Thoughts on the VW Touareg?

In the recent "Trucks and Towing" thread, BradTL announced that he just purchased a VW Touareg. I've been researching them lately and would love feedback from anyone that has experience with them. All of the boxes it checked for Brad are on my list as well. I'm even considering the V10 TDI.

The one downside that immediately comes to mind is fairly dismal fuel economy.

BradLTL wrote: Ok, so we made the purchase yesterday.... we went with a 2006 VW Touareg V8. It checks the boxes we needed: 1. Fits in the garage 2. Strong motor 3. 4wd 4. 7700lbs towing capacity 5. Got a good deal 6. (Probably the actual most important one) Wife likes it Thoughts? Experience? Advice?

The V10 TDI is probably the coolest SUV ive ever driven! Enough torque to rip your face off!!

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: The V10 TDI is probably the coolest SUV ive ever driven! Enough torque to rip your face off!!

Wasn't that up in Porsche 997S kinda cash though?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

DukeOfUndersteer wrote: The V10 TDI is probably the coolest SUV ive ever driven! Enough torque to rip your face off!!

Wasn't that up in Porsche 997S kinda cash though?

yup, thats the only problem. The V6's arnt bad...

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Wasn't that up in Porsche 997S kinda cash though?

They were when new, but, just recently, the prices have started to fall. Newer used models with the V10 are in the $30's now.

My boss had one and he complained about it all the time. It spent a lot of time at the dealer for nuisance issues, like minor eletrical faults and emissions problems which kept triggering dash warning lights. It was nice inside and drove fine, but was also pretty expensive. He replaced it with an Acura MDX.

Coworker had a V8 one(die hard vw/audi guy). Ended up ditching it as it had all sort of random electrical faults. It's a shame, as I've heard similar stories about them, cause I do think it would be a great tow rig/soccer mom mobile.

If you are servicing it in Lansing, Michigan and paying cash I welcome the purchase.

If you like your money, do not buy it.

John Brown wrote: If you are servicing it in Lansing, Michigan and paying cash I welcome the purchase. If you like your money, do not buy it.

And you would know.

Darn it. I thought the Touareg would fill the bill. Nice to look at, nice interior, interesting in general, not a massive footprint yet great towing capacity. If only VW built reliably engineered cars/trucks.

I can't remember ever seeing one in the flesh. Plenty of the porsche alternative around here though

Some magazine did a review on them.

Clicky here...

FWIW, I LOVED it. Not just me, but my wife and kids too, and that doesn't happen often. Of course, we only had it a couple of days, so I didn't have to repair it. If I won the lottery, it would be my #3 purchase.

Look at a 2010 Toureg TDi off lease at the end of the year next year. Those are by far more useable than the V10TDis with less issues.

Tom Heath wrote: Some magazine did a review on them. Clicky here... FWIW, I LOVED it. Not just me, but my wife and kids too, and that doesn't happen often. Of course, we only had it a couple of days, so I didn't have to repair it. If I won the lottery, it would be my #3 purchase.

Wow...I should have checked there first. Having read through the review and the comments, I could have avoided this thread altogether!

Nah, threads are good!

Yesterday afternoon, I saw a Phaeton. I think there are actually 2 in the Memphis area.....just about as many as there are A8s. What does this have to do with the subject at hand? With VW/Audi/and Porsche sharing cetain platforms, the Porsche (for some reason....brand cache?) almost always outsells it's platform "mates" So I've seen more examples of the Cayenne than the Toureg.

BTW, if they haven't hit showrooms yet, the Cayenne is tipped to get a V6 "base" model, and within the next year or 2 a Lexus-like hybrid model.

integraguy wrote: So I've seen more examples of the Cayenne than the Toureg.

Same here. I see Cayennes regularly but it is very rare indeed to see the VW equivalent.

Ditto that. And forget A8's - here in Atlanta I have seen more Audi R8's than Phaeton's.

reading the costs involved in repairing a simple front-corner hit on an A8 made me sure that i'll never want one.

sticker: 98k repairs: 46k

i don't think they even popped the airbags

WilD wrote:

integraguy wrote: So I've seen more examples of the Cayenne than the Toureg.

Same here. I see Cayennes regularly but it is very rare indeed to see the VW equivalent.

Who wants to buy a VW when the porsche is not much more money?