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pocahontas
Member Posts: 802
Read about it here: 2003 Toyota Matrix. What do you think?
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Bob
For more information, join our Mazda 5-Door Sport discussion. This discussion is linked to both the Hatchbacks and Station Wagons Message Boards.
Thanks for your participation.
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Here's a direct link to our new Lexus IS 300 SportCross discussion.
Thanks for your comments. ;-)
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For more information, check out our new Mercedes-Benz C320 Wagon discussion. Happy Motoring!
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The Pontiac Vibe is the twin of the Toyota Matrix. Read more information here. Also, please join us in our Pontiac Vibe discussion.
Thank for your comments! ;-)
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My '96 Caprice Classic sedan still runs, and looks, like new. Can't Chevrolet take the old tools and dies out of storage a build a new rwd wagon? You don't think they scrapped everything when they closed down production at the Arlington, TX plant?
How much money can we possibly be talking about to retool for a new big sedan/wagon?
GM spent $5 billion to create the Saturn division from scratch and I've heard they also spent $5 billion for the new pickup/tahoe/suburban/yukon/whatever. But, GM has 5 decades of experience building the car I want to buy.
Why can I figure out something so obvious; GM needs a new rwd big car, yet GM can't reach the same conclusion.
I know what would be cool; an all-wheel-drive Impala wagon or maybe an all-wheel-drive Pontiac Safari wagon!
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Anyway, the real reason that diesels are not more available here in the states is due to the emissions. While cleaner in some respects (CO and CO2 for instance) diesels are MUCH dirtier in others (particulate matter and, if I recall correctly NO). The latter pollutants are both more visible and stink much more than modern gas emissions.
As to the overall jist though - that in ten years diesels will be the most common engine - there may be some truth to that. If, in fact, the Bush Admin leaves in place the current goals to reduce the sulpher content in diesel by 95%, this will eliminate the most noxious fumes and unburned particulates in current diesel emissions. That, combined with more refined diesel powerplants (quieter, faster starting) will create a demand for cars that offer 90% of the off-line performance of a typical gas engine with 30-50% better fuel economy. The author is correct when he says that diesels are as quick as any gas car once you are going but their torquey design will be better appreciated in the larger cars with 4000 lb + curb weights. SUV's being the prime candidate. Smaller cars will probably be better off with hybreds.
HiC
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"Kia will offer the lowest-priced station wagon in the world when the 2002 Rio Wagon goes on sale in the summer of 2001." Read the complete story here: 2002 Kia Rio Wagon. Also, join us in our new 2002 Kia Rio Wagon discussion.
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Read more about the Mazda Premacy here. Any opinions? ;-)
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What's with the SMALL wagon prototypes that car companies are designing these days? They need to start designing FULL size wagons! People buy wagons for the extra room a wagon provides. FULL size wagons are what people want, not tiny wagons. The full size wagon that I would want to buy would have a front bench seat and a third row seat facing the rear, and it would be bigger than the Saturn LS Wagon that we now have on the market. Anybody else agree with me?
What you have witnessed is the Government sticking their nose into something they know nothing about, doing a botched up job of trying to legislate a policy no one wants to support and the free enterprise system and the market place thumbing their nose at the bureaucrats. Makes about as much sense as the California legislature passing a bill that 2% of all vehicles sold in California in 2002 will be zero emission vehicles. The chances of that happening are about the same as our colonizing Mars in the next ten years. Let the market place dictate to Detroit what it wants. If gas prices rise to $3.00 a gallon, you can bet Detroit will start producing smaller more fuel efficient vehicles. California won't license or permit passenger cars to be equipped with diesel engines, yet we have millions of behemoth pickup trucks and SUV's belching black diesel smoke all over the landscape. Another wonderious decision by our befuddled breaucrats. Shall I go on? We are in this energy crisis because the Government let a lot of silly damn tree huggers convince them that nuclear energy was dangerious, so we haven't approved a Nuke Power plant for the past 20 years. Mean while, the more forward thinking countries of Europe are generating 80% of their power from Nuke Plants. What we need in this Country is a few less breaucrates and politicians and a few more free enterprise, money hungry, risk taking, industrialists and capitalists. (And a whole lot fewer environmentalist that don't know their butts from their elbows.)
Happy Motoring!
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I think they call them "minivans" now! HA,HA
Gas down to $1.20 here in Atlanta, bring on the gas guzzling SUV's!!!!.....
I am driving a 01 Nissan PF right now that I love very much, mainly because it drives like a car. I will replace it in a few years and I'm considering replacing it with a wagon. I agree with most of the posts here....the tiny new wagons are not even in the realm of anything I would buy. I need cargo room! I haul lots of computer equipment (computers, monitors, etc.) for my job and take a couple of dogs to the park on weekends. I gotta have some room in a vehicle.
Because of my past experience with American made cars, I'd look first at imports and it would be great if Toyota, Nissan, Lexus or Honda would come up with a nice, sporty, fun to drive mid-size or bigger wagon.
It also depends on what you are putting in the back. I have a large storage bin that would not fit in the back of my Taurus wagon, but easily fit into the back of my Corolla wagon. (both are long gone)
However,I do agree it would be nice to see an accord or camry wagon. Really the Highlander with Front Wheel drive is not too far from a wagon - just a bit taller and more cumbersome, but it is off my list because it is only available with an automatic tranny.
It is suprising how many more options used to be available on cars. Remember when you could not only get a Camry as a Wagon, but also with 4 wheel drive, and even with a diesel engine. I would buy a 4wd diesel wagon tomorrow (I am hoping for a Passat with the diesel option by the time I purchase again). Imagine go anywhere, carry anything, and pay almost nothing in fuel.
A four-wheel-drive gas/electric hybrid. Read the complete story here. What do you think? Thanks for your comments. ;-)
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'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Frank
You won't see full size wagons any time soon because SUVs have a much wider profit margin. That plus CAFE ensure it.
Lexus has a pair of SUVs, too, the LX470 and the RX300, so you could say Toyota sells 7 of them.
Sport wagons are making a comeback, though. It's about time!
-juice
Even in the case of the Protoge5, it's a wagon. Call it a small wagon if you'd like.
-juice
I used to think that having a window behind the rear door was what made a car a wagon, but I saw a geo metro 4 door hatch the other day and it had a window behind the rear door.
The Golf is odd just because it has a very wide C-pillar. There is no D-pillar because no window resides behind the door. So it's not a wagon.
The Matrix, Vibe, Protoge5, and SportCross all have a 3rd windows and a D-pillar, though they are small.
-juice
PS They do make a Golf wagon in Europe, with an extra window and a D-pillar. Oddly, it's not the same as the Jetta wagon.
Frank
The PT is actually classified as a minivan, go figure. They may not do a convertible because it would lose the truck categorization.
So these aren't wagon in the traditional sense. Maybe we should call them sport wagons, or fastbacks, or 5 doors.
-juice
Frank
So the parts are all in place, they just have to make the decision. The Protoge5 is cute but many folks may find it a bit small.
-juice
What do you think? ;-)
Revka
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219 hp, 5 speed auto, side and side curtain air bags, chain driven cams, ... sounds good. Make AWD an option and they couldn't build enough of them.
-juice
With rumors of Mazda and Honda planning wagons for 2003, I'm starting to have options for a midsize wagon without going into the $30K+ area (hopefully). Sorry Tex, I can't deal with the lack of a real sliding sunroof in the Subes!!
Things are going to get interesting in this arena next year.
-juice
I've read here the rumors and thoughts of many people that Honda may offer an Accord wagon in North America because:
2003 expected new model release - perfect time to do it.
The Avancier and Aerodeck are good base points to work from.
The supposed Honda version of the MDX is going to be even bigger than that - somewhere near Tahoe size. An MDX sized Honda might compete against an AWD Honda Wagon.
Wagons (rather Avants, Variants, Tourings, Sportcrosses, 5's) are hot right now. I don't think Honda wants to miss out on these categories now. The last Accord wagon came out when SUV's were starting to heat up. Imagine if Honda introduced a real Odyssey a few years ago.
Since Honda plays it close to the vest, we'll know when they want us to know. Until then, I will keep hoping the rumors are true.
As an aside - the proper pronunciation is Te-sheerrrrrrr-ah, correct? I'm half Portugee/half Brazilian myself.
Other names used include Estate, Versatility, and sport wagon.
Your pronunciation is perfect. Lots of Portugues names end with "eira", and most are a type of tree.
-juice
I find tall vehicles are less stable than regular car sizes. They are more top heavy and more prone to being pushed by cross-winds. I chose a wagon because I didn't want an SUV so a cross-over isn't for me.
Personally, I was sad to see Saturn's large wagon didn't even get mentioned in the article. More evidence of a poor marketing program for Saturn. This is too bad, as the first-year problems in 2000 are gone and the 2001 and up is a nice, reliable vehicle with a good solid ride and good value for the price.
-juice