Why is it so hard to find a good, affordable station wagon?

[NickB79]

I've been searching for 2 weeks and still can't find anything I like to replace my wife's totalled Chevy Malibu. The Chevy Malibu Maxx doesn't seem to offer much more cargo space than the sedan version of the Malibu, oddly enough. The only Subaru Outback and Legacy wagons in our price range ($8000) have over 100,000 miles on them. Same thing with VW Passat wagons. Other than than, all we're finding are smaller hatchbacks like the Matrix or Pontiac Vibe, crossovers that are mostly out of our price range, and small SUV's that are also either out of our price range or over 100,000 miles. The Saturn Vue small SUV looked good pricewise and MPG-wise, until I read that their CVT tranny had reliability issues over 100,000 miles.

Why did the station wagon become such an endangered species in the US? If we get a used SUV, we get hosed at the gas pump, but if we get a sedan we lose out on cargo space that we kinda need (our other car is a subcompact Scion xA, and while it is a great car for 1-2 people, trying to carry a toddler and all her stuff in the back can be an adventure in ergonomics). Plus, we live in Minnesota, where we often get dumped on by snowstorms where it would be nice to have a larger vehicle.

[Gold Metal Flake]

1. The SUV and similar have supplanted the SW.

An SUV is a "truck", and so is held to a lesser standard for safety and emissions. This makes them cheaper to build and so more profitable.

2007 was the last year for the Ford Focus SW. The Flex, a thing that looks an awful lot like an SW but is a crossover, fills the SW niche. Saturn used to have a nice SW but Saturn used to exist. No more. I guess the Volvo SW is still around, if you got the dough.

Try Edmunds.com to do a search on all of the available wagons.


Edit: link and spelling

[Curmudgeoness]

2. I couldn't agree with you more. I had a Ford Escort station wagon

and loved the size and space and fuel mileage. I have a Matrix now and like it, but not as much as the Escort for cargo space. But it ain't bad. I agree about the Subarus, which is what I would really like to have, but the cost is out of sight. The Pontiac Vibe is the same car as the Matrix and you may be able to find one in your price range??? I read that the Toyota would hold it's value much more than the Pontiac, even though they are the same car.

[GoCubsGo]

3. People moved to mini vans

The people who traditionally bought station wagons, families, have been buying mini vans instead. As other pointed out, they've also been going to SUVs. They're starting to go back to them with these "crossover" vehicles, but me, those are just low-slung SUVs.

[quakerboy]

4. As per my afternoon

I would just like to observe that one can easily fit over 50 cinder blocks in a Vibe.

I suspect that between SUV's, The mini-stationwagons (as I think of the matrix,PT cruser, etc), and Mini-vans, plus the subaru's and Volvo's, I suppose there is not much market out there for station wagons.

How about an xB?

[tabbycat31]

5. try a Subaru Forester

I have one and it's technically considered an SUV but it is hardly one.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. We have one too, and it only counts as a toy SUV. LOL

[elleng]

6. I drive my folks' '93 toyo camry wagon; GREAT car, 120,000 miles.

Pick up a used one if you can!

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. We've done Subarus for a while now and yes they are expensive even

when they are older. But they tend to run well for a very long time, hence the high cost.

Honestly, what I appreciated most when we had tots was our minivan. It was _so_ nice to be able to climb in and strap the kids in, instead of hanging my butt out there in all the worst Maine weather. LOL

[davsand]

9. I traded my Escort Wagon for the Dodge Caliber we are driving now.

Love the Dodge, but it is NOT the same as that Escort. That Escort got better gas mileage, and it could (and did) haul anything I asked it to--including groceries, kids, dogs, and softball equipment. You can pick up a used Caliber pretty cheap, and it is not a bad little wagon even if they do call it a "crossover." It is fun to drive and has a decent growl when you need that extra acceleration.



Laura

[kwassa]

10. I love my Malibu Maxx

This is my second one, the first was totaled in an accident, though I came through without a scratch.

This is the most flexible car I've ever owned, it carries a lot; I've put 15 big bags of mulch in it and could have put 20 if I really wanted to force the issue. It gets as high as 32 mpg in freeway driving. Great torque and pickup from a dead stop. It also has an extended wheel base which gives huge leg room in the back seat, helpful for dealing with kids and their car seats.

I had the same dilemma as you when I went looking for a station wagon back in 2004; there were less of them then.

Now they are called "crossover" vehicles, which are basically lowered SUVs. Station wagon became a dirty word many years ago.

Maxxs never sold well due to very poor marketing, and were discontinued. They were and are a great car. Good in snow, too.

[HopeHoops]

11. The last REAL SWs were the Colony Park and the Caprice/Roadmaster.

We've still got a 93 Sable wagon - the next to last real SW. When they redesigned it (with the weird bug-eye rear windows), they really fucked it up.

The ONLY thing out there that's even close to a SW right now is the Ford Flex. I still think it needs to come in a "woodie" edition.

[here_is_to_hope]

13. The transmission failed yet?

Those models had major transmission issue's as did the Saturn wagons from 1993 to 1996. Such a major component failing at 90k is a joke.

[HopeHoops]

14. No - running great and up around 135K. Still no rust, either.

[here_is_to_hope]

12. Pre-1994 Volvo's...

Best wagons ever, period.
The red block engines go to 400k easy with little maintenance, some wagons will seat seven, the seats fold down and let you sleep two even at 6'2".
Mileage? How about 34 mpg even with 330k on it!

Ford took over engineering in 1995 so most Volvo's since then suck though the 850's retained the better Volvo engines till they too were phased out.
I found 12 wagons on CL in Minnesota, at prices that would be cheap here.

This wagon sold new for 26k, I would buy this in a heartbeat if it was in Oregon...

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/2120490594.html

Yeah, there will be little things to fix but at 5k less than what a little Subbie will go for, you will beat the odds.
If you want faster and front wheel drive...

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/ctd/2129991193.html

The turbo's require more upkeep as they tend to run hotter but they are freeway fliers.

If you like vintage, here is a nice 240...

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/2129647500.html

I have the same wagon with over 500k, I have had to do a head gasket but otherwise, the wagon is mechanically original.
Beat that Chevy.

[tinkerbell41]

15. I had a Ford Focus Wagon

Died at 130,000. Devastated. Found a used 2006 Pontiac Vibe.16000 miles LOVE IT!!!
My timing belt had snapped about 2 blocks of leaving my new employers office.
After being out of work almost 2 yrs, needless to say I wasn't ready for this.
I had researched the Vibe since 2006, I knew that would be my next car since the Focus Wagon was discontinued. Anyway, I went online and started searching, I got a carfax for it, it had been repo'd and sat at dealer for 1 1/2 yr. I am happy, love the car. As far as I could find no recalls on the vibe until 2007. Good luck.