Minivan drivers must have big families... um, what?
Let's get one thing off our chests right away: VW's Routan minivan was not engineered in Germany. Instead, it is a mildly refinished version of the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country twins. We guess that makes these vans triplets, which goes along with Volkswagen's current marketing scheme, starring Brooke Shields. Obviously, it's a farce, but it sure is an odd one. Shields reports that people in America are purposely getting pregnant so that they can enjoy the "German engineering" of the new minivan. In fact, "Some 10,000 babies are born each day just for German engineering," according to Shields, who reportedly made the statistic up on the spot. Seriously, VW says that it's the most important story of our time. Ever.
This seems like a very odd way to sell minivans, and seemingly to people who don't really need them. There is nothing wrong with driving a minivan if you need one, otherwise it seems a bit wasteful to use a people mover for reasons other than moving people or their stuff. Anyway, if you need a minivan, buy one. If not... don't have kids. Or something like that.
[Source: Volkswagen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bruce 2:11PM (9/11/2008)
This just in: television commercials are absurd and insulting!
In other news, the earth continues to revolve around the sun. Film at 11.
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Kevin 5:51PM (9/13/2008)
Good one, Bruce.
This article is like, duh... there are literally hundreds of commercials that are so dumb... have you seen Seinfeld & Bill Gates? What's that about?
One thing commercials of this nature proves, is that the only bad press, is no press.
kiersten 9:05PM (9/13/2008)
im sold---sign me up
MemphisNET 2:18PM (9/11/2008)
German badge-engineering... and even that is a stretch.
I've never understood high-end or luxurious mini-vans. Don't rich people just hire a nanny and give her a Dodge/Chrysler? I've always liked the Dodge BECAUSE it was ''cheap'' inside, and clever features, and very reasonable price.
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Matt 2:56PM (9/11/2008)
Why not luxury minivans. I would have loved to buy a Lexus minivan if Toyota decided to make one. Our Sienna has features of a luxury car for about $32-36k. Is that a rich person's price, when the average new car today goes for $30k? A $70k Mercedes R class is a rich person's minivan-wannabee.
You can't beat the versatility of a minivan when you have kids and associated cargo. Plus we get better gas mileage than my Lexus IS300.
rj 2:21PM (9/11/2008)
I think it's an understandable ad concept. People are feeling guilty about mini vans so VW says - Hey don't feel bad about having kids and needing a van. kids are good and kids = vans - so vans = good.
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Noz 3:35PM (9/11/2008)
"Some 10,000 babies are born each day just for German engineering,"
This is enough stupidity for me never to buy another VW ever again. What a pathetically stupid thing to say.
Well..look at VW owners today...I rest my case. Need proof? Head over to VWVortex.com to see exhibit A of douchebaggery.
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pdx 6:15PM (9/11/2008)
Are you guys kidding me?
Did you even watch the commercial?
It is a complete JOKE. It is HUMOR. They even have a disclaimer when Brooke Shields says the 10,000 baby statistic which says "*statistic based purely on conjecture" and then when they guy says "You just made that up!" it has another disclaimer which says "*Brooke did just make it up".
And the van IS German engineered. When it was designed it was still under Daimler Chrysler, Daimler being the "German". I know it is a little bit of a stretch... But still true.
Here are the facts as I see them. I own a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan - fully loaded. The only compelling reason to go for the VW van would be if the offered the TDI engine - which they don't, so it is a moot point.
Dodge likely has better prices currently, or at least better deals. Dodge offers the better warranty. And from everything that I could see on the VW site, the vehicle is 99% identical to my Dodge. The styling is almost the same. The interior looked almost identical. It has the same MyGig unit, the same screens, the same features, the same colors even. I couldn't find anything significantly different. All of the hand holds were in the same place, the doors work the same way... All of it.
I am sure VW has changed a few minor things, but not enough to catch my attention. The van even has the same annoying exhaust clip that sticks down mid-van that you can see from the side, and that will scrape when going over steep driveway cuts...
So pay less, get a better warranty, for the exact same van - Dodge or Chrysler.
And I even *like* VW.
Now if they put the TDI in the van, or if they make a weekender campervan version - all bets are off!
But chill out folks, the whole ad campaign is meant to be a joke.
Or did you think the VW bug was actually talking to David Hasselhof?
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John D 6:12PM (9/13/2008)
pdx, you have to remember that the humor in the commercial is much too subtle for many people. Especially people who see minivans as only one step removed from the Satan spawned SUV.
Even worse, Brooke Shields talks of people having babies! OMG, the breeders! People who drive minivans have more children than our depleted planet can handle! They must be stopped!
And this commercial, no matter whether it was meant as humor or not, might actually make it more acceptable to have children.
Breeders! Breeders! What Are We Going To Do!!!
That might be it, or it might just be that a lot of people are humorless scolds that can't stand humor that they can't understand.
Holden Miecranc 9:42AM (9/12/2008)
It is a joke, morons. Lighten up. If you'd lose the self-righteousness of the new green religion, you might have grasped that fact.
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JoeMama 2:00PM (9/12/2008)
I'm reminded of that old NutriGrain bar commercial.
"Yeah! Lots of babies! Babies EVERYWHERE! BAABIEESSS!!!"
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seguin 2:12PM (9/12/2008)
I don't get this "German engineering" stuff. Sure, maybe it meant something back in the 70's when American stuff had really low tolerances and stuff compared to now, but considering VW and Mercedes (and to a lesser extent, BMW) are at or near the bottom of every reliability and initial quality survey by JD Powers for the last, what, 9, 10 years - wouldn't people have caught on by now?
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crystal 2:33PM (9/12/2008)
who cares. you have to be the frickin' brady bunch or a total nerd to drive a "goober van".
the nerdy people drive these things. and they are usually the ones that hog up spaces with these aero dynamic hoodlum wagons. they have the soccer sticker and the a honor roll stickers on the bumper. They car pool with other nerd parents, and are often seen in groups driving 10-20 miles under the speed limit cause they are smacking there brat pack around.
they need more then just brooke shields to sell a mini van to me.
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Caugie 4:22PM (9/13/2008)
And Crystal, you need to go back to school...particularly to English classes where you can learn proper word usage AND spelling for the words you have used in your blog.
Nathan 8:38PM (9/12/2008)
MemphisNET:
I do hope you're joking. Is your concept of a rich person based entirely on Scrooge and Monopoly? They like to spend time with their kids too, you know.
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emptynester 3:15PM (9/12/2008)
I think its hysterical. But I love Brooke Shields and think she has a great sense of humor. I could afford any car I want and have owned everything from a Porsche, to a VW bug, but I choose to have a mini van as one of my vehicles all the time. I have no children to chauffeur around anymore, but I have 2 dogs and a Malamute grand daughter, and love having the space of the mini van for shopping and hauling purchases without having to pay for delivery or borrowing someones truck. I have a Nissan Quest, which is nice, but heck yeah, I would love to have a luxury mini van, why not.
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Sol 11:59PM (9/14/2008)
emptynester, don't bore us with your ego!!
philmcneal 8:11PM (9/12/2008)
lol brooke shields her tv show sucked balls so i guess she's doing commericals now? i doubt if they make the sales target for the minivan she'll be back in the loser department once again!
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ms.r 3:05PM (9/13/2008)
well comming from someone whoes own mother made a ho out of her daughter its rather fitting for her to think that.guess she needed the cash for her own little darlins
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StoneMan 3:16PM (9/13/2008)
10,000 Engineered German & Amerikan Babies to take over de world fer Folks Vagon. Heil Hitler. Stupid ad.
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