What options should I get with my 08' VR6 FSI?

[kyeguy82]

I am finally going to make the switch from sports coupes to my first SUV. My head designer at work drives a Touareg and she loves it! Seeing how I'm driving alot and always need to swap cars with my sister's Cayenne for buyer meetings. Anyway, I made my first road trip with my coworkers T-reg and absolutely loved it! Call me crazy, but after driving 4 hours in it, I think I like the T-reg better than my cousin's Range Rover Sport and my sister's Cayenne S!

Anyway, I'll stop wasting your time, and will get to the point. I'm ready to buy my T-reg next week and was wondering what options I should get. I used to build cars for a living so I never got many options on my past cars (since I was always swapping them out with aftermarket equipment).

What I'm thinking:
-Luxury Package

What I'm thinking of aftermarket:
-Offroad Tires for OEM 17's (I go to the mountains alot, and always have two sets of wheels/tires)
-a set of 22" Monarch JAX
-Arq Ray Exhaust (I haven't seen anyone on the boards with it, but the quality of their products is awesome! Company from Japan)
-double din Navigation from Kenwood

Is there anything else I should consider? Any advice for a new buyer? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[TREGinginCO]

1: Air Suspension
2: NAV with backup camera
3: Bi-xenon with AFS (probably part of that option pkg)

[Linder]

Get a V8

[nickm]

Originally Posted by Linder

Get a V8

x2

[Arkarch]

What I'm thinking of aftermarket:
...other stuff above...
-double din Navigation from Kenwood

1: Air Suspension
2: NAV with backup camera
3: Bi-xenon with AFS (probably part of that option pkg

Everything TREGinginCO said, except as time goes on, you are going to see much better Double-DIN XP/Vista car computer options than the box offered currently by VW. Here are two frontier car computer solutions on the market or to be on the market shortly...

Azentek Atlas
Azentek - In-Vehicle PC - Atlas CPC-1000

Infill G4 (w Streetdeck)
MP3Car G4 powered by StreetDeck - Double Din Car Computer

(disclaimer-I am involved as a graphics software engineer in this market)

[plewis]

I have an 04 and am super glad for the V8, Bi-Xinon, and air suspension. It was not until I started getting off the surface streets that I found the value in these costly options. The NAV is sweet, but I don't use it often. A Garmin NUV costs half as must and can be moved to the other car. The NAV upgrades lag those of Garman GPS products. Upgraded sound - I did it and love. I'm a big audio fan. You can do better aftermarket, if warrantee issues don't concern you. Many heavy off-roaders have two sets of wheels/tires -- few tires/wheel sets are ideal for both. Most folks will never put this fantastic vehical though its capabilities and would be happies with sticky street tires on bling, bling rims.

[kyeguy82]

Originally Posted by Linder

Get a V8

I'm getting the V6 because of the price. I don't plan to go crazy with the car. The V6 is plenty power for me. I forgot to mention the reason why I was switching to a SUV, the past year I've been pulled over 5 times. Not fun..... talk about profiling.....

[kyeguy82]

Originally Posted by TREGinginCO

1: Air Suspension
2: NAV with backup camera
3: Bi-xenon with AFS (probably part of that option pkg)

Is the air suspension really worth it? Is the stock suspension upgradeable? I remember reading something about a steel suspension in the t-reg?

[Vegas Matt]

Originally Posted by kyeguy82

Is the air suspension really worth it? Is the stock suspension upgradeable? I remember reading something about a steel suspension in the t-reg?

If you plan on off-roading the vehicle (I mean OFF-road, not on a gravel/dirt road) the air suspension can come in handy. Also, while on the bitumen, you get adjustable damping (Comfort/Auto/Sport) to tailor the Touareg to your driving mood. Also, the option to lower the T down to "Load level" to help people (those short in stature, children, elderly, etc) enter the vehicle.

I will say, if you pay attention to your lines and wheel placement, the steelie does excellent offroad as well. I have a steel-suspended 'egg, and while I'd love the versatility of the air, it's not necessarily a requirement if you're planning on leaving the pavement. It is a very cool option though, and would also help while towing to keep the tongue weight of the trailer from causing the rear of the Touareg to sag.

I'll warn you now, I live a pretty simple life. If it were me, and I was going to place an order today, I'd get a V6 with air suspension, trailer hitch, and 18" or 19" wheels and street tires. I'd then go to the Tire Rack, and order up a set of 17" AT Italia S5 wheels (on closeout @ $119 each) with your choice of off-road tire in 265/65-17 (about 30.6" diameter) or 265/70-17 (about 31.8"). But, that's just me.

In the end, it will be your vehicle, and it should have whatever in it YOU desire to have on it. There's really no wrong way to go, as right out of the box the Touareg is quite an impressive vehicle.

Good luck,
Matt

[Arkarch]

Originally Posted by kyeguy82

Is the air suspension really worth it? Is the stock suspension upgradeable? I remember reading something about a steel suspension in the t-reg?

also

Originally Posted by kyeguy82

-Offroad Tires for OEM 17's (I go to the mountains alot, and always have two sets of wheels/tires)

Stock is steel. Default 8.5" clearance. Larger tires can get up to a max 9.6" (same as a stock FJC 4WD).

Air will give you a nice margin, up to 13+" with the big tires in offroad mode. I wish I had that right now. It also can lower to a nice 6" level, which has many nice advantages. I'll let air-owners tell the rest.