As I told VW’s customer service, “If I wanted a minivan, I would already own one — which I do not.”
I think VW mistook the excitement for the Microbus concept as a message that they needed any-old family mover. This is instead a transparent product that elicits zero excitement or desire from me.
An interesting story at businessweek talks about how VW wants to save its brand. This very sad machine is going to do nothing for that plan. I agree with them that this product will be dead and buried in 3 years. I just hope VW doesn’t mistake disinterest for this product as similar disinterest with the Microbus.
WHY DO WE NOT GET THE MULTIVAN IN THE STATES? THIS IS A DODGE PLAY ACTING. IT IS DISSAPOINTING.
GET US THE MUTIVAN WITH THE POWERFUL TDI ENGINE. THAN VW WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN THE MINIVAN MARKET.
Comment by DANIEL ABRUDEANU — February 8, 2008 @ 12:36 am
As others have said, this van is NOT what VW owners want, and I doubt it will bring a lot of new traffic to VW dealers. Where is the diesel? Even better, where is the T5. I have owned nothing but VW’s for 30 years, but it is now getting to be time to move on.
Did they ever drop the ball on this one. Why even bother, when you can buy the american version of what is almost the exact same for much less? What a missed opportunity.
After viewing the new VW Minivan, nothing else screams “abortion” so loudly! VW should hang its head in shame, creating this joke that theoretically comes from the linage of Vans and Buses, produced by the once great Company call Volkswagen.
Comment by Major Jack — February 12, 2008 @ 10:30 am
What’s Beef? Biggie Smalls asked…..
Beef to me is; reading the droppings left on automotive blogs and websites.
Until you are talking rally cars, enthusiast cars, muscle cars, or exotics, there is nothing to get huffy about in the automotive business these days.
I am a car salesman and this is how I eat.
I always pull my hair out when I read unsupported, negative comments like the ones written about the Routan.
Have any of you nuts driven the van yet?? DUH!!! You need to quit spouting what you don’t know, and no! I do not sell for VW.
Folks, the vehicle in question here is a freaking minivan for heavens sake!! A vehicle aimed at Soccer Moms and families. It is purchased out of the need for lots of space and practicality for as little money as possible. If one or more these factors are not an issue the buyer will likely purchase an SUV or Crossover instead. If the fickle market doesn’t purchase these products it becomes a costly investment for a manufacturer to abandon over the short term, so why would VW not partner with a company that sells the most minivans. Would you be sufficed to pay $40,000+ for a Toyota or Honda based unit?
The showroom floor at a car dealership is a washed with the same “I read on the internet that…” B.S. as well.
I have sold Domestic and Imports and frankly, I find it hard to be overly negative toward any vehicle on the market in Canada or the USA today. Regardless of the country of origin or the manufacturer, I have noted that most modern vehicles are more than capable of providing reasonable service in excess of 300,000 kms and yes, Virginia imports do breakdown.
Due to the market and personal economics, I currently sell an import brand which manufactures more than 60% of their best selling vehicles in North America and employs North Americans; hence I still support our economic wheel.
You would think that after all the huff about imports that customers would walk in with money in hand and take delivery “today”? Heck no! I have to work harder than I did when I sold domestics. There seem to be the only a few interest consumers have these days and they are: “Does it have leather, DVD, GPS, back-up cameras and a moon roof?” Along with this they request low monthly payments with zero down. I don’t blame them fully; I believe the industry itself caused that.
Take a reality check guys. If you are leasing vehicles for 2 to 3 years quit the B.S. talk and just buy what you can afford. You can close your eyes and buy just about anything, domestic or import and 9 out of 10 times you will have a great vehicle, save a bundle of cash and for a change, enjoy a better over all experience purchasing and owning a vehicle.
Comment by Rickmeister — February 13, 2008 @ 2:36 am
It’s clear that Volkswagen is trying to grow their market share in North America by working with a leading minivan manufacturer to get a VW minivan to market quickly.
Here’s a question for those of you that have had a negative reaction to the Routan:
Would you rather waited a few more years for a unique (and undoubtedly more expensive) VW minivan, possibly something that resembled the VW Microbus concept?
Rick does have a good point here: Domestic makes have made massive strides in quality and reliability over the last few years — a recent issue of Consumer Reports even rated the new ‘08 Cadillac CTS over competitive models from BMW and Mercedes, and recent Ford models have earned very high marks in reliability.
The bigger issue is about what the VW brand means to people. VW must have known that some VW owners buy their vehicles for the German engineering, the European design, etc. The Routan may end up being a fine minivan, but can VW deliver on making it a VW minivan? Time will tell.
I also agree with Rickmeister on another thing: I’ll withhold judgement until I’ve actually had the chance to drive one.
Yes, soccer Moms and Dads buy minivans for the versatility. VW removed the stow and go seating, the swivel and go seating, the table and the warrantee of Chrysler. So, in sales, anyone with a brain should be able to know this won’t sell. You buy for features, you buy for reliability, and this has neither.
VW’s gonna do what they gotta do to survive. I won’t drive one, but hey, what of it? If it improves their profitability and thus allows them to bring more interesting stuff to market, then it’ll be a good thing.
Comment by mark_proulx — February 16, 2008 @ 1:39 am
We already drive a Chrysler T&C, 2006, 40,000 miles, short wheelbase. It serves our needs sufficiently.
Good: Elevated driver seat position, relatively good gas mileage (20-22mpg), variety of interior, relatively reliable, smooth drive.
Bad: Transmission (shifts unexpected and is pushing too hard while braking), brakes (fading – we are afraid to drive more than 10 miles downhill. It’s a suicide attempt), poor customer service (we purchased for additional $2,000.00 a service and maintenance contract for every 3,000 miles until 48,000 miles. It is worthless – the mechanics don’t even change the air filter. I gave up taking the car to the Chrysler dealer for service. Jiffy Lube is better, faster and cheaper). Workmanship and materials used in interior assembly are cheap and unprofessional – for example: hanger for clothes broke down by hanging 10 shirts and 5 pants on it, max 5 lbs.
But, even the Routan is build by Chrysler; I would like to buy it.
Condition: Diesel hybrid engine with 40± mpg, excellent brakes, firm ride, and German Workmanship. I hope, even with some Insufficiencies, it will be a van with potential to satisfy more customer than Chrysler did with its T&C.
Comment by Albert Gutwein — February 29, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
I want the VW Routan to have a manual transmission with the option of having a diesel engine or even a turbo.
Comment by gazoo — February 7, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
I have been waiting for the Routan to be unvailed. I already have a Chrysler T&C. I want a TDI Routan not a T&C with a VW Grill!
Comment by Kevin — February 7, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
As I told VW’s customer service, “If I wanted a minivan, I would already own one — which I do not.”
I think VW mistook the excitement for the Microbus concept as a message that they needed any-old family mover. This is instead a transparent product that elicits zero excitement or desire from me.
An interesting story at businessweek talks about how VW wants to save its brand. This very sad machine is going to do nothing for that plan. I agree with them that this product will be dead and buried in 3 years. I just hope VW doesn’t mistake disinterest for this product as similar disinterest with the Microbus.
Comment by Matt — February 7, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
WHY DO WE NOT GET THE MULTIVAN IN THE STATES? THIS IS A DODGE PLAY ACTING. IT IS DISSAPOINTING.
GET US THE MUTIVAN WITH THE POWERFUL TDI ENGINE. THAN VW WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN THE MINIVAN MARKET.
Comment by DANIEL ABRUDEANU — February 8, 2008 @ 12:36 am
As others have said, this van is NOT what VW owners want, and I doubt it will bring a lot of new traffic to VW dealers. Where is the diesel? Even better, where is the T5. I have owned nothing but VW’s for 30 years, but it is now getting to be time to move on.
Comment by Tony — February 9, 2008 @ 9:57 pm
Did they ever drop the ball on this one. Why even bother, when you can buy the american version of what is almost the exact same for much less? What a missed opportunity.
Comment by apples — February 12, 2008 @ 8:01 am
After viewing the new VW Minivan, nothing else screams “abortion” so loudly! VW should hang its head in shame, creating this joke that theoretically comes from the linage of Vans and Buses, produced by the once great Company call Volkswagen.
Comment by Major Jack — February 12, 2008 @ 10:30 am
What’s Beef? Biggie Smalls asked…..
Beef to me is; reading the droppings left on automotive blogs and websites.
Until you are talking rally cars, enthusiast cars, muscle cars, or exotics, there is nothing to get huffy about in the automotive business these days.
I am a car salesman and this is how I eat.
I always pull my hair out when I read unsupported, negative comments like the ones written about the Routan.
Have any of you nuts driven the van yet?? DUH!!! You need to quit spouting what you don’t know, and no! I do not sell for VW.
Folks, the vehicle in question here is a freaking minivan for heavens sake!! A vehicle aimed at Soccer Moms and families. It is purchased out of the need for lots of space and practicality for as little money as possible. If one or more these factors are not an issue the buyer will likely purchase an SUV or Crossover instead. If the fickle market doesn’t purchase these products it becomes a costly investment for a manufacturer to abandon over the short term, so why would VW not partner with a company that sells the most minivans. Would you be sufficed to pay $40,000+ for a Toyota or Honda based unit?
The showroom floor at a car dealership is a washed with the same “I read on the internet that…” B.S. as well.
I have sold Domestic and Imports and frankly, I find it hard to be overly negative toward any vehicle on the market in Canada or the USA today. Regardless of the country of origin or the manufacturer, I have noted that most modern vehicles are more than capable of providing reasonable service in excess of 300,000 kms and yes, Virginia imports do breakdown.
Due to the market and personal economics, I currently sell an import brand which manufactures more than 60% of their best selling vehicles in North America and employs North Americans; hence I still support our economic wheel.
You would think that after all the huff about imports that customers would walk in with money in hand and take delivery “today”? Heck no! I have to work harder than I did when I sold domestics. There seem to be the only a few interest consumers have these days and they are: “Does it have leather, DVD, GPS, back-up cameras and a moon roof?” Along with this they request low monthly payments with zero down. I don’t blame them fully; I believe the industry itself caused that.
Take a reality check guys. If you are leasing vehicles for 2 to 3 years quit the B.S. talk and just buy what you can afford. You can close your eyes and buy just about anything, domestic or import and 9 out of 10 times you will have a great vehicle, save a bundle of cash and for a change, enjoy a better over all experience purchasing and owning a vehicle.
Comment by Rickmeister — February 13, 2008 @ 2:36 am
It’s clear that Volkswagen is trying to grow their market share in North America by working with a leading minivan manufacturer to get a VW minivan to market quickly.
Here’s a question for those of you that have had a negative reaction to the Routan:
Would you rather waited a few more years for a unique (and undoubtedly more expensive) VW minivan, possibly something that resembled the VW Microbus concept?
Comment by Jeff James — February 13, 2008 @ 9:34 am
@ Rickmeister:
Rick does have a good point here: Domestic makes have made massive strides in quality and reliability over the last few years — a recent issue of Consumer Reports even rated the new ‘08 Cadillac CTS over competitive models from BMW and Mercedes, and recent Ford models have earned very high marks in reliability.
The bigger issue is about what the VW brand means to people. VW must have known that some VW owners buy their vehicles for the German engineering, the European design, etc. The Routan may end up being a fine minivan, but can VW deliver on making it a VW minivan? Time will tell.
I also agree with Rickmeister on another thing: I’ll withhold judgement until I’ve actually had the chance to drive one.
Comment by Jeff James — February 13, 2008 @ 9:41 am
rickmeister,
Yes, soccer Moms and Dads buy minivans for the versatility. VW removed the stow and go seating, the swivel and go seating, the table and the warrantee of Chrysler. So, in sales, anyone with a brain should be able to know this won’t sell. You buy for features, you buy for reliability, and this has neither.
Comment by VAD — February 14, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
VW’s gonna do what they gotta do to survive. I won’t drive one, but hey, what of it? If it improves their profitability and thus allows them to bring more interesting stuff to market, then it’ll be a good thing.
Comment by mark_proulx — February 16, 2008 @ 1:39 am
We already drive a Chrysler T&C, 2006, 40,000 miles, short wheelbase. It serves our needs sufficiently.
Good: Elevated driver seat position, relatively good gas mileage (20-22mpg), variety of interior, relatively reliable, smooth drive.
Bad: Transmission (shifts unexpected and is pushing too hard while braking), brakes (fading – we are afraid to drive more than 10 miles downhill. It’s a suicide attempt), poor customer service (we purchased for additional $2,000.00 a service and maintenance contract for every 3,000 miles until 48,000 miles. It is worthless – the mechanics don’t even change the air filter. I gave up taking the car to the Chrysler dealer for service. Jiffy Lube is better, faster and cheaper). Workmanship and materials used in interior assembly are cheap and unprofessional – for example: hanger for clothes broke down by hanging 10 shirts and 5 pants on it, max 5 lbs.
But, even the Routan is build by Chrysler; I would like to buy it.
Condition: Diesel hybrid engine with 40± mpg, excellent brakes, firm ride, and German Workmanship. I hope, even with some Insufficiencies, it will be a van with potential to satisfy more customer than Chrysler did with its T&C.
Comment by Albert Gutwein — February 29, 2008 @ 10:50 pm
jGGIuJ hi nice site man thx http://peace.com
Comment by bob — March 4, 2008 @ 8:53 am
bookmark you thx
Comment by sylvia — March 6, 2008 @ 9:55 am
cool post dude
Comment by joseph — March 6, 2008 @ 12:29 pm