No huge point to this thread, but I have been noticing:

What few wagons we Americans could buy are often dying off again, and have been doing so for a few years.

BMW is not expected to be selling the redesign 5-Series and 3-Series wagons in the NA market.

Dodge Magnum = dead

No MB C-Class wagon is sold here anymore.

No more Mazda 6 wagon.

No new Passat wagon since the Passat leaves America entirely soon

No more Volvo wagons aside from the jacked up XC90 for 2011

No Subaru Legacy wagon, just the jacked Outback

And so on. So while the new CTS Sports Wagon and TSX Sport Wagon are newcomers to the game, the "game" is growing smaller.

We're left with probably less than a dozen TOTAL wagons at all price points.

/rant

 

I've always loved wagons. I wish more were offered. It seems as if crossovers are the modern interpretation of the wagon.



Terry

 

It's a cycle ... They are getting rid of older designs and re-evaluating.

VW has proven that a good wagon will sell here. Cadillac wouldn't have CTS Wagons in their showrooms if they didn't think they'd sell.

Subaru sells plenty of Outbacks. You can argue it's not a wagon but it is ... Just a cleverly marketed one.

Gas is back over $3/gal ... Wagons are going to come back.

Audi's A4 Avant is a fantastic car.

 

Eh, they aren't coming back so it wouldn't appear to be re-evaluating. It's not that I blame the companies. How often do you see a BMW wagon for example? Maybe once a week. Maybe.

Sometimes automakers think vehicles are going to sell and they don't. That's why they get discontinued. I don't know how well the CTS version is doing here or in Europe. I've seen a couple. Far too early to tell I guess.

It's ironic you mention the gas prices because it seems like as gas prices go up the wagons cut down. Weird.

 

Yeah...but Subie moved both the Forrester and Outback from wagon to crossover/miniSUV status with their current generations.

 

I hate wagons so I'm alright with it...

 

It's sad but the fact is that people (many Americans, at least) are more concerned with image than utility. A wagon with a low liftover point is more practical than a taller crossover. The added ground clearance means nothing for 99% of people who buy crossovers, but the higher seating position (at the cost of less agile handling) and image of not having a wagon that mom and dad/grandpa and grandma used to drive means a lot to them.

I'm still convinced that at least for my intents and purposes, a wagon and/or minivan would suit me if I had a family or needed to haul stuff. I'd only get a truck/SUV if I really went off-roading or needed to haul stuff.

 

Gotta admit. If I was tasked with choosing between the two...

For example, a FWD wagon or a FWD SUV, and everything else was the same, I'd pick the SUV.

Go RWD/AWD/4WD, that's a hard choice. But almost all of the wagons I'd kill for right now are super expensive.

 

Jetta TDI sport wagon is selling like hotcakes

 

I'm seeing more than a few '10 Golf wagons up here daily.

But the OP is probably still correct.

 

I'd much rather have my Expy than any wagon. I can get 8 people in it, haul an entire band's worth of equipment, and tow a 7000 lb trailer. Can't do any of that in a Jetta wagon....

 

True, but that seems to be the only one. Even the non TDI Jetta wagons are pretty "meh" in sales I suspect.

 

As long as VW or Audi keep selling wagons, I'll know I can always get one I'll like for the most part.

 

BMW & Mercedes are not surprising. Not that they aren't great cars, but they sale extremely small amounts.

 

Indeed. I cant imagine my trips to Florida with the family (of five) in a station wagon instead of our old Murano or our current family hauler (09 MDX). While I wouldnt go so far as an Expedition or Yukon sized vehicle, mid-large sized crossovers hold the most appeal to the wife and I, with respect to our family size and needs.

but, this is one segment that I wouldn't particularly miss if it disappeared altogether.

 

Only matters for heavy stuff you are lifting off of the ground. For things like groceries, the higher entry of a crossover is better. I am only 5' 9", and I had to bend down to touch the floor of my old WRX wagon. My RDX floor is right at hand height.

The added interior height translates to more effective interior space if the seats can be made taller so your lower legs are more upright.

It is way easier to put a kid into a car seat in a higher cross-over, too. They aren't THAT much higher, just a few inches, but it makes a big difference for my wife (who is smaller). She had a hard time lifting our kids out of the WRX.

Functionally, cross-overs are more like mini-minivans than tall wagons. For a family with two small children (like mine) they are almost ideal. Once the kiddos get bigger and can get into and out of the vehicle themselves, I am right back into a sedan. For families with three or more, its minivan time.

I think everyone rags on them simply because they are the a popular choice of middle class families (especially for mom) with small children, who are the antithesis of cool in pop culture. They have a feminine image, so guys with penis issues won't be seen in them.

I like my RDX. Its fast and handles well. Makes larger vehicles feel like boats, yet it is still convenient for child hauling duties.

I've made this argument here before--I'll let it rest now.

And to the topic: I think wagons have their place, and I think that cross-overs really are a rethink of wagon packaging. Most drivers have neither the desire nor abilities to test the handling boundaries as needed to differentiate the center of gravity difference, so there is really no need to compromise ease of entry.

 

Your comparing a wagon to a truck, what do you expect?

 

I wouldn't say a wagon is a more comfortable choice than a large three row SUV for a family.

But for those that only need the seating of a sedan with added utility the wagon is a good.

Say, you go kayaking (spelling?), biking, snowboarding, etc. Well maybe you still prefer the feel and convenience of a car but you need added utility.

It works.

 

+2

 

Families are smaller. Most couples only have 1 maybe 2 kids now days so the need for the "bigger" car is gone.

 

Ford Flex is a wagon, no matter how they are trying to sell it, and from what I heard, it's selling.

 

I have one kid and would like to have a mini van as a second car, but the wife won't have it.

 

I only have one kid but, like I mentioned above, there are plenty of other reasons I need my Expedition...

 

i feel like ive seen an increase of wagon offerings

 

Car companies have been selling people wagons for years now and the public doesn't even know it. What are crossovers? What do you think the Accord Crosstour is? What about the Toyota Venza? They aren't SUVs...they're wagons that sit slightly higher and have the crossover name on them.

The crossover is the new wagon. Hate to break it to you but they found a way to survive. My buddy has a 2002 Audi Allroad 2.7T with the 6-speed manual and that car is pure sex.

 

We get it, you have an SUV and use it for its intended purposes as opposed to the 90% who own them...so do I...what you do you want, a cookie?

 

I dont think they will die, but I also doubt there will be much selections over here just because a majority of the people just dont like it. I saw a E class wagon, jetta wagon, and A4 avant today... so theres still some hope as long as people keep buying them

NOW GO BUY A WAGON!

 

This is a very important point. As the American car buyer has been duped into thinking a SUV is far more masculine and a better vehicle for all sorts of reasons. They no longer look at it being practical, just "not a wagon or minivan".

Go ask GM which vehicle gives them the most profit? The hint is its not an economy car, minivan, sports car, or sedan. It is the SUV. Why? Because they gouge the public with high pricing. A Tahoe brings $10K of profit to GM. Nice.....

Don't get me started on this, as I really loathe these vehicles as "practical" in the most current use. Not the "tow the boat and haul 5 people and stuff "crowd, they get it.

Sarlacc, you sound like you really use yours as intended, and that's fine. I owned a Volvo V70 wagon, and it was great. 2 kids, lots of room, no issues. Never thought of getting a truck or truck like SUV.

 

Guys I didn't actually mean I thought they'd go away entirely but instead just that the number of wagons on sale was going down again.

I also meant the traditional wagons, not so much the crossovers.

Acura has one, Audi has two wagons, BMW has two wagons, Cadillac has one, Mercedes has one, VW has two, Subaru has one, Volvo for 2011 will have two, and Saab has one.

I probably missed a couple or something. Seems most wagon buyers are more upscale doesn't it?

 

A cookie would be nice...

 

I agree. I am not against wagons. I like them a lot in fact and I am very bummed they dont sell here and the selection sucks.

 

 

I've noticed the game dying as well. But as long as Audi keeps the A4 Avant...I'll be happy. That thing is hot, and I'm not a very big fan of wagons.

 

How about an RS6? 500 plus HP in a wagon. That is

 

An actual Accord wagon would have been cool. With AWD, that is.

 

And it doesn't bother me one bit.
I've just never understood the wagon thing.


Though if I was forced to get one....the CTS 'vagon.....
Definitely the best (looking) IMO

 

I am sort of partial to the Family Truckster.

 

And it was NEVER intended to do that. They are 2 different vehicles with 2 different purposes. Like stated before, well over 95% of SUV owners dont own them because of what they are capable of , but because of the image of which is sad

I had 2 expeditions (owned both at the same time).. Both get/got used for what they were intended for. Mine saw off road and mud a lot for work, it tows lots of things from big to small. It hauls 8 people on occasion and the mileage SUCKS. The wife had the other expedition because it was "big' and she felt safe (even though it has one of the worst roll over roof protection ratings out there). She had/has the typical American mentality when it comes to them. I am trying to convince her into something more practical like the A4 avant, or CTS wagon. It makes much more sense for her to drive. She can still haul a lot of things (no less than she would have in the expedition) and at the same time get well over 10mpg MORE than the expedition.

 

a4 wagon is the hottest wagon and the only one I would actually get (besides e39 but not in NA), so as long as they are still around, I don't care what happens to the rest of the wagons.

 

^^That sounds like my mom. Way back when we were looking for a new car, my mom came down to a few choices, an 02-03 RL, an 02-03 TL/Type-S or a Lexus RX300. even as a 13-year old kid it defied logic. My mom almost never hauled anything (the heaviest/most I've seen was two big bags of fertilizer, or two big bags of rice, which is not often), would probably be able to fly under her own power before she towed anything, and sure as hell never even drove in the snow. To this day she still somewhat wants an SUV, but there is no practical reason for it. Only for a "just in case" scenario