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      08-10-2011, 03:58 PM   #14
ynguldyn
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Drives: battery powered tv on wheels
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Everyone who says there's no market for wagons in the U.S. is out of their minds. Yes, it's a small market. Yes, it's limited to large coastal cities. But it absolutely exists, because plenty of people understand that SUVs always mean more weight, higher fuel consumption, and less driving enjoyment. Those people will not buy SUVs. Ever.

Just this morning, I stood at a light on Memorial Drive, and three out of four cars were wagons: Volvo V70, Audi A4 Avant, and my E39. V70 is no more. 5er Touring is no more. If F31 doesn't come, Audi and Mercedes will split the luxury euro wagon market (Saab is not a contender, at least at the moment), and BMW will be left trying to clear their lots of all those stupid GTs.

And don't give us that "expensive to federalize" crap. Was federalizing 5er GT cheaper for some reason? Did BMW ever stop to consider that Touring owners very often belong to their hard core customer fan base, the same people M cars are made for? BMW throws cash at its ED program, specifically because people who do ED become brand promoters and bring more business to the dealerships. M owners and Touring owners are just like that. Even if BMW makes less money selling those cars, in return they get more people buying fully optioned 328xiA's (ugh). Can BMW claim to have the same viral effect from their 5er GT buyers?
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