The Atlantic Pays Tribute To America's Automobile: The Station Wagon

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

This summer marks two years since my impulse-buy manual Volvo wagon departed in favor of an impulse-buy Miata. I will hopefully make the same mistake again, assuming I can find a nicely maintained (for a change) manual wagon, and I don’t buy a Fiesta ST. Or perhaps, we’ll see the wagon come back into the collective consciousness of American consumers?

Writing in The Atlantic, Charles Moss laments the demise of the American station wagon, taking us through the history of the wagon, its eventual usurping at the hands of the CUV and the lasting influence of its aesthetics on the automotive landscape. Rather than spoiling the article, I’ll direct your attention to the comments section, where numerous Millenial commenters (with families) display their displeasure with the minivan, a vehicle that Moss blames as one of the chief architects of the wagon’s demise. There’s also a smattering of wagon love sprinkled throughout, including the Jetta TDI contingent.

The only missing link in the article? The unintended consequences of CAFE, and how it pushed auto makers to kill off wagons in favor of everyone’s favorite anti-environmental object, the SUV.

Side note: I had no idea Oldsmobile sold a B-Body wagon. It turns out that the Custom Cruiser was never sold in Canada.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Wstarvingteacher Wstarvingteacher on Jul 08, 2014

    5 door 4Runner bought just a few months ago has become IMO the most versatile car I have owned. Actually in a dead heat with a 77 Impala Wagon. A 2 door wagon sits unused because it it is impractical and a gas hog. The thing is that I consider the 4Runner to be an off road capable wagon. Hook up a trailer and it replaces a couple vehicles.

    • Highdesertcat Highdesertcat on Jul 08, 2014

      What I saw a lot of on the road recently was an SUV/CUV with a convertible trailer behind it. (A convertible trailer is a medium size (~4X6) flatbed trailer with fullsize wheels and tires that can be configured as a flatbed, or with sides, or with an enclosed luggage carrier or with a fold-out camping shell.) These convertible trailers must be the newest craze because I sure have seen a number of them. Come to find out, they are sold at places like Harbor Freight, Costco, etc for about $300, as a kit. You assemble them yourself and configure it any way you want by buying the extras for it you want.

  • Mikeg216 Mikeg216 on Jul 08, 2014

    Whaddda ya mean the wagon is dead? Ford is building their best ever, the Ford Flex. Panoramic roof, cooler for water bottles, seating for 7. 5 doors, turbo, it tows and it hauls ass and you can buy it in brown. It's the ultimate wagon.

  • My wife and I still love our 2004 Taurus SEL wagon after 145K miles. For what we paid for it in '04 there is nothing out there that can effectively replace it, as far as a brand-new vehicle is concerned. With the 60's style 3rd row seat it can seat 7 people and it doesn't look like a Venza or a Crosstour, thank gawd.

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