A Potential Buick Outback?
07-03-13, 09:27 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
A Potential Buick Outback?
Here's something quite interesting, especially considering that I wasn't very impressed with Buick's new Encore SUV, finding it too tall/narrow, too short, too awkward-looking, and with a too-small powerplant. Could it become a Buick competitor to the Subaru Outback, Toyota Venza, Honda Crosstour, Volvo XC70 Cross-Country, and Audi All-Road?....though the ground clearance suggests that it might be more in line with a regular Subaru Legacy wagon ( now discontinued in the American market) than a raised-clearance Outback.
I had a Subaru outback for years and was quite satisfied with it...though I'm always open to more competition.
http://wot.motortrend.com/opel-insig...#axzz2Y03C7U2C
Opel has just lifted the sheets off the new Insignia Country Tourer, a car we could see at some point in the U.S. as a Subaru-Outback-like Buick Regal crossover wagon. With the newly revealed Insignia Country Tourer photos, we get our first official look at how Buick could expand its U.S. lineup without much effort. Take a look at the Opel Insignia Country Tourer images below and then tell us: Should a Buick Regal Country Tourer be made for U.S. customers?
Buick’s crossover lineup has a gaping hole between the wildly popular three-row Enclave and the subcompact Encore. And we’re not just talking about a significant size difference: the Encore starts around $25,000 while the Enclave carries an MSRP of just below $40,000. A Chevrolet-Equinox-based Buick could fill that product hole nicely, and in fact, we recently spotted what appeared to be an Equinox-sized GM crossover with Enclave-like styling.
With an Equinox-based Buick in the lineup, could there be room for an Outback-like Regal variant? Just look at Subaru’s success with the crossover-wagon concept, and don’t forget Audi decided the segment was worth revisiting with the 2013 Allroad.
As for the newly revealed Opel Insignia Country Tourer, the car has ground clearance raised by 0.79 inches and, of course, accentuated wheel wells and contrasting body cladding. The car’s front-drive-biased all-wheel-drive system is paired with an electronically controlled rear-axle limited slip differential that can distribute torque to the rear wheel with the most grip.
In Europe, the Insignia Country Tourer will be powered by a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter or two variants of a 2.0-liter turbodiesel. The diesel and gas engines can be had with a six-speed manual or automatic. We don’t expect Buick to introduce a manual-transmission, all-wheel-drive crossover-wagon anytime soon, but a Regal Country Tourer powered by the 259-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 might make a good Acura TSX, Audi Allroad, and Volvo V60 competitor.
I had a Subaru outback for years and was quite satisfied with it...though I'm always open to more competition.
http://wot.motortrend.com/opel-insig...#axzz2Y03C7U2C
Opel has just lifted the sheets off the new Insignia Country Tourer, a car we could see at some point in the U.S. as a Subaru-Outback-like Buick Regal crossover wagon. With the newly revealed Insignia Country Tourer photos, we get our first official look at how Buick could expand its U.S. lineup without much effort. Take a look at the Opel Insignia Country Tourer images below and then tell us: Should a Buick Regal Country Tourer be made for U.S. customers?
Buick’s crossover lineup has a gaping hole between the wildly popular three-row Enclave and the subcompact Encore. And we’re not just talking about a significant size difference: the Encore starts around $25,000 while the Enclave carries an MSRP of just below $40,000. A Chevrolet-Equinox-based Buick could fill that product hole nicely, and in fact, we recently spotted what appeared to be an Equinox-sized GM crossover with Enclave-like styling.
With an Equinox-based Buick in the lineup, could there be room for an Outback-like Regal variant? Just look at Subaru’s success with the crossover-wagon concept, and don’t forget Audi decided the segment was worth revisiting with the 2013 Allroad.
As for the newly revealed Opel Insignia Country Tourer, the car has ground clearance raised by 0.79 inches and, of course, accentuated wheel wells and contrasting body cladding. The car’s front-drive-biased all-wheel-drive system is paired with an electronically controlled rear-axle limited slip differential that can distribute torque to the rear wheel with the most grip.
In Europe, the Insignia Country Tourer will be powered by a 250-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter or two variants of a 2.0-liter turbodiesel. The diesel and gas engines can be had with a six-speed manual or automatic. We don’t expect Buick to introduce a manual-transmission, all-wheel-drive crossover-wagon anytime soon, but a Regal Country Tourer powered by the 259-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 might make a good Acura TSX, Audi Allroad, and Volvo V60 competitor.
07-03-13, 09:45 AM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
The Regal's slow sales, IMO, aren't really that much of a surprise. The GS model gives up a lot of ride-comfort compared to many previous Buicks, and has a number of well-established competitors, though the enthuisiast auto-mags sem to like it. No V6 engine is available. Its sisters Verano and LaCrosse are both eating it up in sales...primarily because many potential buyers consider both a better value for the money.
Last edited by mmarshall; 07-03-13 at 05:17 PM.
07-03-13, 09:49 AM
#4
Lexus Champion
That is a good looking wagon. It wouldn't cost them much, and be too much of a risk, to rebadge it bring it here.
Unfortunately wagons just don't sell here in the U.S. Maybe perceptions will change but they haven't yet. BMW, AUDI, VW and MB also offer nice wagons that just don't sell here.
I'd buy a wagon but wouldn't want to take the hit at trade-in.
Unfortunately wagons just don't sell here in the U.S. Maybe perceptions will change but they haven't yet. BMW, AUDI, VW and MB also offer nice wagons that just don't sell here.
I'd buy a wagon but wouldn't want to take the hit at trade-in.
Trending Topics
09-11-13, 01:59 PM
#8
Opel Insignia Country Tourer is the Buick crossover we really want
Opel Insignia Country Tourer is the Buick crossover we really want
-opt.jpg)
Gallery:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/opel-...#photo-995464/
A New Kind of Opel Insignia: Country Tourer Ready for Adventure
- Top-of-the-line Sports Tourer with SUV character: Higher ground clearance and distinct protective body elements
- All-round grip: Advanced Opel all-wheel drive with variable torque delivery
- Strong pulling power: Three powerful turbo engines with up to 400 Nm torque
- Athletic appeal: Wide chrome grille and dual exhaust convey inherent power
Rüsselsheim, 2013-07-03 -- The new Insignia family will soon be completed when the Opel Insignia Country Tourer makes its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. While its Sports Tourer sibling is an elegant family and business station wagon, the new Insignia Country Tourer expresses an innate desire for adventure. The athletic all-rounder, with its higher ground clearance, provides freedom beyond the constraints of city limits and asphalt roads. Defining features include protective under-body guards front and rear, combined with prominent wheel-arch and lower body cladding, all complemented by dual exhaust tailpipes. State-of-the-art all-wheel drive ensures grip and sure-footed handling in all driving conditions. It is teamed with powerful turbo engines such as a 184 kW/250 hp, 2.0-liter SIDI direct injection gasoline unit or a high-performance 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI – both generating impressive maximum torque of 400 Nm.
"The sensational success of our young Opel Mokka in the sub-compact SUV segment has demonstrated the popularity of vehicles with a crossover character," says Duncan Aldred, Opel's Acting Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. "With the new Insignia Country Tourer, we are now filling this sporty niche in the larger, mid-size class. It enables us to offer customers an alternative choice they've never had before at Opel. They can spice up the high quality of our brand flagship with a strong dose of adventure. At the same time, we're confident the athletic appeal of the Insignia Country Tourer will also attract new customers to our brand."
Opel's all-wheel drive: Top-class technology in the mid-size segment
The electronically controlled 4x4 drivetrain incorporates a high-quality clutch, operating on Haldex principles, and an electronic limited-slip differential to ensure superb traction on both paved and unpaved surfaces. It constantly adapts to prevailing road conditions and varies torque distribution seamlessly from zero to 100 percent between the front and rear axles, as well as between the rear wheels. The main benefit is that all this happens even before a wheel starts to slip due to lack of traction, for example on wet or snow-covered roads. In combination with the electronically controlled FlexRide premium chassis, the all-wheel drive system sets standards in terms of reaction time and vehicle control.
When necessary, the clutch controlling drive distribution immediately sends more torque to the rear axle. The 4x4 system's sensors constantly feed individual control modules with information on yaw rate, acceleration, steering angle, wheel speed, gas pedal position, engine speed and torque, and the front/rear power distribution is constantly adapted to the driving situation based on this information.
Ultimate stability and higher dynamics are ensured by the electronically-controlled rear-axle Limited Slip Differential (eLSD). The eLSD controls the distribution of torque between the rear wheels, transferring drive torque to the wheel that has the most grip. While offering better traction in slippery conditions, the sophisticated operation of this adaptive 4x4 drive system guarantees the highest levels of driver control and active safety in all situations. The Insignia Country Tourer can even provide propulsion when three wheels are on loose or slippery ground and only one rear wheel has traction.
The adaptive all-wheel system also supports drivers in non-critical situations. To reduce frictional losses and save fuel, the system automatically reverts to front-wheel drive whenever it senses that no adaptive interventions are required.
Turbo engine line-up: High torque on demand
Strong Opel turbo engine power is a perfect match for the Country Tourer's state-of-the-art 4x4 drivetrain. The choice of three engines is led by a 184 kW/250 hp 2.0 SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) Turbo gasoline engine, delivering excellent performance. Generating an impressive 400 Nm of torque, this direct injection engine guarantees massive levels of traction.
The high-performance 143 kW/195 hp 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI diesel also packs 400 Nm of pulling power. Its sequential, two-phase turbocharger delivers an immediate throttle response for excellent traction. A 120 kW/163 hp, 2.0 CDTI (with single tailpipe) completes the engine line-up, giving access to 350 Nm of torque, which is raised briefly to 380 Nm on overboost.
Both the 2.0 SIDI Turbo and the 2.0 CDTI can be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI is available only with the latter.
Off asphalt, the new Insignia Country Tourer also benefits from larger tires and a raised ride height, in addition to its four-wheel drive traction and lively responses. Ground clearance is 20 mm higher than standard, a major advantage when encountering loose, uneven terrain. So whether it's used for a winter holiday on snowy roads, or simply when the going gets tough, the Insignia Country Tourer makes an ideal companion to easily handle unpaved roads and hilly terrain during work or leisure time. And in the city, its rugged looks also give it a strong stand-out appeal.
Well-toned: Athletic top station wagon with SUV character
The purposeful character of the new Insignia Country Tourer clearly signals its strong desire for freedom. With a signature Opel grille, now wider and deeper, the frontal styling has a distinct appeal. The grille's horizontal chrome bar carries the central brand emblem and is sculpted in a wing form, with its outer tips turned upwards like winglets alongside the headlamps. A protective panel, in a gleaming silver finish, sweeps out from under the engine compartment; a prominent design theme echoed at the rear, where the paneling is framed by two gleaming exhaust tailpipes – all elements that simultaneously communicate a sense of power and protection.
Another characteristic feature is the anthracite-colored protective cladding on the side sills and lower body sections, which also gives the wheel-arches a more pronounced, flared look. The Insignia Country Tourer's robust appearance gives it an assertive, self-confident persona. A final visual flourish is provided by distinctive front and rear light units. The tinted headlamps, with embedded chrome accents, exude high-quality and incorporate wing-style LED daytime running lights (depending on trim version). The graphic design theme is repeated at the rear, where LED brake and taillights also illuminate brightly. With its unique design features, the new Insignia Country Tourer successfully combines its roles as sporty adventurer and prestigious brand flagship.
Prices and equipment details will be announced on the start date for orders – at the world premiere on September 10 at the IAA in Frankfurt.
- Top-of-the-line Sports Tourer with SUV character: Higher ground clearance and distinct protective body elements
- All-round grip: Advanced Opel all-wheel drive with variable torque delivery
- Strong pulling power: Three powerful turbo engines with up to 400 Nm torque
- Athletic appeal: Wide chrome grille and dual exhaust convey inherent power
Rüsselsheim, 2013-07-03 -- The new Insignia family will soon be completed when the Opel Insignia Country Tourer makes its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. While its Sports Tourer sibling is an elegant family and business station wagon, the new Insignia Country Tourer expresses an innate desire for adventure. The athletic all-rounder, with its higher ground clearance, provides freedom beyond the constraints of city limits and asphalt roads. Defining features include protective under-body guards front and rear, combined with prominent wheel-arch and lower body cladding, all complemented by dual exhaust tailpipes. State-of-the-art all-wheel drive ensures grip and sure-footed handling in all driving conditions. It is teamed with powerful turbo engines such as a 184 kW/250 hp, 2.0-liter SIDI direct injection gasoline unit or a high-performance 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI – both generating impressive maximum torque of 400 Nm.
"The sensational success of our young Opel Mokka in the sub-compact SUV segment has demonstrated the popularity of vehicles with a crossover character," says Duncan Aldred, Opel's Acting Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. "With the new Insignia Country Tourer, we are now filling this sporty niche in the larger, mid-size class. It enables us to offer customers an alternative choice they've never had before at Opel. They can spice up the high quality of our brand flagship with a strong dose of adventure. At the same time, we're confident the athletic appeal of the Insignia Country Tourer will also attract new customers to our brand."
Opel's all-wheel drive: Top-class technology in the mid-size segment
The electronically controlled 4x4 drivetrain incorporates a high-quality clutch, operating on Haldex principles, and an electronic limited-slip differential to ensure superb traction on both paved and unpaved surfaces. It constantly adapts to prevailing road conditions and varies torque distribution seamlessly from zero to 100 percent between the front and rear axles, as well as between the rear wheels. The main benefit is that all this happens even before a wheel starts to slip due to lack of traction, for example on wet or snow-covered roads. In combination with the electronically controlled FlexRide premium chassis, the all-wheel drive system sets standards in terms of reaction time and vehicle control.
When necessary, the clutch controlling drive distribution immediately sends more torque to the rear axle. The 4x4 system's sensors constantly feed individual control modules with information on yaw rate, acceleration, steering angle, wheel speed, gas pedal position, engine speed and torque, and the front/rear power distribution is constantly adapted to the driving situation based on this information.
Ultimate stability and higher dynamics are ensured by the electronically-controlled rear-axle Limited Slip Differential (eLSD). The eLSD controls the distribution of torque between the rear wheels, transferring drive torque to the wheel that has the most grip. While offering better traction in slippery conditions, the sophisticated operation of this adaptive 4x4 drive system guarantees the highest levels of driver control and active safety in all situations. The Insignia Country Tourer can even provide propulsion when three wheels are on loose or slippery ground and only one rear wheel has traction.
The adaptive all-wheel system also supports drivers in non-critical situations. To reduce frictional losses and save fuel, the system automatically reverts to front-wheel drive whenever it senses that no adaptive interventions are required.
Turbo engine line-up: High torque on demand
Strong Opel turbo engine power is a perfect match for the Country Tourer's state-of-the-art 4x4 drivetrain. The choice of three engines is led by a 184 kW/250 hp 2.0 SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) Turbo gasoline engine, delivering excellent performance. Generating an impressive 400 Nm of torque, this direct injection engine guarantees massive levels of traction.
The high-performance 143 kW/195 hp 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI diesel also packs 400 Nm of pulling power. Its sequential, two-phase turbocharger delivers an immediate throttle response for excellent traction. A 120 kW/163 hp, 2.0 CDTI (with single tailpipe) completes the engine line-up, giving access to 350 Nm of torque, which is raised briefly to 380 Nm on overboost.
Both the 2.0 SIDI Turbo and the 2.0 CDTI can be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI is available only with the latter.
Off asphalt, the new Insignia Country Tourer also benefits from larger tires and a raised ride height, in addition to its four-wheel drive traction and lively responses. Ground clearance is 20 mm higher than standard, a major advantage when encountering loose, uneven terrain. So whether it's used for a winter holiday on snowy roads, or simply when the going gets tough, the Insignia Country Tourer makes an ideal companion to easily handle unpaved roads and hilly terrain during work or leisure time. And in the city, its rugged looks also give it a strong stand-out appeal.
Well-toned: Athletic top station wagon with SUV character
The purposeful character of the new Insignia Country Tourer clearly signals its strong desire for freedom. With a signature Opel grille, now wider and deeper, the frontal styling has a distinct appeal. The grille's horizontal chrome bar carries the central brand emblem and is sculpted in a wing form, with its outer tips turned upwards like winglets alongside the headlamps. A protective panel, in a gleaming silver finish, sweeps out from under the engine compartment; a prominent design theme echoed at the rear, where the paneling is framed by two gleaming exhaust tailpipes – all elements that simultaneously communicate a sense of power and protection.
Another characteristic feature is the anthracite-colored protective cladding on the side sills and lower body sections, which also gives the wheel-arches a more pronounced, flared look. The Insignia Country Tourer's robust appearance gives it an assertive, self-confident persona. A final visual flourish is provided by distinctive front and rear light units. The tinted headlamps, with embedded chrome accents, exude high-quality and incorporate wing-style LED daytime running lights (depending on trim version). The graphic design theme is repeated at the rear, where LED brake and taillights also illuminate brightly. With its unique design features, the new Insignia Country Tourer successfully combines its roles as sporty adventurer and prestigious brand flagship.
Prices and equipment details will be announced on the start date for orders – at the world premiere on September 10 at the IAA in Frankfurt.
09-11-13, 05:18 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
IMO, GM needs this car. Neither Chevy, Cadillac, or GMC currently sells anything quite in this specific category. Ford used to have the Freestyle/Taurus X Wagon, but it was dropped (a neighbor of mine has a Freestyle that she loves). In the American market, one either has to go to a Japanese (Outback/Venza/Crosstour) or European (XC70/ All-Road)-brand alternative.
09-11-13, 05:31 PM
#10
IMO, GM needs this car. Neither Chevy, Cadillac, or GMC currently sells anything quite in this specific category. Ford used to have the Freestyle/Taurus X Wagon, but it was dropped (a neighbor of mine has a Freestyle that she loves). In the American market, one either has to go to a Japanese (Outback/Venza/Crosstour) or European (XC70/ All-Road)-brand alternative.
09-11-13, 05:59 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Buick, of course, already has AWD on the Encore and Enclave, but, IMO, those two vehicles are either too small or needlessly large for many families. Same at Chevy and GMC with their current AWD/SUV line-ups.....though their Equinox/Terrain is somewhat larger than the Buick Encore. Still, a good mid-size AWD vehicle from GM is currently lacking (the LaCrosse/XTS is now considered borderline full-size).....and this Insignia-based wagon might fill that void.
09-11-13, 10:41 PM
#12
^Man I am so with you on there being an obvious gap for something between the smaller(but still decently capable) Equinox/Terrain and the BIG 3 rows of seats, $40,000+ Traverse/Acadia/Enclave. Or if you want something more traditional and taller, $40,000+ Tahoe/Yukon.
Ford sells the Escape, Edge, Flex, then the 3 row seat Explorer, then the really big Expidition
Toyota you go Rav4, Venza, Highlander, 4-Runner, Lexus GX470(Land Cruiser Prado), then the big bucks Land Cruiser.
There is room in the lineup for the Regal wagon IMO. It might not be a HUGE seller, but heck if they're building it in Europe, why not bring it here??
Ford sells the Escape, Edge, Flex, then the 3 row seat Explorer, then the really big Expidition
Toyota you go Rav4, Venza, Highlander, 4-Runner, Lexus GX470(Land Cruiser Prado), then the big bucks Land Cruiser.
There is room in the lineup for the Regal wagon IMO. It might not be a HUGE seller, but heck if they're building it in Europe, why not bring it here??
09-11-13, 11:54 PM
#13
^Man I am so with you on there being an obvious gap for something between the smaller(but still decently capable) Equinox/Terrain and the BIG 3 rows of seats, $40,000+ Traverse/Acadia/Enclave. Or if you want something more traditional and taller, $40,000+ Tahoe/Yukon.
Ford sells the Escape, Edge, Flex, then the 3 row seat Explorer, then the really big Expidition
Toyota you go Rav4, Venza, Highlander, 4-Runner, Lexus GX470(Land Cruiser Prado), then the big bucks Land Cruiser.
There is room in the lineup for the Regal wagon IMO. It might not be a HUGE seller, but heck if they're building it in Europe, why not bring it here??
Ford sells the Escape, Edge, Flex, then the 3 row seat Explorer, then the really big Expidition
Toyota you go Rav4, Venza, Highlander, 4-Runner, Lexus GX470(Land Cruiser Prado), then the big bucks Land Cruiser.
There is room in the lineup for the Regal wagon IMO. It might not be a HUGE seller, but heck if they're building it in Europe, why not bring it here??
This seemingly does leave a gap in Buick's Crossover offerings with the micro Encore and massive Enclave. Something either CR-V/Escape sized or Equinox sized needs to bridge the gap
If one doesn't come to fruition soon, A Buick based off the Opel Insignia Country Tourer also do
09-12-13, 07:39 AM
#15
Out of Warranty
The American "station wagon" fell out of favor sometime in the late 70's - and probably for good reason. At that time I was the Houston manager for a Louisiana-based industrial video company and our producers all drove wagons, from Ford (Ranch Wagon and Pintos), Chrysler (Dodge Aspen), and GM (Chevy Caprice). The latter was mine, and marked a return to full-size wagons at the end of the '70's. The Caprice Estate was by far the best of the lot, smooth and comfortable, even with a load on board. My personal cars at the time were an International Travelall and an Opel. The latter was sporty, with a sufficient level of comfort to make it my choice as a road-tripper. The International was a hauler, and despite it's antiquated design, assembled from a hodge-podge of parts-bin leftovers from the Big 3 (AMC engine, GM tranny, Dodge rear end, Ford/Dodge brakes, etc . . . ) it actually did fairly well over the road - but it never let you forget it was a TRUCK.
IMHO the American station wagon failed because it offered none of the hauling/towing capacity of a truck, but sacrificed performance thanks to that long, heavy tail and soft suspension. With the ability to compare among at least three genres in my own garage, I'd choose the Opel anytime I didn't need to drag more than a hundred pounds of gear with me. The wagon was neither fish nor fowl - it was too compromised to be either a sedan or a proto-SUV. While it was the newest of my "fleet", and certainly the most plush, by the time I got the payload up over what the Opel could carry (even though I had to go up a tire rating for load), it's handling became worse than that of the truck. Floaty and squirrely is not a good combination.
I traded the Travelall for a Suburban in '82 after a long battle with rust and DIY parts fabrication (Harrison radiator with a 2" inlet and an AMC 401 V8 with a 1" outlet required a muffler swedge to fabricate a radiator hose . . . . International parts? There weren't any.), I bought my first Suburban - about three years ahead of the SUV craze and was delighted. OK, it had the fuel consumption of a 3/4-ton pickup, and the weight of a light armored vehicle, but despite the leaf springs and solid axles at both ends (it was a 4X4), it rode well even with 2000 lbs in the back and on the hitch. Suddenly, I had found the car that would do it all. Well, if you discount canyon carving and stoplight grands-prix. Good looking, sporty looks (if not performance . . . 350 CID and 5500 lbs don't play well together). Eventually I would replace it with a newer model, but like a great deal of the car-buying public by then, the SUV represented a better combination of good looks and practical hauling capacity than any wagon could.
The SUV had far greater hauling capacity simply because it wasn't a passenger car at heart. A number of friends towed large boats on the weekend, and those with passenger cars as tow vehicles found that the pounding of a 5000 pound trailer could dish out would absolutely destroy a nice family sedan in 24 months. SUV's, even pickups were more comfortable with this load on board and dragging along behind. After the Caprice I drove a series of GM sedans - Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobiles as company cars - and never missed the convenience of a big tailgate and an extended "trunk". The SUV became the gold standard for family trucksters from about 1985 onward.
Then came the fuel cost question. When gas was $1 a gallon, even $1.50, filling up with 40 gallons a week was a little off-putting, but acceptable, but as time went on and prices climbed over $3 to $4 per gallon, pushing that 5K (empty) load down the highway at 14 mpg became cost prohibitive. That's about where we are now. We have shrunk the SUV down to micro-size in an effort to extract some kind of fuel efficiency, but that's only practical if you give up towing and hauling anything but a week's worth of groceries. It may be time for a lighter, more aerodynamic station wagon to return to our roads, offering at least a compromise between a sedan's accommodations and an SUV's built-in costs of operation. If they can recover a tiny bit of my Opel's sporting nature in the bargain, I'm all for it.
IMHO the American station wagon failed because it offered none of the hauling/towing capacity of a truck, but sacrificed performance thanks to that long, heavy tail and soft suspension. With the ability to compare among at least three genres in my own garage, I'd choose the Opel anytime I didn't need to drag more than a hundred pounds of gear with me. The wagon was neither fish nor fowl - it was too compromised to be either a sedan or a proto-SUV. While it was the newest of my "fleet", and certainly the most plush, by the time I got the payload up over what the Opel could carry (even though I had to go up a tire rating for load), it's handling became worse than that of the truck. Floaty and squirrely is not a good combination.
I traded the Travelall for a Suburban in '82 after a long battle with rust and DIY parts fabrication (Harrison radiator with a 2" inlet and an AMC 401 V8 with a 1" outlet required a muffler swedge to fabricate a radiator hose . . . . International parts? There weren't any.), I bought my first Suburban - about three years ahead of the SUV craze and was delighted. OK, it had the fuel consumption of a 3/4-ton pickup, and the weight of a light armored vehicle, but despite the leaf springs and solid axles at both ends (it was a 4X4), it rode well even with 2000 lbs in the back and on the hitch. Suddenly, I had found the car that would do it all. Well, if you discount canyon carving and stoplight grands-prix. Good looking, sporty looks (if not performance . . . 350 CID and 5500 lbs don't play well together). Eventually I would replace it with a newer model, but like a great deal of the car-buying public by then, the SUV represented a better combination of good looks and practical hauling capacity than any wagon could.
The SUV had far greater hauling capacity simply because it wasn't a passenger car at heart. A number of friends towed large boats on the weekend, and those with passenger cars as tow vehicles found that the pounding of a 5000 pound trailer could dish out would absolutely destroy a nice family sedan in 24 months. SUV's, even pickups were more comfortable with this load on board and dragging along behind. After the Caprice I drove a series of GM sedans - Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobiles as company cars - and never missed the convenience of a big tailgate and an extended "trunk". The SUV became the gold standard for family trucksters from about 1985 onward.
Then came the fuel cost question. When gas was $1 a gallon, even $1.50, filling up with 40 gallons a week was a little off-putting, but acceptable, but as time went on and prices climbed over $3 to $4 per gallon, pushing that 5K (empty) load down the highway at 14 mpg became cost prohibitive. That's about where we are now. We have shrunk the SUV down to micro-size in an effort to extract some kind of fuel efficiency, but that's only practical if you give up towing and hauling anything but a week's worth of groceries. It may be time for a lighter, more aerodynamic station wagon to return to our roads, offering at least a compromise between a sedan's accommodations and an SUV's built-in costs of operation. If they can recover a tiny bit of my Opel's sporting nature in the bargain, I'm all for it.