VEHICLE: 2011 Touareg Sport TDI
I am still racking up the miles, now at 20,100 miles on the odometer. I took it in for the 20K service interval yesterday. Here is a synopses of my owner experience to date:
FIRST 10,000 MILES
* Refer to the thread I created on March 7th at this link http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f63/10-000-mile-update-2011-touareg-tdi-53302.html
NEXT 10,000 MILES
* Last week, I called and made an appointment for the 20K service for yesterday. They were unable to complete the service because they did not have the fuel filter or the cabin filter in stock. They said that because they do not see very many Touareg diesels, their parts department does not keep everything in stock "because they base their inventory on sales." Can you believe that they don't stock common service items for a $50,000 vehicle that was introduced eight months ago? Now, I have to delay a trip to take it back in tomorrow for them to change out those two filters.
* Regarding the urea-based AdBlue, I did not have to add any before the first 10,000 mile service interval. However, at about 5.000 miles after that service, the low AdBlue warning came on. I was on Vacation at Hilton Head and took it to the dealer there to have it added. They told me that normally they would charge for adding it to a vehicle that they had not serviced but that the manager had decided to not charge me. They also indicated that it was unusual for it to be needed in so few miles after a scheduled service. I am curious to see if that occurrence was an anomaly because AdBlue is very expensive.
* All the compliments that I expressed regarding the engine and transmission still apply. For any kind of normal driving, the power (torque) band is near-perfect. I have owned four Mercedes diesels and none of them were as driver-friendly as the Touareg TDI.
* The fuel consumption has gotten better. I commute 135 miles round-trip on a state highway with only a few hills and about eight or nine red-light stops. Door-to-door, I am averaging close to 32 MPG. On long interstate highway trips driving about 10 MPH over the posted limit, it falls to about 30 MPG. Here is the best part: My overall average for the past 9,000 miles is 29.2 MPG. That includes all urban and highway miles. I realize that most of you probably do not have as high percentage of highway miles as I do and I doubt that most of you will see this good of an average.
* I have the same ratcheting sensation in the steering at parking lot speeds that I have read in other posts on this forum. It seems to be worse when turning to the right. I think it is a characteristic of the drive train, not the steering mechanism. I surmise that it has to do with the center differential having to reallocate how much torque is directed to the front wheels to compensate for the variance in wheel travel while turning. I may be completely off base but I have learned not to let the steering sensation bother me because once you are underway, it disappears and the vehicle has very good steering manners.
* The Germans are good at a lot of things but that does not include electrical controls. The rear hatch automatic closing mechanism mysteriously stopped working last week. After letting it sit for four hours, it "tried" to work but would only move the hatch about six inches. However, by the next morning, it had fixed itself. I spoke to a VW technician and he just laughed and told me that they have what they call a "Jesus battery" that they use to reboot all systems when a mysterious electrical glitch appears.
* In my previous post at 10,000 miles, I went into detail about how uncomfortable the design of the front seat cushions is. I defy you to find a comfortable way to let the underside of your leg rest on the seat cushion for more than a few minutes at a time. Instead of rounding off the front of the cushion, they have it squared off so that it protrudes to a point exactly in the wrong place. This is not bothersome for short jaunts but is maddening during long trips.
* By now, everyone is aware of the poorly located front seat controls. Unless special care is taken as you exit the car, the driver and/or passenger often "adjust" the seat backs unintentionally. Also, I have trained myself to frequently toggle the seat back to bring it back to the original upright position (it seems to recline an inch or two every half hour or so).
* I read some negative comments about the Pirelli Scorpion Verde all season tires but I am extremely pleased so far. At, 20,000 miles, they have worn very evenly and they have not come close to being down to the wear bars. I think they will certainly be good for another 15,000 miles or more. Not bad for an SUV! Incidentally, I use nitrogen and over-inflate them by three or four PSI and it has not caused them to show too much wear in the center and it has not impacted handling. Maybe it is contributing to my good fuel consumption too.
Overall, this is a great vehicle. Solid as a rock! Drives better than any SUV that I have experienced. Great infotainment systems. I just hope that VW has "early-retired" the seat designer!
I'll be back at 30,000 miles (probably in September) unless something occurs that justifies a mid-interval update.
I am still racking up the miles, now at 20,100 miles on the odometer. I took it in for the 20K service interval yesterday. Here is a synopses of my owner experience to date:
FIRST 10,000 MILES
* Refer to the thread I created on March 7th at this link http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f63/10-000-mile-update-2011-touareg-tdi-53302.html
NEXT 10,000 MILES
* Last week, I called and made an appointment for the 20K service for yesterday. They were unable to complete the service because they did not have the fuel filter or the cabin filter in stock. They said that because they do not see very many Touareg diesels, their parts department does not keep everything in stock "because they base their inventory on sales." Can you believe that they don't stock common service items for a $50,000 vehicle that was introduced eight months ago? Now, I have to delay a trip to take it back in tomorrow for them to change out those two filters.
* Regarding the urea-based AdBlue, I did not have to add any before the first 10,000 mile service interval. However, at about 5.000 miles after that service, the low AdBlue warning came on. I was on Vacation at Hilton Head and took it to the dealer there to have it added. They told me that normally they would charge for adding it to a vehicle that they had not serviced but that the manager had decided to not charge me. They also indicated that it was unusual for it to be needed in so few miles after a scheduled service. I am curious to see if that occurrence was an anomaly because AdBlue is very expensive.
* All the compliments that I expressed regarding the engine and transmission still apply. For any kind of normal driving, the power (torque) band is near-perfect. I have owned four Mercedes diesels and none of them were as driver-friendly as the Touareg TDI.
* The fuel consumption has gotten better. I commute 135 miles round-trip on a state highway with only a few hills and about eight or nine red-light stops. Door-to-door, I am averaging close to 32 MPG. On long interstate highway trips driving about 10 MPH over the posted limit, it falls to about 30 MPG. Here is the best part: My overall average for the past 9,000 miles is 29.2 MPG. That includes all urban and highway miles. I realize that most of you probably do not have as high percentage of highway miles as I do and I doubt that most of you will see this good of an average.
* I have the same ratcheting sensation in the steering at parking lot speeds that I have read in other posts on this forum. It seems to be worse when turning to the right. I think it is a characteristic of the drive train, not the steering mechanism. I surmise that it has to do with the center differential having to reallocate how much torque is directed to the front wheels to compensate for the variance in wheel travel while turning. I may be completely off base but I have learned not to let the steering sensation bother me because once you are underway, it disappears and the vehicle has very good steering manners.
* The Germans are good at a lot of things but that does not include electrical controls. The rear hatch automatic closing mechanism mysteriously stopped working last week. After letting it sit for four hours, it "tried" to work but would only move the hatch about six inches. However, by the next morning, it had fixed itself. I spoke to a VW technician and he just laughed and told me that they have what they call a "Jesus battery" that they use to reboot all systems when a mysterious electrical glitch appears.
* In my previous post at 10,000 miles, I went into detail about how uncomfortable the design of the front seat cushions is. I defy you to find a comfortable way to let the underside of your leg rest on the seat cushion for more than a few minutes at a time. Instead of rounding off the front of the cushion, they have it squared off so that it protrudes to a point exactly in the wrong place. This is not bothersome for short jaunts but is maddening during long trips.
* By now, everyone is aware of the poorly located front seat controls. Unless special care is taken as you exit the car, the driver and/or passenger often "adjust" the seat backs unintentionally. Also, I have trained myself to frequently toggle the seat back to bring it back to the original upright position (it seems to recline an inch or two every half hour or so).
* I read some negative comments about the Pirelli Scorpion Verde all season tires but I am extremely pleased so far. At, 20,000 miles, they have worn very evenly and they have not come close to being down to the wear bars. I think they will certainly be good for another 15,000 miles or more. Not bad for an SUV! Incidentally, I use nitrogen and over-inflate them by three or four PSI and it has not caused them to show too much wear in the center and it has not impacted handling. Maybe it is contributing to my good fuel consumption too.
Overall, this is a great vehicle. Solid as a rock! Drives better than any SUV that I have experienced. Great infotainment systems. I just hope that VW has "early-retired" the seat designer!
I'll be back at 30,000 miles (probably in September) unless something occurs that justifies a mid-interval update.
