This is where VW Routans go to die.

[Jesda]

While perusing the "bargain lot" at Dean Team Volkswagen/Audi, I stumbled upon a dozen brand new, unregistered, completely abandoned Volkswagen Routans. There are currently 5,000-8,000 of these unsold vans sitting in inventory nationwide, piling up like leaves.



This white one has 10 miles on it. It is slowly becoming one with the foliage. I think the plan here is to let the trees slowly engulf the van until it becomes one with nature. The dealership can then tell insurance it was stolen.


Trees -- The only living things in this world that would ever go near a Routan.






Some more shoved in the back next to an old Chevy and a barbecue pit.



VW isn't doing much to unload them because of brand integrity concerns, so they're going to sit around and rot, much like the Crossfire which was last built in 2007 but continued to sit around (and remained on Chrysler's web site as a new model) until 2010. The 2002-2006 Q45 also lingered for as long as two years after being discontinued.

Maybe VW will discipline bad employees by forcing them to commute in Routans. Or, maybe they can start a car rental company.

[Otto.]

I think it's sad to see new cars left to rot. VW made a bad choice by even making these things. What was their collective thought process? "Let's make a minivan! Vee vill take zee Toun und Country and mark up zee price!" "Ausgezeichnet!".

[breadbox]

They should give them to the homeless, see what happens.

Or bands of traveling gypsies can take them and start vanning communities. Like wagon trains of old they can find empty lots, circle up and camp for a while.

[King Ranzo]

I'll take one. Then sell it to a family that knows nothing of the Routan and buy me another car.

[sultan]

vw deserves it for making those stupid commercials

[sultan]

i guess they also deserve it for not making their own van powered by their own engines.

[sldewyz]

i guess they also deserve it for not making their own van powered by their own engines.

alot of cars do that...so they all should just fail?

[Dattebayo]

i guess they also deserve it for not making their own van powered by their own engines.

Ford is famous for this. I can name at least 5 brands they made, one actually included a Nissan motor in it...

[MinisterofDOOM]

Model strategy:

Take the worst Chrysler minivan yet.
Strip it of its redeeming features.
Glue ugly fascia on both ends.
Add $5k to the msrp.
Um...sh*t?

[lino]

There are currently 5,000-8,000 of these unsold vans sitting in inventory nationwide, piling up like leaves.

I never realized that there was that many of them left. I wonder how many Volkswagen Phaetons are left?

[dickie]

but brooke shields told me it was a good car and why would she lie to me?

[Bubba1]

I imagine if VW removes their heads from their rectums, they'll adjust the price of the Crouton down to a more realistic Chrysler level and move them.

But with their minds still set on world domination again, to get people back into the showrooms, it would not surprise me to see VW give several away in some kind of "visit the showroom" contest.