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.

i blame their TV commerical for it. i never understand how they came up with that offensive TV commerical.

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

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.

If they could, they'd likely do it, don't you think?

VW had only two candidates. The Touran (which are way too small) and an ordinary van adapted to carry people, called Multivan, which is way too much a cargo carrier to compete with minivans like Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.

It looks like a cargo carrier but it is "sleek" and euro looking. Even hyundai adapted the design direction with their new Starex van sold in Asia and europe. MB sent their van "I think called Sprinter" to US called the Viano in Europe and Asia.

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.

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.

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

Both of those are ads currently airing for the Routan.

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.

Agree with whole post. Really Agree with #2, it's shows that Volkswagen of US doesn't even know who their customers are in this case.

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

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

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

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

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.

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 .......

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

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"!

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

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.