Too many VW Touaregs - 2004 V8 - Mine - Located in CT

Too many Touaregs - 2004 V8 - Interesting history

So I started off buying a 2011 Touareg used from a dealer but really always wanted an earlier one, especially since I learned the later ones had less advanced AWD systems (at least in the US) So I bought a 2004 V8 with coil suspension off of Copart, It was in pristine body condition in the pictures. But thanks to Copart Albany it arrived to me with a dented rear hatch and a gouge in the front bumper. I later put a small dent in the right rear quarter and cracked the mirror housing (still works).. 

I wanted to tow with it so then I found another 2004 V8 air suspension that someone was parting out. I just wanted to buy the hitch and rear locking differential. But he pushed for me to just buy the whole thing, which I caved into. Got the hitch off that and onto mine then towed it home. 

Then I bought another one, 2005 V8 air suspension. This was supposed to be a flip, I take the radio (a nice double DIN DVD/Carplay unit) and a friend of mine swaps his seats for the desired brown leather. Well it had a starter problem and was worse off, so I just parted that out. Gave my friend the seats to clear out space and never got his. He was always busy and then decided to move to Montana. Point being is I have the rear differential and wiring harness and diff. ECU from that, along with a harness for rear heated seats. 

So what's this all coming to? Trying to slim down the vehicle fleet. Keeping the 2011 Touareg as just a nice driver. The other two and parts are what are up for grabs. With a number of “options” potentially. 

So first the 2004 V8 with coil suspension. Approx. 135k miles on it. Runs great, everything works. What’s wrong, the aforementioned body damage, a small power steering leak, a little rumble/vibration from the HVAC blower motor, and leak in the windshield washer tank. I have a replacement washer bottle from the first parts vehicle to put in and a mirror from the second parts Touareg. Tires are in good shape, I need to go and measure again but I think they were around 8/32nds. Neat thing about this one is the history, It was bought new in NJ to a couple of doctors, spent some time there, and then at some point was shipped to Europe, the maintenance book has stamps from France and Germany. It was also equipped in that time with a European headlight switch and rear fog light. Added bits are a spare quart of motor oil bought in Germany and a Europe DVD Navigation disc. 

Second is the 2004 V8 with air suspension. So this one is pretty rough, it does run but the catalytic converters were cut out of it before I bought it so it’s loud, a ton of faults, air suspension works but leaks down after a few days, is equipped with the locking rear differential from the factory. Has a mostly clean rear hatch, it does have a small dent but not like the other one. No windshield currently and seats are removed. 

Other spare parts and aftermarket. I bought and never installed a Eurowise lift kit for the coil suspension Touareg. I also bought adapters from Eurowise just when they were stopping production in favor of wobble bolts to use 5x127 Jeep on the 5x130 VW pattern. Also have the rear differential, controller, and full wiring harness from the 2005 Touareg. Also have the factory roof crossbars, two of the locking covers are broken, it’s tough to explain but with some work they do lock in. 

What’s this all dollars and cents. Well I turned down an offer of $2000 for the main one as it sits. That;s not to say I won’t take $2000 for it, but it’s going to lose the trailer hitch and the good tires at that price (because my 2011 could use tires) . $2500 is what I want for it as it sits. I might keep the other one and just play around with it, I wanted to cut the roof off and turn it into a truck… But I can’t use the lift because it’s only for coil suspension, so unless I keep the lift thinking I’ll buy another coil spring Touareg sometime it might as well be for sale too. And if I keep the cheap one it already has the rear differential, so that could go too. If one was thinking about building an offroader, tires are getting upgraded so take the discount of me keeping the better ones, and buy the lift, and maybe the differential parts, etc. Or get me one less project and take the parts Touareg for $400. 

Hope some of this made sense…

Lift kit link (was $700): https://shop.eurowise.com/products/ewor9003

Adapters were $400

Gallery to pictures, will be adding more: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4rh1oSY94hVMQxTd7

So right now my current plan is to keep improving on the Touareg, work on the small issues, sell other stuff, and potentially keep it. But if not then it's in a better position to sell elsewhere like Facebook Marketplace without all the people trying to beat me down over little things.

So I'll be taking the tires for my 2011 Touareg and putting the adapters and Jeep wheels back on. Fixing the washer reservoir leak and what not. Probably going put the lift on once winter is over too. 

Whoosh I'm glad your on the wrong side of the country from me. I'd take that in a heartbeat for the introductory price of $2000.

Could the first one you described be a good first vehicle for a new driver? 

Mazdax605 said:

Could the first one you described be a good first vehicle for a new driver? 

A 2011 would be good. The earlier 2004 V8, not as much. 

2011 VR6 - decent on gas for an SUV - 20mpg, decent tech bluetooth streaming, good visibility and rear view camera. 

2004 V8 - 15mpg - it is comfortable and drives well, but a bit heavy at over 5000 pounds. Because of the V8 the engine bay is packed pretty tight. 

For average driving a 1st or 2nd generation VR6 model would be good too. 

In the meantime I swapped the Jeep wheels back on. Probably going to swap the stock tires from this to replace the worn tires on my 2011. 

Email Sent

I wasn't able to keep up with what's for sale! With the post being older, might not be worth reading any closer 

I am looking for a gas suv to tow a 3500 lb camper. 
I don't mind older beaters, if reasonably dependable to a good shade tree mechanic!

Any still for sale?

Thanks

Maybe I missed it, but does the 04 have both center console buttons (ie hard core off-road capable)

Still got it, on the fence on selling, because I like it but I really should sell something so let's talk... I used it in the fall to tow a New Beetle home. I have a few other cars and haven't been driving it much. May need a battery since I've had to jump it when I haven't used it in a couple weeks, small power steering leak. And the couple body issues as previously noted. 

2004 was the first year for the Touareg and this one has coil suspension (tippy top had adjustable air suspension) and a shiftable transfer case. Which has High, Low, and Center differential lock. Could be optioned with a rear differential locker, this one doesn't have it currently. From a Touareg I pulled apart I have the switch, rear diff control module, and the full vehicle wiring harness (to separate out the wiring) along with the differential. The different engine choices had different gear ratios but all the parts I have are from V8s so same ratio.

There's a company in Colorado that sells retrofit kits, and parts. A full kit from them is $2800. There's a couple companies starting to make / make work aftermarket units. A UK based company Darkside Developments, check out their Youtube channel has retrofitted an aftermarket front locker into a Touareg. UK did get a front locker option way back when, but very few were equipped. 

Hmm. Well I just saw something I've kinda been looking for so possibly a bit motivated on this. Might even go and post it on Facebook Marketplace soon. 

Wait maybe, maybe not... A little ouchie this morning with my other Touareg. We'll see. 
 

Thats a big hit, are you okay?!?

In reply to golfduke :

A bit sore but OK. Other driver OK as well. He was in a 7.3 Ford Excursion. 

In reply to dan0 :

Glad everyone is ok. I'm still dealing with some soreness , but no "structural" damage. 

dan0 said:

In reply to golfduke :

A bit sore but OK. Other driver OK as well. He was in a 7.3 Ford Excursion. 

good to hear.  That things gonna be totalled instantly.  I know the rain was nasty down where you are, was that part of the culprit? 

Road was wet but only light rain. Just an accident. 

A light rain, can sometimes be just enough to bring the oils in the road up to REALLY make a nice slip-n-slid!

Well the black Touareg is totaled. Initial repair estimate was over 15k in damage. 
 

Now here's the thing. Cost to buyback is $1077. No intention to get it back on the road. But think it's worth it for that in parts. Sell some / all in the end or have some goody woods buggy kinda thing? 
 

I need some GRM enabling...

Sounds like you have a parts Toureg and some cash. What's their replacement valuation? 

Haven't you been trying to get RID of several parts cars for the last year?

This is your opportunity. 

$8435 value

-$500 collision deductible

-$680 loan balance (only reason it still had collision coverage)

So pocket $7255 and it's gone or $6178 if I keep it. 
 

I have left over parts from cars I've taken apart, which I'm ready to just start throwing out at this point if they don't sell.

All the car sale posts recently were just to help pay bills or try to buy a different car. Like buyback my wagon from Golfduke or sell my kei truck so I could buy a newer fuel injected one.

Sounds like you might want to take the cash.

Yeah, I honestly feel like, for you in your situation, it's better for simplicity to just take the cash and run with it.  Get into something appliance-y and move on... Like you already said, you have enough touareg parts for sale that you're gonna start tossing them... you don't need MORE, you need less, haha. 

But obviously, you decide whats best for you! 

Have a text in to the adjuster and expecting a call from him later.

The 2004 Touareg this thread originally was about is now off the market as I'll be keeping it for sure now.