little_idiot

morning all

posted this in general technical by mistake, so i'll repost it here:

This isn't intended as a start to a wagon vs saloon war, but a genuine question.

I've now delayed buying a scoob until spring, winter is getting me down and my £250 golf that I bought last month is good for a laugh for the next couple of months, especially when it runs on one cylinder for a couple of minutes.

The thing is though is that I've just bought a new bass guitar amp (or stack!) and I'm unsure that a saloon will have enough room for all my gear when I'm off to play gigs so I'm now considering a wagon instead.

What I would like to know from all you clued up folk is would I notice any performance/handling/general fun differences between a UK turbo wagon and saloon (both classic shape)

Ta very much

James

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Not much in it performance wise, i think .1 of a sec to 100mph advantage from the saloon, better handling from the wagon due to different suspension setup/more weight over the rear wheels.

Tony

little_idiot

That's a surprise, I assumed that the Saloon would handle better than the wagon

milo

try fitting your stuff in a saloon first. i can (JUST ABOUT) squeeze a marshall stack (tsl) into my saloon - thats my guitars and amp head in the boot and the 4x12 cabinet fits in the back.. although my seat has to be right forward (very uncomfortable for me). i dont gig anymore, but the kind of places i used to play, i wouldnt want to leave my wrx there, so we had an old van instead.

if i were u, i'd try out a wagon and a saloon, and if the saloon is *much* better for u, consider getting a van or old volvo or something to transport a few members' of the band's gear.

little_idiot

Good point Milo, problem I have is that I also cart around the guitarist as he doesn't drive (another guitar and a fender twin reverb)

Previously, my trace elliot combo and the guitarists stuff all fit on the back seat of my Escort, my new baby stack is 2 cabs each the size of my old trace elliot combo and a head. wonder if one of the cabs would fit in the boot.....

[Edited by little_idiot - 1/9/2004 9:52:30 AM]

milo

if it's a 4x12, no not in a saloon. my 1960 marshall 4x12 cab doesnt fit. a 2x12 probably would (if thats what you've got). dunno about a 4x10 but i doubt it.

having said that, i have an import wrx, so the rear seat does NOT fold down. in a uk car (i think) the rear seat folds down, so u may be in luck and it could fit.

Alberick

Not sure if this helps, but several years ago I bought a 70cm TV and the box would not fit in my saloon.
If you plan to move around rather large boxes, speakers etc, you're better off with the wagon.

little_idiot

Cheers again Milo and Alberick, bit of detail for ya,

It's an Ahdown 2*10 with horn and an Ashdown 1*15 cab, both the same dimensions (23.8"*18.4"*16") head is only 2U in size so not too big.
How large is the boot on the saloon?

[Edited by little_idiot - 1/9/2004 10:00:24 AM]
I wish I could type

[Edited by little_idiot - 1/9/2004 10:01:02 AM]

milo

not sure the size of the boot, but my cab is 30.4x33.2x14.4 (all in inches) and it doesn't fit (although it's not a million miles off). with the dimensions u gave, u may be in luck. find someone local and try to fit it in their saloon, or try at a garage.

Dracoro

I'd suggest the wagon. Even if you can just fit everything in the saloon, that's it, no more space! If you've got the wagon, then at least you have more flexibility should you wanna put moe stuff in or get a bigger amp etc. It'll be a lot easier just to 'bung' stuff in too rather than fiddling around trying to get everything to fit in a saloon.

The car is also more understated in wagon form so less attention from theives, police, vandals etc.

little_idiot

Thanks for the pointers guys.

getting back to my original thought though (I think I'm definately sold on a wagon), would I find that the Wagon was better handling? What is the difference, If any, with the suspension/handling setup?

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Weight distribution is the biggest factor, more weight over the rear wheels give more traction to the rear, as its also designed as an (estate) wagon the suspension is different to compensate for greater loads.
The saloon version suffers more from lift off oversteer (all good fun ) where as the wagons extra x ammount of weight makes it slightly less tail happy.

Tony

little_idiot

I see, cheers for the info Tony.

I think it's prob gonna be a wagon, that way I can fit all my car stereo stuff in too

The fact that they are also a little less stand-outish than the saloons is a good thing living in Teesside an all!