Routan Bust
January 30, 2009 – 11:39 pm by Matt Radel
Filed under Volkswagen Routan
VW and Chrysler halt production of the Routan minivan for the month of February.
No matter the reason – be it a controversial ad campaign, a slumping economy or a lackluster design, the Routan ain’t selling. According to Leftlane News, Chrysler has produced roughly 29,000 units and VW has sold only a “few thousand”. In an effort to clear out overstocked dealers, production will be shut down for the next month.
I’m sorry to hear this, but is it really a surprise? As time passes, the Routan just seems like a bigger mistake. The ad campaign aside (which has ruffled a few feathers out there), this just wasn’t a great idea. Sure, Chrysler understands the minivan market, but VW is not a typical minivan brand. VW is a very strong brand, with (sometimes arguably) distinctive products. To slap a VW badge on the front of a Town & Country undermines the uniqueness and pride of the brand and alienates its consumers. Compound that with the fact that Chrysler is an ailing automaker (which might be a bit of an understatement) and you have a product that doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence with consumers who have increasingly tight wallets.
So what do you think VB faithful? Do VW & Chrysler have what it takes to turn this ship around? Do we even really care? Sound off in the comments.
Routan Bust
January 30, 2009 – 11:39 pm by Matt Radel
I completely agree man. It’s not a surprise at all to me. Take a bland, GM-look-a-like minivan, mix in a little VW, try to hit a market that doesn’t really exist for VW, and voila.
AFT. The Routan was the equivalent of Apple sticking a logo on an Acer and calling it their own. VW should admit they f*cked up and just build the Verdier or the 2001 concept.
Agreed.
Get on the concept microvan, VW before we tire of slapping you and just plain walk away.
I’d have to put blame on the price tag of the Routan. While the mini-van as a whole isn’t too shabby, the price is pretty high for a re-badge T&C.
I’d also like to point out that, while the interior is different from the T&C, it doesn’t blend into VW’s other interiors that give it that feel of a Volkswagen. They didn’t even redo the instrument cluster which screams “American”
I’d also have to put some blame on the fuel economy. The Honda Odyssey gets better city/highway, and is fairly more stable than both the T&C and Routan.
VW needs to understand that now isn’t the right time to enter the mini-van market, unless there’s something unique or fuel efficient or just flat out different.
I was hopeful when it was announced, but once things started to tank more and more, the grimmer things looked for the Rou., not to mention Honda has slightly redesigned the Odyssey since the Rou was intro’d, now they look similar in design, aside from the rear.
I think that if VW could engineer their own drivetrain for the Rou., and clean up the interior to match up with the rest of the family, the Rou. might have a chance.
All it needs is time.
It’s not a surprise at all to me. Thanks for sharing.
Re-warmed T&C without VW soul doomed to failure…
Agreed they needed a van in NA, what about the T5 Multivan from Europe?I own a 2000 EV GLS and they were overpriced when new but it still has more functionality than the new Routan.
They should have brought the Touran with TDI and an MT. Theny they’d have had a unique nice vehicle with pure VW DNA..
Have any of you even driven the Routan? Or are you just regurgitating what you have read on other blogs, websites etc. It drives like a dream far better then the T&C and cabin is quieter on the road.
@ Aaron: Great ride or not, it’s a rebranded Town & Country…in other words, it’s not German engineering, as VW suggests. It doesn’t even really look like a VW. So it’s really not a far stretch for loyalists to turn their nose up at it. And it isn’t surprising that folks in the minivan market would sooner buy Toyotas & Hondas, manufacturers that a) are proven in the market or b) partnered with an ailing American automaker.
So all that adds up to a minivan that’s kind of stuck in the middle….and really appeals to no one. The fact that they had to stop production for lack of sales is evidence of that as well, right? There certainly aren’t any reports of them stopping production on the Jetta.
Good ride or not, the Routan isn’t selling.
on the contrary… its is selling but only at the high end. My wife and I just purchased our Routan SEL Premium and we had to have someone drive down to Florida to pick it up. There where none to be found in almost all of the Southeast. (We live in NC) I agree that on a certain level it is a rebadged Chrysler. However it dirves and handles like a VW. I would consider myself a Loyalist. This will be my 8th VW(3 Bugs from ’67, ’70 and ’72, 1 Karman Gia ’73,1 GTI ’91 and 2 Passats ’92 and 01. AS far as overall sales its a tough market to crack which is why VW has taken approach they have( ie rebadging.)
Good points Aaron as far as VW taking the cheapest risk possibly, but in the end this as a branding thing was a no go from day one. Why even bother shelling a re-badge when they have the 2001 bus concept in their fridge?
My wife and I checked out the 2009 SEL Premium Routon yesterday. Of course the dealer was very anxious to sell the vehicle that had a very high price tag. We did not offer to buy because of the very low rebate he was offering. There were many innovative features that we liked but one very basic feature turned us off. We are both rather short people at 5′ 7” and we both had difficulty just getting into the Captain’s chairs set to their lowest setting. My wife has longer legs than I but we both had trouble with the contoured seats. If ever a vehicle needed a running board this is one. Yes, one is offered as an add-on accessory but for us this is a major design fault that killed the sale. We just couldn’t see fighting our way into the vehicle every time we wished to use this very expensive vehicle. We are long time VW product users.
I actually rented on to drive from San Diego to Vancouver and that’s 3000 miles roundtrip. It rode like a champ. since I rented it, I know I abused it so I can see if it can handle the way i drive. It did, very steady suspension, rides better than the Odyssey in my opinion. Road noise and engine noise was minimum, aggresive 4.0 engine and it’s the only minivan that I drove that can take off with tire scream. Torque is very strong. Just an awesome ride. I purchased an SEL model 3 weeks ago. And from a neighbor that just bought a 2009 Odyssey, he actually looked at my Routan and was surprised with the over all feel of the drive. For people to hate it without driving it does not bring credibility to what they are saying negatively about this van.
My wife and I are looking at the Routan SEL premium is there any suggestions on best pricing options?
I currently own a 2007 Odyessey and I love it my wife and I are thinking of making the switch to the Routan any thoughts?
Thanks
David
We bought a Routan in December of ’08. To be honest I love the concept of the ‘van’, it drives very nice, smooth, etc and I don’t feel that I am ‘driving’ a mini-van. However, ours has had nothing but problems – mainly a faulty door that caused a fire inside it while we were in it, due to some mechanism being rubbed the wrong way or was originally in the wrong spot. As well as it has been in the shop 4 times, for weeks at time getting the power steering repaired. It went again the other day, I was driving and then all of a sudden no power steering barely made it into a parking lot. Was stranded in a parking lot or 2 hours until my hubby had to leave work for the afternoon to try to ‘top’ it up but it drained completely out. We then had to call VW roadside to come tow it to Edmonton which is 5 hours away and find a rental car to drive for the week, and now we are driving ANOTHER rental.
The concept is there, it’s a nice ride, the perks are nice BUT there is ZERO reliability or safety in this vehicle, in my opinon. I am waiting for the dealership manager to call back so we can talk about our ‘options’. I’ve had enough. It’s not even a year old yet. We bought a VW and expect to get a VW not a rebadging and unreliable vehicle.
Don’t do it. Don’t buy one.
I am sorry and sad that the VW has been all but written off as a marketable VW product. My wife and I bought a Passat when we had zero kids, and then after having our second, decided to purchase a mini van. All of the other brands had some remarkable options, and were considered. After test driving an Odyssey, we went with the Routan. This thing has a turn radius that makes it seem like you are driving a compact, and to say what already has been said, it drives JUST like a VW. I understand that the frame and interior is not VW but everything else is VW. In fact you dont even realize you are driving a mini van. We have had zero issues, and have driven it from NC to OK to LA with no issues. Its a great vehicle and the price tag was acutually lower with the options they offered then the competition. If they made another one I would buy it no questions asked.