OT: sportwagen

[pasadena]

Buick is huge in China, which is why it is still around and not dead like Pontiac.
USA is actually a secondary market for Buick.

GM's last ditch was the 2017 Chevy SS/Holden Commodore. It's holding high values on the secondary market but pretty rare.
It will go up in value.
Wish I had bought one. Had they imported the wagon Commodre SSV version, I would have for sure.

There's nothing left really. The lux/near lux hatchback sedans are getting popular, but suv's are killing everything.

Originally Posted by eddief

and then it too will be gone. Americans want SUVs.

Remember the last ditch GM GTO?

https://autopolis.wordpress.com/2013...t-of-a-legend/

This was an Opel too:

https://autopolis.wordpress.com/2011...fame-to-shame/

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

They were offered here but they sold very poorly. It costs a lot to modify European models to meet USA standards so low volume=BIG LOSS so we don't get them. Stockholders are not happy with management "rolling the dice" on products with a poor sales history.

Exactly. Case in point the sportwagen and the all track. Even released them in manual after everyone been asking for that. Then they did not sell that many of them. I do see a little bit of all tracks in upstate ny but a third less than subaru outbacks and of course suvs are king.


In europe last week, I saw so many high end wagons. I think I saw more blw and mercedes wagons than anything else.

[foggypeake]

Originally Posted by gt eunuch

Well shoot fire.

After almost 2 amazing years of ownership of my 2015 Golf Sportwagen TDI a lady totaled it while parked (for a VERY short time... ugh) on my street.

So now I am in the market again, and specifically the TDI model seems to be rarer than hens teeth around here, but another challenger appears.

2018/19 Buick () Regal TourX

These things seem to be bolted to the ground on dealers lots and they are being sold at a HEAVY discount.

Thought/comments/concerns?

We bought a Regal TourX earlier this year and it has been great so far. We road tripped from DC through parts of Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal) and the car was magnificent. Not only did it swallow up four full-sized suitcases and provide enough legroom and charging ports for two sullen 16 year old boys, but we averaged 33.5 mpg.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by Blue Jays

It is astonishing to me the gorgeous wagons sold to the European market are not even given a chance in the North American market.
My hope is that manufacturers will one day soon "roll the dice" and see if they can make a go of it here and perhaps offer them again.

Not a chance. The US is the land of mini/midsize/fullsize SUVs..Wagons like the GSW, etc are a nitch to say the least. It's all about $ and marketing..and the US consumer is brainwashed into thinking they need a CRV or Rav-4 type thing.
Just look at a Subaru outback..it 'used' to be kinda a small wagon..now it's the same size as a Tiguan/Rav4/CRV..it's YUGE!!

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

Not a chance. The US is the land of mini/midsize/fullsize SUVs..Wagons like the GSW, etc are a nitch to say the least. It's all about $ and marketing..and the US consumer is brainwashed into thinking they need a CRV or Rav-4 type thing.
Just look at a Subaru outback..it 'used' to be kinda a small wagon..now it's the same size as a Tiguan/Rav4/CRV..it's YUGE!!

Oh yeah, I think the outback is actually considered an SUV. Wife has one, its huge.

[AngryScientist]

Only time will tell, but like it or not we will be seeing more and more electric cars creep into the market. the winners in that game will be the more efficiently designed vehicles, and big SUVs may fall out of popular favor as this transition starts to really penetrate the passenger car market. perhaps wagons will get some attention at that time.

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Only time will tell, but like it or not we will be seeing more and more electric cars creep into the market. the winners in that game will be the more efficiently designed vehicles, and big SUVs may fall out of popular favor as this transition starts to really penetrate the passenger car market. perhaps wagons will get some attention at that time.

I dunno man, American mind wants the biggest car. My buddy told me that, wants his wife and kids in an sub because he feels its safer against other suvs. They are bigger, will have more batteries, will have similar distance ranges. I think wagons have a different image in the usa. Women and older people drive em and real man don’t want to be seen in them. At least in part of the country.

[dbh]

Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it, the era of the wagon is over in the US. We went car shopping last summer and ended up with a used Mazda CX-5. I would love to have considered a wagon, but there was very little on the market. I wasn't interested in a used VW wagon for reliability reasons. At the time the market was flooded with used TDIs and not much else.

That said, the small sized CUV works great as a family hauler. It's easier to get kids into carseats when you're not as hunched over, and the wife likes being a little higher up. Since we mostly use the thing to putter around town and take a day trip here or there, it's not like performance and handling was our top concern. Plus gas mileage is better than our old Saturn sedan we got rid of to buy the Mazda. Enthusiasts may hate the CUV blob shift in the US market, but they do work very well as a practical family hauler.

[Ttx1]

It's interesting how quickly people forget about 2007-08-09.

That's when GM divested Hummer among other things...

Wagons come back when oil is > $125/barrel for the foreseeable future, in combination with other unfavorable economic conditions.

That's also when small cars, motorcycles, scooters, eBikes, and plain old bikes see a nice uptick.

It's been said before, but I'll say it again: If Americans pay what Europeans pay for gas, we'll drive a bit more like Europeans, i.e., smaller cars, wagons, and various bikes would be a lot more common.

They way things are going re: international trade, foreign policy, and overall economic indicators, we might see more "sport" wagons in the not too distant future...

Silver lining?

[tony_mm]

Originally Posted by Ttx1

It's interesting how quickly people forget about 2007-08-09.



That's when GM divested Hummer among other things...



Wagons come back when oil is > $125/barrel for the foreseeable future, in combination with other unfavorable economic conditions.



That's also when small cars, motorcycles, scooters, eBikes, and plain old bikes see a nice uptick.



It's been said before, but I'll say it again: If Americans pay what Europeans pay for gas, we'll drive a bit more like Europeans, i.e., smaller cars, wagons, and various bikes would be a lot more common.



They way things are going re: international trade, foreign policy, and overall economic indicators, we might see more "sport" wagons in the not too distant future...



Silver lining?

Totally agree!

[2metalhips]

The SUV trend reflects the super sizing of america. Can you see the average overweight/obese american driver getting in and out of a sportwagon? Fuggetaboutit! I have the rarely seen Acura TSX wagon.

[dbh]

Remember, in 2007/8 folks abandoned their large SUV's because gas spiked to $4 a gallon and they got terrible mileage. Now a Rav4 or CRV is on par mileage wise with most mid-sized sedans. I think my Mazda CUV gets better mileage than the Buick TourX. Hell even Chevy's new diesel Silverado brodozer of a pickup is expected to get 33 mpg combined. For sure the market for large trucks and SUVs could totally collapse with a coming recession, but it won't be because of gas mileage concerns.

[Mzilliox]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I dunno man, American mind wants the biggest car. My buddy told me that, wants his wife and kids in an sub because he feels its safer against other suvs. They are bigger, will have more batteries, will have similar distance ranges. I think wagons have a different image in the usa. Women and older people drive em and real man don’t want to be seen in them. At least in part of the country.

such an american way to think. take something with a really low probability, plan for it to happen, buy everything in your power to be ready for said low probability event, never use it for what you thought you needed it for.

guns and cars are so very american, how adorable

[echappist]

Originally Posted by foggypeake

We bought a Regal TourX earlier this year and it has been great so far. We road tripped from DC through parts of Canada (Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal) and the car was magnificent. Not only did it swallow up four full-sized suitcases and provide enough legroom and charging ports for two sullen 16 year old boys, but we averaged 33.5 mpg.

on the highway? did you use premium oil? the car has EPA estimate of 29 mpg for the highway, but if you can get 33.5 mpg, that's great (especially for an AWD)

i'd love to drive that car, with the only concern being what happens when I need parts, etc.

a dealership nearby is blowing out a $38k car for $22k...

[oldpotatoe]

I dunno man, American mind wants the biggest car. My buddy told me that, wants his wife and kids in an sub because he feels its safer against other suvs.

Originally Posted by Mzilliox

such an american way to think. take something with a really low probability, plan for it to happen, buy everything in your power to be ready for said low probability event, never use it for what you thought you needed it for.

guns and cars are so very american, how adorable

Spot on..great post...in spite of the fact that big SUV types are horrible when it comes to rollovers..wear yer seatbelt!!