VW Routan Spied

2o6 · February 01, 2008, 03:48:16 PM

http://carfreaksblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/spy-shots-vw-routan.html

VW's Chrysler Minivan Rebadge.

nickdrinkwater · February 01, 2008, 04:29:51 PM

Can't tell anything from the picture.

I don't care for the name. Who is going to buy this?

Eye of the Tiger · February 01, 2008, 04:32:45 PM

ifcar · February 01, 2008, 05:19:22 PM

Quote from: nickdrinkwater on February 01, 2008, 04:29:51 PM
Can't tell anything from the picture.

I don't care for the name. Who is going to buy this?

If they make the interior to the VW standard instead of the Chrysler standard, I could see a reason to.

the Teuton · February 01, 2008, 06:49:12 PM

It's not like the Chrysler van is bad because it isn't. But if they can do to it what Saab did to the Chevy Blazer, then it might finally be in the same realm of refinement as the Odyssey.

nickdrinkwater · February 02, 2008, 04:56:16 AM

Was the Saab 4x4 a success though?

ifcar · February 02, 2008, 05:44:40 AM

Quote from: nickdrinkwater on February 02, 2008, 04:56:16 AM
Was the Saab 4x4 a success though?

No, but that's a very different situation. The 9-7X was based on one of the worst SUVs on the road, with bottom-of-class interior quality and comfort-biased truck-based architecture dating to 2002.

The Grand Caravan, on the other hand, is a competitive starting point. I also would not expect such a huge price difference between Dodge and VW as between Chevrolet and Saab.

nickdrinkwater · February 02, 2008, 05:50:03 AM

Yeah, I do agree that the new Grand Voyager/Grand Caravan looks very nice. I'm just wondering if VW is where people look for these kind of things. And whether they will be able to pass it off as an actual VW and not an obvious rebadge.

ifcar · February 02, 2008, 05:57:09 AM

Quote from: nickdrinkwater on February 02, 2008, 05:50:03 AM
Yeah, I do agree that the new Grand Voyager/Grand Caravan looks very nice. I'm just wondering if VW is where people look for these kind of things. And whether they will be able to pass it off as an actual VW and not an obvious rebadge.

I don't think they'll be trying to win new people to the VW brand as much as preventing people from leaving as they decide their families are too big for their beloved Jettas and Passats. In the US, VWs are big among young people, so if they can get them to trade in their cars on another VW rather than an Odyssey, they'll be doing quite well.

nickdrinkwater · February 02, 2008, 09:58:18 AM

Quote from: ifcar on February 02, 2008, 05:57:09 AM
I don't think they'll be trying to win new people to the VW brand as much as preventing people from leaving as they decide their families are too big for their beloved Jettas and Passats. In the US, VWs are big among young people, so if they can get them to trade in their cars on another VW rather than an Odyssey, they'll be doing quite well.

Sounds reasonable enough.

It's funny, VW seem to have a different image in the US. In Europe, they're not a fun car, they're the sensible choice.

ifcar · February 02, 2008, 09:59:47 AM

Quote from: nickdrinkwater on February 02, 2008, 09:58:18 AM
Sounds reasonable enough.

It's funny, VW seem to have a different image in the US. In Europe, they're not a fun car, they're the sensible choice.

Here, the Corolla and Civic are the sensible choices, while the Rabbit/Jetta is for those who are willing to spend more.

AltinD · February 02, 2008, 04:10:30 PM

Quote from: nickdrinkwater on February 02, 2008, 05:50:03 AM
Yeah, I do agree that the new Grand Voyager/Grand Caravan looks very nice. I'm just wondering if VW is where people look for these kind of things. And whether they will be able to pass it off as an actual VW and not an obvious rebadge.

In Europe the minivans are all rebadge. VW Sharan and FORD (forgot the name) were the same vehicle, as were the FIAT/LANCIA/PEUGEOT/CITROEN ones.

2o6 · February 02, 2008, 04:31:58 PM

Quote from: AltinD on February 02, 2008, 04:10:30 PM
In Europe the minivans are all rebadge. VW Sharan and FORD (forgot the name) were the same vehicle, as were the FIAT/LANCIA/PEUGEOT/CITROEN ones.

VW Sharan, Ford Galaxy, SEAT Alahambra.

AltinD · February 02, 2008, 04:44:36 PM

^^ Yup, obviously I've been away from Europe for such a long time to remember all the names.

Secret Chimp · February 02, 2008, 06:49:51 PM

I hope it looks better than Chrysler's "Let's make a puffy angular toaster with a DVD player inside" styling philosophy.

akuma_supreme · February 04, 2008, 01:36:38 AM

Quote from: ifcar on February 02, 2008, 05:57:09 AM
I don't think they'll be trying to win new people to the VW brand as much as preventing people from leaving as they decide their families are too big for their beloved Jettas and Passats. In the US, VWs are big among young people, so if they can get them to trade in their cars on another VW rather than an Odyssey, they'll be doing quite well.

I think VW may also want to start building quality cars again if they want to keep said customers.

VW is in a sad state of affairs if they're begging on Chrysler's door to try and shore-up their US dealerships. Their lineup in the US is overpriced and poor quality (due largely to our cars being sourced from the Puebla factory), and a rebadged Caravan won't do much in the long run.

Hondaboy9602 · February 04, 2008, 05:53:35 PM

I think this thing is going to be pricey. I won't be surprised if it is priced higher than the Town & Country. I thought that the new Chrysler vans looked to be pretty good vans until I saw them that the auto show. They felt like they had less interior room than my grandparents' older Town & Country.