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ASCO, WACALA…
I think this is just another excuse to post a picture of the Accord Euro wagon. Robert must be getting sick of his Odyssey and pining for something a little lower and smaller.
Station wagons are so much better than CUVs.
The TSX is sucking up to me after betraying it’s soul. It’s working…
Why can’t we have this in North America?
re Axel – because when it comes down to people spending actual cash, very few people buy station wagons.
The problem usually involves the (unfortunate) situation where married men have weak influence on a family vehicle purchase. While he can steer (ha pun!) the decision process, if the wifey doesn’t want a wagon then there won’t be a wagon in the garage.
Turns out most (I said most, not all) women hate wagons.
The problem with the last Accord wagon was that the rear wheel wells really ate into the cargo space, rendering it marginally more useful than a hatchback.
Why the link to a German spring manufacturing company?
holydonut : Turns out most (I said most, not all) women hate wagons.
Why is this? “Mommy” stigma? The idea that a potential “attacker” could hide in the cargo space? Or is it just that women prefer wagon-on-stilts CUVs instead, as they provide a false sense of road command and security?
My mom loves wagons because she can easily tell where the end of the vehicle is when parking. My wife loves wagons because she likes to pack lots of stuff on trips but still wants good fuel economy.
Eibach probably makes the lowering springs Robert wants to add to the Honda that you can’t buy.
And count me in for people that would love to buy this wagon. Yes, even in this economy. Even though I live in Detroit. And even though my job may vaporize.
Make mine with an oil burner and the stick, please!
holydonut :
February 17th, 2009 at 10:54 am
because when it comes down to people spending actual cash, very few people buy station wagons.
Then I guess all those Subaru Outbacks I see every day must be rental cars.
I’ll be buying this so long as Honda doesnt make this a CUV! And since I work in the industry – my wife values my opinion and i’ll tell her she gets a wagon – NO CUV. It helps that she hates CUV’s too! She loves wagons!
After an exhaustive survey of women – Ok, my wife, mom, and sister – I’ve ascertained that all North American women perceive driving height as a safety factor.
“I like being able to see what’s ahead of me…” is what I was told.
When I pointed out that this ‘visability’ came at the cost of handling and especially braking I was met with blank stares.
“What I’m trying to tell you that your CUV/SUV induced extra height is going to give you excellent visibility of the car that you will be momentarily plowing into”. Are you familiar with the principle of inertia? More blank stares.
Ok, I’ll start at the beginning. Early civilizations did not understand the concept of zero……. blah, blah, blah, these family trucksters handle like pigs – you’re not any safer.
@Axel: Do “women prefer wagon-on-stilts CUVs instead, [because] they provide a false sense of road command and security?”
That is what my wife said, although she did not use the word “false”. That is why I bought her a RAV4. After 30 years, I have stopped fighting.
The problem with the last Accord wagon was that it carried a significant price premium over the sedan, for no good reason. (Think Camry vs Venza)
It also was not big enough to compete against a minivan as an effective utility vehicle. A wagon is not a direct competitor to a minivan, so the what mommy wants arguments are confusing the issue.
This is not a bad thing. I like wagons, I like this Accord, and I dont have any use for a minivan. My F150 Supercrew gets similar mileage (OK 3-4 mpg less) and hauls more than a minivan, seats 5-6, will tow 10,000# and has rear wheel drive driving dynamics, durability and ease of servicing.
The Accord wagon, on the other hand would be a great step up from the ZX4 Focus that my wife drives and loves, and a more attractive durability and value proposition than the SAAB 9-5 wagon, which is the only real competitor.
‘ZX4 Focus’ … oops, ZX5 (hatch) is what I meant
netrun: And count me in for people that would love to buy this wagon.
If I didn’t already own a Malibu Maxx (a vehicle I absolutely love, despite its boat-like handling) I would be first in line.
@ Robert Schwartz
Damn, you’re picky. I am a good writer, honestly!
Heh. And now editing has mysteriously been turned off right when I forget to close a bold tag :).
I would be all over one of these if they actually came to North America. Will need to replace the current family wagon (02 passat) soon, but with what? The B6 passat is bloated and unreliable. Fuel economy is a priority for us, so the volvo v70 3.2 is pretty unconvincing. The a4 avant is expensive and small. Foresters are practical, but sure don’t look like much fun. A diesel jetta wagon would be a great compromise if it wasn’t hideous looking and unreliable.
Maybe I’ll write Honda a nice letter and they’ll send me one in the mail.
@Axel: I was not picking on your grammar. The sense of security that attracts women to SUVs, CUVs and the like is indeed false.
If it ever makes it to the US, it’ll have an ugly Acura grille slapped on it and be priced $10,000 more than it’s actually worth.
Two stories: My dad has a passant wagon that is coming off lease. Very decent car. He’s had major problems with tire pressure monitors but otherwise is fairly happy with it. My mom, who is very much a limo liberal who doesn’t like SUVs, hates the wagon. On a lark, I suggested the Lexus RX to them — more for the hybrid than anything. They bought it two days later –a number of factors, but my mom LOVED the CUV. My dad liked the heated seats. Not the hybrid — the 350.
Other story, I was stuck behind this little car on the Key Bridge the other day. I could not understand why she was moving so slow. Passing her, I saw a 4.11″ woman, or thereabouts, driving with her hand up to block up the sun. With my height (6′) i hadn’t noticed. When you’re shorter than average, driving height does make a difference — and I’d rather rely on sight-lines than brakes on the highway any-day.
@Robert Schwartz
Ah, gotcha. I thought you were picking on me for using “as” where “because” would have provided a clearer meaning.
I find myself embarrassingly subject to the latest writing fads.
Re Axel & Robert S:
“Writing Fads” What’s that? I don’t think so.
Perhaps a little time with my Freshman English teacher Sister Annunciata would help you understand that fads are just clever ways to try and pass off mistakes.
BTW she also taught Latin – and was good at it too – because she was around back then (probably teaching high school).
I want to buy this in Canada!!!!! C’mon Honda!!!
Nice Saab SportCombi err…I mean honda.
MikeInCanada : Perhaps a little time with my Freshman English teacher Sister Annunciata would help you understand that fads are just clever ways to try and pass off mistakes.
I’d prefer to learn my lesson without stinging the back of my hand. :)
(However, if we do choose to have kids I’m already lobbying to send them to Catholic schools. And we’re Episcopalian.)
Re Axel:
So, I’m in 4th Grade (with a reported fidgeting disorder)doing, well, fidgeting I suppose and Sister Mary Claire (AKA Sister Mary Hermann Göring)took a swipe at my busy hands with a yardstick. She missed, the ruler caught the edge of my desk and broke in two – much to everyone’s amusement. In a huff Sister spun around and left the classroom.
My elation was short lived when she returned moments later with – that’s right – another yard stick and proceeded to whip my ass with it as I had gotten up and started to make a run for it.
After the commotion had died down I had to take a note home (sealed, of course)for the parents. All it said was “Mike owes the school $1 for a replacement ruler”.
Nice car, but I’d miss my CUV the first time I scraped bottom at a campsite or got stuck in 6″ of snow.
That snout only momma can like
Lost opportunities :( for some
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/buildprice?step=2&type=1&modelid=100004
brapoza: Just because you can see some of a particular car on the road hardly means it makes sense to spend the money for Honda to attempt selling a wagon in the USA.
Subaru has spent time building up their butch-wagon feel for decades… what can Honda do to successfully slide their own wagon/car into a market that predominately likes CUVs and SUVs?
Just because you see a few cars hardly means that enough people are going to buy it.
Wagons in the US…
Camry wagon? Dead.
Corolla wagon? Dead.
Mazda6 wagon? Dead.
Audi Allsport Wagon? Dead.
Dodge Magnum? Dead.
Volvo V70? Uhhhhh.
@holydonut:
don’t leave out
Mercedes C-Class wagon (only made it one generation)
Saturn S-Series wagon
Saturn L-Series wagon
Honda Accord wagon
Lexus IS300 Sportback
Ford Focus wagon
Suzuki Forenza wagon
Mercury Tracer wagon
Buick Roadmaster wagon
Peugeot 405 and 505 wagons
All very dead.
@essen :
The problem with the last Accord wagon was that the rear wheel wells really ate into the cargo space, rendering it marginally more useful than a hatchback.
The last Accord wagon didn’t have those problems, it had just a huge flat cargo floor. This new generation is crap, with a much smaller cargo capacity. The electric hatch that used to be standard on the last one is also unavailable in the new one.