Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Why no Estate cars in Ireland ?

  • 16-08-2015 09:24PM
    #1
    keithclancy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,157 ✭✭✭


    Was wondering why does nobody in Ireland buy estate cars ?

    They can double as a van when you are transporting stuff

    They have more space for luggage.

    If you go to a music festival you can just stick all the seats down and have a sleeping place the size of a double bed.



    They can be high performance as well?

    You see lots in the UK and on the Continent, but they seem to be pretty rare in Ireland.

    Any idea why ?


«134

Comments

  • #2
    Gwynplaine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,910 ✭✭✭Gwynplaine


    Most of them look hideous.


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 22,384 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    They are a bit twee and middle class.

    But still, infinitely less so than the people carriers that people rush off to buy once they have a child.


  • #4
    tomwaterford
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,768 ✭✭✭✭tomwaterford


    Because they look like a hearse with seats


  • #5
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,610 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Pointless.Plus most of them have bigger engines I'd imagine.


  • #6
    skinnie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 126 ✭✭skinnie


    So much room for activities!


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    the groutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,096 ✭✭✭✭the groutch


    Because mothers need a 7-seater to collect their one child from school.


  • #8
    ednwireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,029 ✭✭✭✭ednwireland


    407 sportwagon parked outside

    "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others" - Winston Churchill

    https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=96CT1F



  • #9
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,610 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    ednwireland wrote: »
    407 sportwagon parked outside


    Who owns it?


  • #10
    ednwireland
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,029 ✭✭✭✭ednwireland


    kneemos wrote: »
    Who owns it?

    the other half, i have an octavia which is big enough to throw my bike in when i need to

    "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others" - Winston Churchill

    https://www.ecowitt.net/home/share?authorize=96CT1F



  • #11
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    keithclancy wrote: »
    Was wondering why does nobody in Ireland buy estate cars ?

    Station wagon I always heard it called. I seem to remember there being a lot more of them about in the 80's.....maybe its a fashion thing?


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    the_syco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,310 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    keithclancy wrote: »
    Any idea why ?
    Most driveways aren't made for them, and the market that used to buy them now probably drive SUV's.


  • #13
    delahuntv
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,532 ✭✭✭delahuntv


    BMW 5 series "touring" looks good, as did the old volvo v70


  • #14
    micks_address
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,009 ✭✭✭✭micks_address


    Nodin wrote: »
    Station wagon I always heard it called. I seem to remember there being a lot more of them about in the 80's.....maybe its a fashion thing?

    We have a civic tourer.. The amount of luggage we packed in today was great.. Very practical.. Some might not like the looks but I don't mind it and I'm getting about 70mpg from the 1.6 diesel so happy enough


  • #15
    Mr_Muffin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 917 ✭✭✭Mr_Muffin


    They are just big enough to live in. You could sleep comfortable in the back and live in the front.


  • #16
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 27,498 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Skoda Roomster FTW - is it a car for a disabled person, is it a van, what the fiddle dee dee is it?
    Spacious.
    Eat my dust. :)


  • #17
    knird evol
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,007 ✭✭✭knird evol


    Deleted User wrote: »
    They are a bit twee and middle class.

    That is the cover they maintain.
    On closer inspection they are usually high-powered
    audis driven by balding, middle aged, overly
    aggressive drivers from a certain compass
    point in europe.


    Car's a 'sleeper.'


  • #18
    kneemos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,610 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Mr_Muffin wrote: »
    They are just big enough to live in. You could sleep comfortable in the back and live in the front.


    Dinner party's could be difficult.


  • #19
    ThisRegard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    There's loads of them if you actually looked.


  • #20
    Samsgirl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,217 ✭✭✭Samsgirl


    There is def one because we have an Octavia Estate!!


  • #21
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,060 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Plenty of people have estate cars.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    Cienciano
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,208 ✭✭✭✭Cienciano


    They're way more popular on the continent than ireland. If I was getting a car now I'd either get an estate or a convertible. Massive boot or no boot


  • #23
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,566 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Loads of Audi A4 and BMW 3 and 5 series estates around my area.


  • #24
    xhoundx
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 327 ✭✭xhoundx


    kneemos wrote: »
    Pointless.Plus most of them have bigger engines I'd imagine.

    Nope
    the_syco wrote: »
    Most driveways aren't made for them, and the market that used to buy them now probably drive SUV's.

    They are no longer than the saloon equivalent.


  • #25
    PowerToWait
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,813 ✭✭✭PowerToWait


    I've an estate. Imo they look way better than most saloons, which are the epitome of safe and conservative, middle class Irish driving.

    And I benefit from all the points made in the OP. I've it stuffed with hobby stuff of all kinds and still carry another 2 bodies to wherever. Sleep in it at festivals or pricey tourist towns the odd time.

    But try selling it in Ireland. No chance.


  • #26
    ThisRegard
    Closed Accounts Posts: 27,833 ✭✭✭✭ThisRegard


    Yeah, I don't get the drive ways aren't built for them comment, it's bizarre.


  • #27
    PowerToWait
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,813 ✭✭✭PowerToWait


    ThisRegard wrote: »
    Yeah, I don't get the drive ways aren't built for them comment, it's bizarre.

    Another ill informed Irish non-reason.


  • #28
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,163 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    The reason why there are so few estate cars is because most people buy the few square centimetres that stick to the front and back not a car, just look at the amount of people who bought new diesel cars since 08 even though they are completely unsuitable for their needs and cost them thousands of Euro to save a few hundred Euro per annum.


  • #29
    JupiterKid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,966 ✭✭✭✭JupiterKid


    There used to be a few estate cars about back in the 80s and 90s. People carriers and SUVs have pretty much taken over any market for estate cars.


  • #30
    Kiwi in IE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,063 ✭✭✭Kiwi in IE


    Both our cars are Estate models. I think in general estates look much better than ordinary sedans/hatchbacks and are more functional.

    Look at the VW Passat. The estate model is 1000 x classier looking than the sedan.


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,296 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    My last three cars have been estates - current one is an A4 S-Line Avant, goes like dog snot and is eminently practical.

    Started buying estates (although current one is a company car) when I outgrew my boy racer phase, ie, when the sprogs arrived - the rear deck of an estate is very convenient for changing nappies on :D


Advertisement
Advertisement