Congratulations and thanks for the comparison. This is our first Touareg so can't compare against another but I concur with what you described. This is probably the best vehicle we've owned to date.

Dennis

 

Great review, I totally agree with everything you said. The '11 is one hell of an Suv.

 

Interesting review. Reduction of NVH levels seems to be the theme.

 

Just to note that also the V8 TDI has extremely good fuel consumption. I can cruise at 80-90 km/h and it 0.5-0.6 on the fuel consumption display! It's crazy. As wind drag increases above 110 the consumption goes up of course. But still, at 100 you can do 0.6-0.7 as well! I can do 140 or so at around 0.9-1.0.

 

I wish we had the option of the V8 TDI and air suspension here in the USA... my '04 V8 is getting a little old, but I won't buy a new Touareg unless VW USA includes these in future model years. I love my V8 gasser, but I think I will love the 590 lb-ft of torque and 25 mpg a bit more. Terrain Tech and real differential lockers would be nice as well.

 

The V8 TDI is not coming her due to high cost to get it certified here in the US. I guess they feel they would not recoupe the cost of certification with sales.

 

Great review and back to back comparison...the interior sure is a step ahead, I find the exterior is pretty similar (which is a very good thing).

I thought the comfortline came with vynil interior?

Also think the packaging needs to be sorted out a bit in Canada, as the execline and highline are pretty much the same price as soon as you put xenons on the highline.

 

I thought the comfortline came with vynil interior?

The Comfortline does indeed come with a vinyl interior, but it looks amazingly leather-like. The 2011 has added a power driver's seat and Nav to the Comfortline. Personally I think the removal of the tech package was a mistake - right now if you want a backup camera or Dynaudio (amazing sound) in Canada you have to buy the Execline.

BTW, comared to the Tiguan the new sunroof is a big improvement. The new roller sunscreen does not have the ventilation holes in it, so it should block the light and heat better (hard to say here lately - we have not seen much sun). Also due to the improved aerodynamics and/or the new sunroof spoiler the sunroof is much quieter when open. We are very pleased with the new pano roof - it was the one thing we missed from the Tiguan when we got the '09 /Touareg.

 

agree backup cam should come with it at the $55K+ pricepoint.

 

If you look at the videos thread, the V8s all run much quicker than VWs posted 7.9 sec...most are getting 7.2 out of the older 310hp engine, the newer 350hp V8 is a bit quicker than that.

 

Not sure if it was chipped,(I don't think so) I did purchase it preowned. It seamed smaller,nimble,and faster.

 

Wait until you chip your V6, if it is anything like the Golf TDI, it would make a huge difference - not that I think the V6 TDI needs it - but I am not coming from a V8 either!

 

Everything needs it.

It sure would be nice to FINALLY see a V6TDI 0-60 vid posted up in that video thread.

 

Checked out the 2011. A few issues. No flip open rear window, the rear seats do not fold completely flat, no more air suspension and no longer a true off roader that can leave a Land Rover in the mud. To most people these are not big issues, but I do use the flip up glass often especially when carrying long loads. Likewise when carrying loads I want the load floor to be flat so it is easier to place items inside without damaging the back of the seats. Very few people ever took their vehicle off pavement. I'm one of the few that does on a regular basis, so I would be concerned about being able to go to some of the areas I currently frequent. Just another set of observations.

 

Checked out the 2011...A few issues.the rear seats do not fold completely flat...

I read in one of the '11 threads that they do fold flat, but you have to push down and lock them in the flat position.

 

I guess by the looks of things, Land Rover will have a monopoly on this market now?

 

I'll be honest with you. If I was shopping for a another vehicle for mid-aged couple with no kids (that's me and the missus), I'd look at a Land Rover Freelander 2. It's got no competition! Tiguan is no competitor as it's got no off-road ability like the FL2. And, how many Disco owners really use the 4x4 capability anyway? So, I'd go the 2011 Treg if it's an 'around towner' or occasional trail rider, like a forest track. Treg = towing tractor and it's still got that, plus the safety and comfort.

 

Thanks for the review! It's nice to see a positive one, most of the other 2011 reviews are composed of constant whining about the changes made to make it less expensive.

 

No flip up glass??? really?

 

Nope!

 

You know, I'm really starting to so not buy this "well how many people are actually realistically using their 4X4 to go off-roading excuse" to justify the new models target demographic. Maybe I'm off the mark on this one, but to me, it would be like Ferrari watering down their product line, taking away some of the extreme exotic features like their Formula 1 suspension and trick tranny, and saying "hey, lets be realistic, would needs a street version Formula 1 car, when 98% percent of out buyers never see the track anyways?"

Some of us just want the peace of mind, the kicks, the lust, the fun of it, to satisfy whatever inner desire it is(call it whatever you want), to own something nice and unique, even we plan on never using it. I'm one of those people, and looking at that new product line for 2011, I quickly discover that it is not for me. Going to the OP header title, the T1/T2 TDI is. I'm not knocking the 2011. Great reviews, great great great. However I'm not a "mainstream" buyer. Never was, and probably never will be. Curious to see if in the next few years, the product line and particularly the options list, is readjusted for clients like me.

 

You have some good points VW Dude, but I don't see the new Touareg as watered down, in most aspects it seems to improve upon the old model. The things that make it unique and all the cool features are there, with more options than ever. We (North American customers) just can't get them at the moment. However, I feel as the model years progress more options will become available. There's a certain segment of the market (myself included) that will not consider a T3 for purchase until certain requirements are met. I, personally, am not even remotely interested in the T3 until VWoA offers air suspension and terrain tech, at a minimum. A more powerful engine option that is not a hybrid would be nice, as well as some of the newer tech features (area view in particular looks nice).

The only thing I'm worried about is the possibility that VW will only offer the Touareg to NA in its current neutered form. They were already heading in that direction with the later T2 model years by removing air suspension, the V8 and the V10.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is; sure, a 2011 steel spring 8 speed V6 T3 is not very interesting (IMO, of course) and does not do much to differentiate itself from the competition's SUVs. The same could be said of the base steel spring T1/T2 models. But try a T3 that has been properly equipped, and you will probably find it an entirely different vehicle. I only hope those of us living in NA get the opportunity to do so in the next few years.

 

^^^WEll said. My english is just terrible sometimes . "Watered down" was not the right wording, and I really had a hard time trying to find something to express my sentiments in the spur of the moment so lets replace those words in my statement with yours. "Neutered" it is.

Dr. Ferdinand Piech is who brought me back to VW from BMW. Chris Bangle chased me away from BMW and Dr.Piech brought me in to VW. Now Bangle has left BMW, but so has Piech from his previous responsibility at VW. I'm a real Touareg/Phaeton, and even B5.5 Passat(still under his umbrella) type of guy. Understated, but certainly not boring. Well, at least mot under the skin anyways.

It's that under the skin part that has me worried on the new products. In all honesty, I still haven't test drove the new T3, but will this Friday, as I have made an appointment to do so. I'll report back then.

 

^^^WEll said. My english is just terrible sometimes . "Watered down" was not the right wording, and I really had a hard time trying to find something to express my sentiments in the spur of the moment so lets replace it with yours. "Neutered" it is.

You had me fooled. I've read many of your posts and I thought English was your first language. But regardless of the wording, I think you and I are saying the same thing; VW needs to offer more of their EU options to NA if they want the T3 to appeal to non-mainstream buyers like us.

Dr. Ferdinand Piech is who brought me back to VW from BMW. Chris Bangle chased me away from BMW and Dr.Piech brought me in to VW. Now Bangle has left BMW, but so has Piech from his previous responsibility at VW. I'm a real Touareg/Phaeton, and even B5.5 Passat(still under his umbrella) type of guy. Understated, but certainly not boring. Well, at least mot under the skin anyways.

It's that under the skin part that has me worried on the new products.

Excellent, excellent point. I also have a lot of respect for Dr. Piech and the things he did with VW. The Phaeton and Touareg are the prime examples of his legacy, and IMO two of the finest examples of automotive engineering. I understand what you mean, the worry that the newer vehicles are not built with the same quality, and that they employ more cost cutting measures. I suppose only time will tell for sure.

 

I double checked the folding flat of the rear seat. I went to the dealership, checked the manual etc. The dealership and I tried to fold the rear seat back completely down so it was flat. The seat back did lock into place, but it was at a slight angle. If you ever loaded 2X4 you know how convenient it is to have a flat load floor, plus a flip up rear hatch window. For me the new Touareg is dead in the water. There are too many other manufactures with better vehicles to choose from. I never thought I'd be a Lexus owner, but I'd consider the Lexus Hybrid long before I would consider a VW hybrid. We have all experienced VW's spiteful attitude towards its customers. It will be nice to see if Lexus lives up to their reputation of treating customers with appreciation. VW has repeatedly shown that it's customers should be treated as fools.
Does the 2011 have a heated steering wheel option or has this also been costed out? Keep in mind these are the cost cutting we can see. Imagine the cost cutting that took place on the vehicle we can not see, such as the engine, transmission and suspension.

 

I'll be honest with you the lack of a flip up window is a total deal breaker...I can't count the number of times I've used it to toss stuff in the back or to carry something long. I just can't believe how cheap they have gotten with everything.

 

No 2011 model here till next year. So, we down here in the land of Oz only get to read what others say who have the model in their dealers or now in their garage. I don't think there's any real dissappointment. There was an expectation of an improved T2. But, from what I read, VW seem to have taken the design and marketing approach that T3 is an SUV....it's not a 4x4. That was never it's market IMO, even in 2003. T1 and T2 are 4x4 by technical specs,...but, only if you wanted to use it as one - which, most owners seem not to do, or want to do. It's way too early to speculate on sales success, but I suspect it may sell fairly well. Maybe it will lose out to repeat buying from some T1 and T2 owners as it's no longer 4Xmotion. But I also suspect VW (Wolfsburg) won't lose sleep over that loss. What they do need to do is improve their technical support. It's possible down here we'll see the Amarok sell to the detriment of the T3. Especially if it has better off-road ability. I guess we'll have to watch this space in another 12 months or so.

 

As others have pointed out, it's unfathomable that the T3 doesn't have the opening glass window... Completely unfathomable.

I sat in a T3 again the other day and while I was really impressed, part of me kept saying "keep the one you've got and just get a four door Golf" the new touareg "feels" neutered. Did the build quality for the interior go up? Certainly. Is the Technology way better? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, and this really harkens back to vwdude's post concerning Ferrari/etc., if I can't get what I want, especially on an expensive car, I'll look elsewhere. The new Touareg not only lacks the options I'm looking for but also the whole "feel," that rugged charm, it's just not there anymore and in my mind it's such a shame.

 

Touareg TDi V6 08 v 2011 model

Was thinking of trading in for a new one early 2011 cos really have had great two plus years with my 08 3.0 V6. I have all the bits on her right down to the wood steering wheel. Might decide to keep it if new model doesnt feel right like you say. It's a great rugged car. Dont want a "whimp" motor. Have you any other feedback from other owners or reviews?

 

What was a bit disappointing to me, was the fact that its not easy to purchase, since it must be ordered (July 2008). The current supply is non-existent and dealers are asking a premium price. It seems VW dealers realize that there is pent up demand for TDIs after a 2 year hiatus, so they are selling at MSRP with additional markups. As an example, my local dealership has added a “protection package” which boost the MSRP by about $1589.00. To place an order for a nicely equipped Loyal Edition and DSG transmission with an MSRP just over $24,000 requires $25,689.00 before taxes and documentation.

 

For all of you who are dissapointed in what VW is doing with the new Touaregs...nothing wrong with that. But from a business volume standpoint, you have to understand that all they want to do is sell cars and sell cars to the largest group of buyers...hence the more 'simple' and 'less optioned' Touaregs we get here in the USA.
I happen to think that its a great vehicle none the less...and will have a much broader appeal than the previous generations of Touaregs. So it probably is somewhat of a success for VWOA.
As an example: Look at BMW and how they are 'flocking' to force feed all their engines...across all their lines...I am going to get the last of the great NA M Engines in the E9X M3. But BMW will continue to sell more and more cars in the future as the majority of the car buying public really could not care less if an engine is force fed or not...as long as its starts when they turn the key, all is good...Don't even et me started on run-flat tires

 

Certainly. I'm not questioning their business model, it makes perfect sense. Including expensive, heavy 4XMotion systems and air suspension on every base vehicle, on the other hand... would not make sense. But giving the customer the option to order a vehicle with these components costs them nothing, and potentially gains customers from other (noticeably smaller) target markets who would otherwise not consider a T3 for purchase. That said, it is still very early in the production run, and I'm fairly confident we will see more options become available.

 

Well I suppose its to be determined if the whole new business model makes sense...I think its stretch to assume that neutering the treg and keeping price the same will increase sales?

 

I think its stretch to assume that neutering the treg and keeping price the same will increase sales?

Very interesting point about price. I do not see any price drop with the 4xmotion deleted. I was reading up on the 2011 PolO GTI sold here and it is very well reviewed and has been released about $5K under the expected price due to our dollar being higher. Think the 2011 Treg will get that discount? Nope! The other point is that a new Treg buyer may not know about 4xmotion and will not know any better. I think they'll sell if they are any good.