Posted on 02/16/2011 1:53:13 AM PST by Daffynition
The news came like a blow to the gut for this child of 1950s suburbia:
Volvo, the company most associated with station wagons for the last 20 years, will stop selling wagons in the U.S. The market is drying up.
The Volvo wagon had been on life support for months. After dropping the larger V70 Volvo in 2010, Doug Speck, CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, told Automotive News he was giving the V50 another year because there "is a bit more energy in the small wagon segment."
Not enough, apparently. Volvo, which was sold to China's Geely in 2010, sold just 480 V50s last year, about two per dealer.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
At least the water buffalo didn’t depreciate like a wagon! Great story!
Same with my old man. On Saturday nights would cruise around town - the muffler had come loose after getting high-centered on a hunting trail - and I would slip it out of the exhaust about half-way to give it a “hot-rod” sound! Still pretty tough to look cool in a Kingswood Estate! (Got it up to 108 mph though once!)
My dad’s last wagon was a diesel - it was always having problems. My last memory of it was bringing the homemade pine casket to the funeral home for my old man to be buried in. (Mom woudn’t let us use his wagon for the actual trip to the cemetary - but us kids thought it would have been fitting!)
If station wagons are dead, why is that both Acura and Cadillac have just released new ones?
Never had much desire for a Bimmer but if you live in snow country the Audi all-wheel-drive is the way to go. I had a ‘86 VW Quantum Syncro Wagon (think Audi 4000 station wagon with VW badges and switchgear) back in the day and it was unstoppable! Locking center and rear differentials plus room to tote lots of stuff. It was the most fun winter car I’ve ever owned and I’ll miss it ‘til the day I die...
My dad had a Cadillac station wagon when I was a kid. It turned some heads... He sold it to a guy who totaled it the next week....
For a family of 3 with a big dog, Volvo wagons are too small for us (on trips and when my parents are in town). So are their SUVs. I’m getting a Yukon XL next month and just hope it fits in the garage.
I actually owned a 1977 Datsun F-10 wagon. It was front wheel drive and held up pretty well
This "older folk" likes her Audi wagon.....6 cyl, 5 valve. And I haven't gotten a speeding ticket yet. And shrub roses fit in the back. What more could I ask for ? ;-)
Okay, I give up.
Depends on the year and the wagon.
Ferrari Station Wagon
You all remember the rear facing rear seat in the late 60’s and early 70’s station wagons?
Given today’s safety standards, that would never fly today.
Another strange, go back and look at the 4 door cars from the 30’s. Today’s SUV’s like the Tahoe and Expedition are basically the same configuration, just with modern engines and safety gear. Both are high riding high capacity vehicles. Back in the 30’s most roads were unpaved and they needed the high ground clearance. Now most roads are potholed and we need the high ground clearance.
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