HELP! (Newbie with quick questions in Oz)

[V10Hunting]

Hi all, just a couple of quick questions. Is there a dedicated Australian / NZ Touareg site anywhere? (Just curious)

Next, I am just starting looking for a V10 and wondered if anyone who owns one and lives in Brisbane could let me know if they could answer a few questions? There is a V10 with 72K For Sale on the Gold Coast and I wondered if anyone here knew about it......as I intend flying over and checking it out in two weeks. Cheers!! Chris (Perth)

[Flipper Dog]

Hello Chris,
reference Australian Touareg site try the link below:
Audi, VW water cooled forum, Australia. Golf, Passat, Bora, vans. A3, A4, A6, TT.

This site has a Touareg area but not many posts, you are best off keeping clubtouareg as your primary source for information.

Best of luck in finding a V10 TDI.

[V10Hunting]

Excellent! Will do - I have been browsing and its very impressive site!

The Gold Coast Salt Lake Grey car has 75,500km's; $85000. WHat do I look for? Thoughts ? Comments? SUggestions???

Meanwhile I'll keep browsing this site - learning heaps!

[ozvino]

If you want some advice, be very very cautious and go into this with your eyes wide open. You dont mention the age of the vehicle; is it still under a new car warranty ?

I assume you know that Touareg's are very expensive to maintain, especially V10's. Servicing, Tyres and especially brakes are very expensive.

IMHO, the V10 is an awesome vehicle, but when I move past the obvious attractions (all 10 of them), I would have to ask myself would I want to pay those sorts of dollars to get into a used V10 when I could buy a brand new V6TDI with full warranty for not a lot more. Im not sure what your needs are (towing wise etc.) but the V6 TDI moves fast. I have an older R5 and that does me.

Take my advice or leave it, but just make sure you have a clear understanding as to what your getting yourself into.

Good luck.......

[V10Hunting]

ozvino, many thanks for your comments! Can anyone give me a feel for the difference in maintaining a V10 versus say V6 TDI? Servicing, brakes and tyres? I know V10's are 19 inch rims (I'd look to swap these to 17's with Cooper tyres for off road - will 17's fit the large brakes or do you need 18's ???); are brakes on 3.0V6TDI same as V10 and what would difference in servicing be between V10 and V6 diesels?

Any other specific issues?

The car is a 2004 and I believe as its registered to January was probably 1st registered in Jan 04 so if 3 year warranty (yes???) then its now out of warranty. I assume you can purchase extended warranty from a dealer if its been serviced there since new?

[ozvino]

the best approach is to walk into a VW dealer and speak with the service department. Ask for the service costs for a 90,000km service on the V10, work up a couple of increments etc. As for the likely service costs on the V6 TDI. The standard service costs are always easy to get as they are standard quoted items.

The VW Touaregs use a special flavour of diesel oil that you can essentially only buy at VW, its very expensive. The brakes are usually replaced as entire units (the pads with the rotors). From what i recall the V10 has its own beefier brake setup.

On the wheels, you might need to do some homework on where you would source 17" rims. Im not sure if the R5/V6TDI rims fit on the V10, my guess would be they needed larger rims to clear those large calipers. It depends on your driving style and terrain, but factory tyres in general seem to have worn on average between 25 and 40k, many folks seem to have had to replace brakes between 30 and 40k.

Regarding the used car warranty, it might cover you from something catastrophic but it wont cover trim or wearing parts. Remember its essentially insurance as opposed to "warranty". Most of us will have them to offset the high degree of danger of a Touareg out of warranty. Mine came with a 4 year warranty.

One of the V10 owners can probably give you much better advice than I can on the running costs and nuances of the V10.

Like I said, buyer beware, just purchase with your brain not your heart. That V10 engine has the ability to cloud any mans judgement........

FYI, my warranty repairs that VW have had to fulfill woiuld currently add up to over $25,000; thats for items or parts that have failed under new car warranty, that doesnt include the running costs that I have forked out for...........

[Vegas Matt]

Originally Posted by ozvino

On the wheels, you might need to do some homework on where you would source 17" rims. Im not sure if the R5/V6TDI rims fit on the V10, my guess would be they needed larger rims to clear those large calipers.

Just some FYI info here:

There used to be three distinct brake systems on the Touaregs from 2003-most 2006 models. The R5 has the smallest brake setup, with parts from the Transporter or Multivan vans. It can use steel wheels (not sure of size) for off-roading, and has a 5x120 lug bolt pattern. The V6/V8 gasoline engines (and I believe the V6TDI) have larger brakes (330mm front rotors) and require a minumum 17" wheel. The V10TDI has 350mm front rotors, and as such, requires 18" wheels. All models other than the R5 have a 5x130 lug bolt pattern.

Also, be aware that there is a possibility that depending on the design, some aftermarket wheels may not clear the brake components. Even the stock 17"s on my gas V6 hug the brake calipers very tightly. So, be careful what you buy.

Earlier, I said their "used to be" three systems. On the V6 gasoline models (not sure of the V6 TDI) there was a system change that started (it appears) in some 2006 models. The brakes were "de-contented" (aka downgraded) and as such, have fewer pistons and different pads. I don't believe this affects which wheels you have with these systems, but just something to be aware of.

Hope this helps!
Matt

[Flipper Dog]

Hi Chris,
just has a look in the owners manual tech info parts reference brake sizes etc to no avail. Does say that the minimum size for the V10 TDI in wheels are 18" so sticking on the 17" will not work.

Ozvino is on the money in speaking to the VW service department about the costs involved in the V10 verse the V6 TDIs but I was not very supportive of John Hughes' people at Vic Park. May I suggest asking this forum for trusted service techs they know and ring them at some time.

V10 TDI over a V6 TDI you will lose a lot of fruit like air suspension, lights, memory for seats and settings and maybe Sat Nav for the same money but the V6 TDI is still a mighty beast. It is really down to you but will you be happy with 3 year old V10 from the other side of Oz or a new V6 TDI thats local purchased.

Best of luck in what you get. You have made the right pick in vehicle with a Touareg in the first place.

[V10Hunting]

Thanks Gents; since I last posted I ahev received teh following info re the V10 on the Gold Coast; it HAS had the Recall work done 90D7 (items 1,4,5,10,16,21,22) incl two new Turbos; cost was about $8499 under Warranty (which expires Jan 2008 by the way so time, I assume, to get a extended warranty - I see this as a big plus. The car had $1800 of new brakes at 72000km's (now 76000) so that's good; tyres (3rd set (yikes!) ) have about 8000 left on them. You guys are right about chewing up tyres! The current (female) owner sent me a pdf of the Recall trepoort and is pdf'g me full copies of every service invoice. All very positive.
I'm disappointe there is no tow bar - well I became disappointed when I herad a VW one is $2000 fitted (Geeez!!!!!!!!!!!!).

I think if I can get this car for b/w $75K and $80K its a good buy when a new V6TDI is $85000 on road and with with air suspension and a few other minor extras is close to $100K on road with Lux Tax etc etc.

Thanks again for all this guidance guys!

Chris

[bobzed57]

Mate all good advice above.

Do your homework. The Treg is not a vehicle you can afford to own without warranty backup. And while some people have done decent trips in Oz (me included), let me tell you, reliablity is always in the back of your mind when you're nowhere near a dealer.

A beautiful piece of kit, let down by reliability problems. I've been fortunate to have a good dealer, who's fixed just about everything I've taken to him.

Cheers