| Ten years ago if you walked into a car | | | | road. The gravel driveway leading to the |
| dealership and told a salesperson you were | | | | cottage doesn't count.For most people it's |
| interested in a station wagon you'd likely | | | | been so long since the Wagon was popular that |
| get a sympathetic pat on the back and a 10 | | | | they forget why |
| page report on why wagons have gone the way | | | | |
| of disco music and moon shoes. Ultimately, | | | | they left it. Wagons offer better handling, |
| wagons sales petered out as customers lined | | | | fuel efficiency and are still able to carry |
| up in droves to buy mini vans and SUVs. | | | | |
| Since the introduction of the aforementioned | | | | the kids (and their gear) to hockey |
| mini van, which was introduced in the early | | | | practice. European manufacturers such as |
| 1980's, most families abandoned the wagon in | | | | Audi, |
| hopes of regaining a sense of coolness that | | | | |
| was somehow missing from a 1983 Oldsmobile | | | | Volvo, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz offer |
| Custom Cruiser wagon with wood grain side | | | | wagons. Even BMW has increased their |
| panels.As mini vans grew in popularity they | | | | |
| too began to become less desirable to | | | | wagon line-up with the introduction of the |
| families | | | | 530xiT last year. And these |
| | | | |
| looking for that next big thing. As any 12 | | | | manufacturers know a little something about |
| year old can tell you, once too many | | | | vehicle dynamics. Sure most marketing |
| | | | |
| people start doing the same thing it becomes | | | | managers cringe at the term wagon, favouring |
| dated and opens the door for | | | | terms like Sport Touring and Avant. |
| | | | |
| something else. Remember The Power Rangers, | | | | Perhaps they've been reading |
| Pokemon, or Pogs? Neither do I. In | | | | Shakespeare."What's in a name? That which we |
| | | | call a rose by any other word would smell as |
| this case the successor to the mini van was | | | | |
| the SUV. Throughout the 1990's, SUV's | | | | sweet".Sure, but I like giving a dozen roses |
| | | | and I call a car with a rear hatch and an |
| grew to new heights of popularity, filling | | | | |
| Wal-Mart parking lots and emptying the | | | | extended roof line between the c and d |
| | | | pillars, a wagon.But younger audiences have |
| strategic oil reserve at an unprecedented | | | | yet to jump onto this bandwagon (pun |
| rate. Although even more popular than the | | | | intended). |
| | | | |
| mini van, SUV's have remained the vehicle of | | | | Rappers, actors, and sports icons continue |
| choice for North America's "with it" | | | | to roll around in Escalades wearing 24's. |
| | | | |
| families for well over a decade.Times are | | | | So perhaps this is just a sideshow to the |
| changing. Today, as gas prices reach new | | | | storied SUV. Then again maybe not. A few |
| heights more people are | | | | |
| | | | months ago I saw something I thought I would |
| reconsidering the SUV option in favour of | | | | never see. I saw a popular rap video |
| something more fuel-efficient. | | | | |
| | | | showcasing a black Dodge Magnum, undoubtedly |
| Manufacturers have done their homework, | | | | a wagon, driving up and down the |
| introducing wagons with AWD, | | | | |
| | | | boulevard. Could this singer be a |
| panoramic sunroofs and rear DVD players. | | | | trailblazer (oddly the name for a SUV from |
| Just like many SUV's. And if by now | | | | |
| | | | Chevrolet)? Let's hope so. Put down that gas |
| you've noticed that most people aren't | | | | pump and get rid of your SUV. You |
| interested in the off-road capabilities of | | | | |
| their | | | | want a wagon, uh sorry, a sport touring. Get |
| | | | with the program. What's old is new |
| SUV you wouldn't be wrong. As little as 3% | | | | |
| of SUV's have actually been taken off | | | | again. |
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