Hi Chrisjo. We had the 2.5 tdi version on a 54 plate for a couple of years. absolutely superb motor! excellently appointed, supremely comfortable, and could comfortably tow a house. however, only managed about 22 mpg towing our elddis crusader, and barely managed 30, when not towing.
the most important thing to remember if you're thinking of buying one out of manufacturer's warranty is to get some sort of cover from elsewhere. if they go wrong they cost a blinking fortune to repair! (we had a warranty direct policy for about a pound a day. well worth it)
We have the 3.0 v6 pulls our crusader tempest uprated 2000kg aircon etc pulls like a dream we get around 20 towing and 28-30 not towing but it's such a nice car luckily I'm in the trade and as yet touch wood no break downs!!!
We test drove two of these on the same day; having been impressed with the possible towing ability and weights.
The 2.5 was an SE at a VW main dealer and was a beautiful car and incredibly clean and almost like new (a 2006 for 15K), but the engine gearbox combination was truly awful!! it was hunting around for gears throught the test drive.
We then tried a 3.0 Altitude from an independant, a much, much better car; smooth powerful and not ruined by the gearbox. We fell in love and I'd say it is probably one of the nicest cars I've ever driven, unfortunately it was one of those 'pushy - let me speak to my manager' type dealers that wanted us to sign there and then so we walked.
We really wanted a 3.0 Altitude, but then reality struck home; £400+ a year to tax, poor mpg, and if you can't find one with a towbar already fitted; a hugely expensive VW bar to get fitted.
It is a lot of car for the money, but they lose money and cost a fortune to run; still feel a pang when I see one on the road but there are cheaper cars that will tow just as well and they might just fit through my gates; which the Touareg couldn't so we would have needed some DIY to get it in the drive!
The new one is nicer apparently, 38mpg, lower tax and a much much better drive train; my lottery win car no doubt, but a second hand one would lose out to a similar aged Sorento for me; the KIA would cost me a lot less to run and buy.
Apparently the new version is streets ahead of the original version.
I seem to recall that Top Gear gave the original version a right mauling........
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
The contents of that link are laughable. All it actually says is that the more a vehicle costs to buy, the more it costs to repair. Yes it will cost more to fix a Range Rover than a Suzuki Vitara. The only thing those 2 cars have in common is that they are both 4wd.
Even the sarcastic 'Unbreakable 4x4s' title is daft. The furthest off road most of the 4x4s mentioned will go is the grass verge.
I have run a 3.0 V6 Touareg for 3 years now. Took out a Warranty Direct policy but touch wood have never needed it yet. Maybe because I have the vehicle serviced every 10,000 miles and look after it!
I tow a Challanger 620 and prior to that a Europa 600. Been all over Europe and if sticking to 60mph can average 24 mpg. Not towing and doing motorway runs at 75-80 mph can average 31/32mpg.
I can honestly say that this is the nicest vehicle I have ever owned having had an Xtrail, Discovery 2 and Freelander previously, none of them compare to the Touareg.
I fancied one of these myself some time ago but i quickly changed my mind. Ive heard alot of negatives about these it has to be said and im a VW driver myself.
The new one is apparently a big improvement over the first version. One 'biggie' i did hear was high tyre wear. These have to be renewed as a set and one owner i spoke to was choked that they only lasted about 13'000 miles and the tyres cost him 200 quid each! Ive also heard alot of gripes about electrical problems. To be honest, i think there are better motors out there for that sort of money. Fuel ecomony is also poor.
In actaul fact, im going to stick my neck out here, Korean stuff is increasingly more reliable than VW of late!!
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Topic: Volkswagon Touareg
