Return of the Station Wagon?

[Denis4x4]

Want wagons? Kill the crossover - Autoweek

This should open up a lively discussion! I for one would buy one of these interstate cruisers in a heartbeat.

[andreasduess]

I love Station wagons - used to own an old Volvo when I was a student.

The Ford Flex is a step in that direction. One of my favourite family friendly vehicles right now.

[DKB_SATX]

Let's hope!

I really like wagons and hatchbacks. My car is a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT with a 250 hp turbocharged 4-cylinder and a 5-speed manual, and there just isn't a good replacement out there. (Thankfully, since it's a Subaru, it's still a great car so I don't HAVE to replace it!) I'm not in the market for an E-class, but I guess in a pinch a 3-series BMW would be a nice wagon, and the 3-series has fattened up to the point that it's about as big as my Legacy.

Unfortunately what's likely to happen is that the next truck will be my only vehicle, I'll sell or trade the Subaru and the '07 F150 and have only a truck. I never EVER thought that would happen, I never wanted a truck until I developed this Airstream problem. I'll just put a good tonneau on the next truck and some cargo management accessories and deal with not having a fun driver.

EDIT: andreasduess mentioned the Flex, which *IS* a very wagony vehicle. We'll see if they're still building it in 2016 when the service policy on my F150 ends, and if I'm interested in making one tow the 28' trailer.

[Wayward]

I hope they go for it. If Chrysler can make a go of that little Fiat buggy, why not do something really interesting.

This is what is great about the American car market.

We once had a Mercedes E-class Wagon (300TE). Fine car. I think Mercedes has always had that station wagon in their model lineup.

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

andreasduess mentioned the Flex, which *IS* a very wagony vehicle. We'll see if they're still building it in 2016 when the service policy on my F150 ends, and if I'm interested in making one tow the 28' trailer.

The article mentioned the Flex too: ". Is it possible to design a modern, full-size wagon and not end up with something like the Ford Flex?"

Even on the Flex Forum I have seen people bemoaning how 'ugly' it is. I have liked the design since it came out, and was really happy to get our used Flex finally last month. It's not a car, or a van, or an SUV, to me it's a station wagon. I think it looks great.

We are very happy with our Flex so far. We're getting a hitch installed tomorrow and I'm eager to get it out for a test tow

[andreasduess]

Right? I don't think they're ugly at all. I really think Ford hit it out of the ballpark there.

The Flex was our second choice when we were looking at a family car. The only reason we didn't go with it was access to the back seats - with the Honda we could just remove the driver's side 2nd row seat to get the twins buckled up in the back row. Their older brother sits behind the passenger.

If that wouldn't have been the case, I would have preferred the Flex above the Odyssey. Low and powerful, it would have made an excellent tow vehicle.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

The article mentioned the Flex too: ". Is it possible to design a modern, full-size wagon and not end up with something like the Ford Flex?"

Even on the Flex Forum I have seen people bemoaning how 'ugly' it is. I have liked the design since it came out, and was really happy to get our used Flex finally last month. It's not a car, or a van, or an SUV, to me it's a station wagon. I think it looks great.

We are very happy with our Flex so far. We're getting a hitch installed tomorrow and I'm eager to get it out for a test tow

I've always liked the Flex shape as well. It has that "flying brick" aesthetic of an '80s Volvo Wagon but looks wider/more aggressive. If I had haul more people around I probably would've had one some time ago, but the Legacy has been such a great car and meets all our needs (and far exceeds most of them) that my inner cheapskate wouldn't let me buy one.

[Ag&Au]

We have a Subaru Outback. Most sources classify it as a station wagon. I love it. It is the third Subaru wagon I have owned. My wife says she would rather have an SUV. I tell her that since she sitting in it, she can't see the outside design, so just pretend.

Ken

[moparjohn]

As the owner of a 69 Chrysler Town & Country, which is a restoration project, I wish I could have bought one new. Lots of power and room, and really smooth on the road. I know it's from another era, but I would buy one today. John

[Tomzstream]

If GM would only come out with a 57 Chevy Wagon replica, they would sell a million of them, particularly the Nomad. I am kinda partial to the 210 Beauville 9 seater. They only sold a little over 20K of them so its very hard to find.

[DKB_SATX]

I really like the '66-'68 Town & Country style. I loved the interiors of the earlier ones (with things like that trippy spherical-section instrument panel and push-button shifter) but the exterior of the late-60s ones was sharp, like a well-tailored suit.

I also really like the '65-'68 Mercury Colony Park wagons, especially the really clean ones without the woodgrain. (It may be that the only ones that didn't have the woodgrain were called "Commuter" instead of Colony Park, but the bodywork is the same.)

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Tomzstream

If GM would only come out with a 57 Chevy Wagon replica, they would sell a million of them, particularly the Nomad. I am kinda partial to the 210 Beauville 9 seater. They only sold a little over 20K of them so its very hard to find.

Low production numbers are only part of the reason that vintage wagons haven't survived all that well. They were usually bought for a purpose, so they were "rode hard and put up wet." They also didn't fare as well in the collector market for many years so not only were people not spending money to rescue them, they were probably cannibalizing them for parts that were common to the more sought-after coupes and hardtops.

[aceflys]

I'm a fan of SW's. I've owned 6 Subbie wagons. Starting with a 1986 GL AWD all the way up to a late model Forrester that I put almost 200k on before trading it in for my Grand Caravan. Living in PA you can't beat them in the snow. Here is my very rare 1966 Dodge Dart SW that I'm planning on using to tow my 66 Caravel to local car shows.

[Ag&Au]

This was my intro to station wagons. It had to be a station wagon. There were no "SUV"s then. My dad bought the first 4x4 Jeep wagon in the state of Washington. It was a 1949. It only came in this color scheme. In 1956 my dad traded it for anther one. The 56 was two tone green, but still this same body style. That's what I learned to drive in.



Ken

[COLONEL]

This is our Tow Vehicle. 5.7 V8. 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by COLONEL

This is our Tow Vehicle. 5.7 V8. 1992 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser.

Now, That is a car.

I don't think I've ever seen one. I'm sure I would've remember it.

Ken

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

Now, That is a car.

I don't think I've ever seen one. I'm sure I would've remember it.

Ken

I think the Buick Roadmaster version (usually complete with woodgrain shelf paper down the sides) was a bigger seller than the Custom Cruiser of those years.

[dznf0g]

I was a Buick rep then...we AFFECTIONATELY called them Roadmonsters or Roadtoads.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

I was a Buick rep then...we AFFECTIONATELY called them Roadmonsters or Roadtoads.

That's not right.. Isn't that like calling your brother or sister fat?

On second thought, now that I say it like that, it sounds OK

Ken

[Stefrobrts]

Ok, so tell me how bad it is that my hubby and I like this look:



Because the people on the Flex forum HATE this - I mean they really HATE it. Like they want to set fire to it...