
Volvo V50 AWD/MT
https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/...777354379.html

VW Golf Alltrack MT
https://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/c...784581449.html

OOoooooOOOHHH!!! How about a 2010 BMW 535i xDrive E61 with the proper 6-speed manual!
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/8...-17f98463d61c/
It ain't gonna be trouble-free BUT something like that could hit all the right notes for me personally. Would of course rather find one from a private seller though. I never trust dealers. ESPECIALLY on stuff like this, but still. Good to know a 535i wagon w/ AWD+MT ever existed in the US at all that late in the game.

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Originally Posted by MontuckyFried

OOoooooOOOHHH!!! How about a 2010 BMW 535i xDrive E61 with the proper 6-speed manual!
https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/8...-17f98463d61c/
It ain't gonna be trouble-free BUT something like that could hit all the right notes for me personally. Would of course rather find one from a private seller though. I never trust dealers. ESPECIALLY on stuff like this, but still. Good to know a 535i wagon w/ AWD+MT ever existed in the US at all that late in the game.

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Oh man, that thing's a unicorn. Nice find. If I hadn't already committed to going electric for the next car, I'd be pretty tempted to go grab that thing.

Slightly out of budget, but it's got all the room for kids and hockey shit, all the fun of a taut handling GT car, a hybrid so you can drive in the HOV lane, and it looks fucking great:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9AJ...-sport-turismo

https://media.carsandbids.com/cdn-cg...t=172581135605

Or go the other way and get this and get ready to beat the hockey moms off with a stick:

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/3vk...grand-national

https://media.carsandbids.com/cdn-cg...t=172612345683

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Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

Slightly out of budget,

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Also surely to only go up in value (heh) now that the rare Panamera Sport Turismo can no longer be bought new. It's a collector's errand runner

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Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2005-volvo-v70r-18/

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I feel like this V70 is the automotive equivalent of marrying a hooker. Yeah she's got the moves, and despite some age still looks great, but you are buying a lot of baggage to say the least.

I vote first gen Lexus ISF. No manual but who cares, that motor is the best engine made in the past 30 years, by any manufacturer, and its not close.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-..._source=GOOGLE

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

16k - for a 20yr old Volvo? That hookers ass is prolapsed bigly by now. That ride Won’t fuck

A 2025 Honda Civic Si makes the most sense for the OP's wants & needs. Plus, Honda manuals > BMW manuals.

Get a red one with matching red contrasting interior stitching

Here's a thing about 2025 cars, because speed limiters are required in the EU and UK all of the new cars will have that ability embedded so it's just a matter of them "flipping a switch" and sending an update to the cars here in the US whenever they decide it's necessary. I'm guessing that it won't be hard considering how connected all of the cars are now. Is it a thing? I don't know for sure but...

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Originally Posted by MultiVerse

A 2025 Honda Civic Si makes the most sense for the OP's wants & needs.

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Yeah, except budget. Dealers (plural) tried screwing me over for a new BASE model Civic MT hatch so I gave up and bought a used Mercedes for way less. While yes, their shifters are second to none, and at MSRP, the Civic's a great freaking buy. However, with $10K+ "market adjustment fees," not so much. I'm sure things have improved since I was shopping, but they're probably still up to their usual shenanigans. YMMV.

Sporty?

Off-roady?

Affordable?

Power steering?

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Say hello my friend, to your new whip:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-amc-eagle-sedan/

https://bringatrailer.com/wp-content...?fit=940%2C627

Damn, too bad it's not a wagon.

Maybe this....
https://www.facebook.com/share/KAAko...ibextid=kL3p88