Date:         Wed, 6 Feb 2008 16:24:28 -0500
Reply-To:     BJ Feddish <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BJ Feddish <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET>
Subject:      Re: new vw rotten unvieled.
In-Reply-To:  <059601c868ff$97530a10$6501a8c0@TOSHIBALAP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The source photos are at http://tinyurl.com/yrbkoo , click on the first
link.

The extremely crude translation of the photo captions are below:

In the USA VW starts in summer with a XXL van called Routan. The 7-seater is
built together with Chrysler and is based technically on new Chrysler Grand
Voyager. Who would like to get the VW-Big-Mac over the big pond indeed, will
have to pay clearly more than the US price of converted ridiculous 17,000
euros (25,000 US dollars). For 25,000 to 26,000 euros (including transport,
duty and value added tax) Practical sliding doors are a series, a tailgate
pulled down far back in the bumpers promises light loading. All seats can be
sunk easily in the ground, so that a relocation car with monumental 4,100
liters of cuddy originates. As 5-seaters huge 2,350 liters remain, still 926
liters of baggage are allowed to come along even with seven persons aboard.
In the engine shelve a 3,8-Liter-V6 with 197 HP and 312 Nm stands beside a
4-liter-V6 with 253 HP and 355 Nm. The modern cockpit likes with friendly
2-colors-optics, the white round instruments express sportiness. Differently
than the Routan his "technology supplier Chrysler Grand Voyager" is to be
had from April, 2008 also with us. Nevertheless, from now on there is only
the Grand Voyager, the short version Voyager is cancelled. The 7-seater
grown on 5.13 meters looks much more respectable than the model offered
since 2001. The Grand Voyager 2.8 CRD goes from 34,990 euros to trade and is
more expensive at about 10,000 euros therefore than an imported Routan. If
VW to the Routan misses a diesel, it would be in Europe also an excellently
Anternative to the no more quite dewy Sharan. The Methusalem van from house
Volkswagen...... it is offered nowadays as entrance petrol-driven car (115
HP) from 28.725 euros, with the base diesel the price-list begins with
30.225 euros.

I really think the whole point if this van is VW can start it at $25K.
Obviously the one you want to drive will start at $35K BUT there is no van
that VW could build in Europe and sell here starting at $25K.

It terms of how it looks I think the exterior is more attractive than the
Chryster. Much more.  I kinda like the Chryslers' interior better. Note now
VW did not use 1 single matching part on the interior than the Chryster That
way instead of a $5 light switch knob for example that we could get at any
Dodge dealership we'll need the $35 knob from the VW dealer. ;)

Wishful thinking is this is a stop gap measure to put a VW van back on the
road while VW builds plants in the US to build their own van here.  Keep
dreaming, I know.

Bryan