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Detroit, 6:03 AM
Mon Nov 9
7 posts in the last 24 hours
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08/26/09
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However, we would have had to pay $5K more for the Routan equipped with the same features as the Chrysler, ChryCo was/is offering a lifetime power train warranty on 2009 MY vehicles and "slightly better handling" was not worth worth the difference. I mean, it's a freakin' mini van. How good can/should it handle, anyway?
08/26/09
08/26/09
My newly dead W123 is still sitting on the street in front of my house, though. I'll bet I can get a small block inside that thing. But what to do about the rear end? At any rate, talk about your sleepers!
08/26/09
Outside of those "German" suspension bits.
08/26/09
And why do you yanks get this crappy SE/SEL etc. nomenclature? North of the border, we can go Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, and Execline. Do you want to be trendy, comfortable, high, or an executive? Why not all four, I ask?
Apparently, 15% of all trendy, high, comfort seeking executives leave VW brand to buy a minvan, which is why VW decided to sell them a Chrysler without stow-and-go.
08/26/09
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Then the second-gen Odyssey came out, and everyone went silent, except for one guy way in the back who accidentally let slip a "aw, crap."
I'm hoping there's going to be a similar progression for VW, here.
08/26/09
I was intrigued by this car before I found out it was badge-engineered (probs one minute after I found out about the car itself). I mean, why not just keep flogging the Eurovan and its many variants?
The funny thing is that I have a soft spot in my heart for VW. The first car I had all to myself was a VW (Scirocco 16V). I've owned 3 total, plus 2 other VAG products. And last night I even took a CC for a test drive (I liked it, a lot). But it's tough to love a company that does this sort of thing.
08/26/09
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I don't like this sort of thing at all myself, but most automakers do it. Honda did it for a while with the Passport, which is why it was such unreliable crap.
Although, why a company as large as VW would resort to this is beyond me. Maybe it's a temporary move until they can offer a minivan on their own platform. Although, even then it's a stupid move considering they're not helping their brand with this.
08/26/09
Agreed. But see Dearthair's comment above. I can only hope this is true.
08/26/09
I expect the song on my desk within the hour.
08/26/09
08/26/09
Probs because I heart the Westfalia....
08/26/09
@Al Navarro: Having been a passenger in a T3 camper driving and camping in Colorado, I think I would chose a diesel VW Caddy towing a pop-up trailer instead, but this is pretty cute (also from Australia).
08/26/09
Off hand, I can't tell you when they last sold those in the US ('00?) and can't remember the last time I saw one on the road.And that's here in LA where if it's available, I see 1 a week (saw a Tesla yesterday).
We already know subpar product still sell in profitable droves...at the cost of long-term brand image.
What we don't know is how much this particular subpar product will erode the brand.
It's sub-par, but in line with what Americans are used to, whereas the notoriously underpowered Eurovan would be that "weird, foreign" subpar that tends to drive people away from brands as well.
08/26/09
Whatever happened to the Microbus concept. What was that, 2002, 03? I no can haz? Dammit, that was so much nicer a vehicle, a little odd-looking but when you decide to turn to VW, you've already resigned yourself to looking odd. It's part of the package.
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[OMBUDSMAN'S NOTE: Genius. More like this, please...]
08/26/09
08/26/09
1) It's probably available with a stick and disc brakes. (good)
2) You'll probably never be able to get to any of the bolts with tools that you currently own.
3) When you do reach those bolts, the replacement for the part they fasten will cost 2x as much as the domestic equivalent.
4) System-wide there will be tons of unnecessary complexity and electronic gizmos that are bound to fail in confusing, annoying and expensive ways.
(2-4 are bad)
08/26/09
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08/26/09
VW used to be for drivers on budget who actually knew what "handling" and "throttle tip-in" were.