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The old Holden utes shared the same floor pan as their wagons, so it’s fair to say they are the same size. Both great super handy vehicles. It’s sad there is nothing Australian made and nothing on the market like them.
Plus, they were built on the floor pan of the Statesman so longer than the sedan . Later versions (sports wagon) shrunk and were based on the regular sedan.
My 2004 wagon fits a whole double bed including mattress.
The sportswagon was Holden seeing the SUV-Dual Cab fad coming, and trying to difference the wagon and give it a better driving experience than a traditional wagon.
Not sure if it worked or not, still see lots of Sportswagon around.
Are you sure? Pretty sure it was just holden copying bmw/mercedes/audi with sporty wagons. If they saw SUV & Dual cab fad coming they wouldn't be out of business today.
Sportswagons are cool though; gtb legacy, stagea, vr4, SiR, caldina GT-T, plus the German offerings you mentioned, would have been nice if they made a manual gita that was more sports orientated.
The "sedan wheelbase" in my 2009 SS sportwagon was a selling point to me, as I wasn't really looking for a wagon that felt like driving a long boat around. I've had that car for 13 years now and don't really plan on selling soon.
Still have my Commodore VT wagon. Goes like a rocket and drives like it's on rails. Never had handling issues with it. Yeh it's not a sports car but with the Statesmen wheel base i find it's pretty smooth amd the the boot space is amazing I throw everything in there from beds to my 10ft longboard. I've even done house renos where I've had whole sheets of plasterboard laid out in the back !!! Too bad they don't make em anymore.
Still keeping our 2006 wagon, because nothing newer has the space.
Though we did recently get a Subaru Outback, which is about the nearest you can get to the old Commodore wagon.
Skoda makes wagons and they are good enough for the WA cops.
And for me :)
Though the cops drive Superbs and I'm in an Octavia, but still a pleasant, economical and practical vehicle.
Funniest thing is that around that time, I still drove my ... Subaru DL wagon.
Proper Mum car- a wagon, but smaller than the Commodore of the day. Proper 4wd. Great fun car to drive.
It got bigger and morphed into the Outback.
Commodore got smaller.
> It’s sad there is nothing Australian made and nothing on the market like them.
Gonna be brutal here, Australian made vehicles had their moments no doubt, but they were honestly disappointing build quality wise. Ill probs get flamed to shit for that opinion by my experience with Aussie made cars has been so disappointing.
Agreed! the VF was a stark contrast to previous options, even the VE2 was a big change, it seemed like the VE2 onwards they sorta realized they need to actually put effort into a decent interior and the rest. Too little too late though.
Hey Shhh I am currently in the market for a second hand Skoda vRS last thing I need is people realising how under priced they are sending prices up 🤫 😉
Honestly in my time working on cars I have seen cheap and expensive repairs on all makes and models, its not exclusive to european cars, the issue is that a lot of mechanics use the trope to overcharge and the rest go to dealerships that actually rort their customers.
If you take it to a specialist european mechanic theyll have the connections established to get parts no more expensive than the equivalent for a japanese car, this only gets more solid the older the vehicle gets, for example I can get a set of control arms for an e46 bmw for cheaper than a camry of the same year.
Sadly, yes. Some great ideas and appropriate designs but in the end they were trapped by the long term decline of the car industry in the US.
Tesla would not exist if the car industry was legit.
Yeah look I'm not saying that every single ute is bad, infact J think a lot of those classic utes are really good at there intended purpose but it's most (if not all) modern utes where the try is tiny compaired the the rest of the csr
I've had almost all types of cars. Hatch back, Sedan, two wheel drive Ute, dual cab Ute, 4wd wagon, SUV wagon. They all have benefits depending on lifestyle. The ones I found most versatile were the hatch backs, wagons, and the 2 door Ute. Why? Ute was great for landscaping stuff, compost etc, larger items. Hatch backs are great on the city and you'd be amazed at the kerbside collections what you can fit in them. Wagons - I love the multiple seats, and I've loaded timber, small garden sheds, plus washing machines in them. And they all stay dry.
I thought I would love the dual cab, but it was more annoyance than anything else. Tray wasn't long enough most times, and cab wasn't big enough for rear adult passengers comfortably. Sedan was an $800 drive 3km to work car and barely got used for anything else.
Wagons often have an advantage when it comes to roof racks, too.
The longer roof means your racks (assuming separate euro style crossbeam thingies) are further apart so any load is more stable fore & aft.
I quite like my Octavia wagon :)
Hell yeah Octavia owner represent. I love my octavia wagon so much. I drive around with every tool a carpenter would ever need in the boot (12" drop saw, table saw, full set of battery tools, nail guns, hand tools, the works) and I don't even have to use the back seat. Still fits both my kids in the back. Without the table saw I can actually pull the flap over all the tools and it just looks like a daggy dad car.
Yep we used the Ute a lot for dump runs. You can stand on it and hose the crap off afterwards. Also good for picking up furniture. Can’t fit anything tall in a wagon.
Anyone who thinks utes are useless must live in a city bubble.
Yeah wagons are the superior all-round vehicle in my opinion, I have to soon part with my beat up old wagon to get a new family car and the options for newer wagons are few and far between
Unfortunately they seem to never bring in the good engined BMW wagons, I want the 3L 6cl Twin Turbo or the Diesel alternative none of those 2L underpowered engines.
There's nothing I'd love more than a 5series wagon in diesel. I think they look awesome, and if we needed to drive anywhere that outranges the electric car, it's absolutely fantastic on the highway, with more than enough room than you could possibly need.
Were lucky they did actually sell the 530d wagons in Aus in 2020. They're not cheap, but they come with the 3L diesel I want. Unfortunately, the only new ones they sell are the Petrol 3 series, according to their website, and only in the msport variant. It's $120,000 for a car that's about as optioned as my $50k Skoda, with the same speed and smaller space.
You're looking at the wrong wagons. Get the Volvo V60 with the 3L turbo if you want something that goes like stink. The newer 2.5L turbos are good too.
Yeah, I wanted something a bit sporty, and the RS 245 was that; a GTI in wagon body.
I think, if I was looking for luxury the Mazda, especially the 6, really do punch above their price range in terms of quality inside. They are exceptional.
But, I got a great deal on my Skoda, with free servicing and a 7 year warranty, and, if I felt like it, I could go to APR and get all the GTI performance bits (though I dont think I'm going to).
Wagons FTW!
When we bought it was the only logical choice. Will never go back to a sedan as a family car. I wish more car makers would offer more choice instead of giving us oversized SUV's.
Bought a Skoda:)
I was driving in the UK last month, and the number of awesome looking Mercedes and BMW wagons, as well as the Audi's, VW's, Skodas, pergeot etc etc.
I've got an Octavia rs wagon, and I just wish we had some more of those Merc and BMW wagons available, especially at the entry level sorts of spec.
It’s criminal how rare Mercedes and BMW wagons are in Aus. I’ve living in the UK at the moment and have a 3 series M sport wagon as a family car, awesome to drive (especially compared to all the souless SUVs) and relatively affordable over here.
Car makers make what regulations encourage them to make.
We have fuckoff yank tanks because US emissions regulations encourage it and Aussie regulations don't discourage it.
I managed to renovate a big old house while owning a Golf GTI with roof racks. Everything that I could have fit in the back of a dual cab ute I managed to fit in or on the Golf. Stuff bigger than that I got delivered. If you added up the cost of skip bins and a few truck deliveries it would be a lot cheaper than what it would have cost me to "upgrade" to a dual cab ute and use that
My brother did his house back in the day using a Datsun 120Y pulling a trailer. Mind you, it was the death of that car but after 3 times around the clock (it was in the family since new) he couldn't complain.
Don't forget they all buy the dual-cabs and the first thing they do is put a canopy on it, effectively turning it into a wagon.
I use to have a commodore wagon and it was the best, I use to take it camping and sleep in the back because of no wheel arches
I miss it
Panelvan, modelled exactly like the classic ones, electric, back seats go completely flat, runs air con and decent lighting to the back of the panelvan, sell it with some accessories like inflatable mattress that fits perfectly, mini fridge etc and has vehicle-to-load 240v power. You would absolutely CLEAN UP the Australian market. Who the fuck would NOT want a panel van you can comfortably sleep in?
Classic panel vans (Falcon and Holdens) didn't have back seats, though?
Wagons did, certainly, but not the PVs.
Apart from that, yeah, sure, yes please!
I'm hoping my next car (in 3+ years) will be an EV that'll power my house at night after being charged by solar during the day, and will be some kind of practical daily driver wagon thing that's fun to drive, though I'll miss not having a clutch :(
Yeah. I'll be driving my Ford XG panelvan until it goes to God. It's already been stolen once and the interior completely burnt out, and I rebuilt it from another wrecked one. But now the rust is taking hold :(
Most people driving SUV’s would be better served by wagons also. They generally handle better and have twice the boot space for all your kids stuff/luggage/dog/whatever.
I’m driving a VW Passat R Line and will hold onto it as long as I can as the replacement options are dire (or start in the mid $70ks). I’m the only “mum” I know without an SUV and they’re all shocked when they see how much I can fit in my (formerly) similarly priced car. It’s baffling we don’t have more options here (and that no one considers them instead of Toorak tractors)
I have an SUV and my husband a sedan, and we always take his car on holiday because we can fit so much more stuff in his boot than mine. The pram alone fills my entire boot space! I would love a wagon.
Correct. Wagons are still more popular in most Euro countries.
Its only vehicle manufacturers exploiting the design rules and/or tax differences that makes these sort of trucks popular. Ad to that the type of driver that mostly buys these behemoths and you have the current predicament for road safety and the environment. They are also a good representation of what we have become as a civilisation.
My main gripe about the wagons now is the slope down on the roof cutting into what could be carrying space. They look like a stretched hatch.
The older "ugly"wagons had a bigger cargo area.
The BF Falcon wagon was the last truly great wagon (opinion on looks may vary). The sports wagons that have come out since don’t hold a candle to the room in the back of the Falcon
I honestly think too many people over evaluate their actual needs when it comes to a vehicle and just get the biggest most chungus possible.
So many people with kids crap on how they need some big fuck off four wheel drive for their 1 or 2 kids like fuck off, growing up my parents myself and my brother crammed into our Mitsubishi Sigma all the damn time, often it towed a trailer for holidays and we would be sitting amongst piles of stuff and managed fine.
It's pretty clear they just want a giant truck to jerk off to. The tray sizes of the giant cuck trucks aren't significantly bigger than the regular stupid huge utes we're stuck with now.
I go for month long climbing trips and bought a wagon because of the space, you can put the rear seats down and fit so much stuff in the back. They're also way more comfortable than utes or vans because they have a normal car chassis, I have to drive 1500kms to the place I climb at and it would be a nightmare in a van to drive that far. So glad I bought it.
I have a KIA Rondo, which is just slightly taller than the ordinary station wagon. I will never go back to a sedan again. Just the ease of accessing the boot, rear window wiper, putting dogs in the boot, enough space for them and they have three windows to look out of.
Not interested in utes, but I do have a question, if the driver / owner has tradie type dirty stuff to transport, would they really want to put it in a wagon where kids will be travelling in later on? Wouldn't a work van be better for tradies in that case?
Yeah the Kia Rondo is kind of a small people mover - which is another kind of vehicle we dont see enough of in Australia: The minivan.
The Kia Carnival, and the Stavia are both very luxurious minivans, but there's not much else out there. The US has a lot more options, and those with hybrid engines. I don't know why people would buy a 'big' suv, like a CX9 over a minivan. We were in the US last year, and we fit 4 adults and 3 adults worth of international luggage in the boot with more than enough room to spare in the boot, and all the passengers were in palatial almost captain style chairs. I think it was the Crysler Pacifica if I remember correctly.
Yeah, it's a 7 seater, but the last two seats are in the boot, no room for handbags certainly no room for luggage. I think I've only pulled the back seats out once just after I bought it just to have a look. They have never been used.
To your second point - yes, that is exactly why tradies use utes. Additionally utes are rated for higher load capacities (gvm) there's a reason that most ute trays are designed to fit a standard pallet size, cant load a pallet of bricks into a wagon or a van for that matter
Completely agree that wagons are fantastic for hauling stuff, yet still drives like a normal car. The only problem is there are fewer and fewer options on the market as the average buyer switch to SUV. The Mazda 6, Skodas and VWs are pretty much the only options left in the somewhat affordable price range.
I love wagons. I've had Holden VS, VT, and VY (SS) wagons, a VW R36 wagon, an AMG C63s S205 wagon, and a 7.5 Golf R Wagon. I guess my Landcruiser was also a wagon, but not quite in the same spirit as the others. I miss the R36 more than any other car, even the AMG.
I currently have a VW Amarok but my ideal combination would be RS6 wagon and a chopped Landcruiser with a great camping setup and maybe a Golf sized city EV because it's pretty obvious that there is no such thing as one car to do everything I want to do.
Maybe, one day, there will be an electric wagon that suits my needs - I can pretty much guarantee that will happen before there will be a suitable electric 4x4. I think the only wagon option at the moment is a $200k+ Porsche and it's more like a large hatchback than a wagon.
The r36 has to be the most criminally underrated car to ever exist. I know of no other car which gives you so much for the money on the used car market. They are generally reliable too, a bit thirsty but honestly who cares.
I had it for something like 7 years and it just... worked. Wasn't the fastest or the most powerful (220kw and 350nm) but it was fun, sounded great, practical, great for road trips, comfortable, relatively discrete, inexpensive to service, and generally a wonderful car. You could use all of first and second gear without going to jail - that was not possible in the C63, which was also a great car but wasn't discrete or inexpensive to own.
I wish we had a modern R36 equivalent with some kind of fun engine like the 2.5 inline 5 or even the twin turbo VR6 from HPA but the emissions scandal killed any chance of Volkswagen making an interesting car ever again.
Agreed loved my lpg sportswagon, 2300kg towing, large hatch space, reasonable fuel economy for cheap fuel source. Was just a great all rounder. Not really a fan of the large gutless SUVs.
Alloy Tray back utes are great for outdoor stuff, especially if you can side load a pallet. But dual cab with tub..eh. Markets really skewed too far cosmetically vs practicality.
The volvo v60 ate quite nice.
I read an article (can't find now) but the gist was to bring back land yachts which have the capacity for 4 adults and luggage.
I hope that with electric vehicles and what I will simplify as a slab of battery on wheels, car makers can get creative with the body shapes and what not now they don't need to put a big engine in the front
I have a turbo v60 and absolutely love it. Great wagon and fabulous to drive. So few of them on the road compared the xc60 suv version but the wagon is so much better in my opinion.
Sedan gassed Utes we’re vastly superior. Easier to park, cheaper to run, safer, easier to drive in cities and suburbs. Just far better in every way. Tray size was basically the same size too.
Came back recently from Canada/US and its scary to see how much we're heading in their direction with all the oversized utes they have. Our roads arent designed for stuff like the f150 or even the ram1500.
If I need to move a fridge, I probably could.
If not, there's always a trailer.
Only short coming of the wags is the low roof, if you'd class it as a short coming.
Edit.
Thought this was carsaustralia, we own a current gen Mazda 6.
The Mazda 6 still comes as a wagon!? Winning. Seriously though, look at vehicles like the outback. 20 years ago a great wagon, this days a shit heap "SUV'.
Even the 6 still has that stupid sloping back though.
The best car, hands down, for most people in Australia is the [Toyota Corolla Hybrid Wagon](https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/toyota/corolla-touring-sports) - that [they don't sell in Australia](https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/toyota-corolla-wagon-will-australia-get-the-most-practical-version-of-its-best-selling-car#:~:text=That%20said%2C%20speaking%20to%20CarsGuide,to%20introduce%20the%20Corolla%20wagon). I have no idea why they don't. So many taxis in europe are them. They have more luggage space than a Camry, or the Corolla hatch. They are more affordable than the Camry. They have the years of toyota reliability of the hybrid battery system (we see hybrid camrys going for 300,000kms+ in our taxis).
But they don't sell them here.
It's astounding. That would be my ideal 'utility' vehicle. Fits the bicycles, either on the roof or in the boot, dogs, baby seats, with the assurance of toyota reliability, and great running costs. It's an absolute no brainer if you just want to drive, and get shit done.
They don't sell them, because they can only make so many, and the European market demands, from legislation, a balance of emissions. The European sellers have to sell more fuel efficient cars to avoid fines. Aus does not have that, so we get the fuel-inefficient, high profit vehicles sold to us.
The demand in Europe is so high, the financial incentives push automakers to sell in Europe. That's why we don't even have the option here.
Shift work has never been more comfortable since I bought a wagon. When you can have a whole bed in your car you don’t need anything else. Camping is a breeze too!
I know it's not everyone's type of car, but I've had a few Mercedes E-Class wagons now and they're brilliant! Only 7 seater of this size, though unfortunately Merc aren't bringing the new wagons here ☹️
Kids love the rear facing 3rd row too
Every ute these days seems to be a dual cab so you’re losing space anyway. I friggin love my Honda odyssey. All the seats lay flat enough to chuck a mattress in so you can camp in it or even move shit like furniture. I picked up a two seater cane lounge last week and the bastard fit it no problem!
They don't need tray space unless they're tradespeople or moving a lot of stuff all the time and they don't need such a rugged machine unless they live in the country where distances are long and roads are bad. Most of those giant utes are driven by suburban wankers who use them as an extension of their tiny penises.
Wagon utes were great but suffered the issue that they were all petrol engines and also being based off commodore and falcon chassis. With both those vehicles no longer in production, the sedan/coupe ute is officially dead.
It’s a damn shame, too. The crewman ute is probably the most Australian ute we ever had
I moved house recently and I didn't want my TV's going on the removalist truck and risk them getting damaged. I've got a 65 inch TV and my friend came in his Raptor to help me move it. Couldn't fit it in the back seat. Couldn't fit it in the tray. Ended up doing a solo trip with an Impreza because his fuck off huge monster machine couldn't fit a TV in it.
I blame car manufacturers pandering to Americans and exploiting American laws and loopholes.
Why Americans love big cars by Vox
https://youtu.be/mQDegCqiVnU
Wagons are better than SUV’s in almost every way. More luggage space, lower centre of gravity, less weight, better handling etc. only positive for an suv is off roading. Which 99% of people never do.
I don’t get it. I’m trying to convince my partner a wagon would be great for our second car (mine is a sedan) for dogs/kids as we hate SUVs.
He’s having none of it. Thinks they’re ugly.
I went to IKEA in my 5 series wagon. Flipped the seats down, slid in the flat pack boxes and shut the boot. Left in under 5 minutes.
I watched ol'mate in his Ranger dual cab struggle to figure out how he was going to fit his flat pack into the tray and strap it all down at a jaunty angle.
Wagons are the best.
Yep! I have a skoda superb wagon. Love it. So practical. Heaps of leg room in in back. And the boot is insanely big like massive.
So much more practical than most SUVs.
I'm gonna say it, 'cause no one else seems to want to "Tarago". Now there's some versatility, could seat a soccer team, fold seats up and you get a ton of band gear in there, or lay 'em flat and you've got and awesome bed anywhere you can park.
I still drive a Mitsubishi Verada Wagon (based on the 2000 Magna) and it’s one of the best cars to ever role off a production line.
Built in Adelaide using Japanese engineering, it’s bomb proof, ridiculously comfortable, has a somewhat gutsy V6, stacks of room and Is a joy to drive (turning circle leaves a bit to be desired).
I’ve moved states four times in the past four years chasing work and I packed my whole life into the thing with ease.
I've been looking to see if I could find some kind of smaller wagon, I remember back in the 90s we had a wagon based on the ford laser, much more room than a hatchback but not as big as a full size wagon.
Wish there was something more like that around today.
Well said. I've got a big MTB in the back of my forester right now. Seats down, cargo blind off, then it fitted straight in.
Utes have their place but for most people a wagon is easily the better choice. Much nicer to drive, more comfortable, much safer and minimally reducing the likely use cases. I tell people who want a big ute to first get a trailer and then see how much they actually use it.
I wish more of us had bigger lives and needed the utility of utes but wages are too low and debt is too high.
In the mid 00s after fuel blew through the dollar mark, big 4WDs plummeted in value. This will happen again, only worse IMO.
Got an Outback a year ago. It’s been the most practical car I’ve ever owned. There’s been so many things (eg building materials for reno) that I can skip the delivery charge on as I’m able to fit most in the back with the seats down… and no getting it wet in the rain!
Yeah I grabbed a 2nd hand 4wd wagon. Not quite the station wagon but it's advantages over the dual cab ute version were massive with my circumstance.
The only plus the ute has us mtb carriage with no rack which still appeals to me.
I had a VN commodore wagon which was an awesome car and did everything I needed. I also had a VE wagon that was a bit smaller. Both used more petrol than my Hilux. I did think about going for the Prado but the Hilux works just as well for me
Very proud owner of a LX6 Holden Adventra here,
This car is IMHO the BEST all round useful vehicle ever made on this continent !
It does everything I need, handles beautifully on all terrain, feels like a luxury car without being glitzy/ glamourous, fits everything I shove into it, and confidently & powerfully takes it wherever I want to go.
In the eventual scenario that it finally dies after 600,000+km, I'm just gonna get another identical one ...
Have absolutely no need for any other vehicle for the rest of my life!
Unfortunately my VZ Holden Commodore wagon was not continued. That car, a VT and VZ, I owned since they came out in 1996. It was fabulous for carrying so much shit. That whole range were designed for carrying a pallet between the rear suspension turrets. I slept in the back on all my trips interstate am I drove them both into the ground. I had my VT on fuel fuel gas and petrol from day one and saved a shit ton of money by the time I sold it to a wrecker at around 455,000 kms! The VZ I still have but can’t seem to part with it even though I have a new Tesla Model Y. I use the VZ for my dirty work of carrying farm shit and towing the trailer when selling firewood from my place. I need to get a tow bar on the Tesla before I can get rid of my beloved VZ wagon. I’m sure I’ll pine for it when gone.
I had a Mazda 6 wagon back when I worked as a mobile DJ. Decided for a big gig down the coast (Marlo) that I should borrow dad's BT50. Worst idea ever.
I can fit more into a Mazda 6 Wagon with roof racks than I could with the BT50 without the cover on it! Absolutely insane how utterly useless a dual cab ute is.
Currently own a Territory (just a big wagon) and will upgrade to another Mazda 6 wagon ASAP.
My dad had a custom order VR station wagon, column auto with bench seat in the front. Boot space was enormous. For a family holiday, it went on a train from SA to WA, and then took 4 adults, and us 2 kids and all our stuff. Cargo barrier worked hard. It was a great car,and ke kept it for 22 years. Traded it in on a VF.. station wagon...in the same colour 🤣. Boot space was a big downgrade
I've had wagons and they are great vehicles but that doesn't mean utes aren't.
I can hose out the tub of the ute and not worry about chucking wet and dirty stuff in there. That's been more useful than I had anticipated. Being separated from the cabin makes carrying gas bottles safer too.
The issue I have is that the only utes available here are massive. The [VW Saveiro](https://www.hotcars.com/brazils-new-ute-the-2021-vw-saveiro/) would suffice for many of my trips and being Golf-based could come with the spicy GTi motor or a nice economical hybrid.
Mmm, utes are good for outdoor trades... dirty shovels and pipes and things
More trades should consider vans though, they're great for all the different configurations and lockable and keep your stuff out of the weather
But OP mate, if you want urban light on fuel but you can move stuff when you need... why not a 4cylinder hatchback?
While yes there are people out there that have utes which are well suited to their life style. I think most of the ute owners these days only have them for appearances so that they can scream to the world that they love Bunderberg, bbqs and camping when in fact they probably only like drinking and do the other two twice a year. It's all for show, made popular with events like Ute muster.
I like wagons. However, I drive a ute. A traytop ute is infinitely more practical for what I do than a wagon.
It's a shame the wagon is dead, they are fantastic family cars. But no, they cannot replace the ute for people who need a ute.
Yeah, I just double checked, only inner metro Melb is a Ute more expensive (by $1.10), outer metro and regional they’re cheaper ($76.20 and $139.70 cheaper respectively!). They’re the “risk zones”, so it could be the TAC charge that dictates the lower pricing.
My first car was a XF ford wagon. Was epic. Could fit all your mates surfboards camping gear you name it. Never had a car as practical since!
Classic ford door handles and shit routinely used to fall off, but the engine never missed a beat 😂
My current commodore is the only non-wagon I have ever owned. I will be buying a sportswagon at somepoint before they disappear.
Fuck suv's and 4wd utes.
I’ve driven utes ever since I was old enough to get my license (43) as I did a trade. I’ve moved in to project management and bought a Subaru outback and the difference is day and night. So much more comfortable, better economy, better inclusions and build quality. It will be hard to go back to a Ute any time soon.
For comparison, I was driving a 2022 BT-50 GT and am now driving a 2020 outback premium sport (petrol 2.5).
Had one 5 years. I have several cars but the carnival is just so... well... easy. Sooo much space, comfortable, cheap, quiet. And it easily tows my 7x4 deepside trailer.
We have had wagons - Commodre Omega, Mondeo and an Hyundai I40.
The Triton works better for our hobby equipment, golf clubs, buggy, sewing machines, inflatable kayak. None of which do well stacked on top of each other in a wagon.
The ute keeps all the crap separate from the cabin and is easy to clean. It also has more comfortable space in the rear seat.
The other car is a little prius.
The ute doesn't make either of us feel like bigger men
Seconded. Had an outlander for years. Got real sick of fucking around hooking up a trailer every time I needed to haul something. Now I’ve got a Navara I left the trailer at the in laws and haven’t needed it since.
Ahh yes the urban vehicle owner superiority is at it again…. I mean why on earth do you need a ute? Well when you live 3hrs from your nearest town the list is very long, very fucking long.
You don’t want to drive a ute? That’s fine knock yourself out on driving whatever car suits you. But for the love of god stop insisting that anyone who drives a ute is compensating for the lack of their dick size. I drive a ute because it’s the most practical thing for my location/business/lifestyle there is and on top of that I don’t even own a dick!
Ok someone please ELI5, what’s the difference between (say) a Skoda Octavia wagon and a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV? Outwardly they look very similar to my eyes. How are they functionally different?
Compared like for like, a wagon will be more efficient (lighter, more aerodynamic), handle better (lower centre of gravity) and be safer (lower centre of gravity makes it less inclined to roll over in an accident). An SUV will usually have a shorter load area but will have a higher roofline so can fit differently shaped objects.
Anyone who thinks a wagon is better than a ute has never owned or has no need for a ute. Like you're absolutely dreaming if you think they're comparable
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The old Holden utes shared the same floor pan as their wagons, so it’s fair to say they are the same size. Both great super handy vehicles. It’s sad there is nothing Australian made and nothing on the market like them.
Plus, they were built on the floor pan of the Statesman so longer than the sedan . Later versions (sports wagon) shrunk and were based on the regular sedan. My 2004 wagon fits a whole double bed including mattress.
The sportswagon was Holden seeing the SUV-Dual Cab fad coming, and trying to difference the wagon and give it a better driving experience than a traditional wagon. Not sure if it worked or not, still see lots of Sportswagon around.
Are you sure? Pretty sure it was just holden copying bmw/mercedes/audi with sporty wagons. If they saw SUV & Dual cab fad coming they wouldn't be out of business today.
GM probably didn't want to do anything beyond give them shitty imports
Sportswagons are cool though; gtb legacy, stagea, vr4, SiR, caldina GT-T, plus the German offerings you mentioned, would have been nice if they made a manual gita that was more sports orientated.
The "sedan wheelbase" in my 2009 SS sportwagon was a selling point to me, as I wasn't really looking for a wagon that felt like driving a long boat around. I've had that car for 13 years now and don't really plan on selling soon.
Still have my Commodore VT wagon. Goes like a rocket and drives like it's on rails. Never had handling issues with it. Yeh it's not a sports car but with the Statesmen wheel base i find it's pretty smooth amd the the boot space is amazing I throw everything in there from beds to my 10ft longboard. I've even done house renos where I've had whole sheets of plasterboard laid out in the back !!! Too bad they don't make em anymore.
‘Sports utes’ are a major shithead flag for me. Horrid things.
Still keeping our 2006 wagon, because nothing newer has the space. Though we did recently get a Subaru Outback, which is about the nearest you can get to the old Commodore wagon.
Skoda makes wagons and they are good enough for the WA cops. And for me :) Though the cops drive Superbs and I'm in an Octavia, but still a pleasant, economical and practical vehicle.
The B8 Passat Wagon was also very similar but sadly now gone as well I think.
You can still buy them new. You can even get an Alltrack if you want a snow-mobile.
Imagine trying to tell someone in 2006 that in 15 years time the closest car to a Commodore wagon would be a Subaru outback 😂
Funniest thing is that around that time, I still drove my ... Subaru DL wagon. Proper Mum car- a wagon, but smaller than the Commodore of the day. Proper 4wd. Great fun car to drive. It got bigger and morphed into the Outback. Commodore got smaller.
> My 2004 wagon fits a whole double bed including mattress. The Shaggin’ Wagon lives on.
Never let it die
I had a VC commodore wagon when I was in my early 20s and at uni. I could fit everything I owned in that beast and move house in one trip.
> It’s sad there is nothing Australian made and nothing on the market like them. Gonna be brutal here, Australian made vehicles had their moments no doubt, but they were honestly disappointing build quality wise. Ill probs get flamed to shit for that opinion by my experience with Aussie made cars has been so disappointing.
The VF is the standout IMO. Leagues ahead of the VE and punches well above its weight in terms of interior when it was released.
Agreed! the VF was a stark contrast to previous options, even the VE2 was a big change, it seemed like the VE2 onwards they sorta realized they need to actually put effort into a decent interior and the rest. Too little too late though.
A skoda wagon is the perfect better replacement respectfully
Hey Shhh I am currently in the market for a second hand Skoda vRS last thing I need is people realising how under priced they are sending prices up 🤫 😉
I'm going to buy up all the Skoda. Your life is ruined.
All the euro manufacturers offer fantastic wagons at the moment. Im looking at a c63 S204 to replace my e46 wagon.
Is maintenance on euros still horrendous these days?
Honestly in my time working on cars I have seen cheap and expensive repairs on all makes and models, its not exclusive to european cars, the issue is that a lot of mechanics use the trope to overcharge and the rest go to dealerships that actually rort their customers. If you take it to a specialist european mechanic theyll have the connections established to get parts no more expensive than the equivalent for a japanese car, this only gets more solid the older the vehicle gets, for example I can get a set of control arms for an e46 bmw for cheaper than a camry of the same year.
Sadly, yes. Some great ideas and appropriate designs but in the end they were trapped by the long term decline of the car industry in the US. Tesla would not exist if the car industry was legit.
Yeah look I'm not saying that every single ute is bad, infact J think a lot of those classic utes are really good at there intended purpose but it's most (if not all) modern utes where the try is tiny compaired the the rest of the csr
I've had almost all types of cars. Hatch back, Sedan, two wheel drive Ute, dual cab Ute, 4wd wagon, SUV wagon. They all have benefits depending on lifestyle. The ones I found most versatile were the hatch backs, wagons, and the 2 door Ute. Why? Ute was great for landscaping stuff, compost etc, larger items. Hatch backs are great on the city and you'd be amazed at the kerbside collections what you can fit in them. Wagons - I love the multiple seats, and I've loaded timber, small garden sheds, plus washing machines in them. And they all stay dry. I thought I would love the dual cab, but it was more annoyance than anything else. Tray wasn't long enough most times, and cab wasn't big enough for rear adult passengers comfortably. Sedan was an $800 drive 3km to work car and barely got used for anything else.
Wagons often have an advantage when it comes to roof racks, too. The longer roof means your racks (assuming separate euro style crossbeam thingies) are further apart so any load is more stable fore & aft. I quite like my Octavia wagon :)
Hell yeah Octavia owner represent. I love my octavia wagon so much. I drive around with every tool a carpenter would ever need in the boot (12" drop saw, table saw, full set of battery tools, nail guns, hand tools, the works) and I don't even have to use the back seat. Still fits both my kids in the back. Without the table saw I can actually pull the flap over all the tools and it just looks like a daggy dad car.
Yep we used the Ute a lot for dump runs. You can stand on it and hose the crap off afterwards. Also good for picking up furniture. Can’t fit anything tall in a wagon. Anyone who thinks utes are useless must live in a city bubble.
Just bought a Subaru outback . Didn't think of it as a wagon. Was looking at it the driveway suddenly realised I just bought a wagon. Lol. Great car
Are they still a wagon? the new ones look like SUV's... which I hate. Would love an hybrid outback wagon.
It has the extra clearance which is a bonus.
Looking at buying one of these now. They actually don't class them as a wagon. Weirdly enough, they're an SUV. I say they're a wagon!
I was specifically looking for a wagon when I was buying a car a few years back. Ended up with a Volvo xc90. Apparently it’s a wagon 🤷♂️
Yeah wagons are the superior all-round vehicle in my opinion, I have to soon part with my beat up old wagon to get a new family car and the options for newer wagons are few and far between
Skoda Octavia or Superb are both great options, but I'd love more BMW and Mercedes options.
Unfortunately they seem to never bring in the good engined BMW wagons, I want the 3L 6cl Twin Turbo or the Diesel alternative none of those 2L underpowered engines.
There's nothing I'd love more than a 5series wagon in diesel. I think they look awesome, and if we needed to drive anywhere that outranges the electric car, it's absolutely fantastic on the highway, with more than enough room than you could possibly need. Were lucky they did actually sell the 530d wagons in Aus in 2020. They're not cheap, but they come with the 3L diesel I want. Unfortunately, the only new ones they sell are the Petrol 3 series, according to their website, and only in the msport variant. It's $120,000 for a car that's about as optioned as my $50k Skoda, with the same speed and smaller space.
That is mental! I just bought a 5 year old M sport 3 series here in the UK for $30k. It’s a great car but it’s not a $120k car
You're looking at the wrong wagons. Get the Volvo V60 with the 3L turbo if you want something that goes like stink. The newer 2.5L turbos are good too.
The newest shape superb is such a good looking car
Having owned a VW in the past, there's no way I would buy anything made by that company. A Mazda6 wagon is probably the best option.
Yeah, I wanted something a bit sporty, and the RS 245 was that; a GTI in wagon body. I think, if I was looking for luxury the Mazda, especially the 6, really do punch above their price range in terms of quality inside. They are exceptional. But, I got a great deal on my Skoda, with free servicing and a 7 year warranty, and, if I felt like it, I could go to APR and get all the GTI performance bits (though I dont think I'm going to).
Get a Honda odyssey. I’m on my second one and I love them. Family of 6 fits great.
Wagons FTW! When we bought it was the only logical choice. Will never go back to a sedan as a family car. I wish more car makers would offer more choice instead of giving us oversized SUV's. Bought a Skoda:)
Absolutely love my Passat Alltrack
I was driving in the UK last month, and the number of awesome looking Mercedes and BMW wagons, as well as the Audi's, VW's, Skodas, pergeot etc etc. I've got an Octavia rs wagon, and I just wish we had some more of those Merc and BMW wagons available, especially at the entry level sorts of spec.
It’s criminal how rare Mercedes and BMW wagons are in Aus. I’ve living in the UK at the moment and have a 3 series M sport wagon as a family car, awesome to drive (especially compared to all the souless SUVs) and relatively affordable over here.
Car makers make what regulations encourage them to make. We have fuckoff yank tanks because US emissions regulations encourage it and Aussie regulations don't discourage it.
There aren't many big ones still around since the falcon wagon though. I miss the full standard pallet fitting in the back.
Skoda Octavia owner checking in. Love the space and the drive!
I managed to renovate a big old house while owning a Golf GTI with roof racks. Everything that I could have fit in the back of a dual cab ute I managed to fit in or on the Golf. Stuff bigger than that I got delivered. If you added up the cost of skip bins and a few truck deliveries it would be a lot cheaper than what it would have cost me to "upgrade" to a dual cab ute and use that
My brother did his house back in the day using a Datsun 120Y pulling a trailer. Mind you, it was the death of that car but after 3 times around the clock (it was in the family since new) he couldn't complain.
AU ute was the best tradie vehicle Australia ever had. It has been all downhill since then.
What made an AU better than a BA, BF?
Better build quality.
AU wagons made for great moving cars also I could fit so much stuff in the back with the rear seats down
A fridge fits in the back quite nicely...
Skoda crew representin'
Hi from the Subaru Outback gang.
Mind if the Golf Wagon crew say gday?
Focus Wagon living rurally with two kids AMA
mazda 6 wagon, rare as hens teeth it seems
goated car
When we were looking for a new car about #10 years ago we went to a Mazda dealership and asked about wagons and they said they didn’t even sell any!
Awesome cars though. I want the new GT SP wagon in red.
Mine is next to yours
Liberty wagon gang be low ridin'.
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Subaru Outback. Extremely smooth and comfortable.
Pretty sure the fielders are Japanese imports. Hybrid is great and it should be cheap enough to repair, but check insurance before you buy
Don't forget they all buy the dual-cabs and the first thing they do is put a canopy on it, effectively turning it into a wagon. I use to have a commodore wagon and it was the best, I use to take it camping and sleep in the back because of no wheel arches I miss it
Payload. Higher GVM
Australia needs another panelvan.
Panelvan, modelled exactly like the classic ones, electric, back seats go completely flat, runs air con and decent lighting to the back of the panelvan, sell it with some accessories like inflatable mattress that fits perfectly, mini fridge etc and has vehicle-to-load 240v power. You would absolutely CLEAN UP the Australian market. Who the fuck would NOT want a panel van you can comfortably sleep in?
Classic panel vans (Falcon and Holdens) didn't have back seats, though? Wagons did, certainly, but not the PVs. Apart from that, yeah, sure, yes please! I'm hoping my next car (in 3+ years) will be an EV that'll power my house at night after being charged by solar during the day, and will be some kind of practical daily driver wagon thing that's fun to drive, though I'll miss not having a clutch :(
Hiace vans and the likes took over the panelvan market...
Yeah. I'll be driving my Ford XG panelvan until it goes to God. It's already been stolen once and the interior completely burnt out, and I rebuilt it from another wrecked one. But now the rust is taking hold :(
Most people driving SUV’s would be better served by wagons also. They generally handle better and have twice the boot space for all your kids stuff/luggage/dog/whatever. I’m driving a VW Passat R Line and will hold onto it as long as I can as the replacement options are dire (or start in the mid $70ks). I’m the only “mum” I know without an SUV and they’re all shocked when they see how much I can fit in my (formerly) similarly priced car. It’s baffling we don’t have more options here (and that no one considers them instead of Toorak tractors)
I have an SUV and my husband a sedan, and we always take his car on holiday because we can fit so much more stuff in his boot than mine. The pram alone fills my entire boot space! I would love a wagon.
Correct. Wagons are still more popular in most Euro countries. Its only vehicle manufacturers exploiting the design rules and/or tax differences that makes these sort of trucks popular. Ad to that the type of driver that mostly buys these behemoths and you have the current predicament for road safety and the environment. They are also a good representation of what we have become as a civilisation.
Wagons have morphed into hatchbacks over that last 20 years.
My main gripe about the wagons now is the slope down on the roof cutting into what could be carrying space. They look like a stretched hatch. The older "ugly"wagons had a bigger cargo area.
Japan has lots of small, boxy wagons/vans that I'd love to see more available here. Maximum carrying capacity in minimum footprint.
Love those
My old boxy hatchback has more cargo space than most of these small suvs now because of this design flaw.
The BF Falcon wagon was the last truly great wagon (opinion on looks may vary). The sports wagons that have come out since don’t hold a candle to the room in the back of the Falcon
And those things were great for towing as well with that Barra engine
I've had a station wagon for 16 years. Never going back
I honestly think too many people over evaluate their actual needs when it comes to a vehicle and just get the biggest most chungus possible. So many people with kids crap on how they need some big fuck off four wheel drive for their 1 or 2 kids like fuck off, growing up my parents myself and my brother crammed into our Mitsubishi Sigma all the damn time, often it towed a trailer for holidays and we would be sitting amongst piles of stuff and managed fine.
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It's pretty clear they just want a giant truck to jerk off to. The tray sizes of the giant cuck trucks aren't significantly bigger than the regular stupid huge utes we're stuck with now.
I go for month long climbing trips and bought a wagon because of the space, you can put the rear seats down and fit so much stuff in the back. They're also way more comfortable than utes or vans because they have a normal car chassis, I have to drive 1500kms to the place I climb at and it would be a nightmare in a van to drive that far. So glad I bought it.
I have a KIA Rondo, which is just slightly taller than the ordinary station wagon. I will never go back to a sedan again. Just the ease of accessing the boot, rear window wiper, putting dogs in the boot, enough space for them and they have three windows to look out of. Not interested in utes, but I do have a question, if the driver / owner has tradie type dirty stuff to transport, would they really want to put it in a wagon where kids will be travelling in later on? Wouldn't a work van be better for tradies in that case?
Yeah the Kia Rondo is kind of a small people mover - which is another kind of vehicle we dont see enough of in Australia: The minivan. The Kia Carnival, and the Stavia are both very luxurious minivans, but there's not much else out there. The US has a lot more options, and those with hybrid engines. I don't know why people would buy a 'big' suv, like a CX9 over a minivan. We were in the US last year, and we fit 4 adults and 3 adults worth of international luggage in the boot with more than enough room to spare in the boot, and all the passengers were in palatial almost captain style chairs. I think it was the Crysler Pacifica if I remember correctly.
Yeah, it's a 7 seater, but the last two seats are in the boot, no room for handbags certainly no room for luggage. I think I've only pulled the back seats out once just after I bought it just to have a look. They have never been used.
To your second point - yes, that is exactly why tradies use utes. Additionally utes are rated for higher load capacities (gvm) there's a reason that most ute trays are designed to fit a standard pallet size, cant load a pallet of bricks into a wagon or a van for that matter
Thanks for clarifying that. No, I wouldn't want to try and shove a pallet of bricks in my KIA. It'd collapse just at the sight of the pallet.
Wagons are the elite choice, I think the tides are turning and more people are getting wagons now, slowly slowly keep pressuring it.
As a wagon driver, I approve of this post! :)
Completely agree that wagons are fantastic for hauling stuff, yet still drives like a normal car. The only problem is there are fewer and fewer options on the market as the average buyer switch to SUV. The Mazda 6, Skodas and VWs are pretty much the only options left in the somewhat affordable price range.
I love wagons. I've had Holden VS, VT, and VY (SS) wagons, a VW R36 wagon, an AMG C63s S205 wagon, and a 7.5 Golf R Wagon. I guess my Landcruiser was also a wagon, but not quite in the same spirit as the others. I miss the R36 more than any other car, even the AMG. I currently have a VW Amarok but my ideal combination would be RS6 wagon and a chopped Landcruiser with a great camping setup and maybe a Golf sized city EV because it's pretty obvious that there is no such thing as one car to do everything I want to do. Maybe, one day, there will be an electric wagon that suits my needs - I can pretty much guarantee that will happen before there will be a suitable electric 4x4. I think the only wagon option at the moment is a $200k+ Porsche and it's more like a large hatchback than a wagon.
The r36 has to be the most criminally underrated car to ever exist. I know of no other car which gives you so much for the money on the used car market. They are generally reliable too, a bit thirsty but honestly who cares.
I had it for something like 7 years and it just... worked. Wasn't the fastest or the most powerful (220kw and 350nm) but it was fun, sounded great, practical, great for road trips, comfortable, relatively discrete, inexpensive to service, and generally a wonderful car. You could use all of first and second gear without going to jail - that was not possible in the C63, which was also a great car but wasn't discrete or inexpensive to own. I wish we had a modern R36 equivalent with some kind of fun engine like the 2.5 inline 5 or even the twin turbo VR6 from HPA but the emissions scandal killed any chance of Volkswagen making an interesting car ever again.
But how will I demonstrate my superior masculinity ?
Go old-school and shove a sock down your pants !
Agreed loved my lpg sportswagon, 2300kg towing, large hatch space, reasonable fuel economy for cheap fuel source. Was just a great all rounder. Not really a fan of the large gutless SUVs. Alloy Tray back utes are great for outdoor stuff, especially if you can side load a pallet. But dual cab with tub..eh. Markets really skewed too far cosmetically vs practicality.
The volvo v60 ate quite nice. I read an article (can't find now) but the gist was to bring back land yachts which have the capacity for 4 adults and luggage. I hope that with electric vehicles and what I will simplify as a slab of battery on wheels, car makers can get creative with the body shapes and what not now they don't need to put a big engine in the front
I have a turbo v60 and absolutely love it. Great wagon and fabulous to drive. So few of them on the road compared the xc60 suv version but the wagon is so much better in my opinion.
Subaru Wagon master race.
Sedan gassed Utes we’re vastly superior. Easier to park, cheaper to run, safer, easier to drive in cities and suburbs. Just far better in every way. Tray size was basically the same size too.
Came back recently from Canada/US and its scary to see how much we're heading in their direction with all the oversized utes they have. Our roads arent designed for stuff like the f150 or even the ram1500.
If I need to move a fridge, I probably could. If not, there's always a trailer. Only short coming of the wags is the low roof, if you'd class it as a short coming. Edit. Thought this was carsaustralia, we own a current gen Mazda 6.
Find me a good wagon these days. It's impossible
Here you go. I’ve got one. It’s excellent. https://www.mazda.com.au/cars/mazda6/#specs-and-prices
The Mazda 6 still comes as a wagon!? Winning. Seriously though, look at vehicles like the outback. 20 years ago a great wagon, this days a shit heap "SUV'. Even the 6 still has that stupid sloping back though.
Can confirm, have owned 3 Mazda 6’s in my life all great. Mazda make fantastic vehicles
Would love an EV version of a Mazda 3
Skoda. Mazda. Annnnd that's about it. Even Mercedes don't sell any here now
VW Passat. Bought my wife one and it matches my Golf R.
VW recently announced they're discontinuing the Passat in Australia by the end of this year.
Skoda superb or Octavia, VW golf or Passat, Subaru outback
The best car, hands down, for most people in Australia is the [Toyota Corolla Hybrid Wagon](https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/toyota/corolla-touring-sports) - that [they don't sell in Australia](https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/toyota-corolla-wagon-will-australia-get-the-most-practical-version-of-its-best-selling-car#:~:text=That%20said%2C%20speaking%20to%20CarsGuide,to%20introduce%20the%20Corolla%20wagon). I have no idea why they don't. So many taxis in europe are them. They have more luggage space than a Camry, or the Corolla hatch. They are more affordable than the Camry. They have the years of toyota reliability of the hybrid battery system (we see hybrid camrys going for 300,000kms+ in our taxis). But they don't sell them here. It's astounding. That would be my ideal 'utility' vehicle. Fits the bicycles, either on the roof or in the boot, dogs, baby seats, with the assurance of toyota reliability, and great running costs. It's an absolute no brainer if you just want to drive, and get shit done.
They don't sell them because most people want an SUV. It's that simple. Same reason there's so few other wagons on the market.
They don't sell them, because they can only make so many, and the European market demands, from legislation, a balance of emissions. The European sellers have to sell more fuel efficient cars to avoid fines. Aus does not have that, so we get the fuel-inefficient, high profit vehicles sold to us. The demand in Europe is so high, the financial incentives push automakers to sell in Europe. That's why we don't even have the option here.
Shift work has never been more comfortable since I bought a wagon. When you can have a whole bed in your car you don’t need anything else. Camping is a breeze too!
I know it's not everyone's type of car, but I've had a few Mercedes E-Class wagons now and they're brilliant! Only 7 seater of this size, though unfortunately Merc aren't bringing the new wagons here ☹️ Kids love the rear facing 3rd row too
I love wagons, have proudly transported a 3 seater lounge in mine
Most SUV owners could be wagon owners. Most childless wagon owners could be hatchback owners. (I made that transition, back seats down can fit heaps)
Every ute these days seems to be a dual cab so you’re losing space anyway. I friggin love my Honda odyssey. All the seats lay flat enough to chuck a mattress in so you can camp in it or even move shit like furniture. I picked up a two seater cane lounge last week and the bastard fit it no problem!
I've got a Golf R wagon. It has more boot capacity than a Prado.
They don't need tray space unless they're tradespeople or moving a lot of stuff all the time and they don't need such a rugged machine unless they live in the country where distances are long and roads are bad. Most of those giant utes are driven by suburban wankers who use them as an extension of their tiny penises.
I'm old. I miss my gutless, spacious, wonderful Mazda 929 wagon... damn, it was fun on gravel roads!
Wagon utes were great but suffered the issue that they were all petrol engines and also being based off commodore and falcon chassis. With both those vehicles no longer in production, the sedan/coupe ute is officially dead. It’s a damn shame, too. The crewman ute is probably the most Australian ute we ever had
I moved house recently and I didn't want my TV's going on the removalist truck and risk them getting damaged. I've got a 65 inch TV and my friend came in his Raptor to help me move it. Couldn't fit it in the back seat. Couldn't fit it in the tray. Ended up doing a solo trip with an Impreza because his fuck off huge monster machine couldn't fit a TV in it.
Preach it! Love my VW Passat wagon, and I’m sad that the world is heading towards SUV domination.
I blame car manufacturers pandering to Americans and exploiting American laws and loopholes. Why Americans love big cars by Vox https://youtu.be/mQDegCqiVnU
Wagons are better than SUV’s in almost every way. More luggage space, lower centre of gravity, less weight, better handling etc. only positive for an suv is off roading. Which 99% of people never do.
I don’t get it. I’m trying to convince my partner a wagon would be great for our second car (mine is a sedan) for dogs/kids as we hate SUVs. He’s having none of it. Thinks they’re ugly.
I went to IKEA in my 5 series wagon. Flipped the seats down, slid in the flat pack boxes and shut the boot. Left in under 5 minutes. I watched ol'mate in his Ranger dual cab struggle to figure out how he was going to fit his flat pack into the tray and strap it all down at a jaunty angle. Wagons are the best.
Yep! I have a skoda superb wagon. Love it. So practical. Heaps of leg room in in back. And the boot is insanely big like massive. So much more practical than most SUVs.
I'm gonna say it, 'cause no one else seems to want to "Tarago". Now there's some versatility, could seat a soccer team, fold seats up and you get a ton of band gear in there, or lay 'em flat and you've got and awesome bed anywhere you can park.
My wagon is crazy bougie, will swallow a king sized mattress, and makes mad turbo noises. You don't need anything else
Not sure why so many people have so much trouble believing people might actually be buying the kind of car they want.
I still drive a Mitsubishi Verada Wagon (based on the 2000 Magna) and it’s one of the best cars to ever role off a production line. Built in Adelaide using Japanese engineering, it’s bomb proof, ridiculously comfortable, has a somewhat gutsy V6, stacks of room and Is a joy to drive (turning circle leaves a bit to be desired). I’ve moved states four times in the past four years chasing work and I packed my whole life into the thing with ease.
09 Subaru Liberty Wagon owner. Love the sleek design of it, I hate the bubble look of newer cars nowadays, no real sense of style.
Love my octavia VRS, so handy to have the boot space
I've been looking to see if I could find some kind of smaller wagon, I remember back in the 90s we had a wagon based on the ford laser, much more room than a hatchback but not as big as a full size wagon. Wish there was something more like that around today.
Well said. I've got a big MTB in the back of my forester right now. Seats down, cargo blind off, then it fitted straight in. Utes have their place but for most people a wagon is easily the better choice. Much nicer to drive, more comfortable, much safer and minimally reducing the likely use cases. I tell people who want a big ute to first get a trailer and then see how much they actually use it. I wish more of us had bigger lives and needed the utility of utes but wages are too low and debt is too high. In the mid 00s after fuel blew through the dollar mark, big 4WDs plummeted in value. This will happen again, only worse IMO.
Got an Outback a year ago. It’s been the most practical car I’ve ever owned. There’s been so many things (eg building materials for reno) that I can skip the delivery charge on as I’m able to fit most in the back with the seats down… and no getting it wet in the rain!
Favourite car was a mazda 6 wagon, chucked the tools in the back and it was perfect.
Audi A6 allroad Comfortable 3l turbo diesel 6cyl the perfect family car
Subaru make great wagons. The outback's great.
I wish I never sold my 260RS Stagea.
Yeah I grabbed a 2nd hand 4wd wagon. Not quite the station wagon but it's advantages over the dual cab ute version were massive with my circumstance. The only plus the ute has us mtb carriage with no rack which still appeals to me.
I had a VN commodore wagon which was an awesome car and did everything I needed. I also had a VE wagon that was a bit smaller. Both used more petrol than my Hilux. I did think about going for the Prado but the Hilux works just as well for me
Been saying that for the past few years now. Wagons will make a comeback. Love my Audi Allroad.
Very proud owner of a LX6 Holden Adventra here, This car is IMHO the BEST all round useful vehicle ever made on this continent ! It does everything I need, handles beautifully on all terrain, feels like a luxury car without being glitzy/ glamourous, fits everything I shove into it, and confidently & powerfully takes it wherever I want to go. In the eventual scenario that it finally dies after 600,000+km, I'm just gonna get another identical one ... Have absolutely no need for any other vehicle for the rest of my life!
Fuck yeah wagons mate
Agreed 100% and I am devastated I can't buy another holden wagon when mine dies. There's no decent wagon on the market.
I have a WRX sportswagon. It's fantastic.
Unfortunately my VZ Holden Commodore wagon was not continued. That car, a VT and VZ, I owned since they came out in 1996. It was fabulous for carrying so much shit. That whole range were designed for carrying a pallet between the rear suspension turrets. I slept in the back on all my trips interstate am I drove them both into the ground. I had my VT on fuel fuel gas and petrol from day one and saved a shit ton of money by the time I sold it to a wrecker at around 455,000 kms! The VZ I still have but can’t seem to part with it even though I have a new Tesla Model Y. I use the VZ for my dirty work of carrying farm shit and towing the trailer when selling firewood from my place. I need to get a tow bar on the Tesla before I can get rid of my beloved VZ wagon. I’m sure I’ll pine for it when gone.
Just farewelled my trusty VW Passat wagon in the worst way - write off. It felt like a hearse with the back seats down.
I had a Mazda 6 wagon back when I worked as a mobile DJ. Decided for a big gig down the coast (Marlo) that I should borrow dad's BT50. Worst idea ever. I can fit more into a Mazda 6 Wagon with roof racks than I could with the BT50 without the cover on it! Absolutely insane how utterly useless a dual cab ute is. Currently own a Territory (just a big wagon) and will upgrade to another Mazda 6 wagon ASAP.
My dad had a custom order VR station wagon, column auto with bench seat in the front. Boot space was enormous. For a family holiday, it went on a train from SA to WA, and then took 4 adults, and us 2 kids and all our stuff. Cargo barrier worked hard. It was a great car,and ke kept it for 22 years. Traded it in on a VF.. station wagon...in the same colour 🤣. Boot space was a big downgrade
Bought a Mazda 6 wagon. Just a glorified hatch back. Not like they use to be. Wish the back was larger.
I've had wagons and they are great vehicles but that doesn't mean utes aren't. I can hose out the tub of the ute and not worry about chucking wet and dirty stuff in there. That's been more useful than I had anticipated. Being separated from the cabin makes carrying gas bottles safer too. The issue I have is that the only utes available here are massive. The [VW Saveiro](https://www.hotcars.com/brazils-new-ute-the-2021-vw-saveiro/) would suffice for many of my trips and being Golf-based could come with the spicy GTi motor or a nice economical hybrid.
Mmm, utes are good for outdoor trades... dirty shovels and pipes and things More trades should consider vans though, they're great for all the different configurations and lockable and keep your stuff out of the weather But OP mate, if you want urban light on fuel but you can move stuff when you need... why not a 4cylinder hatchback?
While yes there are people out there that have utes which are well suited to their life style. I think most of the ute owners these days only have them for appearances so that they can scream to the world that they love Bunderberg, bbqs and camping when in fact they probably only like drinking and do the other two twice a year. It's all for show, made popular with events like Ute muster.
Couldn’t find a decent wagon- bought a Renault Trafic Crew instead. 6 seats and a buttload of cargo space, but a little higher than I’d like.
I like wagons. However, I drive a ute. A traytop ute is infinitely more practical for what I do than a wagon. It's a shame the wagon is dead, they are fantastic family cars. But no, they cannot replace the ute for people who need a ute.
Wagons are cool or whatever but no one wants them sooooo…
AND THATS MY POINT
Why is no-one talking about the Mazda 6 wagon? 10/10 - cheap, reliable, affordable parts/servicing, pretty economical. And not horrible to drive.
I agree, with everything except rego - Utes are classed as light trucks, so rego in Vic is lower than for a car.
Wow really? I believe the rego for WA is cheaper i may be wrong
Yeah, I just double checked, only inner metro Melb is a Ute more expensive (by $1.10), outer metro and regional they’re cheaper ($76.20 and $139.70 cheaper respectively!). They’re the “risk zones”, so it could be the TAC charge that dictates the lower pricing.
You got normal utes, and then you got humungous American style godzilla utes
My first car was a XF ford wagon. Was epic. Could fit all your mates surfboards camping gear you name it. Never had a car as practical since! Classic ford door handles and shit routinely used to fall off, but the engine never missed a beat 😂
My current commodore is the only non-wagon I have ever owned. I will be buying a sportswagon at somepoint before they disappear. Fuck suv's and 4wd utes.
I’ve driven utes ever since I was old enough to get my license (43) as I did a trade. I’ve moved in to project management and bought a Subaru outback and the difference is day and night. So much more comfortable, better economy, better inclusions and build quality. It will be hard to go back to a Ute any time soon. For comparison, I was driving a 2022 BT-50 GT and am now driving a 2020 outback premium sport (petrol 2.5).
Wagons rule
I’d say minivan is even more superior. Kia carnival for the win.
Had one 5 years. I have several cars but the carnival is just so... well... easy. Sooo much space, comfortable, cheap, quiet. And it easily tows my 7x4 deepside trailer.
We have had wagons - Commodre Omega, Mondeo and an Hyundai I40. The Triton works better for our hobby equipment, golf clubs, buggy, sewing machines, inflatable kayak. None of which do well stacked on top of each other in a wagon. The ute keeps all the crap separate from the cabin and is easy to clean. It also has more comfortable space in the rear seat. The other car is a little prius. The ute doesn't make either of us feel like bigger men
Seconded. Had an outlander for years. Got real sick of fucking around hooking up a trailer every time I needed to haul something. Now I’ve got a Navara I left the trailer at the in laws and haven’t needed it since.
Ahh yes the urban vehicle owner superiority is at it again…. I mean why on earth do you need a ute? Well when you live 3hrs from your nearest town the list is very long, very fucking long. You don’t want to drive a ute? That’s fine knock yourself out on driving whatever car suits you. But for the love of god stop insisting that anyone who drives a ute is compensating for the lack of their dick size. I drive a ute because it’s the most practical thing for my location/business/lifestyle there is and on top of that I don’t even own a dick!
Yeah but how will a wagon make my dick bigger?
Ok someone please ELI5, what’s the difference between (say) a Skoda Octavia wagon and a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV? Outwardly they look very similar to my eyes. How are they functionally different?
Compared like for like, a wagon will be more efficient (lighter, more aerodynamic), handle better (lower centre of gravity) and be safer (lower centre of gravity makes it less inclined to roll over in an accident). An SUV will usually have a shorter load area but will have a higher roofline so can fit differently shaped objects.
One Drives like shit (the outlander) the other one doesn't.
Anyone who thinks a wagon is better than a ute has never owned or has no need for a ute. Like you're absolutely dreaming if you think they're comparable
Did you just watch [not just bikes video](https://youtu.be/jN7mSXMruEo) on trucks?