Since I don't meet the "review" section posting criteria (less than 3k miles), I thought I'd throw this in "general." Mods, feel free to move it.
As some of you know, I have been searching for the right, low-mileage and right color combo, 2008 v10. After missing out on several (by just hours on a few) I tried to negotiate a new one out of Chicago. I never got it lower than 60k and that was just too much. It appears as though the big flood of exec lease return 08s has dried up and I had to do something soon. I went and drove an 08 v10 in my town (wasn’t an option because of a lemon title) and, of course, I was blown away. Super fast and decked out with options. I then drove right over to the dealer and drove the 09 v6 TDI. While there is an obvious difference, the 09 TDI is still an impressive engine and I decided it had plenty of power.
For an SUV, this thing is fast! No, not v10 fast, not Cayenne fast, but fast. Had there never been a v10 made, we'd all be real impressed with the v6 TDI. It does exhibit some turbo lag and even my wife says "it takes a second to kick in." The power is not linear either, from a stop sign, you haul ass up to about 40 then it's slower getting up 70. Sport mode does seem to help with around town driving. Diesel noise/smell is non-existent. My wife had no idea it was diesel until I mentioned it. Funny, I kind of wish there was a little more turbo woosh or growl to it. It does run very hot, not in a troublesome way, but it raises the garage temperature a good 10 degrees if I don't leave the door open when we pull it in!
Our’s doesn't have air-suspension and that was a must-have for me. I couldn't wait for a 2010 and there were no 09's so equipped. I have a Jeep Rubicon for off-road and, while I know I'll miss it, on-road the steel set-up is not bad at all. It rocks into corners but then holds a line really well. Once you realize this, you can really throw it into a curve and have confidence it’ll hold. In then end, I started comparing what I COULD get (an 09 TDI without air or RDL) with what other diesel options were on the market (ML320, X5, Q7, and Grand Cherokee). When I looked at it that way, the Treg was my favorite option and a good fit for my family. If only I didn't know what I was missing.
Our’s has Lux, Tech, BT, 19” Terras, and I had the hitch added at delivery. The new radio/nav unit is very nice and would have been a "must-add" for me if I had bought an 08. The IPod control alone is worth it and, although I rarely use the navigation section, the touch screen radio control, back-up camera, and color MFD were all good reasons to buy the Tech pkg. I haven't had a chance to try out the nav or bluetooth options yet. I have ordered a Euro headlight switch and will be looking for someone to Vag-Com the daytime running lights. It's totally unacceptable to me that there's no way to disable them, especially considering that they're xenon. The Xenon's themselves are a worthwhile upgrade and are excellent at night.
Aside from the DRLs, my only other BIG beef is with the lack of a memory seat option ON A $51,000 VEHICLE!!! I mean COME ON! I am looking into a way to retro-fit it, but have my doubts. That is total crap and real pain in the rear considering our previous car had it at half the cost of the Touareg. What doesn’t now, even my parent’s Rav4.
I have not had to deal with the adBlue. There does not seem to be an “emergency refill bottle” in mine (on my list to ask the dealer about) and only time will tell if I'll regret not having the simpler v10 in that regard. The extra gas mileage will be nice though. In all, not finding an 08 v10 I gave up: quad climate control, air, rdl, memory seats, and unbelievable power. I gained the new touchscreen nav with iPod integration, 5mpg, a $1300 tax credit, new car finance rates, and free standard maintenance for 3yrs. If I had it to do again, I'd still want a v10 but probably still buy a v6 TDI if I couldn't find a v10. I feel better since no more 08's have popped up since I bit the bullet. Makes me a little sick to read the new 2010 order posts with air suspension, but waiting until October wouldn't have been an option for us anyway.
We're proud of our new TDI Treg and it's way better than all the alternatives we considered. An impressive vehicle that, really, is only outdone by it’s own teammates.
As some of you know, I have been searching for the right, low-mileage and right color combo, 2008 v10. After missing out on several (by just hours on a few) I tried to negotiate a new one out of Chicago. I never got it lower than 60k and that was just too much. It appears as though the big flood of exec lease return 08s has dried up and I had to do something soon. I went and drove an 08 v10 in my town (wasn’t an option because of a lemon title) and, of course, I was blown away. Super fast and decked out with options. I then drove right over to the dealer and drove the 09 v6 TDI. While there is an obvious difference, the 09 TDI is still an impressive engine and I decided it had plenty of power.
For an SUV, this thing is fast! No, not v10 fast, not Cayenne fast, but fast. Had there never been a v10 made, we'd all be real impressed with the v6 TDI. It does exhibit some turbo lag and even my wife says "it takes a second to kick in." The power is not linear either, from a stop sign, you haul ass up to about 40 then it's slower getting up 70. Sport mode does seem to help with around town driving. Diesel noise/smell is non-existent. My wife had no idea it was diesel until I mentioned it. Funny, I kind of wish there was a little more turbo woosh or growl to it. It does run very hot, not in a troublesome way, but it raises the garage temperature a good 10 degrees if I don't leave the door open when we pull it in!
Our’s doesn't have air-suspension and that was a must-have for me. I couldn't wait for a 2010 and there were no 09's so equipped. I have a Jeep Rubicon for off-road and, while I know I'll miss it, on-road the steel set-up is not bad at all. It rocks into corners but then holds a line really well. Once you realize this, you can really throw it into a curve and have confidence it’ll hold. In then end, I started comparing what I COULD get (an 09 TDI without air or RDL) with what other diesel options were on the market (ML320, X5, Q7, and Grand Cherokee). When I looked at it that way, the Treg was my favorite option and a good fit for my family. If only I didn't know what I was missing.
Our’s has Lux, Tech, BT, 19” Terras, and I had the hitch added at delivery. The new radio/nav unit is very nice and would have been a "must-add" for me if I had bought an 08. The IPod control alone is worth it and, although I rarely use the navigation section, the touch screen radio control, back-up camera, and color MFD were all good reasons to buy the Tech pkg. I haven't had a chance to try out the nav or bluetooth options yet. I have ordered a Euro headlight switch and will be looking for someone to Vag-Com the daytime running lights. It's totally unacceptable to me that there's no way to disable them, especially considering that they're xenon. The Xenon's themselves are a worthwhile upgrade and are excellent at night.
Aside from the DRLs, my only other BIG beef is with the lack of a memory seat option ON A $51,000 VEHICLE!!! I mean COME ON! I am looking into a way to retro-fit it, but have my doubts. That is total crap and real pain in the rear considering our previous car had it at half the cost of the Touareg. What doesn’t now, even my parent’s Rav4.
I have not had to deal with the adBlue. There does not seem to be an “emergency refill bottle” in mine (on my list to ask the dealer about) and only time will tell if I'll regret not having the simpler v10 in that regard. The extra gas mileage will be nice though. In all, not finding an 08 v10 I gave up: quad climate control, air, rdl, memory seats, and unbelievable power. I gained the new touchscreen nav with iPod integration, 5mpg, a $1300 tax credit, new car finance rates, and free standard maintenance for 3yrs. If I had it to do again, I'd still want a v10 but probably still buy a v6 TDI if I couldn't find a v10. I feel better since no more 08's have popped up since I bit the bullet. Makes me a little sick to read the new 2010 order posts with air suspension, but waiting until October wouldn't have been an option for us anyway.
We're proud of our new TDI Treg and it's way better than all the alternatives we considered. An impressive vehicle that, really, is only outdone by it’s own teammates.
