NADAguides.com Names the Auto Industry’s ‘Best Car Buys’ For 2010

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COSTA MESA, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ — NADAguides.com, the leading provider of pricing information and market research for new and used cars, classics, RVs, motorcycles and boats, today announced the names of the auto industry's "Best Car Buys" for 2010. … The NADAguides.com Market/Data Analysts (MDAs) conducted their annual in-depth study to identify the criteria that matter most to consumers when considering their next car purchase. If the car received high marks in each of the selected categories, it was recognized as a NADAguides.com "Best Car Buy" for 2010.

"… Our "Best Car Buys" list not only highlights the top criteria buyers look for in a new or used car, but gives them a complete NADAguides.com list of cars that meet such criteria," said Michael Caudill, spokesperson, NADAguides.com. "… We were very careful in how we identified the needs of consumers and worked to offer a varied selection of popular categories."

… The NADAguides.com MDAs identified certain criteria as being the most important to consumers: fuel efficiency, warranty coverage, safety and depreciation. … All cars in the study proved they are the automobile industry's (combined) most fuel efficient, have the best warranty and come with the highest safety ratings, while at the same time all holding their value with the slowest rates of depreciation.

The following are the vehicles that ranked top five in each category: …

Top Vans

1. 2010 Volkswagen Routan 4dr Wgn SEL Premium – MSRP: $42,500, 21 MPG, 29% Depreciation year 1, 3 years/36,000, 5-star frontal driver crash rating

- Current incentives & rebates are available at NADAguides.com

"A van that's full of amenities and fun to drive." – NADAguides.com

2. 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan 4dr Wgn SE – MSRP: $23,175, 20 MPG, 37% Depreciation year 1, 3 years/36,000, 5-star frontal driver crash rating

- Current incentives & rebates are available at NADAguides.com

"The Grand Caravan is the leader in building an innovative and modern van." – NADAguides.com

3. 2010 Toyota Sienna 5dr 7-Pass XLE FWD (GS) – MSRP: $29,725, 20 MPG, 24% Depreciation year 1, 3 years/36,000, 4-star frontal driver crash rating

- Current incentives & rebates are available at NADAguides.com

"Sophisticated interior and plenty of room, the Sienna is an NADAguides.com Best Buy." – NADAguides.com

4. 2010 Honda Odyssey 4dr Wgn LX – MSRP: $26,805, 19 MPG, 28% Depreciation year 1, 3 years/36,000, 5-star frontal driver crash rating

- Current incentives & rebates are available at NADAguides.com

"The Odyssey is luxurious, spacious and practical, making it a true family minivan." – NADAguides.com

5. 2010 Chrysler Town & Country 4dr Wgn LX – MSRP: $25,175, 20 MPG, 26% Depreciation year 1, 3 years/ 36,000, 5-star frontal crash rating

- Current incentives & rebates are available at NADAguides.com

"Living up to its name, the Town & Country is a great all-around minivan." – NADAguides.com

About NADAguides.com

NADAguides.com (http://www.NADAguides.com) is the largest publisher of vehicle pricing and information for new and used cars, classic cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and manufactured homes. NADAguides.com offers in-depth shopping and research tools in addition to the most market-reflective pricing available. The company also produces print guidebooks, software, web services, raw data and web syndicated products.

SOURCE NADAguides.com

Contact

John Ewert of NADAguides.com, +1-951-461-2429, media@nadaguides.com

Another Favorable Review

The folks at The Car Connection reviewed the 2010 Volkswagen Routan. The review discusses the pros and cons. A purchaser needs to make an informed choice. In my case, the styling, interior, fuel economy, amenities, and excellent financing terms led me to buy a 2009 Routan SEL in August, 2009. I was thrilled with the transaction, and I haven't been disappointed by the minivan (grossraumlimousine) or the dealer.

The reviewers make an accurate statement when they say that it has the high points of the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan with noticeable improvements from Volkswagen. If you want a Honda or a Toyota, and are willing to pay the premium price for it, and willing to pass up manufacturer's incentives, then the Volkswagen Routan will not satisfy you. But if you are willing to consider a Chrysler or Dodge, which are good vehicles in their own right, then you are likely to find that the Volkswagen Routan is a better value.

I have the upgraded 4.0L engine. Most reviews comment about the roughness/ coarseness/ inadequacy of the 3.8L engine. I haven't experienced the 3.8L drivetrain. I will tell you that the 4.0L has plenty of power and runs smoothly enough that you may occasionally try to start a running engine (the electronic starting circuit doesn't engage if the engine is running).

By the way, Volkswagen includes an umbrella tray. It's been very handy during this rainy winter. The umbrella tray, the cupholder lighting, and the VW cut out of the headlight shield are all attentions to detail that make you feel like you got something better.

To those who feel the Routan is not a real Volkswagen and that VW should import the Sharan: Volkswagen very well may bring the Sharan to our shores (but not until 2012 or later), but in the meantime I get 4 years of driving a minivan that feels like a Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen Jetta, CC, Tiguan, and Routan Place Among the Best of the Best in Consumer Guide® Automotive’s 2010 Awards

PRNewswire

HERNDON, Va., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Four models from Volkswagen's 2010 lineup – the brand-leading Jetta, the stylish and sporty CC, the versatile Tiguan, and the family-ready Routan – have been ranked by Consumer Guide® Automotive as some of the best vehicles for consumers to consider and purchase this year. Consumer Guide Automotive editors tested more than 150 vehicles across 18 different categories to select this year's winners.  Each vehicle is evaluated for power, real world fuel economy, ride and handling, room and comfort, cargo space, and overall quality through everyday scenarios that a typical owner would experience, such as shopping, commuting, long highway trips, and stop-and-go city driving.

For 2010, the Jetta was named a Best Buy in the "Compact Car" category; the CC received the Best Buy title among "Premium Midsize Cars"; the Tiguan earned Best Buy status for "Compact SUVs"; and the Routan was "Recommended" in the "Minivan" group.

"It is an honor to have even one model rated with the Best Buy or Recommended title from the distinguished group at Consumer Guide," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen Group of America.  "Having four Volkswagens in this prestigious group for 2010 is consistent with our goal of producing vehicles that satisfy the driving needs and desires of our customers."

With German-bred engineering, appealing designs inside and out, fun-to-drive dynamics, and a host of fuel-efficient engines, the Jetta, CC, Tiguan, and Routan aim to please at every start of the ignition. All 2010 Volkswagens include the Prevent and Preserve Safety System as standard, which helps keep drivers and passengers safe during normal driving conditions, and reduce the severity and consequences of a possible crash. Like all 2010 Volkswagen models, the Jetta, CC, Tiguan, and Routan feature standard Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), up to eight airbags (depending on model), and a host of other standard features.

The entire 2010 Volkswagen lineup also features the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. With it, all of the scheduled maintenance for the vehicle, as described in its maintenance booklet, is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty—three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.

For more information, please visit www.vw.com, or media.vw.com.

For more information, please visit online at  http://consumerguide.com.

The "Mystique" of Volkswagen, Not the Mistake of "Punch Dub"

My kudos to Deutsch LA in their work on the Punch Dub campaign.

In preliminary buzz, we heard a lot about "Sluggy" Patterson, the inventor of "Punch Buggy" or "Slug Bug." Some of us cared about knowing more, and others didn't. I don't know who orchestrated the social media presence, but you could learn more about him--reach out and slug him, so to speak--on Twitter and Facebook, if you cared to do so.

Shortly after word got out that Tracy Morgan was going to cameo in the Super Bowl ad, a comment or two went up tying Tracy Morgan and his past problems with the game, and how they both encouraged domestic violence.

I'm assuming--but I didn't bother to look it up--that Deutsch runs the Audi campaign as well. After the fact, I learn that "Green Police" was the Nazi Constabulary.

I saw a thread running here. It reminded me of an "Are You Being Served" episode where the department store decided to have a German week, and Mister Grainger had to deal with a German tourist who wanted to buy a British Tweed jacket. Mister Grainger wanted to sell the German tourist one of those Bavarian caps that have what looks like a shaving brush stuck to the side. After exchanging comments like "Aren't you proud of being British," and "Aren't you proud of being German," the German tourist storms out (like a trooper?) spouting German, and Mr. Grainger saying "Damn, Bosch. We did win the war, you know."

It also reminded me of an episode of an episode of "Fawlty Towers" where John Cleese as Basil Fawlty goes over the top dealing with German tourists and ends up putting a comb under his nose like a moustache and goose-stepping around the dining room.

I could see the "Punch Dub" campaign spiralling down like a Messerschmidt in flames. You'd have Tracy Morgan reminding people of how Jesse Owens rubbed salt into the Nazi's wounds at the Berlin Olympics, but also kindling the idea that violence is a form of recreation. Max the Beetle would show up in black with red zigzags on its side and a stubby mustache on its front. A German helmetted driver would pass by in a Thing (which is in reality a WWII German Jeep-equivalent) Max would start spewing Hitleresque diatribe about das Volks Wagen (the People's Car) and World domination of the auto market.

But Deutsch pulled it all off by not only not staving off anti-Semitic/anti-Germanic hate/fear/dread/loathing, but making people feel good about recognizing automobiles that are well designed, engineered for the World Market, and that meet the needs and sensibilities of Americans--with humor.

Some concentrated on Tracy Morgan, but Deutsch made Tracy a prop to Stevie Wonder-the Ambassador to World Peace. What a great stroke of genius. Not only did Stevie Wonder "see" the VW and punch Tracy first, he even declared the color. Tracy said, "How did he do that?" Well, here is a YouTube explaining how he did it.



The music Deutsch chose was fitting, as well. It's indie-folk rock. I gather this genre exists and thrives due to the iPod and MP3 players, so it is fitting for the iPod crowd. It is trendy, cutting edge, and has a"literati" feel to it. It is not jarring for those of us who are aging hippies. (And after seeing "The Who," we realized that "our music" just might be killing us--look what it did to band!)

The song is "Two Weeks" by "Grizzly Bear". I found a new bad to follow. I hear a little Billy Joel/Jackson Brown feel to it--not in a derivative way. Here is the song as it was played on David Letterman.



And finally, here is the full 60-second spot.

Volkswagen Super Bowl Commerical -- What's the Song?

In reviewing the traffic on my blog, I see that I got a lot of hits related to a search for the name of the song used in the "Punch Dub" spot. Here is perhaps a more definitive answer to the question from someone who is surely much more knowledgeable of current music than I am.

AOL Radio Blog

Posted on Feb 7th 2010 9:18PM by Jocelyn Voo

You probably played the "slug bug" game when you were a kid -- punching the poor soul who happened to be within arm's reach as a Volkswagen rolled by -- and the nostalgia certainly isn't lost on the German automaker, whose "Punch Dub" commercial aired in the third quarter of the Super Bowl with the dreamy vocal harmonies of indie folk-rock band Grizzly Bear's 'Two Weeks' wafting in the background.
Based in Brooklyn, Grizzly Bear came onto the scene in the early '00s playing alongside as varied acts as fellow indie group The Dirty Projectors, alt-rock legends Radiohead, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. 'Two Weeks' is the second track off the group's hugely popular third album, 'Veckatimest,' released in May 2009 and named after a tiny island on Cape Cod. It's also the first single off the record.
And while the band has been largely popular with music critics ('Two Weeks' ranked as no. 162 in Pitchfork Media's Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s, and 'Veckatimest' was voted Stereogum's 2nd best album of 2009) and mainstream media as a whole (the VW ad, of course, and also an episode of the CBS sitcom 'How I Met Your Mother'), they've still retained many of their original rabid fans -- one so much than he made a very cool CGI video homage to 'Two Weeks.' Check it out alongside the VW commercial after the jump.

Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear from Gabe Askew on Vimeo

Super Bowl Automotive Ads: She Said, He Said Analysis with Chris Baccus

This is an excerpt from an excellent post. I wanted to highlight the Volkswagen and Audi ads. Volkswagen has gotten a lot of flack lately over their misunderstood or poorly accepted “Don’t have a baby for German engineering” Brooke Shields series. The series with spokes-Bug Max got old fast. A lot of people missed the point of “The Family of the Future” spot for the Routan—although I did buy a white jumpsuit right after I bought my Routan. (The wife wouldn’t shave her head, though.)

Volkswagen then fired their ad agency at the worst time for the launch of the Routan. The CC hasn’t gotten a lot of recognition, either. It appears the Deutch agency is doing work that is at least critically acclaimed and focused.

On a side note, I didn’t realize that Nazi Germany’s police force was known as “Green Police.” That is an unfortunate quirk of history. Today, the market for VWs and Audis would associate the term with ecology and looming legislation. I suspect those who made the Nazi connection have already exorcized those demons or would never own anything manufactured by a company who was associated with Hitler’s “People’s Car”.

Be Car Chic blog

In recent months, I have been working diligently to expand my social media network. In my quest to build an online presence and to learn what social media is all about, I met Chris Baccus (@cbaccus). Chris is a digital brand guru from Detroit who has a successful blog and loves his red BMW 335i.

A few weeks ago, he invited me to collaborate with him on a "She Said, He Said" piece all about the automotive industry ads airing during Super Bowl XLIV. Here is our take on we saw during the game last night.
Volkswagen “PunchDub”
SHE SAID: Having a brother six years my senior, my upper arm could never forget the pain it endured from the “Punch Bug” game of my childhood. There was a “Punch Bug” graveyard on the way to our Aunt and Uncle’s lake house that housed hundreds of broken down and beat up VW Bugs. My brother and I played the game every time we went to their place, both of us anxiously awaiting that lot. Whoever spotted it first not only won the game but also had the pleasure of endlessly punching his opponent in the arm.
The VW “Punch Dub” ad appealed to anyone old enough to remember the original VW Bug. It successfully spanned demographics both through the characters in the commercial and in its appeal. While memorable, I don’t think this commercial ignited a new game of “Punch Dub” in America. I doubt kids riding in their mom’s Routan today are looking for other VW’s so they can punch each other and shout a color.
HE SAID: This ad was an early favorite at the party I attended. People really enjoyed the end with Stevie Wonder and Tracy Morgan. In the beginning, it was a bit confusing to those who may not be familiar with the ‘punch bug’ game the concept is developed from, but it is effectively communicated in the 60 seconds.
Most surprising about the campaign is how VW extended the idea online with a video called “How did he play PunchDub?” where Stevie Wonder educates the viewer about a device that helps the blind “see” colors. It is a nice extension of the Super Bowl ad.
It was also nice to see VW not bring in the online personality of “Sluggy Patterson” who is currently leading the campaign through social media (see my blog post for more information.) VW realized the difference between online and TV and showcased PunchDub in a way that was more accessible to the large audience of the Super Bowl while maintaining the integrity of the campaign. This was by far my favorite ad from the industry Sunday night. It was simple, memorable and effective in communicating a passion for the brand. Plus I believe VW will build on the success of the ad as it continues to evolve the campaign.
Audi “Green Police”
SHE SAID: Audi’s commercial was much better than the PSA previews the company aired ahead of Super Bowl XLIV. I liked the rock n’ roll tune and the way Audi brought all of it together to highlight the product. Personally, I love the Audi A3 TDI – and it won Green Car Journal’s 2010 Green Car of the Year Award – so it wasn’t a tough sell from that perspective.
The German automaker was targeted greenies and car enthusiasts alike by wittily excusing the A3 TDI from a “Green Police” Eco Check Point. Car enthusiasts like me also enjoyed hearing the TDI’s exhaust and power as it navigated its way out of the checkpoint, dodging green traffic cones and speeding off into an enviro-conscious sunset.
HE SAID: In a world of Eco-Guilt, Audi decides to mock the ridiculousness of it all with a crew of police patrolmen busting yuppies and teens for all kinds of environmental mistakes. Eco-Guilt is a developing trend where people feel they are not doing enough for the environment. Even Oprah Winfrey’s “O” magazine covered the topic demonstrating there is a cultural awareness about the behavior.
Audi received some early criticism around using “Green Police” which was a phrase used to describe Nazi Germany’s police force. Very few know about the history and it became a minor issue for the brand online, but soon dissipated after most acknowledged the “Green Police” name was about environmental “policing” for those not in environmental compliance and was simply a poor naming choice by the marketing team.
Cheap Trick did the soundtrack for the ad and the situations busting people for wrong light bulbs, using plastic bottles, and choosing plastic bags at the supermarket. The ad ends on a couple high notes with the “Eco Check” police checkpoint that lets the Audi A3 TDI go ahead and with cops stopping cops for using Styrofoam coffee cups. The ad received predominantly positive buzz online, which tells me it did get its message across effectively. Overall it’s another win for the Volkswagen Group.

VW, Land Rover and MINI All Offering Low Interest Car Loans in February

PriceWheels Blog

Feb 4th, 2010 by Ross Edwards

Audi is offering special lease deals this month. …

BMW is offering 2.9% APR financing car loans on most of its models. …

The 2010 Jaguar XF is available for $699 per month on a 36 month lease during February.

Land Rover has much better incentives than the other luxury brands this month. …

During February, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is available with 1.9% financing. …

All 2010 MINI Cooper models are available with 1.9% financing for up to 60 months.

For February, Volkswagen is the only European company offering 0% interest car loans. The 2010 Passat and Routan both come with no interest loans for up to 60 months during February. The Golf, GTI, Jetta and CC are all available with 1.9% financing for up to 60 months.

The 2010 VW Passat is available with a no interest car loan this month.

January 2010 Routan Sales and YTD Market Share

This is not an official release from Volkswagen of America.

January Routan sales increased year over year, and it increased it's market share % over 2009. Model awareness is building now that ad agency Deutch is placing Routan ads on TV. They have resurrected the "Wet Boy" spot for the time being. Volkswagen starts a brand-strengthening campaign with a commercial during the Super Bowl.
On February 6, 2008, Associated Press reported, in part: "[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."

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

Brand YTD - 01/10

Chrysler 4,531

Dodge 4,298

Honda 4,863

Hyundai 0 (discontinued)

Kia 928

Mazda 1,627

Nissan 73 (discontinued)

Toyota 2,582

Volkswagen 704

Total 19,606

Volkswagen's market share of sales is 3.59%, right where Volkswagen of America was aiming for. Volkswagen has gained market share where they had none.

And away we go! The “Championship Cup Tour” (Prelude)

Behind the Shield

Before the “Championship Cup Tour” officially got on the road last night, we decided to send it off in proper fashion with an appearance alongside Coach Kreis on “CCT” partner KUTV 2’s Talkin’ Sports. Take the jump to see photos of “Uncle Phil” at KUTV 2’s Gallivan Center studio and the shweet ride our friends at Strong VW have provided to make this the road trip to end all road trips!
So what does a league championship trophy do in its free time? Look good for the cameras, of course … see below for some shots of the MLS Cup trophy hanging out at the KUTV studio with one of the men largely responsible for bringing the trophy back to Utah, head coach Jason Kreis. In addition, check out the mean machine (or the rugged yet sporty VW Routan) that will usher “Uncle Phil” and crew around this great state of ours for the next month.
And always remember that you can follow the Championship Cup Tour via any of the plethora of options listed below:

• Real Salt Lake’s Official “Championship Cup Tour” website
• KUTV2’s “CCT” page on Connect2Utah.com
• Real Salt Lake’s Official Facebook fan page
• Weather reports on KUTV 2 News broadcasts
• Hourly updates on KALL 700 Sports

"Soon, the beast made a quick movement and was then looking straight at us!"

The most common view of the van during the trip, as it will be leaving everyone in the dust! (while adhering dilligently to the speed limits posted by local law enforcement, of course).

We're not gonna lie, this is a really good-lookin' motor vehcle here.

The Routan hanging outside the KUTV2 studios as it awaits the MLS Cup to take the passenger side for the first leg of the trip.

Coach Kreis (right) and the MLS Cup (center) are joined by RSL Marketing Director Davy Ratchford (left) before the interview.

The trophy, which we'll affectionately refer to as "Uncle Phil" from here on out, has some alone time before its close-up on camera.

As "Coach K" gets mic'ed up, host David James shoots the olde "You lookin' at me?" look.

Kreis and "DJ" getting their chat on for Sunday's edition of Talkin' Sports.

And "Uncle Phil" looks on with approval in the distance ...

Is Volkswagen making another PR faux pas?

VW caught some flak over the Brooke Shields commercials supposedly advocating against having babies just to get German engineering. This was part of the Routan campaign.
Now Volkswagen is releasing a brand identification campaign based on the “Slug Bug” or “Punch Buggy” game. People, such as blogger Richard Read quoted below, are saying that VW is advocating family violence with this campaign. Come on, lighten up! All right, I grew up the oldest of 3 kids and I liked pummeling my younger brother (my baby sister cried too much and got us in trouble if we included her). But the degree of harm inflicted is minuscule compared to the mean, sadistic, twisted torture we inflicted upon each other at other times. We survived it and grew up normal. We even speak to each other.
Is this campaign another mis-guided attempt at humor? Well, what would you expect from the Germans, a people not particularly known for its comedy.
Security was high during the Berlin Olympics, and all of the athletes were registered. The security agent asked one athlete, “Are you a pole vaulter?” He replied, “No, Hungarian. But how did you know my name vas Valter?”

Volkswagen & Tracy Morgan Make Violence Fun With 'Punch Dub' - The Car Connection
Richard Read January 29th, 2010

Tracy Morgan
Enlarge Photo

2011 Volkswagen Golf R
Enlarge Photo
If you grew up in a large family, you probably remember "Punch Buggy", the road-trip game that allowed the first kid in the car to spot a Volkswagen Beetle the opportunity to punch a sibling in the arm. Now, VW is hoping to resuscitate the fun of family violence with its new "Punch Dub" campaign, which launches during the Superbowl broadcast on February 7. According to a company press release, "The ad, which includes a special cameo by actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, will show a variety of people in different driving situations gently slugging others in the arm every time they spot a Routan, Tiguan, CC or any other Volkswagen model." Yeah, "gently slugging" is exactly how we remember it.
But don't think that Morgan will be the only one enjoying fist-fights and driving distractions. You, too, can join in the fun when VW launches the "Punch Dub" game, which will "encourage people to dole out virtual 'slugs' to friends and family" through VW's Facebook page. And just like in real life, violence has its rewards: "The more friends you punch, the better your chances are of winning a weekly prize (6-month leases on specific vehicles listed online) and the Grand Prize: a new Volkswagen CC."
Of course, if VW had asked us for input, we'd have told them that we prefer the 2011 Volkswagen Golf R to the Volkswagen CC. We might've also reminded the company about Morgan's history as a convicted drunk-driver and alleged groper, which seems an unfortunate tie-in for a campaign that's about beating up people while driving. But whatever: those Routan ads with Brooke Shields proved once and for all that VW's marketing team totally know what they're doing.