I'm looking to buy a reliable station wagon for between $4k and $10K and I'm considering Volvo V70s and BMW 5 series. I need a wagon to haul sea kayaks ang gear around. I'll travel quite a distance for a good low milage car. Any comments on the advantages of one model over the other would be appreciated. Interested in the performance differences between the 6 and 8 cylinder BMW engines. Any problem areas to watch out for? Any tips on spotting inattention to regular engine maintenance?
volvo vs bmw wagons
- Thread starter randy.nyc
- Start date
The Volvo V70 is a pretty nice sporty station wagon. It rides comfortably and has a really large trunk. The turbocharged 5-cylinder engine has a really cute sound to it, but the acceleration is pretty slow anyways. The interior is nice but rear legroom could be better. Ride quality is very comfortable and more predictable than sporty.....the XC models' higher ride height makes for a bit more body roll than your average wagon.
The Volvo interior is nicely designed (a tad boring, as is the exterior)..but overall it's nice. The only problem with most Volvos, is that the driver and passenger footwells are oddly small. I have driven 2 (rented, Enterprise) Volvo wagons (the V70 and the XC), and I was uncomfortable in both front seats. Acceleration is adequate, but not exciting. I think though reliability is higher on the Volvo, compared to the BMW, although I would choose the BMW wagon.
