Some silly new owner questions

[GuyContinental]

So, we are just a few days into the van and having read the manual pretty much cover to cover we still have a few questions:

I just noticed that the van has a fixed radio antenna- does that mean that I have to take it off to go through a car wash? All of my recent cars have had either nubs or retracting power antennas- I don't want to lop it off in the wash...

Also, is it possible to use the RSE + headphones AND play something else/stream music on the front deck? I'd love to plug the grommets into their media and still be able to have front seat (audio) entertainment.

Related, I figured out how to put a single photo into the head unit display- is there a way to set up a screensaver that rotates through photos?

Finally, I cinched down a pair of car seats in the back seat and found that they compressed the "leatherette" more than I'm accustomed to- I released them and added towels for padding. Even so, I'm a bit concerned that 3 more years of car seats will cause irreparable harm. If so, I guess, so be it, but if anyone has suggestions for protecting the seats I'd love to hear it!

Cheers,

Guy

Are there any other cool hidden features that we should know about on an SE?

[58kafer]

So, we are just a few days into the van and having read the manual pretty much cover to cover we still have a few questions:

I just noticed that the van has a fixed radio antenna- does that mean that I have to take it off to go through a car wash? All of my recent cars have had either nubs or retracting power antennas- I don't want to lop it off in the wash...

To be safe I would remove it, that is the biggest eyesore of the van, I just notices that the Siennas have the old CB antenna too.

Also, is it possible to use the RSE + headphones AND play something else/stream music on the front deck? I'd love to plug the grommets into their media and still be able to have front seat (audio) entertainment.

Yes, the rugrats can watch what they want with headphones and you can crank out to your favorite tunes

Related, I figured out how to put a single photo into the head unit display- is there a way to set up a screensaver that rotates through photos?

One photo at a time and they won't scroll thru.

Finally, I cinched down a pair of car seats in the back seat and found that they compressed the "leatherette" more than I'm accustomed to- I released them and added towels for padding. Even so, I'm a bit concerned that 3 more years of car seats will cause irreparable harm. If so, I guess, so be it, but if anyone has suggestions for protecting the seats I'd love to hear it!

I've had my daughters car seat cinched in for 1.5 years so far and every once in a while when the dog can't reach what she has dropped I uncork the seat give a nice wipe down and all seems good. We had two car seat cinched on our Passat for years and now I drive it and everything bounced back other than some rub marks, but in the van I bought super soft gray hand towels and have them on the contact points. Kohls, Bed Bath and Beyond, Marshalls are all good cheap places to get the towels.

Are there any other cool hidden features that we should know about on an SE?

You don't have to hold the key over to start it, just a quick flip and let go.

The hoods are aluminum.

If you have the power rear gate there is a black rubber strip that is on the body that is by where the glass meets the body, that rubber strip is a sensor that can be used to re open the hatch rather than fumbling for the switch inside.

You can lock out the power sliders by flipping the switch on the overhead console by the mirror (if you have power sliders)

I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting, I'm sure others will chime in.

[showtz]

Not sure if this was in the manual:

Hold down the unlock on the key and the front windows will roll down.

The driver side sliding door will not open when the gas door is open

[VWroutanvanman]

Here's a list of things that can be programmed to your Routan http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...hlight=key+fob

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

...
I just noticed that the van has a fixed radio antenna- does that mean that I have to take it off to go through a car wash? All of my recent cars have had either nubs or retracting power antennas- I don't want to lop it off in the wash...

Okay, for the record, you should be using a brush-less car wash. These won't lop off classic antennas since there are no whirrling brushes or drapes that will touch the vehicle. Brush systems are BAD for your paint! Stay away from them! Better yet, wash your vehicle by yourself because this way you will get closer to your vehicle and be able to spot dents, chips, and loose lug nuts

[VWroutanvanman]

As far as the antenna goes, I keep the appropriate size wrench in the console and remove the antenna before I go into the car wash, and I install a bolt with an o-ring hand tight in the antenna socket to keep water out. The car wash puts quite a bit of stress on the antenna base (scary looking the way it gets whipped around, expect the thing to get yanked off the fender). And yes, the hand wash is better, but don't always have the time.