4 x 4 Estate car

[A1GSS]

Hi, Would welcome the advice of anyone with experience on this.

Am interested in acquiring a 4 wheel drive estate car for sure-footed use in the winter snows on the ungritted roads where we live, but don't want an off roader (ML/GL etc) - since the demise of the E class 4-matic W124 estate, is there a viable MB alternative available RHD?

Thanks

 

[Vlad]

Not that I'm aware of, but as a good alternative a Subaru Forester or Legacy

 

[JasM]

How much are you looking to spend?

 

[greggster]

The R-class?

 

[A1GSS]

£20k or thereabouts. Diesel preferred. 5 seater adequate. W124 4-matic would be ideal if newer...! Maybe I'll look out for a really good late model one (be an N-plate I guess)

 

[Gucci]

Audi AllRoad or Volvo XC70? Not strictly Mercedes models you might say

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1729462.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1798243.htm

 

[A1GSS]

Hmmm, the Audi is an interesting idea. Great 4x4 pedigree too. The kids would like the cry of "fire up the quattro..." as we hit the snowy landscape...!

 

[nullogik]

Skoda Octavia Estate or Superb Estate. Both available as 4x4 and as diesels.

 

[wemorgan]

Would a second set of wheels with winter tyres offer a solution?

 

[d w124]

£20k or thereabouts. Diesel preferred. 5 seater adequate. W124 4-matic would be ideal if newer...! Maybe I'll look out for a really good late model one (be an N-plate I guess)

I think the w124 4matic was only on early cars,so i don`t think you can get a facelift one

 

[flango]

Subaru Legacy Outback, fantastic car I had the petrol 3 litre spec B 300 bhp and it was fantastic, but the boxer diesel is no slouch either I have also owned the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC and although I am quite a Volvo fan but to be frank the Subaru blinds the lot of them. If I were looking for another 4x4 estate theirs only one make I would be looking at the others are also very overpriced compared to the Subaru who's 4 wheel drive system is much better than the others.

 

[A1GSS]

Would a second set of wheels with winter tyres offer a solution?

Maybe, but I don't fancy the CL500 in the winter very much... Prefer to use something a bit less, err, powerful!

 

[Rory]

Would a second set of wheels with winter tyres offer a solution?

^ This.

It's a "night & day" difference on winter tyres. AWD on summer tyres will be pretty well as useless as single axle drive. Saw lots of comments last winter from people with Audis who got just as stuck as everyone else.

 

[timwood2000]

The R-class?

Ahem....

 

[A1GSS]

^ This.

It's a "night & day" difference on winter tyres. AWD on summer tyres will be pretty well as useless as single axle drive. Saw lots of comments last winter from people with Audis who got just as stuck as everyone else.

Ah, OK. Thanks, that's a useful piece of info. I do know that in Sweden and some parts of Germany they always
change over to winter tyres as a matter of course. I suppose the issue here is that we get weeks of dull and wet then a blast of snow at no notice...

 

[219]

Wild idea

Jensen Interceptor FF ?

 

[grober]

MERCEDES have resolutely refused to build any RHD versions of their 4matic saloons/estates for years and the reason why the GLK is not imported here- its a pet hate of mine. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/21885-4matic-models-uk-poll.html

p.s. a Subaru Legacy or Skoda Octavia/Superb estate would be good buys for the money as others have said already. Audi Allroads are beautifully engineered and finished cars but with complicated air suspension and many coming with totally unsuitable wheel tyre combinations are simply not focussed enough to be used as a genuine "go anywhere" vehicle in the winter months IMHO.

 

[Gridlock]

Buy a dirty old 7-seater high-spec Landy out of Autotrader

 

[Charles Morgan]

Subaru Legacy Outback, fantastic car I had the petrol 3 litre spec B 300 bhp and it was fantastic, but the boxer diesel is no slouch either I have also owned the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC and although I am quite a Volvo fan but to be frank the Subaru blinds the lot of them. If I were looking for another 4x4 estate theirs only one make I would be looking at the others are also very overpriced compared to the Subaru who's 4 wheel drive system is much better than the others.

Having done a lot of driving offroad on my shooting forays, I have observed many 4x4's in action, and frankly the Subaru Legacy Outback is a superstar off-road. If I lived in the countryside this would be my choice no1 to 10. With the new boxer diesel it is also now more than adequately economical.

Only a truly specialist 4x4 beats it off-road, and on-road, no contest.

 

[blondebier]

Subaru Legacy Outback, fantastic car I had the petrol 3 litre spec B 300 bhp and it was fantastic, but the boxer diesel is no slouch either I have also owned the Audi Allroad and Volvo XC and although I am quite a Volvo fan but to be frank the Subaru blinds the lot of them. If I were looking for another 4x4 estate theirs only one make I would be looking at the others are also very overpriced compared to the Subaru who's 4 wheel drive system is much better than the others.

I agree.

I'm not sure whether the latest designer was a little bit hard of seeing, but I don't think they look as good as previous versions...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that, but I think the previous legacy was a better looking car.

The boxer diesel is very good though.