VIR Opens Daytona Prototype Testing to Race Fans

I'm just learning about the role Volkswagen plays in auto racing. I'm especially impressed by what their TDI (turbo direct injected-I think) Diesel is doing.

The part of the article is this:

"Fans Can Win GTI Hot Laps and test drive a Routan


These two days of tests are open to the public. Fans that enter the VIR gates prior to 11 a.m. will be given a raffle ticket for a chance to win hot laps in a brand-new Volkswagen

GTI driven by one of the pro drivers during lunchtime. VW is VIR’s official vehicle, and getting a ride around the natural terrain road course at speed in a GTI driven by a pro-racer is something you won’t want to miss! Fans can also test drive a VW Routan van and for those that have to haul a family around - the Routan is hard to beat." (emphasis mine)

The article was written for GoRacingTV.com about Virginia International Raceway (VIR). Someone made a faux pas by linking "Routan" to an ad for the Dodge Caravan.

New Car

An entry from John & Jessica's Blog Our Story...

Back in June I posted about wanting to get rid of our beast, the Commander, and getting a minivan. We have been looking and thinking about it for months but we FINALLY went for it last Wednesday! I wanted to wait a bit to post about it just to make sure I really did like it :) After a weekend trip to St. George I officially love it! So... goodbye Commander, hello Routan.



*pictures were all taken with my iPhone. My computer needs to have the hard drive replaced so all posting will be done with my phone for now. Bummer.

Andy Stonehouse reviews the Town & Country

In September, Andy Stonehouse reviewed the Routan. His review in full is in the previous post.

On October 24, Andy posted a review of the Chrysler Town & Country. His first memorable remark was that in Yosemite, minivans are Grizzly lunchboxes because they smell of children. His other memorable remark was: "It still handles like a minivan — what Volkswagen said about its T&C-derived Routan being re-tuned for better ride and performance was true ..."

I read this as a nod to the Routan--that it DOES ride better than the T&C.

VW's Routan makes the minivan routine more pleasant

SummitDaily.com

September 13, 2009

By Andy Stonehouse
summit daily auto writer


ENLARGE
2009 Volkswagen Routan SEL

Price (as tested): $33,690

Powertrain: 251-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6, six-speed automatic transmission

Includes: Navigation system, power sunroof, power-adjustable pedals, power-folding third row seat, remote start, rear air suspension, power-sliding and lifting side doors and liftgate, leather seating surfaces, power windows in side doors, Bluetooth

EPA mileage: 17 city, 25 highway

If your hauling duties call for a vehicle which can carry at least half of the lacrosse team, and you too have come to the consensus that only Texas tourists drive Expeditions anymore … I may have a solution for you.

And yes, it is a minivan, and yes, I did recently diss the entire genre of minivans, but … Volkswagen has crafted a slight exception to the rule. More impractical supercar coverage soon, I promise.

The Routan, launched about this time last year (you may remember the weird ads with Brooke Shields), is a peculiar but oddly inviting alternative in the box-tastic world of people-haulers. It is, absolutely, a joint project with Chrysler and is, for the most part, a Town and Country minivan with a fair amount of Volkswagen-specific parts and attributes, but don't use that as a reason to write it off entirely.

On the outside, the looks are definitely sexier than the standard American-made model; the interior offers a hybrid blend of Chrysler components (the navigation system and steering wheel setup, for instance) with plenty of totally VW bits and pieces (a new dash, wider and more comfortable seating and the AC system).

Rarely do I get a chance to travel with an absolutely full house of passengers (people at my office have seen me doing donuts in the back parking lot and tend to run the other way), but when a lunch date required room for myself and six riders, the Routan came in mighty handy.

It also gave me a very practical chance to see what happens when that many people need to operate the doors, flop down the access points and sashay themselves into the back of a moderately sized vehicle. I can report, from the relative lack of uncomfortable squeals and whining, that the Routan does the trick.

Unlike the Town and Country, Routan lacks the handy second-row “Fold-and-Go” seats — permanently affixed second-row captains chairs appeared instead in my tester — though the nearly keg-sized storage spaces underneath the carpets remain.
In the third row, there's a 60/40 split seat which can be stowed entirely (or reclined) electronically; my guests reported that they had definite issues accessing the third row, as those second row chairs would only rather indelicately flop forward.

The large side doors both open electronically, as does the tail liftgate (you can do so remotely with the key fob, which is handy, or from the driver's seat) but … despite a self-arresting function, I still managed to nearly get one passenger's leg caught in the door, so prudence is necessary. The side doors also feature power windows, which will roll down about 70 percent of the way.

Out on the highway, some of the key minivan attributes remain (ie., it's still more or less like driving a boxy minivan), though the SEL model's 251-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 offered quite adequate thrust, even with a full house. You can also generate as much as 25 mpg on the highway, though 21 was more my norm.

The manufacturer boasts that Routan has received special VW-specific ride tuning; I haven't had a new-generation Town and Country so I can't vouch for that, but it was certainly pleasant enough.

VW's Ad Agencies

I just came across finding bee and it's recent post, VW Narrows it Down to Two: What’s Next for the Iconic Brand?. Volkswagen has to select a new Ad Agency, and the post discusses the choices to a degree. It also reminded me of VW's past glorious history of advertising.

When I was in advertising, I read a wonderful book about Doyle Dane Bernbach's (DDB) iconic print advertising for Volkswagen. It was a blank sheet of paper, with a relatively small picture of the original Beetle and a little (often witty) copy at the bottom. Often copied, never duplicated, it put VW on the U.S. map, legitimized "Beetle", debunked or perpetuated urban myths (Can Beetles really float?). If you showed anyone over the age of 40 this ad, they'd recognize it as VW even before they put on their reading glasses.

More recently, VW had some mixed results with their ex-agency, Crispin Porter & Bogusky. It seems the Brooke Shields series of ads for the Routan made people feel uncomfortable. I thought they were funny, and I bought a Routan without having another child (remember, I saw the DDB ads when they were originally published).

The finding bee site also had this commercial. While not for the Routan, it's pretty good.


Do you have a favorite Volkswagen or Routan commercial? Leave a comment. If you can post a link, all the better. I'd love to have a link to the Routan "Future Family" commercial. I didn't fully understand it when I first saw it, then I bought the Routan. I split a gut laughing the next time I saw it.

Manufacturers Offer Richest Incentives Since Cash for Clunkers

Auto Observer

After dismal September car sales due to the hangover from the government's Cash for Clunkers program, auto manufacturers have ramped up incentives in October as they have ramped up production to refill the inventory pipeline, according to Edmunds.com.
The incentives show manufacturers are extremely eager to sell off 2009 models left in inventory. But automakers are also offering incentives on newly launched 2010 models.
"This year has been a wild ride for automakers, and it's not over yet," said Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell. "No segment is unaffected by the current round of incentives, though luxury models and trucks are being discounted particularly heavily."
Low-interest financing, including zero-interest financing, and cash rebates dominate the landscape, but subsidized lease programs, almost non-existent in the past years, are proliferating as well.

Luxury makers, particularly Mercedes-Benz, are offering great deals as is General Motors, which is offering 0-percent financing on many models. Some hybrids and diesels are also on sale.
Here are some highlights of Edmunds.com's True Market Value (TMV) Deals of the Month, which are deals that Edmunds.com has determined offer the most savings to consumers.
General Motors: Back in the Game
… In September, GM launched its massive May the Best Car Win campaign, starring GM's government-appointed chairman Ed Whitacre and including a 60-day money-back guarantee. More recent advertising focuses on GM's four core brands - Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC -- and specific models. GM's Bob Lutz, now in charge of marketing, said last week GM will be "more aggressive" and spend big on advertising.
In addition, GM is spending significantly on incentives. The automaker is offering zero-percent financing on many models. …
October Is Truck Month for All
After lousy sales of big profit margin trucks in September, dealers begged GM to bring back the annual October Truck Month extravaganza. GM obliged and is offering low-incentive financing as well as large cash rebates on trucks.
But, while GM and its domestic competitors Ford and Dodge area also heavily advertising truck month, Nissan is offering the beefiest incentive on trucks, including its full-size Nissan Titan pickup: $5,0000 cash rebates or zero-percent financing for up to 50 months and 1.9 percent for 72 months.
However, despite trucks being a heavily leased segment, the truck segment is the only category in which Edmunds.com's Deals of the Month do not show a lease program.
Lap of Luxury Now Cheaper
Luxury car sales have been pounded by the recession, and it shows in the Deals of the Month in October.
The fashion-conscious luxury segment is particularly sensitive to model changeovers so it's critical for luxury makers to ditch the old models quickly. To that end, several attractive deals are available on leftover 2009 models.
With summer over, convertibles are on sale. GM is overing up to a $4,000 rebate on its Chevrolet Corvette or zero-interest financing for up to 60 months. The 2009 Audi A4 convertible is also discounted this month.
Long-suffering Saab, which is being sold by GM, has $6,000 to $7,000 dealer incentives on the Saab 9-3 Convertible and Saab 9-5.
On the cheaper end of luxury, Mini has been heavily advertising its 1.9-percent finance rate on the 2009 Mini Cooper.
Having reported a 13-percent sales decline in September, Mercedes-Benz, in particular, is offering a number of great deals on 2009 models, mostly as cash to dealers that can be passed along to buyers. For instance, Mercedes-Benz SL has a hefty $15,000 dealer incentive….
Alternate Power On Sale
BMW is offering a "Diesel Credit" on all of its diesel models. It is offering a $4,500 credit on the diesel-powered X5 SUV and the 335d.
In addition to the Saturn Aura Hybrid, GM is offering a $4,000 rebate on the pricey Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. Chrysler is offering $4,500 off or zero-percent financing on the Chrysler Aspen Hybrid, which shares the same two-mode hybrid technology as the Escalade but the Aspen was barely launched before the automaker pulled it off the market.
Even Honda's new Insight hybrid is available with a specially priced $199 a month lease.
Family Deals
A handful of minivans are on sale. The biggest discount is on Chrysler's Town & Country minivan, which has a $3,500 cash rebate or zero-percent financing for up to 60 months. The Nissan Quest has a $3,000 rebate. The Volkswagen Routan, based on the Chrysler minivans, offers zero-percent financing. And Honda is providing a special lease rate on its Odyssey.
Other models on Edmunds' great deals list for October include the Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Charger, Honda Civic, Mazda6, Nissan Altima, Suzuki SX4, Volvo C30, Volkswagen Rabbit and Passat. -- Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst and Editor at Large
Photos by manufacturers
1 - GM is offering a $2,500 rebate or zero-percent financing on the Pontiac Solstice. (Photo by GM)
2 -  Nissan is offering a $5,000 cash rebate on its Titan pickup. (Photo by Nissan)
3 - Mercedes-Benz is giving dealers up to $15,000 in incentives, which can be passed onto consumers, on its luxury cars, including the Mercedes-Benz SL. (Photo by Mercedes-Benz)

A blog worth visiting

I just came across a blog that is definitely worth visiting if you are interested in the Routan. It's the Routan Summer blog http://routansummer.blogspot.com/. Their descrtiption is: "Welcome to our family. What you are reading is the story of our summer adventure in a new 2009 VW Routan. Yup, the German-tuned minivan. Our family of four is always going somewhere, doing something. What are those things? Well I guess you will just have to read along and find out. Welcome to our family. Enjoy our ride."

The most recent post waxes poetic over heated seats. I used to thing they were a decadent, bourgeois affectation and surely unneeded in Memphis. (BTW, like the family in Routan Summer, I grew up in northern Ohio--in a town named Madison that was adjacent to Geneva-on-the-Lake. Perhaps, I thought, they might not be so affectative there.) That is, before I took delivery of a new 1985 Peugeot 505S which came with heated seats. Even in Memphis, where we see freezing temperatures, and where we have already had mornings this year in the low 40s, heated seats make driving a pleasure.

Since that time, I have owned 3 other cars with heated seats--another 1985 Peugeot, a 1984 Mercedes 300SD, and a 1994 Infiniti Q45. I have also owned a handful of cars without heated seats--and I was thankful that I owned them concurrently with the cars above. There was one summer where I owned 2 vehicles that didn't have heated seats, but I remedied that quickly.

The Routan SEL (and maybe the Routan SE) come with two-stage heated seats. High is definitely toasty, I haven't tried low yet. But as an added bonus, the middle seats are also heated. Being the father of 3, who also often transports adults, this is a nice "luxury" to offer.

Somewhere in the process of passing 50 and raising the 3 (17-year old girl, 13-year old boy, 10-year old girl) I have developed fibromyalgia. The heated seats allow me to be able to move. I may have to drag myself out to the car, but the heated seats let me walk into work like a man.

Anyway, Routan Summer's post got me ranting and raving. Visit them, and tell them I sent you.

2009 Volkswagen Routan vs 2008 Chrysler Town & Country--cars.com

2009 Volkswagen Routan Review--cars.com

2009 Volkswagen Routan Review

2009 Volkswagen Routan Review

2009 Volkswagen Routan


New minivan expands brand

Dan Lyons / autoMedia.com

Routan marks Volkswagen’s re-entry into the minivan field after an absence of five years. The addition of the new model makes sense; filling one of the few remaining slots in the company’s lineup where they did not field a competitive vehicle. The route taken to develop Routan is unusual for the VW, though not for the industry. Rather than design a new van from the ground up, Volkswagen opted instead to buy an existing platform and adapt it for their use. The company that they chose to partner with was Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler is the acknowledged Minivan Meister. Inventors of the breed in 1984, they’ve been prime players ever since. The most obvious benefit of this approach for Volkswagen is speed to market. It’s far faster to build on established expertise than it is to cut something from whole cloth. The downside is, an off-the–rack offering—however handsomely tailored—will never have quite the individualized fit and feel that a custom-made piece would.

Performance, Pricing, and Dynamics

Routan is available in three trim levels: S (MSRP $24,700), SE ($29,600) and SEL ($33,200). S and SE models share a 197-hp, 3.6-liter V-6, while the SEL gets a 253-hp, 4.0-liter six. Both engines are partnered with a six speed automatic transmission. The SEL is predicted to be the volume leader, and our test drive focused on this model. The front-wheel-drive Routan rides on a 121-inch wheelbase. The chassis is fitted with a MacPherson strut front suspension and a twist beam axle in back. The powertrain choices are sourced from the Chrysler catalog, but VW has tweaked the suspension components (springs, dampers, bushings) to impart a more continental feel to its driving and handling.

Volkswagen is positioning the Routan as the Beetle of Minivans, and promoting the fun-to-drive DNA that permeates the rest of the company’s lineup. Of course, minivans have a lot more to do with function than fun, and most will spend far more time traveling to a shopping mall than traversing a slalom. Within the confines of its competitive class, though, Routan handles confidently, with above average steering feel, and a smooth road ride. The 3.8-liter V-6 gets from 0-60 mph in 10.2 seconds. On paper, the number looks leisurely. However, in practice, the powertrain has adequate power for all normal driving duties. It comes off the line well, cruises comfortably at highway speeds and has enough in reserve for a pedal-to-the-metal pass, when need be. EPA rates the Routan’s potential fuel economy at 16/23 city/highway, which is spot on with the competition. We got 19 miles per gallon during our test drive. The SEL can be equipped to tow as much as 3,500 lbs. Standard safety features include front and side curtain airbags, an Electronic Stability Program and ABS with Brake Assist.

Comfort, Cargo, and Versatility

Minivans earn their keep with versatility. Thanks to their basically boxy shape and flexible floor plans, no breed of vehicle holds more people and cargo, while maintaining car-like comfort levels. Routan will seat 6-7, depending on choice of second row seats. Our SEL tester was equipped with captain’s chairs in rows one and two, and a split bench in back. The third row seats have enough room to hold adults, and in max-passenger mode, there’s 32 cubic feet of storage space in back. When not needed for people, the last row of seats folds obligingly into the floor, creating an impressive cargo capacity of 83 cubic feet.

Before leaving the way-back, we should also note that the third row seats have one more trick up their sleeve. They can be configured in a reverse-facing formation well suited for tailgating. Second-row seats can fold and tumble forward, though the headrests must first be removed from the seatbacks. They can also be removed outright and, with that done and the third row folded, cargo space jumps to 141 cu. ft. The floor in front of row two houses a pair of concealed, covered storage bins. The forward cabin has a raft of storage spots, including a two-level glovebox, a dash-top dish, center console and no less than eight cup/juice box/bottle holders (with five more in back), satisfying our nationwide fixation on hydration. The location of controls and switches is straightforward. There is a noticeable amount of reflection of the dashboard into the windshield when conditions are bright and sunny.


The Beetle of Minivans

The list of available options covers all the bases one expects in a modern people hauler. Among the highlights are a touch screen navigation/entertainment system, rear seat entertainment system with dual, 9-inch screens for second and third rows, dual, power sliding second row doors and an overhead, concave mirror in the front section, perfect for parental peace-keeping surveillance of those in back.

Volkswagen is having a good year, sales-wise, recently passing Ford as the world’s third largest manufacturer. In the midst of a market that is largely lagging, the company is up slightly in year-to-date U.S. sales, and has recorded an impressive, 4,000,000 sales worldwide so far. Minivans, though not the market juggernauts that they once were here, still account for a robust 700,000 units in this country every year. Volkswagen wants five percent of that market with their new entry, a number that seems both modest and “makeable,” given Routan’s quality. By teaming with the segment stalwart Chrysler for its development, VW sacrificed some of their corporate character, and hardcore Vee-dubbers may lament the lack of their distinctive drivetrains, for example. But, that’s a minority of potential buyers. More important, the company gained a quick, leg-up in a segment where they had no presence. And, they also have nothing to lose, as Routan sales won’t be at the expense of any other models—except the competitions’. (www.vw.com)

About the Author

A native of New York’s Hudson River Valley, Dan Lyons has been reviewing cars in print and online for the past 20 years.

Copyright autoMedia.com 2000-2009

Shared via AddThis

Volkswagen updates Routan line up for 2010

 Volkswagen updates Routan line up for 2010 « Askavwsalesguy's Blog


October 14, 2009

In an effort to become more competitive in the minivan segment Volkswagen has added new trim levels and standard equipment to the Routan. S models now get standard three zone  manual climate control (driver/passenger/rear) just as in the SE models.
The big news is that now you will be able to get a SE or SEL model with Navigation, but you will have to get the rear seat entertainment package . So the new Line up is now S, SE, SE with RSE, SE with RSE/Nav, SEL, SEL with RSE/NAV and SEL Premium. For a full list of interior changes check out the graph below.
Other changes include adding 3 new colors (Meteor Gray,Cocoa Bean,Tanzanite) and two colors go bye bye (Blonde Maple,Atlantis Blue). For a full list of interior changes check out the graph below

Posted in Volkswagen | Tagged 2010, changes, minivan, routan, Volkswagen

The Routan's 13 Cupholders!

America's Best Cars For The Money

This post is an excerpt from the Forbes article.--DMW

Hannah Elliott, 03.30.09, 04:15 PM EST

From fuel efficiency to maintenance costs, these cars, trucks and SUVs get top ratings

Amid the dire news for America's car companies comes a ray of light for beleaguered General Motors. An annual value study released Monday by Vincentric, an auto-industry analysis firm in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., gives 10 GM models top ratings. Only one model from fellow-sufferer Chrysler, the Jeep Compass, made the cut. Ford, which has yet to require government funding to help maintain its viability, had three models that earned top billing. …
The study, titled the "Best Value in America" report, evaluates the cost of owning specific models by accounting for depreciation, fuel, insurance, opportunity costs, financing, maintenance, taxes and state fees and repairs.
Each car was evaluated in every state and in Washington, D.C. The cars studied racked up annual mileages of 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000. Vincentric used varied insurance profiles (new drivers, less experienced drivers and experienced drivers) to determine the value for each vehicle.
Vincentric identified superior value by measuring which vehicles had the lowest ownership costs given their market segment and price.
To some extent, the Vincentric ratings reflect American automakers' strengths and weaknesses, says David Wurster, who leads product development and industry analysis for Vincentric. GM will pull through its current dire straits, he predicts. Chrysler may not. …
Other highlights in the report are the Volkswagen Routan van and Tiguan crossover. Each has high residual values that enhance the overall value, especially the Tiguan in the growing but precarious crossover market.
The value of any vehicle relies in part on gas prices, and that affects crossovers more than most. They offer good value to consumers who would otherwise drive a large SUV, but their car-like handling with extra cargo space doesn't offer the best value for everyone.
"Smaller cars and midsize vans have made a rebound in the economy, so bigger vehicles generally are taking a hit, and I think that's because people are asking themselves, 'What do I really need?'" says Karl Brauer, the editor in chief at Edmunds.com, a car research Web site.
In Pictures: America's Best Cars For The Money

What did Volkswagen do to the suspension?

We read that the Routan has a German-engineered suspension. What did they do to the Chrysler base?

According to Autotropolis: "Volkswagen engineers altered the suspension bushings, springs, steering, and shock dampers."

Amazon.com: (2) Mirror Decals " OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE LOSING” for … ROUTAN …

See larger image
Share your own customer images

My sentiments exactly.

by KING VINYL
No customer reviews yet. Be the first.

http://the-buy.com/i/o%7B%7BwA66~~~5hth%81vu5jvt6VIQLJ%5BZ4WOHL%5BVU4RHYTHUU4%5BV%5CHYLN4%5Dvsrz~hnlu6kw6I779LMKO%3EJFZ%7Cizjypw%7BpvuPkDHRPHQT%5CO%5B9IJaTJQ%3BS%3AX-%7BhnD~z-spurJvklD%7Ft9-jhtwD979%3C-jylh%7Bp%7DlD8%3D%3C%40%3C%3A-jylh%7Bp%7DlHZPUDI779LMKO%3EJ

Volkswagen Routan Video Review – Kelley Blue Book – VW

Kelley Blue Book estimates that the Volkswagen Routan will hold it's value as well as the Toyota Sienna, and better than the Kia Sedona and the Chrysler Town & Country.

The Volkswagen Routan meets sales targets (by percentage).

This is not an official release from Volkswagen of America. I'm just sick of reading people saying that the Routan is selling miserably, is a flop, and that Volkswagen can't give them away.

On February 6, 2008, Associated Press reported, in part: "U.S. minivan sales have been in decline with the rise of crossover and small sport utility vehicles. Minivan sales dropped 18 per cent last year, and General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have left the market altogether.


But [Volkswagen of America President and CEO Stefan] Jacoby said the minivan market still is approaching 1 million vehicles a year, and Volkswagen would like to capture 3 to 5 per cent of that.

"It's big, and we want to have a decent share in it," he said."


PRNewswire published the September and YTD sales figures of the auto-makers who sell in the U.S. From these reports, we glean the following data:

Brand        YTD - 9/09



Chrysler         61,715

Dodge             64,912

Honda             77,978

Hyundai            3,423

Kia                  23,717

Mazda             14,918

Nissan               7,728

Toyota             59,772

Volkswagen     12,639


Total             326,802

Volkswagen's market share of sales is 3.87%, right where Volkswagen of America was aiming for. In a market where most auto manufacturers' sales are down year-to-year, Volkswagen gained market share where they had none.

Consumer Reports Tests Volkswagen Routan

I found this reported in Car Blog. In part, the article said:

"...Instead of testing a group of competing vehicles for the November issue, CR featured tests of several new and redesigned vehicles that are hot off the magazine’s test track. In addition to the Prius, this issue also includes the redesign of the Chevrolet Equinox small SUV; the small, boxy Nissan Cube wagon; the redesigned Subaru Outback wagon; and the Chrysler-based Volkswagen Routan minivan. ...

"... Although the Routan is also too new to have reliability data, the Chrysler Town & Country, on which it is based, had below average reliability and CR expects the Routan to be the same. ...

"Full tests and ratings of the vehicles appear in the November issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale October 6. The reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org. Updated daily, ConsumerReports.org is the go-to site for the latest auto reviews, product news, blogs on breaking news and car buying information. ...

"The Routan is not a German import but a rebadged Chrysler Town & Country with a few tweaks. The ride is pleasant and the cabin is quiet, but handling is clumsy and the engines lack refinement. The Volkswagen Routan SEL ($36,215 MSRP as tested) is powered by a 251-hp, 4.0-liter V6 engine that delivers better-than-average performance but racked up just 16 mpg overall. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Braking is Good. Aside from the nicely-finished soft-touch upper dash, the interior looks and feels cheap, from the large gaps around the shifter to the wobbly center-console compartment. Folding the powered third row and removing the heavy second-row seats opens up a cavernous cargo hold."

The Volkswagen Junior Masters US Finals are here.

Let's get you ready to celebrate
your goals in style.

Learn More



The Volkswagen Junior Masters US Finals will be played in Washington D.C., on October 18, 2009. And one team will represent the United States at the World Tournament in South Africa. Let world-renowned Goal Celebration Coach Umberto Santiago Antonio (U.S.A.) Rodriguez and MLS players get you in top goal celebration shape. You're going to need it. Go to Volkswagen Junior Masters Goal Celebration Camp now.
In addition, visit Volkswagen Junior Masters for your chance to win the Volkswagen Ultimate Soccer Vehicle Sweepstakes, where the grand prize is a 1-year lease of a 2010 Routan SEL*. Now that's something to celebrate.

---

VW Events     |       VW Buzz      |      Contact Us     |     Privacy Policy
©2009 Volkswagen of America, Inc.
*The prize pertains to a 1-year lease of a 2010 Routan SEL. The base MSRP for the 2010 Routan SEL is $33,600. The prize includes transportation, options, title, and dealer charges. Taxes are not included. The color and options are at the discretion of VWoA based on availability. The vehicle must be picked up at a local Volkswagen dealership. The winner is responsible for registration and licensing fees and all federal, state, and local taxes. The prize is not transferable. An alternate prize or cash will not be offered in lieu of the described prize. The prize may vary from the illustration shown, due to model changes, availability, and other circumstances. The prize is individually warranted by the manufacturer and is not the responsibility of Eurosport. For the complete sweepstakes rules, visit vwjrmasters.com. "Volkswagen," "Das Auto," the Volkswagen logo and all model names are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. "Carefree Maintenance" is a trademark and the Carefree Maintenance design is a trademark of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Promo Code: 903812.

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA    2200 FERDINAND PORSCHE DRIVE   HERNDON, VA 20171

The Volkswagen Junior Masters US Finals are here.

Why Winners Buy the VW Routan

Pictures of my 2009 Volkswagen Routan SEL

Purpose of this blog

I bought a Routan SEL on August 22, 2009. Before going to the dealer, I felt that I could never afford a vehicle with so many accessories and that I would have to settle for less, or go used. My Volkswagen dealer surprised me with a very workable deal, 1.5% APR for 72 months, and 3 year/36,000 mile free maintenance. I am absolutely thrilled with the peoplemover, its style, its economy, its ride, and its Volkswagen-ness.

Early reviews of the Routan were negative. They were written by people who hated minivans, hated Chrysler, and/or hated Volkswagen. The ride was too stiff. It wasn't stiff enough. It wasn't VW-ish enough. It wasn't a micro-bus. It was made by Chrysler. And the complaints went on.

Admittedly, many of the reviewers must have gotten early production models. A common complaint was that the gear shifter felt loose, like it would fall off. Mine feels right, so I suspect that an adjustment was made in the production run. Or, they all got the same press fleet model; and it was built on a Friday third shift. (All Routans are built in Chrysler's Windsor, Ont. plant during the third shift.)

I have heard these negative comments parroted by pundits, commentators, and people who want to throw there 2 cents in (3 cents in Canada :)) Routan owners, long term testers, and real Moms and Dads give a totally different opinion. This blog will be a voice for that different opinion.