[Jamie]

Over the past couple of months, I have been reading a lot of reviews about the Touareg. It seems like a lot of the '04 owners hate them (for obvious reasons), but there are a lot of them who love the Touareg as well. I think the only negative things I have heard about '05 and newer is how the tires and brakes need replaced way too often, oil changes and other maintenance cost too much, it has no bluetooth, and the fuel economy is terrible. Aside from that, I don't ever hear bad things about the vehicle. I've seen on the JD Power website that the '07 Touareg is considered "the rest" (2/5) when it comes to problems, yet it has one of the best ratings with performance/owner satisfaction (4.5/5). I also read an article (I think from Forbes) that said the Touareg is one of the least reliable vehicles out there.

All of the mixed reviews really confuse me. I can see that people love them, but on the other hand, why would it get such a low rating with JD Power, especially when people indicated that they were very satisfied? I would think that, if your vehicle had that many problems, you wouldn't be satisfied with it. Do you think it is still having a bad reputation due to all of the '04 problems or is there more to the bad ratings than that? I really want a Touareg more than any other vehicle I've ever been interested in, but I have to admit, even with all the hype on these boards, the bad ratings scare me a little.

 

[Linder]

I have a 2004 (mid-year) and absolutely love the car, while it has had some stuff go wrong on it, overall the car is amazing!! I recommend that you look into a mid-2005 and up just because what I have heard they are more reliable. Honestly, I am a really picky person when it comes to my vehicles and can be really critical, but I have to say that I drive my touareg more than any other car I own and thats saying alot. In the past year I have put 35k miles on it.

I wouldn't worry about the ratings that people say on those websites too much, I believe that they are bias just as I believe consumer reports is. I just watched a video on youtube of a review of the V8 Touareg 2, the guy said the engine (350hp, 325torque) didn't have enough power to pass on the freeway or take on an on-ramp!! WTF!!! My old V8 has plently of power!! Its all in the way people view cars and some people and organizations just do not like VW's for some reason.

Just my 2cents

Linder

 

[Jamie]

Thanks for the feedback. I think you make a good point. The people from the website weren't the ones who came up with the data, they only collected it. The info that dragged the ratings down could have easily been from people who had bought lemons. If not, I do have to admit, I'm not exactly concerned if people talk badly about things like acceleration (I drive a V6 Mustang, I don't think it can get any worse). I think that guy was full of crap anyway. Without actual reviews (from that website), you can't exactly figure out what went wrong, and like I pointed out already, aside from those early '04s, nobody complained about the functionality of the vehicle in the reviews. My dad is a mechanic and he has told me that I should buy brand new just for the warranty if something does go wrong (because he wouldn't know how to work on a Touareg). I probably wouldn't be too worried about the car just for the fact that I know I wouldn't have bought someone else's headache. By then, there should be more info about the '08 model available. What also fuels me to go for the Touareg is the fact that, if not this car, I'd probably go for a Lexus RX350 and everyone around here has one of those. Nobody has a Touareg, and I want to be different.

I haven't driven a Touareg yet, but I know it will be a dream compared to what I'm in now. I have been so tempted to see about taking one on a test drive, but I've had to stop myself because I know I will be disappointed when I get back to my car, and then the wait will kill me even more than it is now. I am trying to force myself to wait until I am about to buy. It has not been easy.

 

[nltomba]

Touaregs are expensive to maintain(if the dealer does it).Your dad is mechanic and even a guy who is not a mechanic like me can do the regular maintenance. The touareg is a complex vehicle but the maintenance is a breeze to do.
I have a 2004 V8 and after the kinks were worked out it has been fairly trouble free.
It is a blast to drive and with 310 horses very quick in passing, fun when you are challenged at a stop light and with excellent pulling power.
Least reliable does not mean visiting the dealer every week. chrysler minivans are also unreliable, but seldomly I see one broken down beside the road.
I would say buy a 2004 (take the V8) (fuel is about the same as a V6)
I get 14 in town with a heavy foot an 18 on the highway doing 80-85.
This thing weighs 2.5 tons you know.
get a good dal on a 2004 with a later vin number, make sure all the tsb's and recals are done and you save a ton of money just in case something goes wrong.

Greetings from a happy owner

 

[imorgan]

Go for it - you will not be sorry. As mentioned before the V8 is a blast and fun to drive. Pleanty of power to play with and rocket you into the triple digits in a heart beat. elvic_thrust:

I have had very little problems and what has arised was taken care of by the dealer quickly. The cost of maintnenace may be high - but worth it to me !! And if you are a DYI type - you can keep the cost done.

My 2 cents worth!!

 

[nickm]

A lot of these reviews are clearly written without the writer ever having driven the vehicle...to say a V8 Touareg of any year is slow is just plain crazy talk. I remember reading that the 200hp engine in the VW GTI was "adequate" (drive one and let the guy in the Mustang GT know how "adequate" it is)...also remember an article that said the Subaru WRX STI suffered from extreme turbo lag like most turbo cars do (yeah...like when, in 1986?)

Get off the internet and go drive a Touareg, If you fall in love then buy it and get an extended warranty (the best one possible), and screw JD Power....

 

[TREGinginCO]

I like to equate the TOUAREG to that really high maintenance girlfriend you have/had. It takes a lot of your time and money and can be a bit bitchy ('04)... but man, the ride is great!!!!

 

[foamy]

Speed is in the eye of the beholder

Jamie...I just bought a used 2006 V6 (240hp) a month ago. It has plenty of speed to deal with these SoCal idiots on the freeway. Just put it in "S" mode and stomp on it if I have to. I've owned three split window VW buses in my life, from 1966 to the present; a 1962, 1967 and currently have a 1966 panel van that I have had since 1974. So I can realate to relative speed of traffic. I also had a 1982 Porsche 911 euro model, more hp, bigger brakes, lighter body, etc. Now that was a rocket. My opinion: the V6 does just fine.

 

[norsecarnut]

I haven't driven a Touareg yet, but I know it will be a dream compared to what I'm in now. I have been so tempted to see about taking one on a test drive, but I've had to stop myself because I know I will be disappointed when I get back to my car, and then the wait will kill me even more than it is now. I am trying to force myself to wait until I am about to buy. It has not been easy.

You are smart because as soon as we drove the V10, we were like "we'll lose how much getting rid of our new, 9000 miles so far, 2007 LR3 that we just dropped $20k in mods on.... who cares, we LOVE the V10"

Seriously, I have no idea which model you are considering but if you think you would ever need it, the air suspension is wonderful with it's very sporty low setting and nice high settings for off-road. Our only issue is less interior space than I am spoiled with since having had Land Rover Discovery cars for a while. (I can stand, bent over, to sort gear inside the back of the disco!) I plan to never let go of either 96 or 04 disco though so I can see dropping this LR3 for the Touareg V10.

I didn't drive the V8 because we want the diesel economy and biodiesel option. I am tired of getting 15mpg on a good day in the LR3. I never expected any better in the Disco II (2004) but it was only $25k used and an older designed engine. I feel cheated that the 2007 LR33 Jaguar engine is so bad fuel wise or not brought in as a diesel option like the rest of the world gets to choose from.

Our plan is to keep a disco for trail truck (where we don't care if it gets body damage), mtn bikes inside it at trail heads truck, "play" vehicle. Then the V10 will be my work travel, long road trips together travel, towing the airstream, etc, getting 50% better mpg/ better-for-the-environment vehicle.

 

[Jamie]

I like to equate the TOUAREG to that really high maintenance girlfriend you have/had. It takes a lot of your time and money and can be a bit bitchy ('04)... but man, the ride is great!!!!

Your little analogy made me laugh, even if I am a girl.

Thank you for all of the advice. Originally I was very hesitant to even think about a Touareg, but you guys have given me enough reason to keep it as my number one potential vehicle. I won't even worry about the cost of maintenance since my dad is a mechanic and can take care of the basic issues. Even if the parts are expensive, I'll still be saving a ton of money in labor. My only concern is the big stuff, but if the car is under warranty, that shouldn't be a huge problem. I am really leaning toward looking at new ones, but if I go used, I know what to look for, thanks to you guys. Buying used has its advantages too though because you can get more features for the money. If I buy new, I'm guessing the most the vehicle will have is the lux package. I'd love to have lux plus, but I know the one at the dealership is over $46K and I'd rather not have a payment that high.

I know I said I will wait to test drive until it is actually time for me to buy a car, but I can pretty much guarantee that I won't make it. Every time I drive by the VW dealership, it kills me. I guess it will give me a feel for the dealership ahead of time though. It is the only one around here, and if I don't like the way they deal business, I'll drive out of town to buy. That is something I'd like to know ahead of time. I don't have any car buying experience (I've only been along while someone else did the talking), but I'm not about to let them walk all over me. I will make sure that I call the shots, or else I won't buy. I guess that is getting into a completely different topic though.

 

[LOKS]

FWIW Jamie,
I just bought a V6 08. Love this vehicle!
The V6 is plenty powerful enough for my needs here in and around Boston. And we know how drivers can be here...I believe, thru my research, that many of the issues found in earlier models have been de-bugged (replacing breaks so often, electrical issues, etc.) i hope... And this was no impulse buy by any means.
Compared to similar 'lux' mid-sized SUV's, this thing is tops in my mind for value and practicality (utility, in SUV) (I got the entry level package)). VW sure does throw in a ton of extras on this truck that you pay for in others. And it's off road capabilty is no match. Mix all that together and add in a smooth, comfortable, responsive ride; the Touareg is an awesome truck!
I say buy!
Don't let the dealer talk you into paying anything over Invoice however. Hold firm!

 

[nltomba]

I have 66k now and have not any big stuff yet (except for maintenance and warranty stuff)

 

[spidy512]

hey jamie, and welcome

i have owned about 32 cars in my 35 years. my 05 toureg i bought 2 months ago is a dream. i too went for 3-4 months researching reading the reviews, etc. what i learned as a moderator for other car forums is that poeples opinions are just that. opinions. the folks who have chimmed in on you post here are some of the "veteran" so to speak folks who have been around this truck for years.

my wife absolutely LOVES her touareg (i got it for her). we sold my 8" lifted 2500hd crew cab to get the touareg for her. people complain of bad gas milage? granted i had it lifted with huge tires, but even so, my BEST milage was in the 10mpg range, before i lited it. we have averaged about 15mpg in the treg, and that is mostly a 15 minute commute to work for my wife.

power. it is really hard for me to believe how well this 5500lbs truck accelorates. its like funny physics. it gets up ans scoots when you need it to. i live @ 6200ft, and many have complained about loss of power at altitude. it comes with the territory, but my touareg has no power issues up here. it "feels" just as fast as my first wrx wagon back in 2002. and handles almost as well! and i have a set of Cheyanne sway bars to install later today in my garage.....

maintenance wise, sounds like you have that covered. i am highly mechanical, and this plus other web sites have GREAT info on howto many of the regular maintence iteams. mine is still under the 50k warranty, and i am buying a extended to 100k (for a measly 1600). that to me is all the insurance i need. some of the folks who have complained about reliability are NOT super car saavy. it sort of reminds me of the original subaru wrx days when everyone was burning through clutces and blamming subaru. i had the original clutch in mine with 40k when i sold it. the car was putting down 280hp to the wheels and my clutch never slipped. did they get lemons? probably not. they probably werent great clutch drivers in the first place. i hope you get my point....

anyway, i recommend the touareg big time. it is solid, fun, great off road, awesome on road, and provides awesome German lux for not a ton of money. Make SURE to get the air ride.

josh

PS the reference to the STi having tubo lag makes me literally LOL. it is still today the fastest, best handling car i have ever driven. and i have driven some pretty fast cars (i mean stock of course)