Designing a new station wagon

My personal favorite post in this thread is the one where the Course Instructor tells you that your ideas are invalid. The teacher of a creative thinking course is trying to squash your ideas.. But then again, that's what school is all about, to teach conformity, and get younger generations ready for socialism.. just my little rant.

Maybe he is trying to force you to come up with an even better wagon, to make people want it, by saying its not needed. I fully agree with the size that people want, a higher rear opening. I think a new electric or hydraulic clamshell would be great for the people who have to have the coolest gadgets. Nice quiet rear AC/heat unit, not like the loud blowers in todays cars. (it can be done). The 4x8 doesn't matter that much to me personally since wagons originally came in all sizes. the look of the wagon is what counts. Some rounded edges, mixed with nice sharp lines, like the new cadillacs feature would look great on a grocery getter. the lines of the new impala and Cadillac xts are a great start for a wagon, even the rear end hangs way over the rear axle.

Offer different trim designs like they tried in the 80s buicks and fords. you could get the "pretty" trim with wires and whites, or some fancy alloys with woodgrain, or you had the rally wheels with solid color scheme for a tough look.

 

As for as inside this wagon should boast of real VENT wing windows and lower outside fresh air vents( the type that can stir up dust on floor)

 

I actually forgot about those two items. They are very handy and much needed for us who don't need or want AC on all the time. Fresh air from outside. What a novel idea!
Those and small drawers in the dash and I'd be a happy camper.

 

I would buy one of the old Corolla wagons in a blink of an eye !!!!

this may be the most stylish 'new' design in years IMHO...even tho its now 6 years old

and did anyone mention CUP HOLDERS ?????...not ashtrays(tho it needs ashtays)...but CUP HOLDERS !!!

 

Rev----->and did anyone mention CUP HOLDERS ?????...not ashtrays(tho it needs ashtays)...but CUP HOLDERS !!! Oh! I forgot. We need cup holders....and small drawers. And vent wings. No ash trays.

 

I think what Cat wants is a glove box that slides out like dresser drawer or maybe the dash part of the center console could look like this complete with clock......


.....in maple honey Finnish of course

 

One thing about every new car and I'm gona use my Honey's 2011 Ford Escape for the example is the total uselessness of it, the center console!



Yeah, it's got cup holders..... good for a pop can or cup of the same size but does not fit a insulated coffee mug that can hold a decent amount of coffee and the placement of the cup holders are not user friendly iether And like many other cars, the console box is so far back when driving if you just had to get your nail clippers (Cat) you pretty much have to pull over for safty sake, and ya can't use it as a arm rest.

The console shifter, is it really needed for other than...it looks cool to people? Put the shifter back on the steering column and make use of the wasted space such as a open tray area so if you are traveling you could place some road trim munchies, you camera is all ways at the grab, etc.


I had not driven my Honey's ride in long time until yesterday, and did some comparisons to her old mini van and my wagons. The cup holders in her old 99 mini van, are designed to hold a pop can/travel mug of same dimensions snug yet on a short trip to the mall/parts store it holds a house hold coffee mug, in the Escape I had to put my mug on the passenger floor.


My buick has the old school plastic aftermarket cup holder console thingy, as you can see it also holds a coffee mug. and out of view above it is a handy drawer that I keep spare change in with a cigarette lighter that doubles as 12v charger for the cell phone, our small cooler, etc.
(click pic to enlarge)


When I put the console in my Olds, where the shifter was I made a tray in that space. Comes in very handy as we can put 2 large travel mugs in there that don't fit in the pop out cup holders (not in view) that come out of the console box, witch works as nice arm rest. Summer time trips, we use the pop out cup holders and the tray..... is filled with road trip munchies, the camera, etc. There is that ash tray again, not a drawer in it's design but a great place where I keep spare change and nail clippers for when Cat comes to visit
(click to enlarge)


Comfortable seats is a must also that no matter what size wagon you design should have ample seat track movement along with at least 6 way power movement.

 

This is perfect but scale it down 50% smaller and add cup holders on top. Put the 8-track player and CB-AM-FM radio in the top drawer.
Vent wings and lower fresh air ducts. 60-40 bench seat in front. Also use real steel 15" rims and full hubcaps. Make all side windows low enough to put elbow on the edge and tall enough so a 6' driver does not have to bend down to see out.
I agree with Fat Tedy on the placement of the cup holders is usually too far back to use easily and the gear shift lever on the column is where it was changed from the floor mount and worked well for years.
At least my Dodge truck has an adjustable thing to use narrow lady-cups and manly big gulp cups.

 

Mine came filled to the brim with copper pennies .

 

I am so glad you explained that to me since it all has become clear to me now . Thank you ever so much .

 

Ok, sorry about the long wait on the initial designs, or the start of this.

These are the ones I like best.







-I messed up the perspective on this one, but I like the idea of it, so thats why im showing it.

 

Sorry a few members got carried away. I won't name names but expired medications could be the blame. I like the first two drawings a lot. I believe the roof line should remain flat for easier loading and unloading from the back.
As much as I like two door vehicles a modern four door wagon would most likely be more practical since doors can now be locked preventing those in the back from opening them.
Since in time everything old becomes new again it's only a matter of time before young people will be interested in station wagons rather than SUV's, mini vans, and other vehicles of the present.

 

When my wife asks what that and similar models is I simply say "it's a bread basket!"
...:banana:

 

I also really like the first two and particularly the front end treatment which is aerodynamic and speaks to motion and most importantly it looks nothing like a Bratwurst. I agree about having four doors.

Take care that the roof line does not droop at the back, the temptation will be great. In fact you might experiment with a slight rise at the very back (kind of a built in spoiler) and see if you can come up with something that looks good but above all don't let it droop.

Also take care that the hood does not get too short or it will start looking like a mini-van or crossover.

You might also consider moving the rear axle forward just a little bit to keep turning radius under control.

Excellent first draft in my opinion.

mike

 

Believe it or not, the bottom two were done before it was first mentioned about leaving it as a flat roof. I do highly agree with the fact that it does need to stay a flat roof, and making it into a 4 door is actually not too bad of an issue. I appreciate the input!