Sportwagon Pics

Has a poodle pooed on those seats?

Looks nice enough. Good price for it too.

looks clean enough, hate them personally though, smallest load area i've seen from an estate of similar age, rather have an audi A4 estate or the old

9-3 estate but then they'd probably cost a little more than what you paid

They'd also both be shit [1] to drive unless you got some mega powered example, too.

[1] The Saab would be OK-ish as an Aero and the A4 would be OK in the same way that my Passat is OK. Nothing partucularly inspiring, though. A good 156 is still just as brilliant to drive as it was back in '98.

Smallest load area? Try an E30 touring...

Try driving one and then comment with some authority, rather than just spouting off.

That's the VAG bit though.

Good; yes, but not brilliant. The most memorable road test I read was right after the launch of the 156; the A4 hadn't been out long either. This was the six cylinder models and the A4 ruled the roost.

Who wants to make a book on when the Selespeed stops working? :-)

To set the Sportwagon in context I think you need to experience a dollop of living in Germany/Switzerland/Italy or the South Eastern side of France among the lumpy bits. These are places where in winter a good proportion of the people go snowboarding or skiing, and they need a car with a load space capable of taking some salopettes and puffy jackets, a snowboard and with a roof rack for the skis.

The British idea of an estate is something that can haul an antique wardrobe, take four labradors in the back, and that looks 'just right" swooshing up a gravel drive to the Stately Gnome. The fact that most of them are bought by chip-guzzling Brummies with adenoids the size of footballs to park outside their 1930s semi and to take bags of rubbish to the dump every Sunday should not detract from the image that designers have in their mind of what the Brits do with an estate.

Different markets, different styles.

You're confusing it with a Mitusbishi Delica 4WD Super Exceed Space Blaster Mega Gear 2.8TD 3.0 ECI Multi Auto surely ?

Not as good as an Alfa 156 sportwagon for example.

So how is it BTW.

Hmmm, that's a tricky one. The materials used in the 156 are much improved in the phase 2 interiors, but the fit isn't the best.

On the other hand, the fit of the trim in the Passat is pretty damned good, but some of the materials used are crap.

It's great. Feels a bit gutless compared with a TDI, but I just need to get used to revving it a bit ;-)

1st to 2nd gearchange isn't the smoothest in the world, need to work on my technique with that, but City mode is actually pretty good so long as you don't expect it to be slush-box smooth.

Downchanges are sublime, as the ECU does a nice 'heel and toe' blipped downchange :-)

Did around 250 miles in it yesterday, average MPG 31.9, which isn't too sad.

Despite it not being my thing, I'm going to have it 'detailed'. Not so much because I want a super-shiny car, but because I want a good protective layer of wax / acrylic polish on the paint to minimise future damage.

Can't wait to ditch the Passat and get into the Sportwagon every day.

Off out to stick a Bluetooth / iPod head unit in it later - bought a Kenwood with Parrot Bluetooth built in.

You said that was a pointless waste of time? And that Tesco's Wash 'n' Wax was more than enough...?

This one is mine, not someone else's..... it's also the 2nd newest and most expensive car I've ever bought.

I just want it cleaned, polished and sealed.

Just the once, and never to be repeated.

I bet you six months you'll think "Hmmm, that could do with a proper spruce up..." again ;-)

I'm probably going to get mine done soon.

Been quoted =A3200 to have it Sureguarded inside and out, with all the swirling polished out before the Sureguard is applied.

-- JackH

I'm probably going to get mine done soon.

Been quoted £200 to have it Sureguarded inside and out, with all the swirling polished out before the Sureguard is applied.

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I wouldn't go with Sureguard. Look on DetailingWorld forum and find a place local to you, and read a of their reviews. You want someone using the recognised quality products and waxes rather than the Superguard/SureGuard whatever car dealer stuff as it's not half as good.

P.s. - if I could still walk around, me and my mate (moreso him with the polisher as he's more practiced with it) would be able to do it for you for like, costs really (which would involve you helping though hehe) but just like, lunch each to cover materials, an you'd have to drive up here. Although it'd no doubt be a hefty fuel bill, but less heftier than a petrol heh! Ah well :-(

That's a really nice thought - genuinely touched by that! :-)

-- JackH

Ok... this place came recommended and they recommended Sureguard, even though I'd rang up enquiring about DiamondBrite initially.

-- JackH

What you want is Collinite. It is the daddy of car waxes. No idea if it's the shineyist, but it sticks like shit to a blanket. I stuck some on the 406 when I got it over 3 months ago and it's still hanging onto the bonnet. Longest I've ever had any wax last.