This Vintage Car Is The Trendy New Dadmobile
Goodbye minivan, there's a new Dadmobile in town. Well, it's not exactly "new." In fact, it's as vintage as it gets. According to insurance reports, the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon is making a comeback among millennial dads.
You're probably wondering why on earth millennial parents want to drive an ugly car from the '90s around. Well, apparently vintage-meets-practicality is what the next generation of dads want, and honestly, we're here for it. Check out why you should get your hands on one of these vintage bad boys while you still can.
The Wood Paneling Is Back, Baby
You know which car we're talking about. The name "Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon" might not sound familiar, but seeing the distinct wood paneling sides and aerodynamic 18-foot body of the station wagon is bound to bring back some memories.
It seemed like every dad in the '90s had a station wagon. It felt like it could fit an entire classroom of children and it has that sweet "back-back" extra seating area. The Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was basically the first minivan and '90s dads couldn't get enough.
There Are More And More Quotes For Insurance
So how do we know that millennial parents are buying Buick Roadmasters again? It's not that we can see an uptick in Instagram posts, but the insurance companies are having more quotes requested for them. According to Hagerty's Investment Guide for 2019, insurance quotes for the station wagon increased 50 percent between 2017 to 2018.
That means in 2017 and 2018, the Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon was the most requested car by a whopping 14 points.
So Why Is It Making A Comeback?
Okay, it's not exactly the prettiest car, but it seems that millennial parents are choosing practicality over looks. The 18 feet of space can seat 8 and feels like "driving a couch down the road."
On top of that, the station wagon has some surprisingly strong guts. The Roadmaster boasts the same 5.7-liter LT1 V8 engine that a Chevy Corvette has. Basically, if you ever wanted a sports car but now you have a family, you can get the same 260 horsepower with a station wagon.
Plus, It's Actually Pretty Cheap
The other major perk for millennial parents is that the vintage Buick Roadmasters are actually pretty cheap. The average listing price in 2017 was only about $3,000. Of course, these station wagons aren't fuel-efficient like modern cars are, so you'll pay more in gas. But with a cheap price tag like that, it might be worth it.
Compare that to the average price of a new minivan. Even the cheapest 2019 model—the Toyota Sienna—is still $30,850.
Trendy Things Don't Stay Cheap For Long
The vintage Buick Roadmasters might be cheap for now, but things can get pretty expensive once they become trendy. The average price for a vintage station wagon is already rising. Within one year, the average auction price increased to $5,775. The most a Roadmaster has gone for is $19,800!
Basically, if you want to get your hands on the ultimate Dadmobile then don't waste another second. While you're at it, make sure you have your fanny pack and socks with sandals on.
