Why aren't they 'estates' any more?

[thismonkeyhere]

Have noticed - not a new thing, but now appears to be universal - that estates are no longer called estates. They're all 'tourer', 'wagon', 'avant'. Wonder why?

I have two theories, both of which could be wide of the mark:

'Estate' has become a bit of a dirty word, with negative connotations around boring family cars, 2.4 kids, labradors in the boot etc etc.

Or 'estate' is very much an English word for those sort of cars, and manufacturers now prefer to give them a name that can be used across international markets.

Anyone confirm or know better?

(Actually, now I think about it, I think Mercedes might still use the term 'estate'. Not sure.)

[GC8]

Probably fo rthe same shallow and ridiculous reason that you cant buy a flat now.

[Passeyfier]

I agree with both of the above, it's just a name thing to conform to the current market (or "trend.")

[furrywoolyhatuk]

Skoda octavia new estate:

http://www.skoda.co.uk/models/new-octavia-estate

But probably a minority...

[HarryW]

Last time I looked my E Class is still sold as an an Estate, none of this pouncy avant, although I have owned Tourings before now

[RodneyRichpigge]

I can't stand the americanism 'SUV' the UK motor industry seems to have adopted now, soon we'll all be saying 'skedewel' and 'aloominum'.

[Jasandjules]

I no longer live in a bungalow but a "single storey dwelling".... I think there are too many t**ts out there who think we are too stupid to understand different phrases - so people now go to see an Estate car and go "hey, it's not a boring estate now it's a tourer, fantastic I'll buy it now but I wouldn't have before"...

[Vladimir]

Mine may be a Touring but it's an estate (just about) to us!

[Davie]

Always had Volvo Tourings myself, impresses Harry and the chaps at the golf club.

[hornetrider]

This is neither new nor recent. Touring and Avant have been round for decades.

[Leins]

HarryW said:

Last time I looked my E Class is still sold as an an Estate, none of this pouncy avant, although I have owned Tourings before now

Your car is now sold as an "Estate"

Edited by Leins on Tuesday 29th October 21:04

[Urban Sports]

BMW has called it a touring from as far back it's I can remember which is the E30, it's not a new thing, not for BMW anyway.

[GC8]

They called their small estate cars Touring way before the three series. 1602/2002 certainly.

[ging84]

estate has never been a global term, wagon is a much more common term

[GravelBen]

thismonkeyhere said:

Or 'estate' is very much an English word for those sort of cars, and manufacturers now prefer to give them a name that can be used across international markets.

This.

If they sold a car as an 'estate' on this side of the world (NZ) people would just think it was trying to make a wagon sound fancy and upmarket.

IIRC Subaru have been calling theirs things like 'touring wagon' and 'sportwagon' since at least the early 80s. 'Station wagon' is the standard term in NZ, Oz and I think the USA as well - most people just abbreviate it to wagon.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 30th October 08:00

[GAjon]

Shooting Brake if you please.

[LuS1fer]

Audis have also been Avants for eons.

Part of the change is down to globalisation of model names and types.

[CanAm]

GAjon said:

Shooting Brake if you please.

Indeed.

[skyrover]

global branding is cheaper than individual tailoring.

International English is heavily influenced by America which is the default choice.

[anonymous-user]

Marketing. Full of BS as usual.