Why Does America Hate Wagons?

[Benzadmiral]

There's a rumor that GM may bring over an Opel wagon version of the Buick Regal. I've seen pics, and it does remind me of the BMW wagons I've spotted. I'd certainly consider one -- though I haul very little except Miss Linda and the cats. But three carriers (for my two furry thugs, and her cat) would fit in the back of a wagon, and as Dareo mentioned, I could haul home a big-screen TV if I wanted.

Think of it: a turbocharged Buick wagon. Sleepers Inc.

 

[SLCraig]

I love wagons. So frustrating they are impossible to find in any combination of things I want now. (A brand I trust, manual trans, not a billion dollars)

I sometimes hate being in North America for the (not all but many) ridiculously lame vehicle options. So hard to find manuals in new cars here now, disgusting. I need to move to Europe.

 

[Supercalifragili]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
There's a rumor that GM may bring over an Opel wagon version of the Buick Regal. I've seen pics, and it does remind me of the BMW wagons I've spotted. I'd certainly consider one -- though I haul very little except Miss Linda and the cats. But three carriers (for my two furry thugs, and her cat) would fit in the back of a wagon, and as Dareo mentioned, I could haul home a big-screen TV if I wanted.

Think of it: a turbocharged Buick wagon. Sleepers Inc.


Grand National, Part 2.

2017 Buick GNX?

GM, firing on all cylinders. http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/buick/regal/regal-grand-national/2017-regal-grand-national/

 

[fdcg27]

Every family once had a wagon.
They were practical and useful transportation machines.
You could fold the seats and carry large items as needed.
Even small cars came in wagon versions.
There have also been some very classy looking wagons, like the W123s.
Starting in the 'eighties, every family moved to the minivan.
These were even more practical and useful machines, offering ample interior volume in a fairly small package size.
Many folks came to consider the minivan declasse and moved on to thirstier and less useful SUVs.
The station wagon remains a more practical and useful vehicle than any sedan and offers better handling and fuel economy than a typical SUV.
Any current minivan offers a great combination of utility and comfort.
Except for those few who venture far off road or actually tow something heavy, SUVs are all about style and pseudo toughness.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Think of it: a turbocharged Buick wagon. Sleepers Inc.

My dad still has a turbo Volvo V40 that he uses for business. He hauls all kinds of electrical supplies in it all the time, and pulls a small trailer, too. He even pulls a large camper with it once in a while. He bought it new in 2002. By today's standards, the 200 hp engine is nothing special, but back when he bought it, it felt like a rocket because the car is fairly light.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Wagons are widely available in the US. They just mislabel them as "hatchbacks". My 1995 Escort is a hatchback. The current Focus is a small station wagon.


The Focus wagon available in Europe is longer than the Focus hatchback we get here. We get the wagon with the cargo area chopped in half


Originally Posted By: JHZR2
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 can't say I agree with that... Looks are relative, this is about duping the public.

The reality is that amongst my peer group, say late 20s to early 40s, so many say "I won't be seen in a minivan, that's what my parents drove". The older age group felt the same way about wagons... which is why vans, which they thought were really cool when teenagers in the 70s, were popular as fuel efficient "minivans".

Add in the emotions of perceived safety and perceived larger testicles and SUVs appeal to many.

But the reality is that large volume, efficient transport is always necessary. Unfortunately the latest SUV craze is about the worst incarnation of it yet. A "large" three row SUV, including the Tahoe, but not the Suburban, has nearly worthless cargo space if the third row is up. MPGs are poorer too. They can have good looks but so can wagons...[/img]


People who have to show off is why a pickup can cost $60K now. And why they are so ugly.

Can't argue that minivans and station wagons are practical. I would buy one if I needed one (minivan).

Nothing can be perceived as having utility and, if it does, it has to be disguised. Compare the old Suburbans to now.

 

[aquariuscsm]

"SUV's" are geared towards women. It's the estrogen infused "hip" vehicle for the soccer mom set. They need something to tote their rugrats and all their "mom" stuff in,but don't wanna look square and uncool. It's hilarious now how so many soccer mom mobiles that are piloted by middle aged moms are all covered in pink hunting gear brand stickers haha.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
"SUV's" are geared towards women. It's the estrogen infused "hip" vehicle for the soccer mom set. They need something to tote their rugrats and all their "mom" stuff in,but don't wanna look square and uncool. It's hilarious now how so many soccer mom mobiles that are piloted by middle aged moms are all covered in pink hunting gear brand stickers haha.



Hey, this isn't a soccer mom mobile! [URL='http://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments/f9/44875d1302959443-just-realized-goonies-orv-cherokee-lol-i180563436095.jpg']http://www.cherokeeforum.com/attachments...80563436095.jpg[/URL][/img\

I would buy another one of these in a heartbeat if I could find one.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
"SUV's" are geared towards women. It's the estrogen infused "hip" vehicle for the soccer mom set. They need something to tote their rugrats and all their "mom" stuff in,but don't wanna look square and uncool. It's hilarious now how so many soccer mom mobiles that are piloted by middle aged moms are all covered in pink hunting gear brand stickers haha.


Since I was a kid they passed laws that kids under 4' 9" have to be in booster seats and the front passenger seat is forbidden for under 12-year-olds. This has somewhat enlarged the typical family vehicle... need a higher roofline to attend to bigger kids and ill-fitting seat belts longer.

Though a short wheelbase Caravan 4 cyl would fit this bill.

I did like my shorty 97 olds Silhouette.

 

[hattaresguy]

Because the baby boomers parents drove them.

They are coming back, they just call them CUV's, simply jacked up wagons. Women mostly drive this trend since being up high makes them feel more secure.

Even though I have driven a truck for 10 years for work I simply don't understand why anyone would want to drive one if they were not forced to. I much rather have a wagon, you can carry more than the compact CUV's and its a car, so it drives like a car which in my book is a very good thing. They are also easy to park and maneuver in tight parking spaces.

Now if money is no object its hard to argue with an E63 AMG wagon, fast enough to sort out a 911 while hauling all the groceries home! Also if for some reason you determine 570hp is not quite enough Brabus does make an 830hp version, you know just in case your neighbor has a really fast 911...

 

[dareo]

That E63 is one sick wagon! My V8 540 wagon was fast but that would be a whole other world of speed. That E63 is perfect for driving around looking classy and if needs be throwing down. People always moved around me at stop lights thinking my wagon wouldn't move off the line. They were always surprised when my BMW dusted them soundly. It has the power and the traction. My Golf will just spin its little LRR tires if i goose it too much.

 

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted By: Jetronic
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Wagons are widely available in the US. They just mislabel them as "hatchbacks". My 1995 Escort is a hatchback. The current Focus is a small station wagon.


the difference between a hatchback and a station isthat the hatch of the station opens all the way down to the boot floor, and a hatchback doesn't so you can't ust slide stuff in.


Possibly so, but I think of it as a back side that slopes down is a hatchback, if the back side is nearly vertical, and it's a 4 door car, it's a small station wagon. I.E. -

Hatchback:

Station wagons:

Now if they offered a 2 door version of the above 2, I might find them acceptable as a hatchback though.

 

[Uber_Archetype]

Originally Posted By: dareo
Why not buy a wagon?

Because I use a truck to haul anything that doesn't fit in the trunk.
Originally Posted By: dareo
Why do people opt for a car that has had the rear cargo area butchered and shrunk down into a little trunk?

Because it typically costs less that the comparable wagon I don't need and/or has the options and drivetrain I want, not available in the wagon model.

 

[Blinker]

If money was no object i would be driving an E63 wagon all day long. Most FWD crossover suvs are nothing more than an elevated sedan with less cargo space. The trunk space of a corolla is more usable than the cargo area of most small suvs/cuv's.

If someone was serious about utility, minivans are great. Dodge/chryslers haul 4x8 sheets of plywood easily and the load height is fantastic. Cant go wrong at all! The Honda Element is a cargo hauler and (as much i think theyre ugly) the Pontiac Aztek was very versatile as well.

 

[Blinker]

My family once rented a malibu maxx to help move a family member into a college dorm. We had so little cargo space we had to exchange that car for a sedan malibu with an actaul trunk. The sedan trunk swallowed everything with room to spare. Ive noticed most suvs have this same dilema now.

 

[Blinker]

I had a rental HHR once and i thought that car wasnt too bad. Plenty of rear cargo room, no complaints about the driving characteristics, i also got a GMC Terrain as a dealer loaner. i couldnt understand the concept of that veh. It did everything mediocre and it had little cargo versatility. Driving it felt like being in a little armored tank. I guess it was built to feed that type of ego driven mentality many people have,..

 

[expat]

I have not read all the posts here, but has anyone mentioned that if you have a Dog in the family, a wagon provides a suitable area for the animal to travel.

An SUV will also work, unless the animal gets too old to jump into the high tailgate.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
"SUV's" are geared towards women. It's the estrogen infused "hip" vehicle for the soccer mom set. They need something to tote their rugrats and all their "mom" stuff in,but don't wanna look square and uncool. It's hilarious now how so many soccer mom mobiles that are piloted by middle aged moms are all covered in pink hunting gear brand stickers haha.


Since I was a kid they passed laws that kids under 4' 9" have to be in booster seats and the front passenger seat is forbidden for under 12-year-olds. This has somewhat enlarged the typical family vehicle... need a higher roofline to attend to bigger kids and ill-fitting seat belts longer.

Though a short wheelbase Caravan 4 cyl would fit this bill.

I did like my shorty 97 olds Silhouette.


The way things are now, you have to be in a carseat until you are 18.

 

[sleddriver]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Shallow people are all wrapped in the "impression" their cars create, and not many find the wagon impression very cool. You'd be surprised how many well off old money people who like to fly under the low life radar own older Volvo wagons. If we had more folks like that there would be less class envy for the politicians to exploit.

 

[totegoat]

I consider our Highlander a wagon.