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In Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, one of the characters decries the need for a set of detailed instructions on a packet of toothpicks. Volkswagen might feel the same way now that 18,500 of its 2009 Routan minivans are being recalled because their owner's manuals don't include a required warning not to put items on or near the airbag. In the words of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
The owner's manual was printed without the required information explaining that no objects should be placed over the or near the airbag on the instrument panel. Any such objects could cause injury to the vehicle's occupants in the event of a crash severe enough to cause the airbag to inflate.
VW is sending dealers an insert to be placed in affected Routan manuals. If you don't trust yourself to handle the insert, you can take your Routan to the dealer and they'll be happy to assist.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Volkswagen Routan recalled for... *magic 8-ball shake*... owner's manual omission?!

Volkswagen Routan recalled for... *magic 8-ball shake*... owner's manual omission?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 routan2009 volkswagen routan2009Routan2009VolkswagenRoutanminivannhtsarecallroutansafetyvolkswagenvwvw routanVwRoutanTue, 07 Jul 2009 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/first-drive-2009-volkswagen-routan/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/first-drive-2009-volkswagen-routan/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/14/first-drive-2009-volkswagen-routan/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 Volkswagen Routan - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Volkswagen Routan's "German Engineering" ad campaign has provided plenty of irony-laced comedic fodder for the Autoblog water-cooler, and VW's own press release doesn't help, heralding the Routan as "a stylish alternative to the minivan." An alternative to what?

In a perfect world, VW would have revolutionized the moribund minivan segment with a production version of the 2001 Microbus concept, thereby capitalizing on V-Dub's cheeky heritage in the same way the new Beetle did in the late '90s, and perpetuated by other vehicles like the MINI Cooper and Fiat 500 today.

Thankfully, all is not lost. According to VW's Product Planning Manager, Bret Scott, "We would never say 'no' to the possibility of a Microbus revival." But in the meantime, we have to make due with this: the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, a reworked Chrysler Town & Country that VW execs call (with a straight face) "The Beetle of minivans."


Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan


Photos Copyright (C)2008 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20092009 volkswagen routan2009 volkswagen routan first drive2009 volkswagen routan test2009 volkswagen routan test drive2009VolkswagenRoutan2009VolkswagenRoutanFirstDrive2009VolkswagenRoutanTest2009VolkswagenRoutanTestDrivefeaturedfirst driveFirstDriveroutansseseltest driveTestDrivevolkswagenvolkswagen routanVolkswagenRoutanTue, 14 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST