Considering a Touareg purchase... thoughts for a potential new owner?

brendan · Aug 9, 2007

Hi all,

I've been poking around the forums, and you guys seem like a remarkably well-informed group. I was hoping to get your thoughts on a used Touareg I'm looking at. I'm sorry that my first post is an effort to take advantage of your expertise!

A local dealer is selling a 3.2L V6 2006 Touareg with 16k miles and option package #4 (nav, cricket leather, four-zone air, etc, etc) for $30,500. The title looks clean, and the vehicle was a single owner. The price seems, frankly, too good.

My only existing concern is whether the 3.2 is too anemic to push a vehicle this heavy. He's getting in a V8 later this week with similar options/mileage, but it'll be priced at 37k, so it's a pretty significant price difference.

Does anyone have things I should watch out for, or particular concerns about that year/engine? I really appreciate anything you guys want to offer.

Brendan

Rickanns · Aug 9, 2007

The 3.2 V6 is an enigma to me. I had an 04 with that engine and it performed just fine. Then I bought the 07 at 3.6L and about 60 more hp. The difference is significant. The 3.2 is just fine for all I do including towing a 2500 lb bass boat. It has plenty of power on the highway and can be surprisingly nimble in merging onto expressways etc.

That being said, if you like performance, then you want to go with the V8 by all means. The difference is significant.

Rick

DCC · Aug 9, 2007

MSRP on a '08 V6 base is $40K...Invoice is in the high $30s...why not spring for that instead of the older '06?

Arkarch · Aug 9, 2007

I also have a 2006 V6 3.2L, I dont feel disadvantaged in it - feels fine, even with the larger tires. I mostly drive Interstates and ran the Co Rally; maybe in daily bumper-to-bumper traffic I might go crazy.

For comparison, I have owned sports car V8's. But I have not driven the Touareg V8, V10 TDI, or newer V6, so I guess I dont know what I am missing. Looking forward to a V6 TDI at the end of my lease.

The Price.... My lease residual @ 45k miles for a base model (no options) will be about $19k in mid-2009. Bought it for low 30's (600 miles on it, maybe demo pricing). You are suggesting a fairly optioned-out vehicle, which is like $8-10k above base, so factor that.

greipp · Aug 9, 2007

V6 or V8?

Once you drive a V8 trim and all - you won't want to go back to the V6.

I drove both and the get up and go and the big wheels and extras add up to a lot - plus you may want to tow a bigger boat some day

nickm · Aug 9, 2007

Well the V8 is very nice but its a huge price jump...maybe something the poster is not considering. I had a 3.2 before trading on my V8, the 3.2 was fine..you won't have trouble keeping up to traffic or anything like that, just don't expect anything in the way of excitement when it comes to acceleration..the 3.6 is significantly more powerful...drive both then take a look at the interest rates on new vs. used, often times if you're financing something new ends up being less expensive when you take interest costs into account (obviously does not apply with an outright cash purchase).

Yeti · Aug 9, 2007

Nothing wrong with the 3.2 and I live at altitude with this car. It has more get up and go then my previous vehical which had a V8 in it. It is no stop light racer but does fine on the highway and good for blowin past Rovers and such on the way up canyons when headed for fresh powder. Granted I use Tip a lot but that is as close to a manual as you will get in these vehicals. I drove the 08 we had at the rally this year and it was fun but is it worth the extra money if you don't tow anything, not to me. I will be holding out on the V6 TDI when it comes to the states. To be honest, I did not tell RJ this, it likes to rev really good in Tip!!

brendan · Aug 9, 2007

Thanks for the tips!

I'm really tempted by the V8, but the cost jump is pretty considerable for what I'm budgeting. I suppose I could always add that warranty-killing aftermarket supercharger.

Was the 3.6L introduced midway through the 2006 model year? Or is it exclusive to the 07s? Was there a VW option for a rear-seat entertainment system?

thanks again,
Brendan

brendan · Aug 10, 2007

Well...

I'm buying it. I think I test drove it for 40 minutes with a smile on my face. Picking it up Saturday after I finish all the financing paperwork with credit union, etc, etc.

I'm looking forward to reading more tips and tricks from all of you experienced types!

Brendan

Arkarch · Aug 10, 2007

Congrats and Best Wishes.

Be sure to post photos!

nickm · Aug 10, 2007

Congrats you'll enjoy it. DOn't forget to post pics!

vray · Aug 10, 2007

brendan said:
I'm buying it. I think I test drove it for 40 minutes with a smile on my face. Picking it up Saturday after I finish all the financing paperwork with credit union, etc, etc.

I'm looking forward to reading more tips and tricks from all of you experienced types!

Brendan

Congrats! I'm pretty happy with my '04 V6. 42k miles with no major problems!

Mike's Panzer · Aug 10, 2007

The gas savings on the V-6 is little or nothing. The bigger motors make the truck much more fun.

Bails · Aug 11, 2007

For me the Jeep is just not in the same category ! However if I were buying 2nd hand, which I almost always do, I'd try for a diesel V6 or V10 if they price OK. Remember if the diesels are more expensive 2nd hand then this is because they retain their value better, and this you will realize when selling at the end of ownership. With Diesel you'll achieve better mileage and good performance, the V6 petrol would be my last choice in the range. I have a 2004 manufactured V10, and have had small issues all handled under warranty . I expect issues from European cars at the start of ownership , it just seems you need to get them sorted. At the moment I can't think of a vehicle I'd more prefer than my Treg.

esoder · Aug 21, 2007

I'd wait and drive the V8 and see. When I bought my '04, there was another one in black with fewer miles at the same price. I drove them both and went with the one with more miles. Partly because the interior was nicer, partly because black and bird poop don't get along (the beige/champagne color hides poop and dirt well for when I get lazy and don't wash it), but mostly, the one I bought just felt safer on the road.

I guess my point is, there can be a difference in used cars between two of the same cars with the same engine. Try 'em both, and maybe a few others.

Vegas Matt · Aug 21, 2007

esoder said:
I guess my point is, there can be a difference in used cars between two of the same cars with the same engine. Try 'em both, and maybe a few others.

I think a big part of this is how the vehicles were driven and taken care of by their previous owners. You can have two vehicles that went down the assembly line within minutes of one another, and after a number of miles, one can look/smell/feel/drive like new, and the other one could be ready for the scrapyard. If someone neglects it, it generally shows in dings, dents, squeaks and rattles, and looseness in the way it drives (steering, suspension, tires, etc). When I've bought vehicles before, I've been known to drive two or three of the same vehicle before buying, and getting the more "solid" one, the one that feels best cared for.

In any regards, congratulations to brendan on your purchase! Enjoy it!

Now, to follow up: Where are the pics? =)

Matt

brendan · Aug 21, 2007

I ended up...

going with the V6 for precisely those reasons - it felt brand new. All the interior trim and exterior pieces were completely pristine, under the hood was flawless and checked out with my mechanic, and it also had every option I was looking for. I'm sure I'd love the additional power of the V8, but it's been absolutely fine cruising around the Northwest in the week that I've had it.

My only complaint would be gas mileage (which, of course, I anticipated), but I'm actually carpooling and commuting by bus more often, which certainly tempers fuel costs.

Other notes/questions:

I have the 3B DVD for the nav system - I called Navteq to ask about 4B, and they told me that 5B would be released in September (and that I should wait). No word on new features, if any.

I'm interested in adding a Parrot 3100, and I was considering the harness from Quickconnect. Any thoughts on those guys? I'm tempted to attempt the mod to add the phone buttons to my steering wheel, but I'm terrified of setting off the airbag and launching a screwdriver through my larynx.

It's been pouring rain here in Seattle for a week, so I haven't taken any photos yet, but I'll get some today/tomorrow to prove that I'm really in the club.

thanks!
Brendan

Arkarch · Aug 21, 2007

Does detaching the negative (-) cable on the battery kill the airbag system?
If it does, that may be a way to avoid the suggested impalement. Kinda suck for that to happen.

Welcome to the V6 Touareg Camp!

And I'll add to the chorus - Pictures!!

Vegas Matt · Aug 21, 2007

brendan said:
It's been pouring rain here in Seattle for a week, so I haven't taken any photos yet, but I'll get some today/tomorrow to prove that I'm really in the club.

Yeah yeah yeah, a likely story. We won't believe it 'till we see it =)

I just was actually looking at the install of those buttons on a link from a post on VwVortex. I think the screwdriver would probably get launched into the instrument cluster, since you are tackling it from the back of the steering wheel. Unfortunately, your head and torso would be pretty close to the bag to be in the right position to get the screwdriver in though. But, I think unless someone rams your car while you're doing this, you're probably pretty safe.

I think most airbag systems have a backup battery/capacitor of its own, but I may be very mistaken. I thought I read somewhere where airbag systems have this just in case the primary battery is destroyed in an accident before the airbag is triggered.

Matt

adman227 · Aug 21, 2007

Be careful, you'll never get your $$$$ out of these. With that said, I still own mine

Considering a Touareg purchase... thoughts for a potential new owner?

brendan

Rickanns

DCC

Arkarch

greipp

nickm

Yeti

brendan

brendan

Arkarch

nickm

vray

Mike's Panzer

Bails

esoder

Vegas Matt

brendan

Arkarch

Vegas Matt

adman227

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