[vjs]

I looked at the Infiniti EX 35 and it seems that the E91 has more cargo space.

A sport wagon can have more interior room than a SUV/crossover.

When will the E91 no longer be available in the USA? I never see new ones on dealer's lots and they seem to be available only through special order.

I wonder if this will make them more difficult to obtain this summer and if the negotiated price will be higher?

[111R]

I would have bought a 335i touring or even a 3 series diesel wagon, but the 328i was too heavy for the normally aspired engine for my tastes so I went for a 335i E90. I saw an Audi S4 Avant in Munich that looked better than the S4 sedan. Too bad it's not sold here (with a manual please).

People in the US who embrace SUVs and crossovers, yet claim that they can't stand wagons in general probably have a hang-up about the latter being identified with mommies driving them in the 50's through the 70's. I understand why someone might want an SUV for towing a boat or for winter driving, but most folks buy them because even though they really need a wagon or minivan, they think that they look more rugged or cool in a truck. Crossovers are kind of silly, as it's really the same thing, but usually with minivan or car underpinnings.

I would think that most on this forum would prefer an E91 over a crossover due to the lower center of gravity and better handling.

[calvintpe]

Now we see more and more E91 in Taiwan and Benz and Audi are selling their wagons more too!

[double]

You almost wonder with the US too that with the wagons of the 80's and 90's with how nasty they were it just completely turned everyone off and they never came back around. Slowly but surely I think they will....I'm looking for one myself

[Coolieman1220]

sport wagons are boss!

[ctuna]

that doesn't handle to well and tips over easily.
Which also requires you to carry a ladder to attach
anything to the racks.

[Tom K.]

Since Americans prefer the bloated SUV over the compact 3, or even the larger 5 wagons, it makes little economic sense for BMW to import them. The curent 3 series will probably be the last one to come to these shores - and it has never been available with multiple engine options like the Euro versions.

As Walt Kelley said years ago, "We have met the enemy - and he is us!"

Tom

[DMOS]

Canada is a little more accepting it seems of the wagon culture than the States. Still I'm glad I got mine when I did, finding one with a stick proved difficult and I don't see that becoming any easier. Especially since the F31 is unlikely to come to these shores at all.

[Saintor]

Price is an issue.

A X3 is cheaper than a 328i Xdrive Touring by 10% here. It was the case even when it was not assembled in USA.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by gary88

Taxes on cars along with fuel prices are higher in Europe. People prefer to have a workhorse that does almost everything rather than having multiple cars to suit their needs. Wagons are so popular because they offer the driving dynamics of a normal sedan along with the added storage space that comes with an SUV, along with better fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures.

About sums up why I use the wagon. For me it is probably one of the best BMW packages out there.

A 6-pot diesel wagon gives performance, economy, cargo capacity, sporty drive and handling, and with the panoramic roof option, as near to an open air/top drive as you can get in one package.

There is strong opinion in Europe/UK that the wagons look better than the sedans as well. Particularly the 5-series models. The E61 is viewed as one of the best looking wagons on the the UK roads.

HighlandPete

[Want]

Originally Posted by 111R

People in the US who embrace SUVs and crossovers, yet claim that they can't stand wagons in general probably have a hang-up about the latter being identified with mommies driving them in the 50's through the 70's. I understand why someone might want an SUV for towing a boat or for winter driving, but most folks buy them because even though they really need a wagon or minivan, they think that they look more rugged or cool in a truck. Crossovers are kind of silly, as it's really the same thing, but usually with minivan or car underpinnings.

I would think that most on this forum would prefer an E91 over a crossover due to the lower center of gravity and better handling.

I think most people on this forum would prefer the x3 over e91.

most people don't need an suv but the x3 and the like are not really SUVs to begin with. People just buy them for the looks and comfort, nothing wrong with that. It's not like an x3 is a proper offroader or has huge towing capabilities anyway.

Originally Posted by DMOS

Canada is a little more accepting it seems of the wagon culture than the States. Still I'm glad I got mine when I did, finding one with a stick proved difficult and I don't see that becoming any easier. Especially since the F31 is unlikely to come to these shores at all.

The only e91s I've seen in vancouver were Asian moms, and they looked pretty fob. Don't think Canada is THAT much more accepting.

[TheRox]

Originally Posted by coco savage

what i dont get is....wagons arent liked but the crossovers/small suvs are loved...when most of them are just higher sitting wagons

Funny thing, wagons handle like an e90 sedan...whereas SUVs are SUVS


anyone whose driven an X5 or X3 knows its no e90 or 5 series


However, the e91...drives the same as an e90.


It just doesn't look good, and that is the reason why they are avoided here; North Americans aren't as practical as Europeans.

[goldn]

i love my wagon.
it's practical, economical to drive, sporty and reliable.
a diesel option would have been fantastic, but my car will do 550-700km per tank.
i've commented many times that BMW should continue to offer wagon's in NA.
the new 5series is gorgeous and would be my perfect next vehicle for my growing and expanding family.
SUV's are simply too tall not allowing me to use a roof rack through the Winter and the fuel economy is horrible. not to mention they feel numb and don't allow for enthusiastic spirited driving whatsoever.
i'm very happy to own a E91 and hope for many more happy KM's!

[lesha]

i think it comes down to taste and associations that people have

to me a wagon is in the same family as a minivan and both just scream soccer mom and in turn that forms my taste about which car I like and don't like, wagon can be the most practical car for all I care, but to me it's plain ugly, no offense to people who like them,, maybe I'm closed minded but I could never believe that people get wagons or minivans because they like them, I always thought that it was out of necessity to drive a large family around, but I guess I'm wrong and there are people who do like the look. To me a more appealing choice for a large family is an SUV.

[ejheverest]

If BMW would just bring a 6 spd 330D Touring to the states, I'd buy one. I guess I'll end up with a VW Jetta Wagon TDI since I would choose the VW over the Subaru Outback.

[bsamoul]

I love wagons. I wish Americans had better views of them and also were more accepting of Diesel cars.

[Jeller]

Wagon lover here:

Avant and 335 make for a nice pair.

[agray1]

Originally Posted by Jeller

Wagon lover here:

Avant and 335 make for a nice pair.

fine choice sir.. the B7 Avant takes the wagon cake

[DMOS]

Originally Posted by Want

The only e91s I've seen in vancouver were Asian moms, and they looked pretty fob. Don't think Canada is THAT much more accepting.

There aren't a lot of E91's, but most urban centers have a wide variety of other hatches, think of all the Mazda3 Sport or VW Golf type vehicles you see. In the US, I rarely saw the hatch/wagon version, where here they are probably closer to 1/3 of the sales of that model.

These things aren't just for "soccer moms" either (married, no kids) it's anyone who values better access to their stuff. My seats are more often folded down than in the upright position. Makes it easier to get to the bikes/race/camping/golf/army gear. I never want to fight with accessing my kit through a trunk opening again.

[coco savage]

Originally Posted by TheRox

Funny thing, wagons handle like an e90 sedan...whereas SUVs are SUVS


anyone whose driven an X5 or X3 knows its no e90 or 5 series


However, the e91...drives the same as an e90.


It just doesn't look good, and that is the reason why they are avoided here; North Americans aren't as practical as Europeans.

i understand that completely, which is why i think its funny people will choose a suv (besides a bmw one obv) instead of maybe a wagon here in the US. Its almost as if wagons got a bad stigma.

Seems bmw knows this too, with the x1 coming..

[MisterSkiMask]

Originally Posted by coco savage

i understand that completely, which is why i think its funny people will choose a suv (besides a bmw one obv) instead of maybe a wagon here in the US. Its almost as if wagons got a bad stigma.

Seems bmw knows this too, with the x1 coming..

For many people there are major tax advantages for buying an suv.

The stigma of the wagon is definitely the main reason for people not wanting wagons, but I didn't live through the 'family wagon' years in this country. I think they are cool, especially a wangon that is a sleeper like an ///M or AMG wagon, or CTS-V or RS

[BenTrovato]

Wagons were always ugly. It's only been a decade or so where the styling has been ramped up to the point where the e91 is a stunning machine. It will take some time to reverse the stigma of the 1994 "wagon" in people's minds: