[Nikki]

A lot of people buy wagons because they get more room but don't sacrifice as much performance and wagons drive like cars not like trucks and handle much better since they have a lower center of gravity.

[krazykanuck]

In Canada we have a Yukon XL and a Magnum RT, and any day of the week I will take the Yukon over the wagon. Granted the Magnum is the antithesis of a good handling vehicle (I have never driven a 3 series or A4 wagon), but I like the ease of driving the Yukon and I think it looks better.

And before anybody starts screaming about why we have a vehicle that gets ~12 mpg we frequently tow trailers, and also we would not be able to fit all of our stuff and people in a Magnum going to our cottage. Necessity over just to have one.

[StewtheBassman]

So the Magnum's a real dog in the snow, even with winter tires?

[sbw]

Many station wagons have more room than many SUVs, such as the Passat wagon's cargo space versus the Jeep Grand Cherokee's. Plus wagons handle far better and get better fuel mileage.

Just because they're higher off the ground, doesn't mean SUVs are bigger inside!

[E90 Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

You buy a E91 for the same reason you buy an E90. Same car, same awesome handling, just a bit more functionality. That's why such a high percentage of 3-series in europe are wagons. They don't have the silly hang-ups that some folks in the USA do. To compare an E91 to an SUV is like comparing an E90 to a SUV.

Bottom line: this was not a serious question. Go drive an E90, E91, and X3. You can't tell the E90 & E91 apart. The X3 is quite different.

And from my experience, this just doesn't seem to be a '3 series thing' or 'BMW thing' but actually a cultural preference in Europe for wagons in general. They seem to be the equivalent of the SUV there. Can't tell you how many bimmers, audis, vw's, mercs, peugots, renaults, etc. we saw that were wagons.

[bmw328soon]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman
"When I was a kid, station wagons were the "in" thing, then SUVs took their place. Now those whose parents drove SUVs are sick of them, and want something different."

I have nothing against station wagons but i would have to disagree that theyyounger generation tends to favor more to station wagons than SUV's. I believe the overwhelming majority of this group would prefer an SUV based on the aesthetics. Thats just from my personal experience.