I suspect not. If you look over the years nice wagons were available and no one bought them. There was a TSX wagon, Volvo sold wagons until recently, BMW has wagons they can import. VW sold wagons not that long ago. No one wanted them.
There are plenty of industries that your analysis is completely correct. However respectfully I disagree that it applies to the US auto industry, at least as defined as the legacy 3. From the Chicken tax intended to shelter the US from offshore trucks, to hand outs to build dispersed plants during the cold war which was a direct benefit to the OEM's, to the bail outs in the GFC to the thankfully now ended EV tax deductions, to the giant 179 tax deduction which is directly targeted at the legacy 3.
Sales of wagons show it would be you and 13 other people. I was serious about a Buick TourX but the little turbo engine prevented a purchase.
Ok, so there is 14 confirmed sales right there. Bring it
.I think the strong sales of Subaru wagons belie your point, at least to some degree. The Acura wagon was too small, like the A4 or the Jetta sport wagon. Really nice cars but not suitable for adults or older teens in the back. Same with the 3 series - nice car but too small.
The Outback gets more and more SUV like every generation. Current generation is taller than a Rav4. I think it retains a strong following amongst its faithfull for historical reasons, but the fact Subaru keeps making it more CUV and less wagon is telling. Meanwhile CUV's continue to get longer and more wagon like, I presume for cargo space. I think more points to people not really wanting wagons, but still maybe some wagon benefits?
The real issue is similar to the MT discussion.
I understand your point. However, apparently the new Outback is not selling well, whereas the last model (agreed, it mimics an SUV in certain respects) sold extremely well. I think the last model is more of a wagon than an SUV if you are going to characterize it correctly.
Maybe. Outback base price also went up over $5000 which also might have something to do with it.
Aside from these vehicles, which are smaller, car companies seem to severely limit the production of stripped down versions of whatever they sell. I speak from car shopping experience. They want to sell higher optioned vehicles.
Yes, I agree. Most companies during the pandemic I think figured out there better off selling 10 cars with $20K profit than 20 cars with $10K profit. That works until it doesn't - the dustbin of history shows us.
I was told rental companies select larger engines when they can because it aids in selling their fleets off when the time comes.
Having worked at a very large company cuts always affect everyone. However Traton is profitable, so it will hurt less. Mostly window dressing likely, cut some open positions, shutter some plant they wanted to anyway for other reasons.
The owner of the DQ down the street from me owns a red one for the last 7 years. I do a double take when driving by. It’s a good looking wagon. It was on my radar back when they came out, then GM and Opel went their separate ways and I was worried about future parts. I bought a VW Golf Alltrack instead.
Not so sure. They have other models not seen stateside, for the developing world. This is just another in a long line of VWmarketing decisions based on nothing. If I were placed in charge, I would start with a return of the stick GTI - which could happen in one day, and the development of a hybrid AWD minibus… with a massively reduced price. I would bring back the diesels unapologetically. I would task the product developers with building an Atlas that is the equal of the Toyota Highlander, Acura MDX. Golfs are coming back too. EV’s will be evaluated with scrutiny. And the Golf is coming back, too. I dare any company spokesman to respond, because I call this company out for not making one correct decision in 20 years.
Especially since Audi mostly fills the premium niche in the US.
As most have gathered, I'm a pretty big wagon guy. Best of both worlds, I suppose. Sporty handling with increased cargo capacity. Plus they just look coolMaybe. Outback base price also went up over $5000 which also might have something to do with it.
I still don't see anyone in the USA paying $40K for a Golf wagon or $55K for a Passat wagon, but Its just my opinion so absolutely could be wrong. The question would be why the change in buyer preference from last time.
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. So, yeah, I'd gladly open my wallet for something like that. Not THAT much more than a new car of similar size ranyway. And look at all the Europeans that still buy (and drive) them. Don't think BMW, Audi, MB would still offer them, especially in very expensive M, RS, and AMG versions, unless people bought them do you? We actually have a few here in the good ole USA that are the same way.
. Once they set the hook, it was easy to get them out of wagons and into a much more expensive SUV, which at the time were just cheap people hauler bodies on pick-up truck frames. Most of the buying public follows the "me too" crowd and will put themselves in debt up to their eyeballs just to be like (or better than) anyone else. And we still have folks paying 100K+ for body on frame Escalades. /rant.
BMW sells almost no wagons in the USA anymore. A couple are available, but I never see them, and I pay attention.As most have gathered, I'm a pretty big wagon guy. Best of both worlds, I suppose. Sporty handling with increased cargo capacity. Plus they just look cool
However, I'm an enthusiast that still loves driving, and that sort of thing appeals to me in a wagon. I guess what we really need to ask is: Where have all the enthusiasts gone? The preference move to SUVs/CUVs happened when automakers convinced the driving sheep, uh, I mean public, that they NEEDED a bigger, taller, heavier vehicle because they could have a more commanding view of the road., or were "safer" because they were taller , blah blah blah
