What's wrong with "station wagons"?

[shirohniichan]

Here is a list of what Edmunds.com calls new "wagons":

Audi A3, A4 and A6 wagons
BMW 3 and 5 Series wagons
Chevy HHR
Chrystler PT Cruiser
Chrysler Pacifica
Dodge Caliber
Ford Flex
Ford Taurus X
Kia Rio
Kia Rondo
Kia Spectra
Kia Soul
Lincoln MKT
Mazda 3
Mercedes E-Class wagon
Mercedes R-Class
Nissan Cube
Saab 9-3 and 9-5 wagons
Scion Xb
Subaru Impreza wagon
Subaru Outback
Suzuki SX4
Toyota Venza
Volkswagen Jetta and Passat wagons
Volvo V50 and V70 wagons
Volvo XC70

Some of the vehicles on the list are "crossovers" (neither car nor SUV), like the PT Cruiser, Pacifica, Cube, Xb and others. The Flex looks more like an SUV than a wagon to me, and the Venza is a Camry wagon in crossover clothing. The Mazda 3 is a hatchback. The Forester looks more like a wagon than many on this list.

What's wrong with having station wagons that don't disguise themselves as something else? Even my wife says station wagons seem like something for old folks (kind of like the image problem with hatchbacks). Calling them a "sport wagon" only fools those who want to be fooled.

Do you think yourself odd or in an obscure minority for driving a wagon? Or do you like to pretend your OB is an SUV so you can avoid the stigma?

[07OregonOutback]

I my wagon and I'm proud to say it. If other cars want to pose as wagons.. that's cool I guess.

[CNY_Dave]

I had a 1967 pontiac lemans wagon with GTO trim, GTO 400ci engine and auto trans with a side-by-side hurst shifter... nuthin' wrong with wagons!



Dave

[06baja spt]

I would drive a pick-up,but never a station wagon.

[ron917]

Nothing's wrong with wagons, I like them, and have owned four (Volvos and Subarus) plus two hatches (VWs). Love that big door in the back. I can fit all my stuff, sleep in back and it's still a car, not a truck or a minivan.

[shirohniichan]

For the record, I originally wanted a Legacy GT wagon, so I'm definitely in the "wagons ho!" group. Maybe being practical is considered frumpy, but I don't care.

[rjkotler]

Just go European and call them "estates" and that should solve it.

When I joke with people about driving a "grocery getter" they laugh until they see my OB and find that it has 250 HP under the hood.

With more ground clearance than a Ford Exploder and AWD it probably has more Sport and Utility than most SUVs out there.

[ghghhghg]

Originally posted by rjkotler
Just go European and call them "estates" and that should solve it.

When I joke with people about driving a "grocery getter" they laugh until they see my OB and find that it has 250 HP under the hood.

With more ground clearance than a Ford Exploder and AWD it probably has more Sport and Utility than most SUVs out there.

Amen brother,

I can still remember my work partner's face when when I took him for a spin to show him what my new wagon could do (he drives a full size Toyota SUV), lots of grabing for the dash and saying oh oh ooh. Needless to say his view of wagons was changed that day.

[bheinz57]

I always refer to my car as the little red wagon. And the younger crowd laughs at me in a good way.

Brian

[tirolerpeter]

Who cares what anybody else thinks? I like my 2.5i OBW with the 5spd MT. It gets me up the mountain to ski regardless of weather, it handles just fine on both the mountain road and the interstates (I did a rear swaybar upgrade.) It gets excellent all-around gas milage (Anywhere from 25.4 local to 28.4 on the interstates at "brisk" speeds, and it holds a lot of stuff for skiing, travel, or just hauling. What matters is that I like it. BTW, my wife doesn't like the "wagon image" but finds it very comfortable for long distance runs. We are looking forward to a 5K trip around the country this summer to visit friends, family, and attend some quilt expositions (My wife's passion is quilt design and making.) along the way.