Minivan confessions

This post drifts off-topic, except for the fact that the Sirius radio is a godsend for music lovers. It has channels for each decade from the 40’s to today, as well as many genre-specific channels, sports in 3 languages, news and talk until the cows come home. Additionally, one music source (satellite, AM, FM, one of two CD/DVD players, Hard Disk, or auxiliary input) can be directed to the vehicle speakers while another can be beamed to the 2 wireless headphones. Or, one headphone can be set to Source A while the other to Source B with the vehicle speakers are muted.

boomitude

By Tracey Rosato
senior director of operations, pop culture aficionado & routan driving mom

We recently purchased a new mini-van, totally selling out to parenthood and middle age. With the mini-van came a pleasant perk (well, several honestly)…..but I’m talking about satellite radio. We’ve got more stations and genres than we know what to do with and we’re having fun finding lots of new music and cool artists. However, my guiltiest pleasure has been a Saturday afternoon feature of 70’s radio – replays of America’s Top 40 with Casey Kasem from the actual date it aired. It’s like I’m in a time machine, transported back to any year 1970’s and all the memories that go with that. …

Thinking about Top 40 in the 70’s brings me around to the music of my childhood That is, the music my parents played that has stuck with me my whole life and still lives on my iPod today. …

I think the first albums I ever owned were the Jackson Five and with Michael’s Jackson’s passing that’s what I remembered most … loving little Michael and singing along to those LPs. How many times did I fill out that Columbia House order form with all the records I wished I had until I finally mailed that sucker and my giant package of vinyl arrived? … I had to justify my joining without any means of paying by explaining to my Mom that I only needed to order two more albums a year for like the next 10 years. … I have no idea if I ever fulfilled those future orders.

My record collection eventually expanded to some 400 – 500 albums. They were always a huge item on my Christmas list. … One year, I got something like 11 albums – thrilling! I remember loving 45’s too (understatement) and I bought them by the hundreds. … 45’s are still an obsession (thank you, iTunes – my fantasy “45” mall) but as easy as it is to download singles now, it’s not the same…is it? There was something so great about those singles on vinyl and listening to the crappy song they would throw on the B side.

My love of music has not dimmed and it’s grown to include so many artists and genres that have been inspired by places or people that have woven in and out of my life. I do know the original inspiration for this lifelong love was what I grew up with. Music was always present, always appreciated and evokes the happiest of memories. I can thank my parents for that and I can only hope my kids will feel the same.

What if everyone drove a VW?

It's all about... blog

I always thought that Slug Bug was a game that you played whenever you saw a Volkswagen Beetle. What's up with the VW commercials that have people hitting each other when they see any VW car? I mean, don't get me wrong. I love that someone might get the opportunity to slug someone they know just because I happen to drive by them. But I wonder about the generalization of this very specific game. I am concerned that it's gone too mainstream.

And what do the people say when they see the cars? According to the commercial, one only needs to say what the color of the car is when they slug the person. "Red one." "Blue one." "Black one." Bam. Bop. Bam. I think they should have other little crazy rhymes for each model, as there is "slug bug."

"Getta Jetta."
"That's-a Passat-a."
"Futon Routan."
"Rolf Golf."

Never mind. This is kinda stupid. But I do wonder about those commercials, and why it's no longer a Beetle game.

Posted by Kimmie G at 10:14 PM

Volkswagen Routan Diesel Rumors Abound

Rumors Blog

April 27th, 2010Rumors Articles No Comments

When Volkswagen needed to fill an important gap in their line up, the German automaker turned to Chrysler whose best selling line of minivans were just what the doctor ordered. …

…VW has a pair of sport/utility models in their line up, but no crossover model. Thus, the Routan minivan fills the gap whether it is a strong seller or not.

A Turbo Diesel Motor For VW?

But Volkswagen may need to expand the Routan to include a diesel engine option if it is to become a relevant player in the market. Volkswagen is currently in the middle of a quest to offer diesel technology as an option across all of its many model lines, thus leaving the Routan out would do the model some disservice.

Because the Routan is built by Chrysler, Volkswagen would perhaps extend this option to Chrysler to include these engines in the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Gran Caravan. That move would serve to share costs of selling diesel technology across the entire platform as well as make other modifications necessary to ensure that the minivans could handle a V6 diesel engine. Some have said that the current transmission pairing wouldn’t be appropriate as that gearbox wouldn’t be able to handle the added torque. Thus a modified transmission would need to be developed, an additional cost that consumers may not be willing to bear.

The Future of the Minivan

Chrysler has been widely credited with developing the modern day minivan, a segment it long dominated. The two Chrysler Group LLC models outsell the competition, …

Having recently exited bankruptcy and fallen under the control of the Fiat Group, Chrysler’s long term product plans aren’t quite clear yet. However, with their minivans still playing an important role in the market, Chrysler’s long term commitment to this line seems assured. With that in mind, Volkswagen will probably remain a willing partner, perhaps choosing to add a diesel offering at some point down the line.

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2010 Volkswagen Routan – The safest seven-passenger minivan

The Automotive Explorer

Posted in: Family Cars

21 Apr 2010

The VW Routan is seven-passenger wagon with excellent crash test scores conducted by the federal government and insurance industry. Built by Chrysler in a joint venture between the two manufacturers, the 2010 Routan available in four trims: S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium. The Routan S and SE trims come standard with a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6 combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 251-hp 4.0-liter V6 is standard on SEL trim levels. This family minivan features a European-tuned suspension and steering optimized for handling and improved driving dynamics. Standard safety features include all-season traction control and ESP, curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assist, and tire pressure monitoring. The Routan borrows element from its Chrysler counterparts, but adds some of its own personal flavor to the mix. Exterior options like power sliding doors and a power rear liftgate make the Routan family-friendly. Finally, the Routan is at the top of the minivan heap, from a vehicle dynamics viewpoint, and still has all of the amenities expected in the class. Price range: $25,900 – $42,400. [Source: Volkswagen USA]

Fake News: Volcano has hidden benefits

DavisW's Blog

Finally, the makers of Volkswagen — perhaps looking at an increase in auto travel for the duration of the eruption — announced a new model in their fleet will be named after the volcano.

“In the honorable tradition of the Touareg, the Tiguan, the Routan and the Eos, we are proud to unveil the ‘Eyjafjallajokull’,” said design vice president Werner Horst. “Like our other models, it rolls off the tongue as easily as it drives.”

Horst said the Eyjafjallajokull had been in development for several years before the Iceland disaster unfolded, but the original name for the new sedan, the “Hitlermobile,” could easily be set aside.

“Like the ash cloud now settling over most of Europe, our new car will spew noxious emissions, result in tremendous costs to the economy, and yet will strangely remain popular throughout the continent,” Horst said. “Test drive one today.”

"I'm not teaching my kid to hit"

I have gotten a couple of comments on posts relating to the Punch Dub game. In one of my previous posts I mused that Punch Dub might be a faux pas. Well, I don't know how strong the backlash is, but the campaign is getting people to notice Volkswagen and Routan.

If you play Punch Dub, you see how large a market share VW has. You also notice that Volkswagen is not just New Beetle or Jetta. They have vehicles in a number of segments, and there are a lot of older VWs still on the road. This was a masterful stroke on Deutch's part to get people to realize that VW is Americanized enough not to be a problem but European enough to let you feel you're in the same league as BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari.

The campaign has increased talk about VW as well. "Punch Dub is just bullying." "How did they get that baby to cry?" "They didn't have a brat punch an old man in the groin, did they?" "I'm not punching for Routans, that's just wrong." "Stevie Wonder knew what color that VW was--how did he do that." "Routan Dad takes his kids around the block twice so they can see their neighbors punch each other." "Tiguan, where?"

Compare that to talk about Toyota. "The new Lexus rolls over." "Man, Toyota can't build anything right." "Computer problem or not, they sure have a lot of trouble." "I'll never buy a Toyota." Toyota's sales numbers were not down last month. Toyota owners still have a lot of loyalty for the company.

But perceptions about the Toyota cars themselves are being formed. In the VW commercials, on the other hand, negative perceptions of the game and the commercials are being formed among some, but the cars themselves are getting noticed by people who wouldn't have given VW a thought otherwise. In a sense, if you hate Punch Dub it's not Volkswagen's fault.

Hitting for the game, social contact if you will, may be a good thing. People will touch and let themselves be touched in Punch Dub when they wouldn't otherwise. Social contact is good, even if not all social contact is pleasant. Those who turn the game pathologically violent didn't become pathologically violent because of the game. Society and their interaction with it warped them more profoundly than Punch Dub. (In a sense, Punch Dub helps us identify some pathologically violent so that we can get them help or avoid them.) Punch Dub can be an avenue to teach kids social boundaries.

I believe the physicality of Punch Dub can be socially acceptable. Can we say the same about toy guns and play shooting other people? So much of entertainment media feature violence. Gratuitous and excessive violence can be decried, and we must teach our children that violence is not socially acceptable. But what about the shows, movies, and games where the good guy accomplishes a good purpose by means of violence--often outside what is socially acceptable?

Bravo, Deutch. You got us talking and you got us seeing Volkswagens.

Oh--tap!--"Red one!"

Touran vs. Sharan vs. Routan

[Note-I updated this post after a reader pointed out that I had mis-identified the vehicles. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I believe my viewpoint is still valid, however.]

The re-worked 2011 VW Touran was introduced at the Leipzig Auto show this week and is creating quite a stir.

The Sharan is another MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) available in Europe. Both can seat 7.

People immediately compare these to the Routan, exclaiming that VW would have done much better to have imported the Touran or Sharan to America rather than commission the Routan.

The Touran and Sharan are smaller than the Routan. One of the criticisms of the Routan is that it doesn’t have as much hauling space as the Toyota or Honda. Do you think the mainstream minivan buying public would accept less space?

When you read Routan reviews written by “Minivan Moms,” the one feature they routinely praise is the power side doors and power lift gate. (I really appreciate these features on my Routan—I wish the driver door would power open for me.) The Touran and Sharan don’t offer a power lift gate.  I don’t believe the Touran can offer power side doors.

The rear seat of the Routan is reachable without moving either of the two middle seats. A rear seat passenger can enter or leave without another passenger having to get out of the vehicle. On the Touran and Sharan, however, one of the middle seat passengers has to move for a rear passenger to enter or exit. I see this as a major inconvenience—one of the reasons why I rejected 7-seat SUVs in my vehicle search.

The U.S. minivan market has changed considerably since 2003 when VW stopped importing the EuroVan. It would have been a market-demand mistake to clear the Touran or Sharan for the U.S.—they aren’t big enough or convenient enough. (As a case in point, Toyota stopped importing the Previa—about the same size as the Sharan—and created the Sienna to meet U.S. market demand.)

The one thing the Touran and Sharan have that I wish the Routan had was the TDI Diesel. Volkswagen, among others, has demonstrated that the new-generation diesels are cleaner and more economical than gas, and no longer make the sounds of your father’s diesel.

The European vehicles also come standard with a manual transmission. I would like that option for the Routan. However, many U.S. “Minivan Moms” don’t know how to drive a manual transmission—hence no minivan sold in America has one.

Volkswagen had the option of trying to convert the U.S. minivan market to be more European, or introduce a minivan that was more American but had some VW touches. While critics claim that the Routan isn’t “VW” enough (they don’t know the subtleties of the Routan over the T&C), it is American enough to be accepted with VW embellishments. Trying to change the U.S. taste is why Saab has remained a niche player.

The Sabol Family: A New Car!!!!!!

The Sabol Family

2 weeks ago we ventured to "Test Dr." to look at a few cars we had our eye on. As much as we love our Honda Element, it is just too small for two carseats (there are only 2 'real' seats in the back).

So we went & test drove a Honda Pilot, which we really liked- I have to admit I may have liked the leather seats, back up camera, dvd player, navigation system etc. a little more than the actual car.

It was a nice test drive, but we decided to check out the VW & Toyota place as well- we ended up getting sucked into the VW dealership & walking out proud owners of a new VW Routan.

Maybe it was the free pizza & soda or the fact that we got a sweet, fully-loaded car for about $15,000 less than the Pilot & the same car payment we have now (leather, back up camera, Sirius radio, 2 dvd players with wireless headphones, seating for 7 & back row seats that fold out of the way or turn around with a 'tailgating' option.

We got a great deal & felt good about it- despite doing no research and very little hard bargaining. Lily still calls it her 'cool new car" and we all LOVE riding in it.

We haven't taken a bunch of pictures yet, but here is one (along with my big ole belly).

YTD to March Routan Sales

This is not an official release from Volkswagen of America. March 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. The Punch Dub ads not only feature the Routan, but by playing the game the public increases their awareness of the modern Volkswagen.

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 March and YTD sales figures of the auto-makers who sell in the U.S. From these reports, we glean the following data:
Brand YTD - 03/10
Chrysler 24,580
Dodge 21,437
Honda 22,985
Kia 4,397
Mazda 5,217
Nissan 142(discontinued)
Toyota 14,390
Volkswagen 3,226
Total 96,374
Volkswagen's market share of van sales is 3.35%, right where Volkswagen of America was aiming for. Volkswagen has gained market share where they had none.

European Carmakers Offering Attractive Leases For April

PriceWheels Blog

Apr 2nd, 2010 by Ross Edwards

…Volkswagen is offering low interest rates on most of its cars during April, but the standouts are the CC, Passat and Routan, which are all available with 0.9% financing for up to 60 months. …