Cars you would like to see

[Rope-Pusher]

So it was a category shift. Clever!

As I recall Ford did this with their pickups in the 1970s. They used to have F100, F250 and F350, but then they added in F150, which I understood was to get above the weight limit to avoid as much pollution equipment or something like that. My '77 was pretty light weight though and was an F100, loaded with the old retrofit pollution equipment which did not always perform so well compared to today's engines which are designed with the emissions in mind. Ultimately, the F100 was dropped altogether, perhaps with the next wave of emissions regulations.

Actually, Ford dropt the F100 to keep it from competing with the Ranger.

[Squint]

IMBoring25 - Thanks for the info about wagons and CAFE standards.

Yeah, it's good info... but I like wagons

[tankinbeans]

IMBoring25 - Thanks for the info about wagons and CAFE standards.

Yeah, it's good info... but I like wagons

Radio Flyer?

[Squint]

Everything from a Radio Flyer to a Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon.

[tankinbeans]

Everything from a Radio Flyer to a Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon.

I'd like to ease my way into wagons with a hatchback. Was going to look at one when I bought Clifford, but they didn't have the right color, and I've always heard hatchbacks are death for insurance as they relate to young,single men.

[ClutchFork]

IMBoring25 - Thanks for the info about wagons and CAFE standards.

Yeah, it's good info... but I like wagons

Yeah, what happened to wagons. They made Escort wagons then quit, they made Focus wagons then quit. What happened to the Taurus wagon. Do any of the "big three" make a wagon these days (and don't say minivan)? Also I can't stand the Flex if it is even supposed to be a wagon, think it is more of an SUV-ish thing. I'd like to see a Ford Fiesta wagon, a Malibu wagon, and a Dodge Dart wagon!

[tankinbeans]

IMBoring25 - Thanks for the info about wagons and CAFE standards.

Yeah, it's good info... but I like wagons

Yeah, what happened to wagons. They made Escort wagons then quit, they made Focus wagons then quit. What happened to the Taurus wagon. Do any of the "big three" make a wagon these days (and don't say minivan)? Also I can't stand the Flex if it is even supposed to be a wagon, think it is more of an SUV-ish thing. I'd like to see a Ford Fiesta wagon, a Malibu wagon, and a Dodge Dart wagon!

Crossovers are the new wagons. On insurance paperwork most of them are listed as wagons, even Suburbans. Crossovers ride on their smaller brethrens' platforms.

CR-V = Civic wagon
Crosstour = Accord wagon
Escape = Focus wagon

I don't think any of the big three still make minivans except Chrysler Co.

[theholycow]

Do any of the "big three" make a wagon these days (and don't say minivan)?

Most of the "crossover" market segment is vehicles that are indistinguishable from the definition of a wagon, except minor differences necessary for marketing and CAFE. However, there are these that sheepishly admit to being "wagons".

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon and CTS-V Wagon



Lincoln MKT


Of course, for other markets Ford and GM offer plenty of wagons. I imagine Chrysler does too.

[IMBoring25]

What happened to the Taurus wagon

When the Five Hundred replaced the Taurus it came with a vaguely-more-crossoverish wagon counterpart called Freestyle. That became Taurus X with Mulally's revival of the Taurus moniker. Then it was unceremoniously dropped due to massive market overlap with the Flex and Edge.

[daleadbull]

Am I the only person who sees a clear difference between a wagon and a crossover?

A wagon is a sedan with more interior/cargo room while a crossover is essentially an oddly shaped small SUV. The ride height alone should give it away.

I would love to have a high powered wagon like the CTS V wagon, it would be as close to an all in one vehicle as you can get. I just wish more manufactures offered us high powered wagons. The lack of demand here speaks to the brain capacity of an average American car buyer, why the hell would you want an SUV over a wagon? Most don't take their cars off road anyway, so what is the point?

[potownrob]

Lincoln MKT

looks like a demented hearse

[tankinbeans]

The lack of demand here speaks to the brain capacity of an average American car buyer, why the hell would you want an SUV over a wagon?

Crossovers or SUVs generally offer better sight lines. I often feel like I'm lost in a sea of morons driving big trucklet thingies while driving Clifford. They also make ingress and egress easier. This is especially important for older buyers who have joint problems. Even a wagon sits low to the ground and can be difficult to stoop into.

I, a 25 year old guy, have trouble getting into my friend's Jetta because it sits so low to the ground (oddly getting into Clifford is slightly less of a challenge). Whereas, getting into and out of my Blazer - about the height of most Crossovers - is a snap.

My grandma bought her Sportage specifically because she carries a bunch of bulky items for her volunteer work, and she needed something that sat up a bit higher so entering would be easier. The fact that it gets decent mileage for a vehicle its size is just the cherry on top.

[IMBoring25]

Am I the only person who sees a clear difference between a wagon and a crossover?

A wagon is a sedan with more interior/cargo room while a crossover is essentially an oddly shaped small SUV. The ride height alone should give it away.

What's your read on:

AMC Eagle
Ford Freestyle/Taurus X
Ford Flex
Mini Cooper Countryman (as distinct from the Clubman)
Honda Accord Crosstour
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Chevrolet HHR
Audi allroad
Subaru Outback
Subaru Forester

?

If it weren't for government meddling the classifications wouldn't matter except for marketing purposes.

[Boston Fit]

I think of a crossover as having:

High ground clearance
Usually AWD
4 doors
Hatch
Car-based platform

In other words, SUV-lite.

[theholycow]

Subaru Outback
Subaru Forester

Especially the Outbacks and Foresters of yore. In recent years they've smooshed the Outback so it looks like it's less long and more tall, giving it more of a squarish shape than the long rectangle of a wagon that it originally had.