Having owned 3 240 wagons in the past I agree with you- they are maybe one of the most versatile and practical vehicles ever! I thought very seriously about a beater 240, but the house my significant other and I bought is squarely in 'pickup country' and my instinct told me that a Volvo wagon would instantly peg us as outsiders and possibly alienate us to our neighbors. The amazon is old enough and unusual enough that its a novelty and doesn't immediately set off "latte-drinking, sushi-eating, liberal" alarms among the locals. Most people have no idea what the heck the 122 is, and it has just enough 50s-american styling they're intruiged by it. The toyota is a little more 'stealth' around town.