More creative incentives: Buy a VW Routan and get $1,500 for college
Click above for high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Routan
The new Volkswagen Routan minivan hasn't even gone on sale yet and there is already an incentive on its hood. This one, however, is not your typical cash back deal. Instead, Volkswagen is working under the assumption that the people likely to actually purchase a Routan are those with kids to haul. As such, VW of America is teaming up with Upromise to provide buyers with $1,500 towards a higher education savings plan. Upromise is a company that works with retailers to provide cash back bonuses when one of their registered credit card is used for purchases. Those rebates can then be transferred to a 529 education savings plan. To be eligible for the college bonus, you have to pre-order the Chrysler-built Routan by the end of August and take delivery by the end of November.
Gallery: Volkswagen Routan
[Source: Volkswagen]
PRESS RELEASE
PURCHASE VOLKSWAGEN'S ALL-NEW ROUTAN AND HELP FUND YOUR CHILD'S COLLEGE TUITION
HERNDON, VA.-Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a partnership with Upromise, the country's largest private source of college funding contributions, to provide $1,500 to customers who purchase or lease a new 2009 Routan for their child's future education savings.
"We know parents are concerned about saving for their kid's future. To help families tackle this challenge of saving for college, we're excited that we are able to partner with Upromise," said Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "We're aware that the cost of college continues to rise exponentially, far outpacing inflation, and our hope is to help our customer's off-set that cost, while getting a great new vehicle."
Upromise members can get $1,500 in college savings when they pre-order a Routan by August 31, 2008 and take delivery by November 30, 2008. To do so, members should log on to www.upromise.com/vw, print their unique Upromise VW Savings Code, and present it to their preferred Volkswagen dealer at the time the pre-order deposit is made. Anyone can join Upromise at no charge simply by visiting www.upromise.com. Signing up is fast, simple and completely free.
The Routan, Volkswagen's all-new seven-passenger minivan, delivers families the best of both worlds: a vehicle that combines German sensibilities in design, fit and finish, and handling characteristics with market relevant features and outstanding value. The Routan is instantly recognizable as a member of the Volkswagen family, with its stylized front grille and exterior treatments. The interior enhancements create an environment that is visually pleasing, modern, and meticulously detailed. The high quality materials, beautiful textures and rich luxurious colors are combined with exacting tolerances and superb fit and finish.
While pleasing and contemporary, the Routan's interior also follows the traditional Volkswagen design philosophy that form follows function. The Routan comes with a host of functional features, including: conversation mirror, rear seat entertainment system with two nine inch screens for second and third row, touch screen navigation with 30 GB JoyBox™ Multi-Media Entertainment system, dual power sliding doors with power windows, power fold third row seating for extra storage room, and no less than thirteen cup holders.
Second row captain's chairs offer an increased level of luxury and comfort while still providing the convenience of a traditional minivan, with over 32.7 cubic feet available behind the third row seats and a full 83 cubic feet is available behind the second row.
The Routan will come standard with a 3.8L V6, offering 197 hp and 230 lb. ft. of torque when combined with the standard six-speed automatic transmission. A 4.0L V6 will also be available rated at 251 hp and 259 lb. ft. of torque. Routan features European tuned suspension and steering optimized for handling and improved driving dynamics. Standard all-season traction control and ESP, brings safety and security to the Routan.
The Routan will have starting prices of $24,700 for the S Model, $29,600 for the SE Model, $33,200 for the SEL Model and $38,400 for the SEL Model equipped with a Premium Package. A distinctly designed minivan at an attractive price point will broaden the brand portfolio, while providing a roomy alternative to existing Volkswagen owners. The Routan is expected to be available at dealers in September 2008. For more information about the Routan, please visit www.vw.com/routan.
About Upromise
Launched in April 2001, today Upromise is the largest private source of college funding contributions in America, with more than 8.5 million members and $425 million in member rewards. Membership is free and can help families save money for college while making everyday purchases of products and services at more than 21,000 grocery and drug stores, 14,000 gas stations, 8,000 restaurants, as well as thousands of retail stores, and more than 575 online shopping sites. Upromise partners include Citi®, ExxonMobil Corporation, Bed Bath & Beyond®, McDonald's®, JCPenney.com, LandsEnd.com, Sears.com, and hundreds of others. Upromise also makes it easy for families to start their own college savings strategy through tax-advantaged 529 college savings plans offered through Upromise Investments, Inc. or by using Upromise contributions to help pay down eligible student loans. Upromise is a wholly owned subsidiary of SLM Corporation (NYSE: SLM), commonly known as Sallie Mae, the nation's leading provider of saving-and-paying-for-college programs. Upromise is headquartered in Newton, Mass., and has more than 350 employees. For additional information, visit www.Upromise.com.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen of America, Inc. recently announced Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stability control system on their entire product line – ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) deadline requiring vehicles in the 2012 model year to include stability control systems. Volkswagen's ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control and rollovers to avoid crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if automakers included stability systems as standard equipment.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
FSM 11:31AM (5/08/2008)
I'm dying to see how VW expects this thing to beat out the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna. It better have something really special because this is a very entrenched and mature market with good choices to be had everywhere.
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sk 11:40AM (5/08/2008)
I would guess not, looking at the specs nothing to write home about. At least some VW engines with DTS would have been nice instead for the Chrysler engines and tranis.
zamafir 12:36PM (5/08/2008)
Beat toyota? Honda? Seriously? If you want to quote any interview with any VWoA exec indicating this pos is going to sweep the van market, I'd love to read it.
John Johnson 11:31AM (5/08/2008)
Wow, that'll pay for one whole class!
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rouse42 2:06PM (5/08/2008)
without the books
That One Person 5:42PM (5/08/2008)
Pfft...my last semester of school (a whopping 12 credit hours) cost around $850. Gotta love community college!!!
Heck, my most expensive semester was my first (20 credit hours) and that cost around $1100.
Same education but at a heck of a lower cost. I CAN'T wait until I go to a four year school and pay ridiculously high tuition (sarcasm).
John Johnson 8:00PM (5/08/2008)
I did CC for 2 years, then completed my degree with another 2 at a University. I'm an electronics engineer, and I found that the CC was 2390283402x better at teaching me what I needed to know. And it was 1203492834x cheaper :D.
Chris 11:32AM (5/08/2008)
Yeah because spending money on new cars is a far better investment than spending it on your children's education.
Then again that is why more kids are in public school instead of a private one where they might really shine. Cars are more important than kids in far too many houses.
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Allan 11:52AM (5/08/2008)
Not only are there not any private schools (to my knowledge) around my area... regardless... do you know of any private schools with a $300-$500/mo tuition? Because I don't think I do.
You can either afford private school or you can't. A vehicle doesn't have that much bearing on it, IMO.
Chris 11:59AM (5/08/2008)
Obvious Allen you just don't get it.
Its about priorities. Instead of wasting money on the new car they can put it towards their children's future. Yet most won't. worse some will be cry baby pee pant logic like you and claim it still costs more to go to private school and as such they couldn't afford it anyway - without acknowledging all the other non-essential expenditures wasted monthly.
$25K with no down payment plus tax and fees comes over $500 a month. So it only gets sillier. Throw in the added costs of higher insurance for a new vehicle.
One of the best people I know drives for UPS, she is a regular delivery driver. She jokes that her and her husbands new cars are actually their children because they drive five or six year old cars while putting three through PRIVATE SCHOOL. (fwiw, both are drivers for the ups)
Disgruntled Goat 12:21PM (5/08/2008)
"...that is why more kids are in public school instead of a private one where they might really shine"
Private schools are statistically proven to be no better than public schools academically. http://www.ewa.org/library/docs/privatevspublics.pdf is but a single example. And there are many public institutions rated far higher than private ones.
From what I've found having many friends who went to private schools and universities, plus having raised three kids and knowing parents who send their kids to private schools and universities, the primary factor in deciding the private versus public decision is how bad you fear those different than yourself. It's the best kept secret in education. Sure there are always exceptions, and sure we wrap it up with all these falsehoods about how Billy will get a better education here, or Betty will be in a more nourishing environment there, but when the rubber hits the road the dark secret is that it's almost always a question of who you want your kids hanging out with.
I can easily afford to send all of my kids to private school, and unfortunately many in my neighborhood do, but I feel my kids will be far more rounded, have a more diverse viewpoint and overall make better, more productive adults by NOT going to private school. Don't mean to rant, I just run into that skewed private school perspective far too often and it tends to get under my skin.
Allan 1:03PM (5/08/2008)
Cry baby pee pants logic? Are you f-ing serious?
Is this guy serious?
I really can't believe I just read that in an adult discussion. And I think you're missing the point. You don't just instantly have a decision whether your kids are going to public school or private school. Many areas (like mine) don't even have anything else. A lot of people just go to "school."
I will agree that many people might have their priorities mixed up... but I don't think private school has any need to be any high priority. And I don't see any reason why it should be.
JayP 11:46AM (5/08/2008)
My son's 529 is one reason I'm not driving a shiny new car.
I expect he keep me out of a nursing home when I'm senile.
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Torrent 11:59AM (5/08/2008)
I must say, It looks less deformed than the dodge variants.
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James 12:08PM (5/08/2008)
While I think the idea of the Routan is somewhat silly, I think it actually does look a lot better than its Chrysler variants, and for that reason alone I'd rather own it than the other pair.
And this type of marketing is kinda cool, so I guess it works.
I think the bigger question is... Does ANYONE still want a minivan, anyway?
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hrngffcr 2:23AM (5/09/2008)
Yes, people do still want minivans. You look as you drive around and you will see lots of minivans, including new ones. The people who drive minivans understand their incredible utility and non-truck-based SUV handling and mileage. They are the ones who ignore the idiot car writers' description as soccer mom vehicles, and who are confident enough to let other people know that they are parents or grandparents. The power sliding side doors beat regular doors any day, especially with young kids and especially in parking lots (like daycare). We love our Hyundai Entourage (a minivan that often gets ignored by the uneducated or knee jerk public whose brains shut down after they get past Honda and Toyota).
That said, I agree that the VW looks infinetly better than the Chrysler, but the idea of buying the--probably--more expensive VW just to get a Chrysler is ridiculous. You don't get the vaunted "German engineering", etc, just prettier sheet metal. VW better keep the price down on this thing or people will just buy a less expensive Chrysler, even though it looks like a bread box on wheels, and even though, contra to conventional wisdom, styling does matter to minivan buyers.
Noah 1:03PM (5/08/2008)
Does anyone still want a minivan? Heck yeah I do (25/Male)! Honestly, if I had 4+ kids, I wouldn't want a Suburban or Highlander (silly backrow) or Pilot (silly backrow). I would do the Acadia/Enclave/Traverse, but the minivan is better.
Why? Well, I like the styling of them (except the Chrysler products), and this VW face works really well on vans. Looks better than brick-like SUV's.
Also, they are way more useful. Easier access to seats with sliding doors, seats that fold into the floor, better fuel mileage, more useful features (lots of cupholders, kid entertainment, storage, waaay more storage). Minivans have more interior volume than even the excellent GM triplets. They are just more practical and beautiful. That is why I like them.
Also, when VW has their own van someday, I would love to see them put a variant of their 2.0 diesel in there. A 170hp/260tq 2.2L 4 banger would be sweet, returning well over 20 mpg city...
James 3:24PM (5/08/2008)
Okay, point taken,
but who really has 4+ kids anymore?
I'd rather stop at 2 and take a Jetta SportWagen TDI, if I just couldn't resist the "soccer mom" urge, but that's just me.
TriShield 12:38PM (5/08/2008)
Take a good look at this minivan and the Mitsubishi Raider guys because that's exactly what the next Titan is going to be, a Ram with a makeover.
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psu48187 12:54PM (5/08/2008)
Typically public schools do offer honors programs, or programs that challenge those that are willing to go to the extra mile. IMO parents ARE a huge part of the equation reinforcing what their kids are picking up from our educational institutions.
Even if your kid attends some of the best institutions, it doesn't promise anything.
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