The death of the station wagon

cnn.money ^ | February 15, 2011 | Alex Taylor III

[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.

[Daffynition]

Dad was a Buick-guy. Always 4-door. No wagons either.I recall they were always Roadmasters...even had one of those 3-tone jobs [similar in color to this model]!

[anglian]

Dodge Coronet 440/6 Wagon 7.2-litre V8, Sixpack

[anglian]

http://www.classicdriver.com/us/find/carpopup.asp?source=/upload/cars/11502/1806592/biga.jpg&list=abcdefghij&base=/upload/cars/11502/1806592&dealerpage=no

[Daffynition]

I made a religion of test driving several makes and models of SUVs B4 buying my *next* car coming out of my *van* stage. Took over a year of looking. I had a very long commute [80+ miles] and had grown accustomed to being up *high* in all kinds of traffic situations. A SUV was a natural progression, plus providing some cargo space, even tho the kids had grown. The only other SUV that handles as well [or better] than a X5 is the Audi Q7. They are still too *ugly*.. .and the brakes aren't as good. IMO.

[paulycy]

Seat belts! PUT ON YOUR SEAT BELTS KIDS!

My dad didn't believe in them. He very definitely wanted to be ejected from the car if he got into a wreck. He always said so.

He passed on without ever having been ejected from a car wreck as far as I know.

[Daffynition]

Woulda worked.... :D

[CSM]

“the station wagon hasn’t gone any where. It’s now called a “cross over”. “

Yep. If I recall correctly, the station wagon market was destroyed when the gov’t changed the mileage requirements for cars, so the automakers invented the SUV’s off of truck platforms. The large station wagons couldn’t meet the requirements, so the truck platform was the way to maintain the functional attributes without having to conform to the new MPG requirements.

Another product destroyed by government interference...

[nascarnation]

17/18 around town, 21/22 on the road
it’s awd
uses regular 87 octane (mine is V6 but plenty of power for me)

[ottbmare]

I have a Subara Outback SW. Ten years, 126,000 miles, ONE repair ($900). Wonderful vehicle. Actually has more cargo capacity than the little SUVs on a cubic-foot basis, and goes off road very well. I love this car!

[anglian]

[DJ MacWoW]

even had one of those 3-tone jobs

Nope. The 52 Buicks were cream/tan.

We did have a 55 Chevy that was black and white with dual antennas on the back. Dad called it a "Hot Buggy!" LOL

[RegulatorCountry]

Bad move, sport wagons are actually just starting to heat up. Acura is introducing a TSX sport wagon. I’ve got a Subaru Legacy Limited 2.5 Turbo, great car, space for stuff and dogs, really fast and quiet. Almost the perfect car. Good gas mileage, but needs premium gas.

[anglian]

The fastest. In 1999 Roos Engineering built what they considered the "fastest and strongest estate car of the world." They converted a special model of Aston Martin's V8 Vantage known as the V600. With its capable 600 bhp supercharged engine. into a wagon. 0 - 60 mph ~3.8 seconds 1999→1999 Roos V8 Vantage V600 Shooting Brake http://www.supercars.net/cars/1781.html

[Kickass Conservative]

My first car was a 55 Chevy 2 door wagon, not a Nomad.

I am 57 and have only seen one other one. I guess I shouldn't have sold it for $300 back in the early 70’s.

Then again, I shouldn't have sold the 69 Chevelle either. I get depressed watching Barret Jackson. LOL

[Daffynition]

Sorry. Subbies have such a bad rep here...no can do. They are *always* the drivers in the passing lane going under the SL. Don't take it personally, I'm sure you are a wonderful driver. I'd have to look at their warranty and compare cost of ownership. FWIW The *sport wagons* don't have enuf head room for me!.

[dfwgator]

[Daffynition]

2004 Subaru Forester 2.5 XT Turbo 0-60 mph 5.2 Quarter mile 13.6

???? Yipes!

[Daffynition]

Dead grandma tied to the top! Classic!

[Daffynition]

Did it have a button to the floor to the left of the brake to switch the head lamps to *high*?

[Liberty Valance]

LOL! I know exactly what you mean. I miss my El Camino.

Mecham Auto Auctions break my heart sometimes. ;o)