Ive griped on here and other places my displeasure that there are very few wagons available in the US. Basically only 1 available with a manual transmission for under $30k the VW Jetta. Three or four which are over 30k BMW, Audi, Volvo, perhaps still Saab. Some Subarus get honorable mention.
I was talking with a co-worker about wagons. He immediately said he thinks of them as old folks cars. And I agree with him - I think that is the general consensus. But why? I just dont get it. Some adjectives for a sporty car are small, low to the ground, handles good, fast. A wagon can be all of those. An SUV is the opposite on the first 3 adjectives: it is larger (or at least looks larger), high up, all things equal it will handle worse. Ill grant you that speed wise in a straight line SUVs need not give up anything to wagons.
I understand the practical reasons why most folks prefer SUVs. They are higher up more comfortable and easier to get into/out of and unpack. I understand the appeal of sitting higher in traffic. I understand the perhaps misguided belief that they are safer. For those three reasons SUVs should be thought of as for older folks not younger. I somewhat understand the macho image of an SUV that in theory a RAV 4 can go places a Jetta wagon cannot. Obviously that is true for Jeeps and some other SUVs, if not all.
So, is it a consensus that SUVs are for younger folks than a wagon? And that they are sportier? If so WHY?
I was talking with a co-worker about wagons. He immediately said he thinks of them as old folks cars. And I agree with him - I think that is the general consensus. But why? I just dont get it. Some adjectives for a sporty car are small, low to the ground, handles good, fast. A wagon can be all of those. An SUV is the opposite on the first 3 adjectives: it is larger (or at least looks larger), high up, all things equal it will handle worse. Ill grant you that speed wise in a straight line SUVs need not give up anything to wagons.
I understand the practical reasons why most folks prefer SUVs. They are higher up more comfortable and easier to get into/out of and unpack. I understand the appeal of sitting higher in traffic. I understand the perhaps misguided belief that they are safer. For those three reasons SUVs should be thought of as for older folks not younger. I somewhat understand the macho image of an SUV that in theory a RAV 4 can go places a Jetta wagon cannot. Obviously that is true for Jeeps and some other SUVs, if not all.
So, is it a consensus that SUVs are for younger folks than a wagon? And that they are sportier? If so WHY?