Why Does America Hate Wagons?

[dareo]

I got my first wagon two years ago, a very used 2000 BMW 540iT, and haven't been able to look a sedan ever since. I recently upgraded the BMW to a 2016 Golf Sportwagen S. With both cars i have hauled some impressive cargo in with great ease. I have enjoyed great ride comfort and handling. With the Golf i get excellent MPG. I've had tanks of gas coming in as low as 5 cents a mile. Two new in box 55" flat screen tvs? They fit right in the back and stay dry on the way home while i get 36 mpg. The Golf is very affordable. There is no competitor in the segment until you get to a Volvo V60 costing about 35k. To quote Edmunds "For those looking for a traditional small wagon, this may be your only real choice, but it's a great one."

So why do they sell in such pathetic numbers? In November, VW sold 628 SportWagens, one of them is mine. Also in November, they sold 11021 Jettas. October Sales: 983 GSW and 8551 Jettas. The Jetta is an older platform than the golf too. That is about 10 to 20 Jetta buyers for every Golf Wagon buyer. Do that many people really have a preference for a small trunk opening and 16 cubic feet of cargo compared to a big 5th door and up to 66 cubic feet of cargo. I get an extra wiper that can spray washer fluid on the back of my wagon, resulting in crystal clear rear views. Try that with your sedan.

I love my golf sportwagen, and i love wagons in general, and i am an American. I just don't know what is wrong with the rest of the population when it comes to car taste.

Why not buy a wagon? The only logical answer is the SUV. Something like a Honda CRV sells in one day what VW sells in a month. I understand the SUV appeal. Its a tall wagon with more ground clearance. But it seems like if people aren't buying an SUV they end up buying a sedan. This is where i get confused. Why do people opt for a car that has had the rear cargo area butchered and shrunk down into a little trunk?

 

[aquariuscsm]

The "SUV" is nothing more than the modern day station wagon.

 

[bbhero]

It's about appearance.... SUVs and CUVs just look a lot better. Yes, the higher ground clearance helps if going off the beaten path or in areas that get deeper snowfalls over 10 inches. But really it most likely has to do with appearances.

I agree with the idea that SUVs are just glorified station wagons... That's EXACTLY right.

 

[typ901]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/

Not always the consumers...

 

[Shannow]

Here's my answer...

Have had wagons before and loved them, but this suits the family much better on average.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Here's my answer...

Have had wagons before and loved them, but this suits the family much better on average.


^^I like that!!

 

[aquariuscsm]

My best friend in high school had a white 1977 Caprice Classic station wagon

 

[Rand]

So Shannow.. do you ever actually need the snorkel or is that just bling like the mall Jeeps around here?
(Just curious)

I actually wanted one on my 2002 Ford Ranger but I took it off-road quite abit.

 

[supton]

My truck has a topper (like Shannows) so its sorta like a station wagon. I often refer to it as my overgrown station wagon, as (despite being 4x4) it never goes off road.

I used to own a station wagon, a Jetta TDi. Loved that car. As a compact though it was kinda small with family (hence the overgrown one). But I did buy it for all the reasons listed here: better mpg, parking, etc.

But once I got the overgrown one... I kinda don't "need" a second one, so my next car (assuming the truck sticks around) will likely be a sedan. I kinda like the looks too of a sedan, although maybe I just want a change after eleven years of a wagon.

Was nice though to open the hatch and stand under it while unloading groceries in the rain--the hatch provided some cover. I'd have no issue against getting another wagon, although I think my VW TDI may have been a pinnacle. 46mpg, manual trans, no DPF, no TPMS, etc. Great visibility too, due to a low beltline.

Edit: my "overgrown" station wagon. The topper was a $200 CL special, it's actually a dark green which works great on the white truck. The running boards were $75 CL finds also, and right now runs iPike's on a set of steelies.

 

[splinter]

I've been eyeballing a Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 'estate' at the local dealer.

Safe, sexy, sophisticated and hauls [censored]!

 

[Bud_One]

I don't know why America hates the wagon , but I like em... and that means more great used selections for me in the future.

 

[69GTX]

Owned a Buick wagon back in 1990. Didn't have it long as it was involved in a spinning rollover at 65 mph (no one else was involved). I did a 540 deg roll down the highway shoulder ending up upside down. That "tank" and myself held up extremely well. The Buick had the surfaces of a dimpled golf ball but nothing caved in. The glass all stayed together. I was glad I was riding in a Buick wagon that day. What was harder to fathom was that the insurance company gave me a few hundred more for the Buick than I had paid ($3,000 vs. $2800 as I recall). They got that back (and more) in premiums over the next 3 years.

If I still had the need for tons of cargo space I'd still consider a wagon. But I don't think they make them that big anymore. My current 4 door sedan has all the cargo space I really need.

 

[Silk]

This is my new $500 wagon, a 1996 Volvo T5. It's got a tow bar and a ton of torque to haul what I want. It's a 7 seater, although only kids can go in the back, and the seats do all sorts of stuff for load carrying - the passenger seat folds down so I can fit stuff right up to the dashboard. The rear centre armrest even folds out into a booster seat. Five years ago I had a Mitsubishi Pajero, it was 4x4 and 7 seater, but the Volvo beats it for usefullness. And it apparently does 150mph.

 

[dareo]

I love double cab 4x4 trucks as much as the next guy and see them as better than bigger SUVs. I have an old truck but it only gets used for dirty jobs or really big items.

However this thread is more about daily driver Sedans Vs Wagons. Why do people go for the sedan? Lack of USA wagon choices? If you get on a japanese used car market page you can see all sorts of cool wagons we don't get here. Same thing with Europe.

The GSW only costs $1450 more than a 4 door golf, really has no other draw backs for a daily driver. A great wagon alternative is here but few are buying. Dealers have a few wagons on the lot at best. I had to ship mine in from two states away to get a standard transmission. There's piles of Jettas everywhere.

 

[eljefino]

I'm lucky they still made them in the 90s, my favorite era. Crossovers are both expensive and ugly, an easy choice.

These have both moved on, having given faithful service, and I've got an ugly HHR now.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I like wagons. Wish there were more. The only "normal" ones available ... well, one, available is the vw wagon. Otherwise you end up with a sports car or have to go with AWD with Subaru.

 

[3800Series]

Originally Posted By: Silk
This is my new $500 wagon, a 1996 Volvo T5. It's got a tow bar and a ton of torque to haul what I want. It's a 7 seater, although only kids can go in the back, and the seats do all sorts of stuff for load carrying - the passenger seat folds down so I can fit stuff right up to the dashboard. The rear centre armrest even folds out into a booster seat. Five years ago I had a Mitsubishi Pajero, it was 4x4 and 7 seater, but the Volvo beats it for usefullness. And it apparently does 150mph.

I had one of these (the sedan edition) excellent car. Bought it about 8 years old with 120k miles for $2500. Drive it daily for many years until I sent it to the junk yard (still running strong) at 289k it was just leaked any possible fluid that could leak. In the 10 years I had it only had to replace the starter.

 

[aquariuscsm]

 

[Bud_One]

Originally Posted By: Silk
This is my new $500 wagon, a 1996 Volvo T5. It's got a tow bar and a ton of torque to haul what I want. It's a 7 seater, although only kids can go in the back, and the seats do all sorts of stuff for load carrying - the passenger seat folds down so I can fit stuff right up to the dashboard. The rear centre armrest even folds out into a booster seat. Five years ago I had a Mitsubishi Pajero, it was 4x4 and 7 seater, but the Volvo beats it for usefullness. And it apparently does 150mph.

That's an awesome deal.. love these sleeper wagons

 

[azjake]

Originally Posted By: bbhero
It's about appearance.... SUVs and CUVs just look a lot better. Yes, the higher ground clearance helps if going off the beaten path or in areas that get deeper snowfalls over 10 inches. But really it most likely has to do with appearances.

I agree with the idea that SUVs are just glorified station wagons... That's EXACTLY right.

It's not just appearance, or driving through snow. For anyone with back/hip/knee problems, getting in and out of a SUV, or Truck is a lot easier than a sedan or wagon.