Volkswagen Routan not moving out of showrooms, future remains fuzzy

This van is just wrong for VW. If they want in to this market they should produce something in house. It would probably be better than the Caravan.

— _43LE (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 11:26:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

It's an OK van, but the ad campaign for it is annoying as hell.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 12:00:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

looks better then the chrysler version I think they have the wrong marketing stratgy it should do well with these looks.

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 12:00:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Why didn't VW just sell their own van being sold in Europe. It doesn't american? This van is clearly wrong for VW's image as a euro car company.

— woood (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 12:10:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

It is a Chrysler Minivan already. Why pay VW prices for a Chrysler Van. If I was to buy a VW, I would buy the Passat. It is a nice car that would be easy to resell years from now.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 12:44:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It would just be easier to buy the Chrysler Van, because there would be less confusion at the parts counter. The Chrysler Parts would be easier to get. Any part with VW's name on it would likely have a steep upcharge.

— mercuryguy (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 12:47:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Isn't this van with the ridiculous tv ad of a frog jumping inside the car? VW deserves better.

— Caraficionado (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 1:37:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Problems:

1) The obvious is that it is a rebadged Chrysler and it has had that badge reputation since day 1.

2) Most owners of VW's are more wagon, sedan, SUV people than Mini-van owners. Routan GTI or Wolfsburg edition just doesn't sound right anyways.

3) Price, it is a little more expensive than a Chrysler.

4) They just wanted a quick bite at some marketshare but had no chance from the beginning. They should have put the dollars making their SUVs compete more with Honda, Toyota, Ford, etc. Rather than making them over-priced, Porsche wanna-be's.

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 2:04:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

lol they are doing 0% financing and like $5000 cash back on that crap.

I love VW, but I'll never touch the routan.

— monkeyrun (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 2:34:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

They should have done what was raved about years ago, bring the MicroBus back!

— Whelan (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 4:25:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

This is a stupid van, more so the dumbest thing from VW. Last thing anyone needs in this world is a rebadged chrysler.

— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 4:55:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Its going to take more than a German name to get people to fork over upto $50K (starts at $27K) for a minivan, especially if its going up against the Sienna and Odyssey.

If you want cheap, a Chrysler is cheaper.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 10:01:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

what really caught my attention is that every VW vehicle is engineered for 10K mile oil changes and the footnote in the brochure says not including the Routan.

— commander104 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 10:49:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

i actually liked the ad campaign, i liked brooke shields a lot, as fas as vw wanting something with hype, they should have done the microbus .......

— iamdabest1 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/20/2009 11:17:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I'd buy one if Stow and Go was an option!!! LOL!!! What a joke. VW deserves what they get on this one.

— r_driver04 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/21/2009 12:24:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

So much for "German engineering" LOL!

— Badgewhore (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2009 5:21:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Rebadged Chrysler or not, this van came ten years too late. Everyone is on the crossover trip now.

IMHO, Volkswagen knew they were arriving late to the minivan party so they just went with a company who knows the minivan best. (the company that created the category) Keep in mind, I didnt say "built the best"!

— LACMAN (View Profile)

Posted on 4/22/2009 8:17:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Dear Mr. Stefan Jacoby (CEO of Volkswagen Group of America)

Please do VW and your US customers a favor by firing yourself. Even if you keep your huge bonus you'll still be doing everyone a favor.

Sincerely,
VW Customer

— Eyecarehawaii (View Profile)

Posted on 4/23/2009 7:17:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

VW has been out of touch for decades. The friggin' Germans think they can fool Americans by peddling unreliable junk as "German quality".
Too bad a lot of Americans can't see past this fog German car makers have put up.

— avanti64 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/24/2009 5:40:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1