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Thanks in advance!
Frustrated, Other wise the vehicle is fine.
BusinessWeek
First Drive: 2008 Volkswagen Touareg (Inside Line)
Let's stay off the stupid name, which is hard, for a minute. This vehicle is the size of a RX350 (actually an inch bigger), but has less interior space than a Rav4! I'm over 6', and I don't really fit in the back seat.
Cargo space is again in the Rav4, not RX range (71 cubes to 85 for the Lexus RX).
This thing weighs a MINUMUM of 1000lbs more than the Lexus (the Photon had the same affliction, which kinda hurts efficiency, which the Lexus excels at, and the market demands). This nullifies any power advantage.
And it is as expensive as the Lexus, but doesn't offer the luxury marque Lexus does. Nor the heritage of quality.
It's marketing doesn't even tie in with the vehicle.
Affordable is back? Compared to what? The only way someone would buy it is if VW totally subvented the lease to make it reasonably affordable. 0% is still a bad investment when it comes to this vehicle, unless you go off-road frequently.
And the quality isn't sending anybody back to the drawing boards either (except for maybe VW).
And now they want to build a bigger (3 rows of seats) SUV BELOW it, and above the other SUV, with the other stupid name I can't summon up right now. :confuse:
This is probably the stupidest vehicle on the market right now.
And the sad part is, it's is really a great vehicle on paper. Great ride, luxurious, powerful, great off-road.
VW has one hell of a nerve even thinking about selling this $40k+ bomb here. It is poorly conceived, is heavily compromised in space and efficiency, doesn't fit anywhere near their portfolio, and will easily be superceded by any $30k SUV in any form of Value. :lemon:
It has Range Rover talent, and a Pontiac brain. A great rental car, but one of the dumbest purchases anyone could make.
The rest of VW's line-up is showing an equally inept market strategy, and the loss of the Photon is only Step 1 in this marque's ultimate departure fom the US. If this is what the uS will get from VW, it can't come a day too soon.
Now ask me how I really feel...... :mad:
DrFill
We'd sure appreciate it if we could keep the model-specific discussions focused on the model itself and take the brand critiques to the discussions about the, um, brands. I b'lieve you and I have talked about this a few times before...
I am writing car review for Touareg. I am now in my 2nd V-10 Twin Turbo Diesel Touareg (THE FIRST ONE I DROVE FOR 100 MILES BEFORE IT HAD ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN) Even after spending $60,000 and owning the car for two days and driving it just 100 miles, VW tried to force it on me after it had been in the shop for almost a month, turned out it took 7 weeks to fix car and after 30 days in the shop, it qualified for a LEMON and they were forced to give me a new car.
This is such a long story and don’t want to bore you with all the details but I bought the car at Commonwealth in Santa Ana CA and between them and VW corporate, it has been a nightmare. The Service Manager at Commonwealth is the only person worth mentioning that is decent human being
Problems include but not limited too
Brakes
Electrical
Rattles
Squeaks
Doors locks
Odometer tracks 10-12% Faster than car is traveling meaning your warranty expires faster, your car needs service faster and it depreciates faster!!!!!
Please know I LOVED this car and in my opinion, there is not another SUV on the market that looks, as good but please do not buy this car on looks alone because you will be terribly disappointed.
BE AWARE: BE AWARE: BE AWARE: BE AWARE:
THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LINE UP WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT OR THE DASHBOARD GAUGES!!!!!
ONCE YOU START DRIVING CAR, YOU MAY EXPERIENCE BACK AND SHOULDER PAIN BECAUSE YOUR BODY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. IF YOU DOUBT WHAT I AM SAYING, JUST GO SIT IN ONE, THEY ARE ALL THIS WAY AND VW IS DENYING IT. THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN SPEC BUT THE SPEC IS WRONG. THE AIRBAGS ALSO COULD FAIL YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT SITTING STRAIGHT....
I have retained an attorney and contacted LA Times and all the automotive magazines to try and get the word out to potential buyers. Problem is you don’t notice it on a short test-drive, it is only when you start driving for a couple hours a day you start getting all the symptoms. I will fight until the end. VW Corporate up to this point has snubbed me and offered no solution to the problem and I have a so-called luxury vehicle that when I drive, I am totally uncomfortable.
If you want more info, just email me, I am happy to explain this and many other issues like brakes squeak, doors rattle, and parts pop-off easily, etc If you buy this car, you will be sorry!! I promise!
Sorry to hear you have had so many problems. This does not look good for VW USA.
I've been researching my next car, as I usually keep one about 2 years. My choices to date are the (in this order) Touareg, Q7, LR3.
Of late, its moved to the Q7, LR3,and Ridgeline (own 2006 - flawless in all quality aspects)
I'll keep on eye on Touareg - its not totally off the radar, but I keep hearing tons of issues. Much more than I read at the Land Rover site by far.
I bought the Touareg because I think it is the best looking SUV on the market. I did my research and the back breaker for me was the let a limited amount of V10's in California and I scooped one up.
The problem is that Volkswagen does not understand a luxury car or the market and the service is less than acceptable. My 2nd Touareg (1st one was a lemon) has been in the shop for over 35 days in its first 4 months with me. You may think it is just I that got a bad car but keep searching around, you will see the stories add up and hopefully, you will vote against buying one.
I would hate to say to my fellow bloggers Told Ya So...
My list of issues, arguments, and problems go miles deep. I have had brake problems, electrical problems, paint is very soft and scratches upon contact, the odometer is over 10% fast so your warranty expires faster, service is needed quicker and the car depreciates faster. Car rattles and the drivers seat and steering wheel do not line up. You have to lean about 2 inches to the left to line up the steering wheel with the gauges and your always sitting crooked.
Cant say much else but to not buy this car. If you do, dont be mad at anyone but yourself.... I am happy to sell my V10 to any of you!! Mine only has 8,000 miles on it
Like it is my fault!
Steve, you hit it on the head in your message! I got excited because the car looks so awesome and the Twin Turbo Diesel got me fired up but it is the biggest automotive mistake I have made and I have made plenty over the years.
NEVER BUY VOLKS.
I dont know what to do anymore... My car is 6 months old, has 9,000mi on it and it has been in the shop for 37 days.
I am sick of this car and the excitment of buying such a beautiful car has been stripped away. I have the V10 twin turbo diesel...$60K for the dam car!!
My guess is this must be your first and second German car. You picked one of the worst, no argument. IMHO, they are all almost equally bad, including Audi, Mercedes and current BMW. This is because they are laden with unproven gadgets, chrome, shiny wood, etc. We love gadgets and shiny wood. That crap either breaks, falls off or has a mind of its own.
Love-hate is the best way to describe my personal experience with the Touareg. There is still no other vehicle like it on the road, other than the Cayenne and Q7, which must behave similarly. I still believe it is a great ride if you have patience with maintenance issues, time and money to burn.
After my brief (2.5 year) experiment with high dollar imported luxury cars, I've decided to keep it simple, drive reliable autos and not worry about the image I project on the road to people that do not even know me.
As far as the seating position, lots of cars are like that. I got used to it. It was possibly the most comfortable car I've ever driven, and I've driven a lot. Many long highway trips and always in extreme comfort. I'm not an easy fit at 6'4" and 250#.
I'm always amazed that people spend the maybe $10,000+ more to get the diesel over a V8. They are all rated to tow the same amount, 7700#. It will take you a 1/2 million miles to make your investment back in saved fuel. Meanwhile you will have replaced just about everything on the car. That's why one of the previous posters got his for so much less than list.
I'm going in the opposite direction. I drove one of those reliable Honda's in the late 80's and early 90's and I couldn't wait to get rid of that thing. It was an 84 Honda Accord and life is simply too short to drive a car like that.
I replaced it with a 96 Ford Contour and the Contour needed a new transmission at about 60,000 miles and the check engine light has been on for the last 7 years, but the Contour is a dream to drive compared to that Accord.
Honda's and Toyota's are like commercial tomatoes. They ship and keep well but all the taste has been engineered out of them.
We had a 95 contour up until 2 years ago. A lot of fun to drive, but it fell apart around us, transmission, several water pumps, seats, trim, power windows, power steering, rear suspension, etc. Sold it for scrap with barely 100,000 miles on it. My fault for buying a first year car.
I really did not give up on nice cars. We have a 2005 Caddy CTS that has only been back to the dealer for oil changes. What a sweet ride! I just refuse to buy the latest thing anymore just because of the untested bells and whistles that invariably cause trouble. I think the Germans have proven themselves as suckers for every electronic gadget they can stuff into a car. I'm not playing anymore. The depreciation hit on my Touareg was the biggest percentage I've ever suffered over the many cars I've owned. It would have actually been a much better car to lease for 2 years and give it back.
You don't understand. The V10 TDI is a package, which includes 4-wheel air suspension, 18" wheels/tires and massive Brembo brakes. I believe there are other things in the package as well, but they escape me now. If you look at depreciation, I think you'll see that the V10 TDIs do much better than the gassers in resale value, and will return a big chunk of that admittedly high cost premium at trade-in or resale.
All Touaregs are rated to tow 7716#. This rating is based on chassis strength, not power. I've towed my track car since 1998 with a '98 V6 4Runner and an '03 V8 4Runner. The torque of the V10 TDI makes the towing experience effortless and serene, in contrast to even our '03, which didn't have the torque to tow in top gear in flat terrain. Our '03 would manage only 9-10 mpg while towing. Our V10 TDI does 14-15 mpg, on fuel which is generally a bit less expensive than the premium gasoline our V8 4Runner swilled.
Yes, there is a cost to drive a V10 TDI, but I personally feel I'm getting what I paid for - a primo tow vehicle- and more! Tows I used to dread are now enjoyable. We leave to go from Michigan to VIR (730 miles thru the Blue Ridge mountains)week after next, and I'm looking forward to the trip.
Regards!
when I back up the brakes squeal a bit, but seems only the right front...
tires look to need replacing by the 25k mark.
truck has excellent get up and go, once it gets moving.
don't care for the navi - seems dated in its function and slow to respond as well as graphic quality overall.
like the front and rear sensors that give read out in the dash and rear door (via the rear view mirror) - as well as giving indication left and right, but with VW led tech - those displays seem dated as well.
LOVE - again LOVE the adaptive cruise - I was playing with that thing like crazy.. as well as the suspension - up/ down /up down LOL - expensive toys indeed.
now, if the the inside of the A6 is the new Q7 - then I'm off to buy a Q7. Not totally sold on the T, unless the 2300 changes for 08, are in line with the definition of improvement. The reason I bring up the A6- had that for a rental as well - loved it, but don't care to sit that low - like the SUV height. aka thinking the Q7 is the next car to rent if I can find one (:
feedback anyone?
interior seems a bit smaller than what I would have thought. The LR2 has a bit more 'air' to it.
If the sound system is the stock one, its worth the upgrade indeed.
It is the best vehicle by far that I have ever experienced. (I also have a Jetta TDI) My Touareg has just over 72,000 miles and other than taking too long for the dealership to diagnose a clogged fuel filter and the cost of brake replacement at about 60,000 miles I have had no trouble with my TDI. It is superior on the highway with far more power than I need even though I use it occasionally. Fuel mileage at 65 mph (if you can hold it at only 65) is a true 29.6 mpg! It tows a 5,000 lb. boat and trailer over 11,517' Hoosier Pass in Colorado like it is not even behind me. The amenities are numerous and I use them all. Furthermore, it is SUPERIOR in 4wd with the air suspension set to the highest ground clearance. I have used it in the mountains in snow and year around on a farm/ranch. What a vehicle!!! The caveat is that I have never bought an extended warranty on anything I have ever owned except on this 4x4. It is so sophisticated that just one use of the extended warranty and in all likelihood the warranty will have paid for itself.
I did take out the nav system that came with the Touareg and replaced it with an AVIC-Z1 with dvd, serius, cd, outstanding nav, etc... and have been most pleased with the new unit.
I have had nothing but positive experiences with the Touareg TDI and my VW Dealership (Heuberger Motors) in Colorado Springs has been great to work with.
07 Reg V8 Reflex Silver
sound...had new brakes and still does it...
I have a feeling it may be the drive shaft bearing..
How much did it cost to replace?
How long can I drive ??
Can anyone give me their input as to just how unreliable the 2007/2008 Touareg's are?
I drive my 3rd Land Rover now and have never had any kind of issue at all. So, I fully understand that perception is not always reality (unless you're the one waiting for the tow!)
Thanks.
many thanks!
Edit: The Lux Limited Edition will also have 20" wheels that are special to that trim level.
My Treg vibrates on the left front side intermittently since I've owned it...dealer always responds with "what vibration"....usually requires 30 MPH or higher....and it's not horribly annoying just there, and then not, then there...ideas?