Comments by "Adrian McLean" (@adrianmclean9195) on "American Reacts to Why Station Wagons Sell in Europe But NOT America.." video.

  1. The Citroen DS Safari and CX Break, were massive with optional seats.
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  2. I'll take the HSV VF II, Tourer supercharged wagon and 6 speed manual, that the Cadillac platform was probably based upon, along with the Camaro - even though the GM top brass would have you think was American. I wonder if Mark Simcoe had a hand in the Cadillac design ?
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  3. So, the Buick, was our last Holden Commodore - when manufacturing stopped here. Code name ZB. Had some Australian development. Wagon and hatch only. The same old Commodore v6 came only as AWD but more refined, economical, better ground clearance, 9 speed auto versus the 6 speed and better top end. 7 year warranty. Still in use by police forces and in NZ. But - Australian motoring journalists tested it and the old locally made and developed and designed Commodore was a clear match, beating it in certain areas, despite the german car being much newer. There was also a diesel and petrol 4 cyl turbo of both 2.0 litre capacity. The hatch looks Korean, but the wagon looks good. A Calais Tourer wagon, top line is very nice and is done as a cross over, like the vy/vz Adventra.
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  4. You can double the US car prices, to get the cost of the equivalent car in Australia.
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  5. Yeah - Volvo is showing clearly the difference between an SUV and Wagon. If you placed the cross over version of the v60 against the xc60 - both awd - you will see that ground difference is minimal, ride height a bit more and the xc60 overhangs are probably shorter and probably the wheelbase. Very few of the xc60's would be doing full 4wd actions. It really makes the point of an SUV, invalid. Just a craze. The only thing i have commonly heard, is that you get a better view - but not when you are all driving the same thing - ??? - lol 😂. Dont confuse a SUV with a full 4wd car/truck/ute. Most SUVs are not awd. Most are fwd. The wheelbase of the wagons are longer than the SUV. The passenger compartment is more normal and seats not so upright. Luggage area larger, longer. All the wagon car dynamics go out the window. Raising the centre of gravity. If you drive the same back to back you can tell. Progress, regressed by SUV - compromise. Cost more to buy and run and tyres etc. And now, LONG TERM studies from around the World - show increased accident rates from the SUV. Easier to get into trouble, harder to get out. More forces on crash. Fatality rates up. They just dont make any sense. Hence why they were born in the US. US market the biggest, so it takes off and imposed on other countries. Ford and GM. Car companies wanting to sell in the US, so have to conform to survive/compete - so the circle is completed, globally. Sad. At least Subaru has stuck with cross overs and not succumbed to SUV, although the Ascent is the replacement for the Tribeca - which was more a people mover. I don't know why other manufacturers havent taken on Subaru with awd and wagons, cross overs. There's nothing stopping them. Ski fields, snow areas, dirt areas, farms, monsoon areas, safety - without needing full 4wd - its a no-brainer. Volvo, comes about the closest overall, traditionally. Mitsubishi and Nissan, just SUVs. Ford going the same way, at great risk in Europe, where those who grew up with and those who want their, Cortina/Sierra/Mondeo - Fiesta - Escort/Focus vehicles. With high competition, Ford may loose big time in Europe. If you go into a higher price segment, you will loose customers. Opel and Vauxhall already gone to PSA . Chrysler with Fiat - Stellantis. In Australia, with the Fiesta, Mondeo gone, and soon the Focus, and sports models gone and the Escape, not selling/known, and only relying on the mustang and Ranger - which sell well with some commercials, it maybe not enough. The machE is too expensive for volume. Competition is huge in Australia. Many market analysts have predicted Ford eventually going like Holden. GMSV - has limited range and basically only high end. When looking at Wheels magazine, monthly car figures, which is really very good tables - its ALL Asian and utes. The Aussie ranger being a standout. But ..... even there, Ford US has DRAMATICALLY reduced staff, recently at its Melbourne Advanced Engineering Centre - where the Ranger and Everest were designed. May not get designed again by Melbourne - despite being a success and very well awarded internationally. Go figure ...🤔
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  6. Love the orange modified Citroen DS, in National Lampoons European Vacation - when driving around France and Germany.
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  7. Perhaps, long term ..... This will all go full circle, and we will be back with the traditional station wagon/cross overs. ?
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  8. Although I'm not a fan of Subaru's - the Snowy Mountains Authority has had a fleet of them - it's funny looking over Cabramurra, - Australia's highest town - and seeing the standard, same design ski townhouses for the workers - that look like they were designed today - with an identical Subaru Forester in each driveway.
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  9. Sorry, just realized, I said Cabramatta in Sydney, when I was suppose to say - Cabramurra in the Snowy Mountains. Lol 😂 Have edited and amended it.
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  10. Will post my views on the SUV craze/fad later - will take awhile - may offend some people. Love the Peugeot 508 plugin Hybrid here in Australia. I grew up with the Chrysler Regal Station Wagons with electric rear window and 5.9 litre hemi V8, with 6 family members, luggage in the car, on top of the car and towing the semi ski boat - over the Great Dividing Range. Did its purpose, with no problems, good build quality and ELB. Works. XA Fairmont 500 wagon, overheated, doing the same thing.
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