Other then ride height, what is the difference between these ''Cross Overs" and Station wagons? This came up after the gf was talking about one,...of cores I was slap'd after I said it was a station wagon made for men who could not admit that they wanted station wagon.
When you look at the facts thats what they are, 4 door hatch back and most of them are fwd, to me it sounds like a station wagon. Correct me if I am wrong.
I hate marketing people and their stupid E36 M3.
sounds like she likes crossovers
You are ignoring a significant advantage the crossovers have that has nothing to do with a macho image. When you get older, getting in and out of a vehicle becomes more difficult. My CR-V seat is exactly the right height for me to just slide right in. Other than that, how is a CR-V different from the '88 Civic wagon I used to have? Not much. Another thing is that station wagons aren't all that common now. I would love to have a Vista Cruiser or Country Squire with their cavernous storage areas, but they are no longer practical for everyday use, at least in the rust belt. And modern wagons aren't nearly as big or useful.
You're right, there are tons of "wagons" that are called anything but a wagon.
Toyota Venza, Caddilac SRX, Misu Outlander just to name a few.
Yup, and it is teh suxx0r. People bought minivans because they weren't station wagons, then they moved to SUVs because they couldn't be seen in a minivan. Now everybody knows SUVs are evil Earth destroyers, so they buy "crossovers", which are all the disadvantages of wagon, minivan, and SUV rolled into one nifty package that's devoid of any of the advantages.
And still 25 years later the stigma is still hanging over station wagons. The driving dynamics of a good sedan, with room for bigger stuff in the back. What's not to love? Yet the very name "station wagon" is poison to sales figures. idiots.
Duke wrote: Yup, and it is teh suxx0r. People bought minivans because they weren't station wagons, then they moved to SUVs because they couldn't be seen in a minivan. Now everybody knows SUVs are evil Earth destroyers, so they buy "crossovers", which are all the disadvantages of wagon, minivan, and SUV rolled into one nifty package that's devoid of any of the advantages.
Except the entrance/exit height. These things are perfect for the older non-enthusiast type.
Even BMW doesn't call them wagons, they are "Tourings". Station wagon is a uniquely American term...for better or worse. I have a '94 e34 wagon that I am putting a '95 M3 motor into and it will proudly wear the monicker "M wagon", at least, that's what I will call it, nobody else will know what the hell I'm talking about. R
I love our Freestyle wagon. No difference at all really.
Look at your title. If it has a rear entry door (shudders, thinking about prison) your title lists it as a wagon. Previous wagons I've owned?
Cherokee
Grand Cherokee
Wrangler
Minivan
None of these are what most folks would call a minivan but they are according to NHTSA.
RioRacer wrote: Other then ride height, what is the difference between these ''Cross Overs" and Station wagons? This came up after the gf was talking about one,...of cores I was slap'd after I said it was a station wagon made for men who could not admit that they wanted station wagon. When you look at the facts thats what they are, 4 door hatch back and most of them are fwd, to me it sounds like a station wagon. Correct me if I am wrong.
4 door hatchback isn't a wagon, it's a hatchback. It's all about that extra piece of glass.
Hatchback:
Wagon:
I love station wagons so much that both of our cars are wagons. That said, I still consider "crossovers" SUV's. They just look too tall.
I like my lifted station wagon. Then again, it has a solid rear axle, a solid front axle, real 4 wheel drive, and a manual transmission.
Crossovers are wagons with all the coolness (car handling and performance) sucked out and replaced by SUV (tall truck like handling and performance) lameness.
I wish we got more wagons in the states, especially sporty performance oriented ones.
bravenrace wrote: You are ignoring a significant advantage the crossovers have that has nothing to do with a macho image. When you get older, getting in and out of a vehicle becomes more difficult. My CR-V seat is exactly the right height for me to just slide right in. Other than that, how is a CR-V different from the '88 Civic wagon I used to have? Not much. Another thing is that station wagons aren't all that common now. I would love to have a Vista Cruiser or Country Squire with their cavernous storage areas, but they are no longer practical for everyday use, at least in the rust belt. And modern wagons aren't nearly as big or useful.
I'd bet your '88 Civic wagon got significantly better gas milage 
You can actually make a CRV handle pretty well, it's basically a tall 96-00 civic.
Engine swaps are just as easy too.
Sigh, don't get me started.
I'd actually prefer to drive a minivan over a "crossover" but I'd prefer to drive a wagon.
I've been driving an 01 Highlander and while it is a great vehicle, I hate how tall it is and how useless it is in snow/ice thanks to the FWD and open diff. It is also useless for hauling much of anything. I can get just as many people and things into a standard hatch or wagon. A minivan could haul at least two more people and more stuff.
Yet, every time I mention a van or a wagon to the other half? "Ugh, those are so ugly...." Yeah. The dirty look I get for mentioning that the Highlander is just a tall Camry Wagon with less room is greeted with a, "So?" Eventually I get, "If you like wagons so much, you can have one for your car." Uh, no... I already have two hatchbacks (Shelby Shadow & 924), so I'm good, thanks :)
I would love to own a Vista Cruiser wagon or a Caprice wagon with a rear facing back seat. My parents never had a wagon growing up, but my friends did, and I loved it. We also had one donated to my freshman auto-shop class in HS. Ahhh, the memories.
tuna55 wrote: I love our Freestyle wagon. No difference at all really.
Us too. Our is a TaurusX - no idea why Ford's marketing people felt the need to refresh/rename a car for a 2-year stay, but whatever...
It's definitely a wagon.
had one just like this, one of my fav rides
got more compliments from women than my Z-28, I think the reason was 'domestication' related
I would have to agree with the Crossover = wagon. I consider my wifes R350 a tall wagon, I just won't tell her that. 
"Us too. Our is a TaurusX - no idea why Ford's marketing people felt the need to refresh/rename a car for a 2-year stay, but whatever...
It's definitely a wagon. "
After they reverted to using the Taurus name sales went up.People remebered their Taurus wagons. We had two when the kids were little and still in car seats. They were just the right size for our needs.
e_pie wrote: Crossovers are wagons with all the coolness (car handling and performance) sucked out and replaced by SUV (tall truck like handling and performance) lameness.
Quoted for "nailing it".
Crossovers are generally ugly, egg shaped things with terrible space utilization, truck-like handling and do nothing well. I'll take a proper wagon, thank you. And not one with a fastback rear window that robs me of useful cargo area, but a real live vertical rear glass and a hatch.
wbjones wrote:bravenrace wrote: You are ignoring a significant advantage the crossovers have that has nothing to do with a macho image. When you get older, getting in and out of a vehicle becomes more difficult. My CR-V seat is exactly the right height for me to just slide right in. Other than that, how is a CR-V different from the '88 Civic wagon I used to have? Not much. Another thing is that station wagons aren't all that common now. I would love to have a Vista Cruiser or Country Squire with their cavernous storage areas, but they are no longer practical for everyday use, at least in the rust belt. And modern wagons aren't nearly as big or useful.I'd bet your '88 Civic wagon got significantly better gas milage
Better than what? The CR-V gets better mileage than the Civic did. Both were/are AWD.
Station Wagon:
This one is mine.
This one used to be mine.
Crossover, not a Station Wagon:
Crossovers look more like SUVs, just uglier. Station wagons look more like cars, just better. 
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