4 ms·
Germany has traditionally been a station wagon country. Although SUVs are everywhere now, you still see more station wagons. As I see it, SUVs are used as a sta
by jansan 7y ago
Germany has traditionally been a station wagon country. Although SUVs are everywhere now, you still see more station wagons. As I see it, SUVs are used as a status symbol and they have the advantage of an elevated driving position. Station wagons are generally used by people who "do stuff", who have to transport things or drive long distances. It it the car of the practical thinkers. Station wagons are also driven by salesmen who have to travel a lot, because station wagons tend to have a lower fuel consumption due to their smaller drag area. This is especially relevant on our Autobahn, where the higher speeds make aerodynamic drag pretty noticeable.
So yes, for practical reasons station wagons are great. I love mine.
- acd 7y agoOne could make a mix between station wagon and suv. All it requires is height adjustable dampers. Elevation is a classic status symbol think castle locations. Upper class started driving elevated cars SUVs and middle class want to move up in status.
- petre 7y agoIt's been done: the Audi Allroad. But it's plagued by damper issues.
- jansan 7y agoDough de Muro called it the "second worst car ever manufactured in the entire history of the automobile" :) Actually, many upper class cars have height adaptable dampers. I know of one wealthy forest owner who bought the (at that time) super luxury Mercedes 500CL (W215) because the adaptable dampers also made it a great offroad car.
- jacquesm 7y agoThe W215 is a beast. It's also very scary fast. There is also an upgraded version by AMG (CL55). I highly doubt Mercedes made money on any of them, and as a - former - owners, I was very happy that mine was under warranty because of the stuff that can break on that car and what it typically costs to fix it. The ride height adjustment system is great - when it works - just like the Citroen DS, it is the proverbial magic carpet ride but the technical complexity does not really help.
- ben-schaaf 7y agoThe Audi e-tron has adjustable ride height for reduced drag. It automatically lowers the car at higher speeds. Not sure if that's what you mean.
- muro 7y agoYou get a much better view from an elevated position, it feels safer than in a lower car.
- ahartmetz 7y agoIMO SUVs are something that people of low status consider high status. They are primitive and brutal looking vehicles with pretty awful properties as driving machines: high weight, high drag, high center of gravity (which also forces comfort / safety compromises), much less room than station wagons. You can get cars that look and drive much nicer for the same money.
- rpmisms 7y agoThat's the Toyota Venza. Technically a wagon, very much lifted.
- amyjess 7y agoThe Subaru Outback comes to mind.
- bsder 7y ago> the advantage of an elevated driving position One of the big car makers actually had a full psychological workup on different SUV driver cohorts, and small females make up a disproportionate cohort for exactly this reason. The perception is that the higher vantage makes things safer in spite of the reality that the SUV is less safe because it takes more physical strength to actually handle the car in emergency situations.
- consp 7y ago> ... is less safe because it takes more physical strength to actually handle the car in emergency situations. Almost no driver you describe would be able to handle a 2000kg+ car (any type) without power steering and brake assistance which is why they all have this and this is no longer a problem. The higher vantage point in combination with a bigger car also causes more low speed bumps and low speed pedestrian hits, but then again "you" are safe.