2009 VW Routan Minivan

[silverspeedbuggy]

First pics:
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/vorst...an_572502.html

[silverspeedbuggy]

[DannyRandomState]

Is this the product of dodge and VW doing that minivan deal? The front shot looks like any other mini van. The rear shot on the link looks somewhat tolerable. But it is a minivan

[silverspeedbuggy]

Originally Posted by DannyArizona

Is this the product of dodge and VW doing that minivan deal?

Yep.

[FineExampl]

um.
no.
thank you, but no.

[DannyRandomState]

Well on an up side I would rather see a mini van on the road than one of those lifted suburban assualt vehicles.

But the more I look at it it looks like a smashed Jetta front and rear.

I'll pass.

[dnyed]

I like the front, but the back, not so much.

I's be interested in the details, like engines and interior.

[AceJay]

Looks a bit like the Hyundai minivan.

I like it, but I don't think we need it =/

[Smileybug]

I'm not a fan. I can't see VW with their logo on a van other than the Bus/Vanagon. This looks just like every other van on the market...with an enlarged Golf rear on it. VW's originality is slowly disappearing and blending with the masses...

[bugsy98nb]

0_o Um....... I'll have what VOA is Smoking I liked the concept van they did Which should of went into production.

theres not too many vw's i like anymore

[Beetlemania]

Wow, a Grand Voyager with a VW logo! Sweet!

Yeah... that's a shame.

[wawalker]

So we're not all minivan fans--I'm sure not, but VW needs a more diverse product line in order to compete in our market. They also need a small SUV and pickup trucks.

[Smileybug]

The problem with VW trying to get into the minivan market...it just isn't going to happen. You already have Honda and Toyota with the high end minivans and Kia and Hyundai with the cheap ones. Where does VW fit? In the middle. For anyone who is going to shell out more money for a minivan, they're going to shell out more to go with the Honda or Toyota name. Anyone who doesn't have a lot to spend on one but still wants a good vehicle will go for the cheap ones. VW's name isn't exactly the highest in reliability and prices are higher so I doubt the general public is going to go for it. They are trying too hard to get into markets that already have a staple. They need to focus on the more untamed markets. Spend more time getting a really good, cheap diesel on the market, a cheap and very economical car (sure, I love the Rabbit but the gas mileage sucks for the size).

I think the Tiguan could be a good move. I think the pick-up market is pretty covered so I'm not surprised they haven't put one in the US. I like the Jetta Sportwagen...and if what Vortex reports is true, its going to be base priced <$20k. And you'll get the TDI option too. Although, I think they need to decide to keep the Jetta or Passat wagon and do away with the other personally. And the Jetta wagon is the best I think to compete with anything out there...especially with the diesel option. Who wants an even bigger Passat?

I think VW just really needs to take a step back and think hard about their choices...

[blockphi]

I love VW, I truely do, but it seems like at times their business leaders are a bit clueless. Why would anyone want to buy a VW minivan that looks like every other minivan on the road unless the VW model offered something truely different, such as substantially better gas milage, a sense of style that pushes the bounds of what family-friendly can be, a price point that balances value with quality. Honestly, my family of five is sticking with our Beetle TDI simply because we cannot find another vehicle with the gas milage, performance, and overall joy of driving as the Beetle. (I don't want to hear about the seat belt situation, please. I know, I know...Golf center belt going in shortly...right now a car seat is doing the work) We have looked at the wagons, the vans, the SUV's, VW's and others, and there is simply nothing out there that can satisfy our needs and desires. If VW would produce a minivan that does not look like every offering from Chevy to Toyota, and actually attempted to honestly get good gas milage, I would buy one today. As it stands, though, it would make more sense for me to buy another Beetle so that my family of five has as much room as in a minivan, and still get a better combined milage with the two cars than to barely eck out mid-twenties and look like everyone else. I totally agree with SmileyBug--VW needs to pull their heads out and focus on the types of markets and products that can really capture the public's attention. Diesel, affordability, and the New Microbus (Just had to get that in there. I am still waiting.)

Just for fun, go to the VW Germany site and take a look at some of the offerings there. It makes the American market look pathetic.

Enough ranting for me.

[digitalputty]

ack!

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by wawalker

...They also need a small SUV and pickup trucks.

Yeah, something large and brutish to compete with the Tundra and Ford's F-350. I can envision it now (no, I can't...), a Silverado with the front end of a Passat.

[Lnzbug]

Why oh why does no one come out with a minivan that has a back hatch open like the old suburban cargo doors? I hate hate hate hatch doors that are way the hell up in the air and you have an arm full of groceries This is one boring minivan.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by from Margaritaville...

Yeah, something large and brutish to compete with the Tundra and Ford's F-350. I can envision it now (no, I can't...), a Silverado with the front end of a Passat.

I think wawalker meant like the old Rabbit Pickups...

I think they totally should. No one makes a truly small pickup anymore. The smallest one that I can think of is the Ranger, and that is going out of production soon (if not already) in the American market. Can you imagine if they took the new Rabbit, lopped off the back half and made a pickup out of it?

Or even better, took the new Rabbit, FINALLY put in a TDI motor, lopped off the back end and made a pickup out of it? I'm talking about a potentially market changing vehicle! A pickup with 45 mpg! That hasn't happened in the US since the old VW diesel pickup was discontinued.

As for the minivan, I agree with what everyone has said so far. The only people that I can imagine will buy this are the V-dub faithful looking for a minivan, but unwilling to restore an old air-cooled Type 2. Not a huge segment if you ask me.

[Billsbug]

Please, this is VERY workable.

I'd rock it in a second, my T-Rag is just too small for a family of 5.

Somebody p-chop these wheels and give it a 2" drop please.





Add fat tires and a Caractere kit and were ready to roll.

[DannyRandomState]

Originally Posted by FarrisK

The only people that I can imagine will buy this are the V-dub faithful looking for a minivan, but unwilling to restore an old air-cooled Type 2. Not a huge segment if you ask me.

It would probably be cheaper to restore an old bus than to buy a mini van that looks like the one already in the majority of driveways now. Not to mention it would be a lot more cooler with mom pulling up to soccer practice in a 23 window.