the feeling among carmakers here is that americans don't like wagons. which is true -- toyota and honda stopped making wagon versions of their sedans after almost nobody bought them in the mid 90s. what comes around goes around, though, and wagons are beginning to make a comeback.
On my various travels in US i have been told that wagons are not considered cool and are very much seen as utilitarian. I europe i am pleased to say they do seem to be quite cool with connotations of an interesting life style, popular with skiiers, sailors and other outdoor types. Also the stylingon some is superb, Audi have for years been making an art of their styling, and Mercs have always looked great.
I understand from reading the press that after a period of stagnation their sales are once again on the increase. For myself I dont think I would ever want to be without a wagon in the family again, they look great and are so versatile.
Keith[8D]
On my various travels in US i have been told that wagons are not considered cool and are very much seen as utilitarian. I europe i am pleased to say they do seem to be quite cool with connotations of an interesting life style, popular with skiiers, sailors and other outdoor types. Also the stylingon some is superb, Audi have for years been making an art of their styling, and Mercs have always looked great.
I understand from reading the press that after a period of stagnation their sales are once again on the increase. For myself I dont think I would ever want to be without a wagon in the family again, they look great and are so versatile.
Keith[8D]
If by popular you mean "trendy among 20 and 30 somethings," the Volvo wagon was the first "popular" wagon in the States, and this beginning in the mid 70's; at least in the Northeastern part of the country. It was quite the thing for those, having put aside the herb and acid, to have a Volvo 145 or 245 parked in front of a new suburban home, alone with 2.5 children playing in the yard. There were even terms like "soccer mom," and "Yuppie Conestoga wagon" for the young, upwardly mobile moms and their square but cool Volvo wagons (Conestoga refers to a popular horse drawn wagon used by White settlers in US and Canada http://www.mhsc.ca/index.asp?content=http://www.mhsc.ca/encyclopedia/contents/C6621ME.html).
Wagons may never have otherwise been hugely successful here; nonetheless, as Americans have begun now to scale back on the use of Earth Movers and Land Crushers to go to and from the corner store (we Americans have certain unresolved Power issues), wagons are again becoming the vogue, especially Suburu, Audi and to a lesser extent BMW and Benz wagons.
It's indeed a relief to note that sales of the ridiculously large SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) are falling. We've had lots of terrible accidents, have wasted millions of gallons of petrol and other resources with these stupidly large vehicles. And - for those of you who don't live in the US - most SUV owners would never dream of taking their darling monsters off-road - my word; and get mud on them!!? I think not...
It's indeed a relief to note that sales of the ridiculously large SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) are falling. We've had lots of terrible accidents, have wasted millions of gallons of petrol and other resources with these stupidly large vehicles. And - for those of you who don't live in the US - most SUV owners would never dream of taking their darling monsters off-road - my word; and get mud on them!!? I think not...
Glenn White
Cottage City, MD
[8D]
I wish I could say the same for the situation here in Australia. More and more drivers are opting for such vehicles here instead of regular wagons such as the TE. They are simply known as "four wheel drives" here (I can't imagine what could be sporty about a SUV).
Admittedly, we don't get too many of the size of Hummers, Chev Suburbans and Dodge Rams, but get plenty of Toyota Land Cruisers, Prados and Hiluxes, Nissan Patrols, Mitsubishi Pajeros, Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Jeeps and dare I say, Mercedes MLs. We also get plenty of what are described as "lifestyle" four wheel drives. These are smaller versions such as Toyota Rav4s and Honda CRVs but are still difficult to see past in traffic.
Most are used to drive to the shops or deliver kids to school. Many also carry a single driver on the commute to and from work. When asked, owners describe how they purchased it for the big outback trip they will do one day. Others like the perceived safety (which is the opposite to reality). Some claim they need the space (despite families being smaller than when everyone got by with sedans and wagons), yet even the large ones do not offer the space or space efficiency of our TE. Those with a third row of seats have them fold akwardly against the side windows in the load area, not flush with the floor like our TE.
Only higher fuel prices would make owners choose a more appropriate vehicle but that would be political suicide for any government. Notice how with high fuel prices in Europe people choose sensible vehicles. In Oz we pay half as much and many drive inappropriate vehicles. In the USA fuel prices are about half as much again and many choose to drive trucks.
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Technical Officer, Mercedes-Benz Club (NSW) Inc. www.mbcnsw.org.au
107.023: 1973, 350SLC, auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex.
107.026: 1981, 500SLC, auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 1990, 300TE, auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 1990, 190E-2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 1990, 190E-2.3 Sportline, auto, signal red, black fabric (parts car, currently dismantling).
This is a picture only thread, so I won't post another text only response; but in response to your mention of gas prices; here in the States, the Federal government has actually provided tax incentives for people who purchase SUVs and who subsequentially claim them as business expenses. So if a real estate agent or lawyer would rather motor about in a Chevy Suburban or Hummer while selling condos or representing a client, he or she can write off much of the cost of the purchase.
Decidedly bass ackwards policy in my view, but there is hope.... in a less anthropocentric view of things: even if we humans totally exhaust the planet's resources and kill ourselves off; some few species will persist and resurrect what may be a better (human-free) biosphere...
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