[V8] This may be too far out even for me....

[Kent McLean]

Roger M. Woodbury wrote:
> I am in LOVE with the idea of a V8 wagon

You are not alone with that feeling.  Long ago I had a 20v 200 Avant converted to a 3.6 L V8. It needed more work than I could give it at the time.  Lately I had been looking again. The Mercedes E500 also caught my eye. [1] Then I looked at a Dodge Magnum wagon; they come with a Hemi V8 and AWD. [2] They also come with an interior that looks like it came from a 1980's K-car.  I’m starting a new venture where a V8 wagon that can tow would be very handy. I have a hill down to the barn where good AWD would be almost a necessity. After more searching, and research, I found an ’06 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4.7L V8 (not the bad-boy 5.7L V8), Quadra-Drive II [3] with limited slip diffs front and rear and a switch for 4WD-Low, and a tow package (receiver and a “tow” button on the dash). I got the Limited, which includes wood trim, [4] Navigation, heated seats, dual-control auto HVAC that pumps out lots of heat. Maybe not as luxurious as a Mercedes, nor does it handle as nicely as an Audi, but I like its utility. You can take it on a Maine dirt road and not worry about it. 145k miles, $7800 (after lots of searching). 

[1] http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/cto/5899925964.html
[2] http://nh.craigslist.org/ctd/5949592115.html
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_four-wheel-drive_systems#Quadra-Drive_II
[4] Oddlly, the dash isn’t much different from the Dodge Magnum wagon, but the wood trim and dual-control HVAC seems to change it.

-
Kent McLean
’02 VW Beetle TDI and lots of ex-Audis, including Bad Puppy