Estate car

[irmamar]

My friend told me that she had just bought an "estate car", but I don't understand what kind of car it is. Does somebody know it?

Thanks!

[pjt33]

Es un coche bastante largo que tiene mucho espacio en el maletero.

[irmamar]

OK. I think they are called "wagon" or "familiares" here. Thanks.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by pjt33

Es un coche bastante largo que tiene mucho espacio en el maletero.

Yes, but I thought it was the original 'hatchback' which provides a lot of room in the boot but with the 5th door at the back as access. It was called thus because it was designed for gentry on an estate where they needed space for guns, dogs and wellies and so on. Or is this spurious?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Yes, but I thought it was the original 'hatchback' which provides a lot of room in the boot but with the 5th door at the back as access.

Access to what? I think of Volvo when I think of estate cars, and I'm pretty sure they're four-door plus boot. (Although when I was growing up I did have friends who had two sideways seats in the boot of their Volvo, so it was a 5-door 7-seater).

It was called thus because it was designed for gentry on an estate where they needed space for guns, dogs and wellies and so on. Or is this spurious?

Possibly spurious but it's the (folk?) etymology which I would offer too.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by pjt33

Access to what? I think of Volvo when I think of estate cars, and I'm pretty sure they're four-door plus boot.

Easy access to the boot. Come to think of it, the Volvo was always known as the Volvo Estate, the archetype.

[hermit]

In North American English, that type of vehicle is called a "station wagon".

In recent years, however, the style has changed somewhat and they are
now generally referred to as SUVs (Sports/Utility Vehicles).

[irmamar]

Yes, we call them "wagon",too. Or familiar cinco puertas.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by hermit

In North American English, that type of vehicle is called a "station wagon".

In recent years, however, the style has changed somewhat and they are
now generally referred to as SUVs (Sports/Utility Vehicles).

I would say that SUVs are a different type of vehicle rather than a different style of station wagon / estate car.

[María José]

I thought you said ranchera in Spanish, but then again I know nothing about cars.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by irmamar

OK. I think they are called "wagon" or "familiares" here. Thanks.

I can suggesting you that you buy a Grand Cherokee Laredo.

That truck has 4 x 4 and also it a lot space in the book.

I have one.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by María José

I thought you said ranchera in Spanish, but then again I know nothing about cars.

Yes, ranchera is used, too. But I think wagon is most used, maybe because of AmE influence

Well, I'm not an expert on cars, either

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

That truck has 4 x 4 and also it a lot space in the book.

I have one.

BOOT not Book

[Awaken]

I agree that SUVs are different than "estate" cars. In AmE, we call "estate cars" station wagons, or just wagon for short if it is clear it is a car.

Going back to the Volvo, they usually came in 3 body styles:
The 2 door coupe(AmE) or coupé(BrE).
The 4 door sedan(AmE) or saloon(BrE).
The 5 door wagon(AmE) or estate(BrE).

Putting my Top Gear knowledge to good use! Although, I'm not 100% sure if saloon is always used in normal day speech. They always use it on Top Gear though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_wagon