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Wagons What Wagon Would You Like To See Offered?
95 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 1:26 PM
You are in the Wagons Forum. Your Host is kcram
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As we've seen in the industry, wagons are making a comeback in the marketplace. Whether it's because of fuel prices, maneuverability, or people just need a little more room than a regular trunk provides, the automakers have made an effort to meet the demands and desires of the buying public. Just not completely. In this discussion, you can become a product planner. Tell us which wagon is not available and should be. Foreign or domestic, large/medium/small, gasoline/diesel/hybrid - think about the list of cars out there that don't have a wagon version, and give a compelling reason to build it. Here are the rules: - if you are suggesting a new wagon, you must tell us why you will buy it if it's offered - if you disagree with a suggesytion, debate the car, not the person who suggested it. Be imaginative - here we go! kcram Host Smart Shopper and Wagons Message Boards
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| This would seem a fairly inexpensive effort for Subaru, in that the sedan and wagon platforms are the same, and the sedan already exists. I suspect there would be strong demand for such a car, since there is nothing like it available at this time. The sedan has competition. | |
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We need a larger family station wagon available. The Taurus wagon is the right size, unfortunately the sedan version of the Taurus does not match Accord or Camry, so the wagon is not much to speak about either. If Honda or Toyota offered a Camry or Accord wagon they would have something with the room of most SUV's and the economy and handling of a car. Passat and Mazda 6 come close, but they are smaller and less efficient than the Camry and Accord. Reliability could also be an issue with the Passat. To really put icing on the cake offer the new 2.2 liter diesel engine available in Europe with the Accord wagon. 50 mpg with room for 5 people and their luggage in a reliable, nice riding, nice handling, relatively inexpensive package - what a refreshing change that would be. Will never happen though because it will take away too many sales from much more profitable SUV's.
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I agree - why can't they bring the Accord wagon back. they already have it in Japan (for 2 years now). |
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WWK = Wagon (for those) Without Kids. (But don't forget that the grandkids may need a ride!) I've owned four (real) full-sized wagons over a 45-year period. Three Dodges and the 1989 Chevy Caprice (155,000 mi) I have now. All were driven well over 100K mi with extensive major repairs; yet, all were VERY economical over their full lives. Plus, I have driven an '98 Merc Sable wagon owned by a friend for the past four years --also an economical, reliable wagon. Here's what I need: Size: Bigger than Taurus/Sable and Dodge Magnum. Length at least 84" in cargo space with front seats all the way back -- that's 7.5" more than Taurus. Width: min 42" at narrowest part (fits golf bag with long handled clubs and max driver head.) Height: 24" tailgate opening to 18" either side of center -- Magnum fails big time here. Engine choices: include a reasonably powered V-6 and a V-8, coupled with a 4 or 5 spd trans w OD. Dodge's 3.5L appears about right. No problem with Ford's Duratech V-6 either. This bigger car might need a small V-8 of about 4.5L. Driver seat/legroom: People have been steadily getting taller, but cars don't accommodate us tall 'ums as well as they used to. Taurus not good in this dept; Magnum is the standard. Test: driver 6'-2" with 35" inseam has to be able to move from accelerator to brake instantly w/o knee touching steering wheel. Magnum's tilt / telescoping wheel is really helpful here. Adjustable peds may help also; except that I SUSPECT all the adjustment is towards the driver (as referenced against the height of a non-adjust ped). Cargo area: should be designed to carry cargo. If there is a 3rd seat, make it optional. Floor should be completely rigid and flat (Caprice is the standard) and sides made of indestructible plastic. Carpeting's major characteristic should be "anti-wear". Roof rack: offer one. Include easily adjustable cross rails and make rack so that accessory cross rails fit (for bikes, cargo carriers, etc). Put strong ribs in the roof and trim them with strong, well fastened, stainless runners. (Honda Odyssey is notably missing these features). Drivability: Cradle the front passengers in firm bucket seats with (relatively) high side support and adjustable lumbar support. Provide height adjustment. Create a firm ride and firm steering so that you feel comfortable in tight turns at moderately high speeds. But be comfortable over rough terrain. Cruise control: Put controls on steering wheel (like Sable Wagon). Stereo: Base model should have dynamite sound (as measured against OEM -- not custom -- offerings). Reference should be '98 Sable system, where front speakers are at chest level. Controls should include a rotary tuning knob and easily accessable balance/fade controls. Upholstery: offer a durable cloth trimmed with vinyl or leather. Should be easily cleaned. Safety: Insure all seats have headrests; if necessary, make them removeable to allow seats to stow FLAT. Fit the best, strongest child seat rearward facing in the 2nd seat and dimension car so that front seat can be positioned all the way back (my son's huge Buick Roadmaster wagon can't fit these seats in without moving the front seat WAY forward!). Remember: Build It and They Will Come
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My ideal wagon: Start with a Scion xB. Stretch by 3 feet. Add 3rd set of doors and duplicate the rear seats. Add the Toyota hybrid system to the engine the car comes with. It would be 8" shorter than a Sable Wagon, but with a much longer wheelbase - the engineers would need to make sure it could turn very sharply. The passenger room would be ummatched. If you had a lot of bags, fold the 3rd row down. Make sure the load capacity is at least 1500#. |
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I agree more midsized wagons are needed; Accord and Camry of course and maybe a Ford Fusion Wagon when it comes out. Also I would like to see some wagon varient on some more compacts; a civic and cobalt wagon for example. I like the Mazda6 but wish they would offer the wagon with the 4 cyl for those of us who hope to get decent gas mileage out of cars. -- Bill |
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Finally somebody else who wants to see a 4-cyl Mazda 6 wagon. I have been mentioning it on the Mazda 6 board, but everybody thinks it will be underpowered - I say no less than the sedan. 160 hp is plenty in a car of that size. Stretched Xb sure would have a lot of room. |
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- the engineers would need to make sure it could turn very sharply. yeah, there ya go! A full size wagon with "quadra steer" !! Now we're talkin' 
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| all the Accord wagons they used to sell were 4-cyl - they never sold the 6-cyl in anything other than a sedan! And those wagons were darn popular. The 2.3 in the Mazda6 would be enough to pull a wagon around. The wagon is not that much bigger than the Mazda3s hatch, after all. And that same 2.3 is going to be hauling around the Mazda5 this time next year. | |
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