The Golf SportWagen Shows Us There Is Hope For The Wagon!

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
05/10/2015 at 13:19 • Filed to: Golf, SportWagen, Wagon

Not only is this unique car the only manual diesel wagon available in the US, but it also stacked as the fastest selling car last month. According to Cars.com it spent an average of 9 days in showrooms before it was bought. The second place goes to the Porsche Macan.

As April was just the first month of the SportWagen being on sale, I am excited to see how it ends up after more months pass. Will the good sales continue? Are the people who wanted one already got it and sales will decrease? Does it mean the wagon will gain popularity? Only time will tell.

DISCUSSION (37)

dogisbadob > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 13:23

too bad it’s a VW :(

LongbowMkII > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 13:25

It’s nice. Wouldn’t read too much into one month of sales though, especially the first month.

AM > dogisbadob
05/10/2015 at 13:25

Hey you take that back! I have a VW :(

PS9 > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 13:31

Link?

M54B30 > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 13:33

My wife and i like it. We built a manual TDI and were impressed with features and price, but we like the Kia Sedona’s features and warranty much more

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 13:37

Are automatic diesel wagons fairly common stateside, or is it diesel wagons in general that are in short supply?

There is a seemingly steady demand for diesel wagons in the UK and Europe, and they are nothing if not ubiquitous on both the new and used car market. The majority of these vehicles are manual too, with the automatics tending to reside in the BMW/Mercedes/Volvo camps.

Is the US lack of such cars solely down to the preference for automatics? Or is there something else at play?

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 13:42

wagons are in short supply, especially by the american automakers. the only wagons we have for sale here would be the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes E Series, Volvo V60 Audi All Road, and the golf sportwagon

misfitmascots > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 13:45

I am glad people are buying wagons, but IMO this is not a good looking car. As a guy that loves wagons, I do not like this one and I don’t know exactly what it is.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 13:46

From what I’ve seen on here wagons aren’t popular there at all. Neither is diesel.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/10/2015 at 13:52

I'm actually really surprised by that. Obviously there's little demand for vehicles at that price point that can't be covered by BMW/Merc/Volvo, but alternatively there is a strong demand for something that sits a little cheaper in the market with the same practicality and functionality. If there's one thing the American auto manufacturers have right, it's their price to market. Surely someone in the US should be building cheap wagons by now?!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/10/2015 at 14:02

Is it popularity or lack of availability though (at the right price)?

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 14:08

Diesel in the US on costs more than regular petrol. In my area it’s ~$2.75 for regular, and ~$3.30 for diesel. That is one reason why it’s not a very popular choice. There’s also the lovely Oldsmobile diesel of the 80’s that seemingly ruined diesel cars here. Big pickup trucks with diesels are pretty dang popular though.

Also, pretty sure majority of the wagons sold here by VW are manual and diesel though, something like 70% or close to it.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 14:08

Sounds like they fell out of fashion so manufacturers stopped selling them there. SUVs, trucks etc cornered that sector by the looks of it.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 14:13

No one wants them, CUVs are more popular by a long shot

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
05/10/2015 at 14:16

Yen I've read about the Olds diesel a few times, shame how one experience can quite often jade a nation! Same with UK petrol/diesel prices, petrol is £1.159 p/l and diesel is £1.189 p/l. Your fuel is so much cheaper it hurts btw.

The Vauxhall Insignia CDTI estate is fairly popular over here, someone should petition Buick to stick a badge on it and sell it Stateside.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/10/2015 at 14:17

Don’t forget the Subaru Outback.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/10/2015 at 14:19

The figures above say differently.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/10/2015 at 14:25

Seemingly so.

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 14:28

By the day, another JSW or GSW appears in my neighborhood. Fun fact, my neighbor just bought a Macan.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 14:28

Which figures?

jkm7680 > dogisbadob
05/10/2015 at 14:29

die heathen.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/10/2015 at 14:35

Fasted selling car last month according to cars.com. It at least shows significant demand in the early sector.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 14:41

Right fastest selling car, meanwhile in the United States people bought over 30,000 SUVs and crossovers

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
05/10/2015 at 14:49

I appreciate that, and I'm not going to argue with you because as previously mentioned, I don't know the US market. Considering cars.com is US based and not well known on this side of the pond, I assumed the data within was representative of the US market. I am simply stating that across a specific timeframe of new car sales, according to cars.com, the Golf Sportwagen is the number one seller. That doesn't equal "no demand".

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 14:52

Right I understand that it doesn’t mean no demand but I’m saying the demand for wagons in general here in america is miniscule compared to that of SUVs and crossovers

Vicente Esteve > dogisbadob
05/10/2015 at 15:07

The Outback was very close.

Vicente Esteve > LongbowMkII
05/10/2015 at 15:07

I know, but this demonstrates people know it exists!

Vicente Esteve > PS9
05/10/2015 at 15:13

http://wot.motortrend.com/1505_2015_volk…

Vicente Esteve > M54B30
05/10/2015 at 15:16

Presumably, you needed the extra space as well. The Sedona is a solid choice as well.

Vicente Esteve > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 15:23

Its the preference of the small SUV in this side of the Atlantic. Not only in the US but Mexico as well. Add to this the unpopularity of diesels and the laziness/incappability of people to drive manuals and they are almost niche vehicles.

Vicente Esteve > misfitmascots
05/10/2015 at 15:25

It’s a stretched Golf. It looks boxy and is more functional than sexy.

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
05/10/2015 at 15:26

Aren’t Macans the greatest thing ever?!

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 15:28

Yes! It passes my house at like midnight every once and a while and it sounds like Satan coughing.

M54B30 > Vicente Esteve
05/10/2015 at 15:33

A TDI wagon is a lot more sensible as a second car then my current choice (Focus ST)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/10/2015 at 15:34

I’d love a diesel Buick wagon just seems neat to me. It is crazy how crazy cheap our fuel prices are. I always chuckle when people complain about fuel costing nearly $4 in the summer months when you guys are nearly $7-10 all year long for the same volume.

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
05/10/2015 at 15:42

Someone here bought one, and I can assure you its the most expensive car in town. Gray Macan S, horrible color choice and the driver never made the engine sing.

Vicente Esteve > M54B30
05/10/2015 at 15:44

Equally as cool