Engine decision? Diesel V6 or R5

patto · Jun 28, 2011

barefoot said:
I reckon you wou wouldn't do too badly if you contact dealers at the moment, there'd be lots of trade-in on new T3.

Yeah I was thinking trade-ins would have to be coming on the market soon. I think the new treg is out in July.
That's why I keep checking carsales and am waiting a little before buying. Hoping I get a better deal (private or dealer) once the upgraders come out

Charrlise · Jul 5, 2011

Patto, i just want to say thank you for posting this post and the many questions you have asked (thankyou all for answering them). I have been following your posts from the start, googling, researching every night to gatehr as much infomation to ensure i am making the right decsion. I was wondering if i could post the following queries to hopefully help Patto and myself

I noticed you said Patto, that you wish to have your touareg for many years. I may have missed it but im not sure if anyone has posted just how long they will last.

So...What are there life expectancies??? <<<<big question. I also would like to have this 4x4 for a long time clocking up the klms, little off road, maybe not as much as Patto (just grassy paddocks and sealed roads) with also towing. (not sure if Patto was looking for his touareg to be towing) i will be towing every 1-2 wknds a month to horse events. All the 4.2L turbo diesel patrols & landcruisers seem to go forever up in the 500k kms ...will the Touareg?

•Being a luxury and with all little electrical bells and whistles will this limit it's life span? Will it be costly to run forever?

• Will towing limit the lifespan of the vehicle? both have the same tow rating however if your towed the same with the r5 would this cope less than the V6 diesel? Will this limit the life more so the 5cyl over the 6?

• r5 has better fuel consumption which is win! But for a long term investment vehicle will the V6TDI use your money productively or will your find yourself wanting the extra power and torque out of the 5cyl and find your self wanting to sell and upgrade.

I am so undecided I guess if i understand Patto, we like the touareg however we want to find the best long term option and cost effective for our pocket. Is it going to be better to take the plunge in the inital cost then spending costs down the track to upgrade the 5cyl with chips etc if we need it or upgrade the whole vehicle all together which will lose costs. Or will the R5 simply do our job easy and last just as long?

Hope its not too many questions, look forward to your answers.

Charrlise

murray58 · Jul 5, 2011

I had a R5 for 5 years and 220000k. Still in the family and still going strong. Had lots of niggling problems but no motor issues. Now got a TI550 Pathfinder and done 16000k in about 2 months. Not one thing gone wrong and more comfortable seats than the R5. In fact apart from not handling as well as the treg I believe a lot better.

patto · Jul 5, 2011

Charrlise - no problem, the more information the better I say. I am still looking around for a Touareg, the ones on carsales have been there for quite a while now. I am hoping that now July is here, we might see some new tregs pop up once people start upgrading. I am hoping to buy within the next 6-8 weeks.

Yep I will be towing too, not that often but often enough to want to ensure I have a tow bar on it. I figure being diesel, either car should pull like a tractor for many years.

Murray58 - 220k over 5 years is a reasonable amount of kms. I am assuming that the treg has treated you well since its still in the family. It looks like you had a 2004 model? I am expecting that any niggles will be well and truly weeded out of the treg I buy as I will be looking for '06 and up I think. What sort of issue did you have anyway? Anything worth noting here?

Cheers,
Patto

murray58 · Jul 5, 2011

Where do I start. Airbag faults , paint peeled off and new transmission. Before I got the TI550 I got a R36. No quality issues with the R36. Made in Germany. Did 30000k in 9 months. Gave it to my sister who loves it. Missed the 4WD and plan to do some more outback trips. Wanted a vehicle with a full size spare. Treg still going well. I am very impressed with the Pathfinder. Made in Spain with a French engine. Economy not as good as R5. Just ordered a bull bar for it. Price wise very good value. Fully loaded including rear DVD system. Heated seats take longer to warm up compared to the VW.

Charrlise · Jul 5, 2011

@ murray58-Wow what did that happen too??? Paint peeling? Was it a Touareg? I have to say I test drove this V10 the other week for a feel and it was in the worst condition the paint in all the power windows was peeling. All the wood panels were cracked... Now I hope this dosnt happen to all of them, only the ones that are not looked after.

@ patto. - have you seen this Touareg on carsales its a R5 2005 model luxury for $37,000 Reg Plate 1CCT 439 ? Low kms looks good. Closer to you than me though

Still keen to find out how long other touaregs are lasting. I would easily take one into the 400k+ kms.

Regards

Charrlise

Touareg MNE · Jul 5, 2011

Like I said once before in this thread.. My cousin has a R5 with 500 000-600 000 kms on the clock.. he never had problems with the engine.. Now he is going to replace the camshaft.. He had the driveshaft bearing replaced several times, clutch,stepper motor,and some electronics(no big deal).. Hes touareg was chipped to 210hp I think.. And Like I said R5 is running on gears,not on chain or belt.. I think that none other car maker makes engine better then vw and audi do with their TDI.. I also have a golf TDI from '96 and done with it 600 000 kms,no problems at all,engine is still great..

patto · Jul 5, 2011

murray58 - sounds like a bugger, lets hope yours was an exception to the rule.

charrlise - yep saw that touareg, it looks great and if still around in a few weeks, will definitely take a look at it. Was just hoping to get a slightly newer one like an 2006 model.

touareg mne - 500km+ on the clock with those issues replaced isnt too bad, I am assuming that those replacements happened in the high KMs of course.

I guess at the end of the day its like my other cars I have had, if I look after them, they look after me as they have for so many years. (apart from the odd exception to the rule)

Charrlise · Jul 5, 2011

@mne- must of missed that post. That is a great number of kms espec for your golf.

and I guess that does answer that question. Thanks

Like you said Patto, so true. You look after it, it looks after you ( well has more a chance

)

Guess my interest is still either way let's home some trades come in soon to give me some good options to choose between the r5 and v6 tdi. Either way it's going to be my first vehicle with heated seats.

Touareg MNE · Jul 5, 2011

The camshaft is going to be replaced for the first time,stepper motor at 200 000kms I think,and the bearing several times.. I can ask him about his service history,but he is now in france..I think his coming here next week..

Charrlise · Jul 5, 2011

Thanks, if you find out it will be beneficial otherwise thanks for your help. I will look into them; guess I will be 100,000+ kms away from that then once I buy one

did your friend do much towing with his r5?

murray58 · Jul 5, 2011

I was very happy with Treg but cant fault the Pathfinder. You should be aware that VW repairs will be expensive. Yes the paint peeled off the bonet. My panel beater alerted me that it was a warrenty issue. I wish he hadnt. Had to go to a VW panelbeater and took for ever to repair. I will admit in 220000k my R5 never stopped.

Touareg MNE · Jul 5, 2011

Charrlise said:
Thanks, if you find out it will be beneficial otherwise thanks for your help. I will look into them; guess I will be 100,000+ kms away from that then once I buy one did your friend do much towing with his r5?

He towed a boat from France,I think about 2 tones,a trip 2300kms long.. And I must say that he had the manual gearbox..Which is for me a better option..

Charrlise · Jul 5, 2011

Oh how i wish Australia had the manual version .... I love manuals and was always looking for a 4x4 in manual.. the touareg is definately a compromise. I will be towing abut 2500kg maybe a little more. however for an everyday vehicle when i am not towing the r5 fuel comsumption will be the better option. And like you said being gear driven thats a postitive.

Thanks

Charrlise

Charrlise · Jul 15, 2011

Have you found one yet patto???

OILSLURPER · Jul 15, 2011

Basil Fawlty had a "Manuel"...............................................................really, rego KEH. Built in Spain I believe

patto · Jul 16, 2011

Charrlise said:
Have you found one yet patto???

Howdy, unfortunately not yet. Bloody frustrating actually. I looked at that Geelong Vic one but sadly it had a reasonable amount of damage to rear door/quarter panel and wheel arch from colliding with a pole.

I like one in WA but it's hard to get over there and drive back from Adelaide.

The worst bit is, Touaregs in Adelaide are few and far between.

Yours looks awesome by the way - dam you

Hopefully I can find myself one within a month or so, hoping to do a trip in September.

Charrlise · Jul 22, 2011

Wow, didn't think that one in Geelong had damage..lucky you saw it.

So found one yet? there is an 2009 model V6 TDI here at Coffs Harbour but maybe be on the expensive side???

I still look on car sales few times a week to see whats out there… That R5 in Geelong did sell, and with damage by the sounds of it….

patto · Jul 22, 2011

Charrlise said:
Wow, didn't think that one in Geelong had damage..lucky you saw it.

So found one yet? there is an 2009 model V6 TDI here at Coffs Harbour but maybe be on the expensive side???

I still look on car sales few times a week to see whats out there… That R5 in Geelong did sell, and with damage by the sounds of it….

Hey, yeah still looking. There are a couple in Perth I have my eye on, it's just hard to plan a trip over there for a few days. Plus I don't have time to drive it back to SA so I'd have to get it freighted.

I think that R5 wasn't too bad, but I wasn't prepared to get my new Treg and have to do body work on it straight away or send it to the crash repairer.

Still looking :-(

Gooch · Jul 28, 2011

r5 - r6

Hi Patto,
Since you posted this I have brought an R5 from a country dealer. Something that is important that I am glad I did is that I brought mine from a dealer. Unless you get your car checked out thoroughly I would advise the same. My story goes like this.
I saw an add for an r5 in Shepparton thought it looked good dealer sounded good over the phone got some electronic brakes put on and some financing done. Drove up in the day took the kids turned up with about an hour to spare before closing time.
Find R5 is not as fantastic but acceptable, the previous owner was not nice to the the poor car. the seat belts had been constantly smashed against the panels as it hung inside the door denting the metal you can only see it if you open the door. Some minor damage to some of the plastic parts and not so clean around the switch gear.
Against my better feelings I still brought the vehicle started to drive off and the coolant light comes on just as I am pulling out. Pull back in to the dealer salesman comes out and takes it around the back to the mechs who say it may be air bubble in system. Well after about 4 litres of coolant all is fine I dont think it was an air bubble but salesman says drive away we will fix it (sure I thought) if you need us to. Drove to Wangaratta no problems stayed over night. Admire the paint lustre in the morning sun and go to start the car, have the coolant light come on. Drive home to Ballarat from Wangaratta via Melbourne only to find that most shops do not sell the coolant the Touareg needs so top up with water. Find a merky Mr Whippy substance around the oil cap oops. I made it home gingerly ring the salesman on the Monday and am whacked to hear "take it to the local dealer whatever the cost we will cover" mind you the car did not qualify for warranty it was over the K's limit so after driving away from the VW dealer in Shep they could of let me pay for everything. But no they replaced the water pump (common issue) $3k+ and let me tell you they dont give any discounts for their counterparts. No out of pocket. Next problem Oil cooler hose or something another common problem I think $500 still no out of pocket Shepp picks up the bill and now a minor problem with the tranny cooler due to go in next wednesday.
What I am trying to say buy from a dealer with warranties make sure they are reputable like Shepparton. When picking up the car bring special coolant and some of the special oil ($145 for 5 litres) just in case . whilst at the dealer there was a locally purchased Touareg with a supposed RWC purchased for a reasonable price (mine was very cheap as well < 28k on the road)owner has had more problems than most and all out of their own pocket.
Research well get it checked over by a professional that knows VW's and if your still keen buy the coolant and oil just in case.
This has been a great story for Shepparton VW they have never shyed away from their responsiblities and still continue to not do so. We have been on a few long trips in the R5 since we have had it out of the shop and we love it, it is simply easy with everything it does. Power Iam not concerned as I have a garage full of high performance cars but boy does this baby tow and tow well. I love the look and the Towing capacity the kids love the space the wife loves the heated seats. It's not perfect but for the price it is GREAT.
War and peace ended but I think it is important that we share our stories.
Thank you forums, thank you Shep VW (they are a bunch of TWITS -Darryl Twitt VW-ha ha ha) Oh fuel econo is spot on about 9.2-10 L/100.
Good luck with your search.

Engine decision? Diesel V6 or R5

patto

Charrlise

murray58

patto

murray58

Charrlise

Touareg MNE

patto

Charrlise

Touareg MNE

Charrlise

murray58

Touareg MNE

Charrlise

Charrlise

OILSLURPER

patto

Charrlise

patto

Gooch

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