Touareg

[THEBOSSX5]

My aunt has the new 2012 VW Touareg diesel! After driving her vehicle im not that impressed! I still believe the x5 is a true man vehicle! The Touareg isn't meant to be driven! its meant to take you from point A-B!!!! Also the X5 is such a head turner the Touareg not so much! Not sexist at all but it seems that the X5 is meant to be driven aggressively like most men do, where as the Touareg lacks the handling and performance the X5 offers! I strongly believe the only reason the Touareg sells is because its more than 15k cheaper!

[bigx5er]

I like the Touareg. What has kept me away is the VW dealers. I just don't trust them with a 50K car and the service experience is nothing like the local BMW dealers. Example: My wife just had her Golf in for one of the free oil changes. Our garage now has oil on floor from what they spilled while filling the oil.

Just seems strange for VW to sell that expensive of a SUV.

[Tooloud10]

I figure that if I were going in for major surgery and I could only choose between a doctor that drove a clapped-out Corrolla or a late-model BMW, I'd choose the doc in the Bimmer every time.

[sarends]

This is so hard for me. I am in a "dyed in the wool" BMW guy. I would love an X5 35D for my daily driver, but I really think in my line of work (primarily roofing sales) there are a significant enough number of my customers who would struggle with the stigma being presented. I can see that if I were in pharmaceutical or high tech sales it probably wouldn't matter.

I am leaning towards the Touareg because I believe it would be more comfortable to drive 30,000 miles in a year in than my F250 and I don't think it would "get in the way" of making a sale. And, it has enough room to haul my sales materials and I can haul a few job supplies when I want to. Obviously a pickup wins on hauling things (like an occasional sheet of plywood or an 8' piece of flashing), but I rarely (if ever) do this anymore as I have employees who do this. Honestly, 99% of the time in the last 2 (out of 10 years in business) I have not needed a pickup whatsoever. Seems kinda silly, and even though the F250 is cadillac comfy going down the interstate, it wears me out in traffic and in neighborhoods.

Despite all of this, my wife still thinks I need a pickup because I am in the "construction industry" and need to look the part - and, she might be right. It's only been 15 months since I plunked out some significant coin for the loaded F250 I currently drive and I think I scare her how often I change vehicles. But, I am successful and I plan/hope to keep it that way in 2013. The way I figure it my vehicle is my office and I need to be as comfortable as I can be within reason - a decked out Porsche Cayenne would be my dream work vehicle!

Tomorrow am I am going to test drive (don't hit me) a 2013 RAM (not DOdge - grin) 1500 V8 with 8 speed transmission and air suspension. Who knows, maybe I'll like it . . . .

They are coming out with a diesel variation later this year but by the time it's available I will have put another 25,000 work miles on the clock!

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by sarends

This is so hard for me. I am in a "dyed in the wool" BMW guy. I would love an X5 35D for my daily driver, but I really think in my line of work (primarily roofing sales) there are a significant enough number of my customers who would struggle with the stigma being presented. I can see that if I were in pharmaceutical or high tech sales it probably wouldn't matter.

I am leaning towards the Touareg because I believe it would be more comfortable to drive 30,000 miles in a year in than my F250 and I don't think it would "get in the way" of making a sale. And, it has enough room to haul my sales materials and I can haul a few job supplies when I want to. Obviously a pickup wins on hauling things (like an occasional sheet of plywood or an 8' piece of flashing), but I rarely (if ever) do this anymore as I have employees who do this. Honestly, 99% of the time in the last 2 (out of 10 years in business) I have not needed a pickup whatsoever. Seems kinda silly, and even though the F250 is cadillac comfy going down the interstate, it wears me out in traffic and in neighborhoods.

Despite all of this, my wife still thinks I need a pickup because I am in the "construction industry" and need to look the part - and, she might be right. It's only been 15 months since I plunked out some significant coin for the loaded F250 I currently drive and I think I scare her how often I change vehicles. But, I am successful and I plan/hope to keep it that way in 2013. The way I figure it my vehicle is my office and I need to be as comfortable as I can be within reason - a decked out Porsche Cayenne would be my dream work vehicle!

Tomorrow am I am going to test drive (don't hit me) a 2013 RAM (not DOdge - grin) 1500 V8 with 8 speed transmission and air suspension. Who knows, maybe I'll like it . . . .

They are coming out with a diesel variation later this year but by the time it's available I will have put another 25,000 work miles on the clock!

See I disagree. I just bought a brand new house and the super of my development has a X5 3.5i and on the flip side it said to me "Ok he is successful, been in this a long time and knows quality"

[Lubehead]

Actually, I think the Dodge may be a great alternative. With the coil spring suspension, the ride will be good and I must admit, in your business, it does "fit" better. And since your wife supports it, how can she be wrong?

Let us know how the test drive goes.

[sarends]

I test drove drove 2013 RAM 1500 with coil spring and air suspension plus 8 speed transmission - it was pretty nice. This is my favorite motor/tranny combo of the 1/2 tons right now. Everything was smooth and the ride was "soft" and comfy in all conditions I threw at it. Maybe the best overall comfy pickup I've been in.

However, I am not too excited about it - not really much fun to drive. The hemi had a nice braaaw to it, but not nearly the guts as the Ford Scorpion turbo 6.7 diesel in the Super Duty. I think that the Ram would be maybe 15% more comfortable than my 2012 F250 Super Duty. I guess I really shouldn't be that concerned about the lack of "fun factor" in a pickup truck, right?

I could actually get excited about driving the TDI Touareg - it is fun. Not twin turbo X5 V8 fun. but not bad. This is the direction I am leaning right now. In my mind I see the Touareg being 25% more comfortable (overall) than the F250 and I see it being about 50% more fun to drive. But, it has about 50% less hauling utility. OK, just thought of a weighted decision making exercise. I will assign an importance to Comfort, Fun Factor and Hauling Utility and then score the Toaureg against the Super Duty and the 13 Ram 1500 8 speed air suspension.

OK, Here goes:

Importance to me (on a scale of -10), in my work vehicle (in which I spend about 2,700 hours per year) of the following factors:

Comfort - 10
Fun Factor - 5
Hauling Utility - 6
Image Presented to Customers - 7 - I am not saying this factor isn't important to me - I am saying it is not that critical to customers - they are far more concerned about quality of my company's product & service. I didn't score this one because I feel that all three of the following vehicles have a perfectly fine presentation towards my customers.

2012 F250 Crew Cab Super Duty Turbo Diesel
Comfort - 10*6 = 60
Fun Factor - 5*5 = 25
Hauling Utility - 6*10 = 60


Total Score = 145

Ram 1500 - 8 Speed V8 Hemi Air Suspension
Comfort - 10*7 = 70
Fun Factor - 5*5 = 25
Hauling Utility - 6*9 = 54
Total Score = 149

2013 Touareg TDI Lux (or maybe EXEC)
Comfort - 10*9 = 90
Fun Factor - 5*8 = 40
Hauling Utility - 6*7 = 42
Total Score = 172

There you have it - Touareg is the winner (for my weighted needs and wants)!

Originally Posted by Lubehead

Actually, I think the Dodge may be a great alternative. With the coil spring suspension, the ride will be good and I must admit, in your business, it does "fit" better. And since your wife supports it, how can she be wrong?

Let us know how the test drive goes.

[spyderdoc]

I've logged 8500 mi on my Touareg. I have driven it twice to Tahoe, a few trips to Monterey, and a trip to San Diego. I think it is a better "all around" car than my X5 was. It is quieter, smoother, and feels more powerful. It handles great, but not as great as the X5. It is much better in Tahoe and feels much more at ease in the snow and icy roads (both with similar all season M/S tires).

I did have one mechanical issue so far, the front differential needed replacement, likely had a poor bearing surface that made a whining noise. The Touareg is considered an executive line, so the dealer gives free loaners, which was nice. The service is included for 3 yrs, unlike the cayenne. The power train has a 7yr/100k warranty.

I average 23-24 mpg with similar driving habits of my X5d that yielded me 20-21 mpg.

It is a pleasure to drive it, and as I've said before, it is a worthy replacement for my beloved X5d.

If you decide to purchase, you will love it!

[sarends]

Touareg Update
I have logged 19,800 miles on the TDI Touareg since I purchased just 6 months ago.

Likes:
The TDI Motor & 8 Speed is extremely nice - plenty of low end turbine like power with a near seamless integration with 8 speed transmission

The body and chassis and cabin is rock solid - it rides like a vault. The body and interior is more solid and quieter than our E70.

My average MPG is about 25 (all around) with a cargo box - I drive pretty aggressively - I think this is really good. On the highway at 70MPH I get about 30MPG

It is simply a "nice" car to drive - very comfortable and non fatiguing, and I know - I drive about 35k miles per year.

Dislikes:

Handsfree is mediocre at best
I have the LUX and the backup camera doesn't have audio sensors (yes, I backed into a basketball stand)

Built in navigation is terrible compared to our 11 X5

Wish I had gotten keyless entry

It doesn't brake as well as our E70 (it is not irritating or anything, it is just not nearly as good as E70)

It doesn't handle (nearly) as well as our E70 (again, it handles well, and is even a bit fun, but I wish the Touareg had sports options like on our E70 with is a sports package and Adaptive Drive, which of course is an entirely different handling machine than the Touareg)

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by spyderdoc

In summary, I do miss my X5, but I think that the Touareg is a worthy replacement.....

glad you enjoy it and hope you have many miles and smiles with it. i owned a v10 touareg in the past and i have to say the touareg is most likely one of the most underrated under-appreciated SUVs on the road. the build quality is above it's price point and what you would expect from a "non-luxury" marque. i've been through a lot of SUVs since but most likely will revisit the touareg for a long term vehicle (only downside is no more air suspension on 2011+ models).