Station wagon or Minivan? Which is more apt to be a 'member of the family'?

Ford officially gave up on the minivan, when they killed off the Windstar.

Ford considers the Flex a "full-size crossover", a term I am not fond of, but it is not derived from a minivan platform, but from the Five Hundred/Taurus/Freestar platform.

The Freestar was a station wagon with a direct sedan counterpart, but they cloaked to Freestar in bad Explorer garb, and it did next to nothing in the maketplace.

The Flex doesn't even share a minivan-like design, in that it has a low roof, conventionally opening doors and a long hood. It is, indeed, a station wagon, and a dang cool one!

David

 

Station wagon or Minivan? Which is more apt to be a 'member of the family'?


They both are just as likely! Different times, different needs, different family structures. For a few of us when we think station wagon we seem think older car. As much as we may not want admit it a Mini van, an Suv, a crossover are all newer forms of a station wagon. These vehicles all have their place in the families that own them.
For some a car is just that, a means of transportation...I don't understand it...but it's true, I know a few of these people. However, parents have to move there families and I believe the mini van is already a member of alot of families.
They may not be buying them for the looks but for their flexibility and for most young moms her families needs are far more important then her own and that may be the reason why some wifes do not seem to care what they are driving...for now!

 

I think that wagons evoke more nostalgia. I hear a lot of stories from people about how much they loved the old family station wagon, not so often about the family mini-van.

 

Not a chance that ANY front-wheel-drive minivan is gonna get a chance at satisfying my family..... Oh, that wasn't the question?
We are on our third Astro van. It has beautiful, aerodynamic styling and is on a tough, rear-drive platforn with 4.3 v-6. The trans, rear-end, and brakes are sized for a v-8. It's quiet, comfortable, easy to drive and see out of, and goes everywhere without problems. I've moved my son's entire household from Phoenix to Sacramento and back in this van with room to spare!
The wagons definitely have their cool factor, but my wife likes her van as much as I hate working under it's hood!

 

I guess it was 1978 when Chrysler Corp came out with its first mini van. That's 33 years ago, certainly old enough to at least start to be seen at car shows and cruiser nights. I've yet to see one. That's gotta say something.

 

I kinda think of PT Cruisers and HHR's as minivans..... You see a few of them at car shows......Anyone saying that wagons are dead discounts the popularity of the Dodge Magnum. During it's first year of production, you couldnt find one at a dealership! Kinda dumb that it was discontinued!

 

magnum was discontinued ?!

 

what was there first minivan ???

 

nevermind i found it



old -- 1984 Chrysler Voyager




new -- 2012 Chrysler Town & Country

 

personally id rather drive the old one than the new one

 

Chrysler is seriously considering updating and selling the Magnum again!

 

I hate to make corrections to anyone's post but the Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler mini vans were sold first in 1984 as 1985 models.

However, the Corvair Greenbriar some consider the first mini van.

 

thats what i thought, but i figured he knows more than me about minivans so whatever

 

http://www.allpar.com/model/m/history.html


they started developing them in the 70's but released them in the 80's

 

Thanks David.
I was aware of the Taurus/500 platform and, you're right, I shouldn't have implied that it was a mini-van at all. I actually looked
over the flex pretty closely and I'd still consider it as an option should I every need to replace my GMC. The Flex win my kids over as each had
their own space, front to back, side to side; important when one son is over 6 ft tall and the other will likely be bigger yet. We all really like the 'vista' roof panels, they let in tons of light and make it feel bigger yet. I also really like the huge, conventionally hinged doors as well as the way
all the seats fold flat; very Station wagon like. The only real down side for me was the mileage. I think the hybrid version (and I'm no greeny)
would be a very practical choice if they could just keep the price down. Mine would be Root Beer with the cream roof, maybe, if someone does it
right, simulated wood grain... (as it is, I like how Ford design created the side creases as a bow to the Country Squire's 'wood plank' look of the
60's. It's subtle but obvious to the well trained, car geek eye.)