[logger]

..The only positive outcome I can see is that my resale value will remain steady and I'll be able to experience another brand come a few months time.

I hope VW Australia reads these posts and can take something away, $100k buys a hell of a lot better vehicles now.

OTOH lower your price point by 30%. You get a lot car for $70k. I am looking for a refined, comfortable car to tow over 3 ton I cannot find anything better. Only alternative I see is the jeep.
Annoying about the Euro 5 engine consumption >7l and its effect on the Luxury Car Tax threshold though.

 

[Flipper Dog]

Yes true you can get into a 150 TDI now for under $70k but the 150 TDI does not allow any options except colour.
For a 180 TDI the RRP is $100k with options. I am not looking at towing 3t plus or full off road capability so there is a world of choice for that money.

Don't get me wrong, I still think the Touareg is a great vehicle, it is just VW Australia have done a poor job in releasing the new series to us.

BTW Logger - If you are towing 3t in comfort you would want air suspension, a 150TDI does not offer that.

 

[logger]

......BTW Logger - If you are towing 3t in comfort you would want air suspension, a 150TDI does not offer that.

I think the jury is out on that. From my research some people are merrily towing triple horse floats and large caravans with steel suspension. A well balanced horse float places little down w8 on the tow bar. People have reported the Touaregs rear end does not sag with their float on. Sagging in the rear would be good reason for air, however seems it is not necessary. Further there are apparently issues with air suspension and load levelling systems working against each other. I am happy to stick with the simplicity and lower cost of steel. Time will tell if it is bad decision.

 

[seafarer28]

I think the jury is out on that. From my research some people are merrily towing triple horse floats and large caravans with steel suspension. A well balanced horse float places little down w8 on the tow bar. People have reported the Touaregs rear end does not sag with their float on. Sagging in the rear would be good reason for air, however seems it is not necessary. Further there are apparently issues with air suspension and load levelling systems working against each other. I am happy to stick with the simplicity and lower cost of steel. Time will tell if it is bad decision.

As a towing owner of a steel sprung Touareg I disagree, if you place 300kgs downforce on your towball your Touareg (or any other vehicle for that matter) it WILL sag, no ifs or butts, if you're planning to run with a WDH then you will minimise the amount of sag.
I can tell you that my OEM suspension dropped by 30mm with a ball weight of 150kgs, I chose to ugrade my suspension see: http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f66/suspension-upgrade-steel-t2-tdi-166345.html
even with all that done, with a 230KG ball weight I measure a rear sag of 27mm.
Don't get me wrong, the Touareg is a very capable tow vehicle as it comes and can handle those weights it's just fact that air suspension is more suitable to a towing scenario than steel and at the end of the day it gets down cost vs benefit not what's better, steel vs air.

TonyB

 

[Gr33nbastad]

Hi,First post!
Im looking at the 150.
I noticed in the official Aussie specs that the 150 has been tweaked to 450nm torque from 400 and that the gearbox has the coasting function.
Some sources are stating that the engines will be the same euro 5 specs as the last model with no coasting function?

I hope the official specs are correct.

It also states that adaptive cruise control is an option on the 150 when optioned with the Driver Assistance Pack, then later states that DAP is not an option on the 150?

Hi Treg48 - after waiting for official confirmation of 450nm I put down my deposit for a 150 today. I couldn't discern when/if the coasting function was activated, but my test drive as all flat though, no down-hill work.

Also, I confirmed that Euro 6 is only coming in mid 2017 for new models, so unless VW changes things, we won't see Euro 6 fuel savings until 2018 model.

Also, I noticed in the RNS850 setup that it had Bluetooth/WLAN setup, so maybe it can connect to your phone via wifi?

Cheers..

 

[Treg48]

Thanks Gr...... Im hopefully taking a 150 for a test drive soon. Good to hear that 450nm is correct. If coasting is included the official fuel rating could drop below 7. Maybe it hasnt been officially re-rated.
Congratulations on putting your deposit down.
I'm personally looking at the 150 and the new landrover discovery sport being released in May.
I dont need big towing capacity but have a growing teenage family which needs more cabin space and I want the extra comfort and trimmings these options provide.
Both are similar but different. The Touareg has the larger motor but less options and at present on special and available now for $66900 on road. Where an SE sd4 Discovery sport with extra options but smaller motor 140kw 420nm 4pot is the same price but not available until May or longer to get the options I would like.
Decision...decisions...?

Does anyone know what the price of the 150 will be when its off add after 31 March?

 

[logger]

As a towing owner of a steel sprung Touareg I disagree, if you place 300kgs downforce on your towball your Touareg (or any other vehicle for that matter) it WILL sag, no ifs or butts, if you're planning to run with a WDH then you will minimise the amount of sag.
I can tell you that my OEM suspension dropped by 30mm with a ball weight of 150kgs, I chose to ugrade my suspension see: http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f66/suspension-upgrade-steel-t2-tdi-166345.html
even with all that done, with a 230KG ball weight I measure a rear sag of 27mm.
Don't get me wrong, the Touareg is a very capable tow vehicle as it comes and can handle those weights it's just fact that air suspension is more suitable to a towing scenario than steel and at the end of the day it gets down cost vs benefit not what's better, steel vs air.

TonyB

If you place 300kgs downforce on your towball your Touareg 2014/15 you will be over its 280kg tow bar load limit according to the respective spec sheets! But I take your point.

Well I guess it is a matter of degrees. I was thinking more of the 150 mm / 6 inch sag you see on old commodores and falcons as being unacceptable. I will be thrilled if steel only drops 30mm with 150 ball weight. I don't envisage my tandem axle float will exert even 100kg so will probably be close to an inch.

I agree air will be better. But for me it is not worth the cost, if steel is adequate and the car rides close to level.

 

[seafarer28]

I may be a little off topic here but the way I see it why do you need to buy a NEW car and make compromises?
As a former business owner I have owned quite a number of new cars in my career (which came with the normal business tax deductions) and quite honestly upon reflection now that I am retired, I would much rather buy a near new vehicle with everything on it that I needed rather than buy new and compromise on features that I wanted but couldn't meet because it tipped me over the amount I want to spend.

TonyB

 

[noobytoogy]

^^^ Excellent point very well made.

For twenty or more years, companies bought me nicer and nicer cars every two or three years culminating in Range Rovers, the last one of which was 18 months old when I bought for half its new cost when I went out on my own and was my first foray into used cars since I was a teenager.

I bought my 2003 V6 3.2 for the equivalent of AUS$16,500 seven years ago [the first two owners had lost about 75% of the new price between them!] when big, petrol powered 4x4s were rock bottom due to the price of fuel [which has always gone up until recently though diesel now costs more than petrol which makes me chuckle as the pump!!]

To have bought a 3.0 Tdi of the same vintage at the same time would have cost me more than double - used 2.5 TDis were around the equivalent of AUS$27K. The hugely discounted purchase price versus the trade off on fuel cost, plus the smoother petrol engine and a lot of short journeys that diesels don't like, worked for me.

Now the car is 11 years old I look around - I'm a bloke and we like changing our cars - but I really cannot see anything else I want. I get in the old tool each day, and, yes, it's getting scruffy, but I enjoy the Touareg experience for a fraction of the cost anyone buying new cars is paying.

The decontenting that has gone on over the years doesn't really bother me though it is handy having the opening glass in the tailgate as, to the astonishment of the timber yard guys, I can pop half a dozen 4.2 metre timber joists - 47mm x 200mm - in the car suitably tied down and with a hi-viz on the end!

I'm off road every day but never use the HI-LO gizmo knob - I just point and squirt and let the car sort out what's happening underneath so losing the low box is not a problem for me and, from what I have seen, the standard T3/4 is pretty capable off road with owner's bravery probably running out before the car's.

But paying out for the new blinged up T4, or even a used T3 . . . no, sorry, no appeal whatsoever . . . unless, maybe, perhaps, actually a three year old V8 Tdi might just do the trick one day!!

 

[Treg48]

Wise words there Seafarer28
If a 2014 180tdi with DAP, sunroof, etc with 40000ks comes up at around $65000 Id definitely be checking it out!
When it all boils down I enjoy the hunt more than the kill. So after all the research and test drives Ill probably give my Subaru a wash, cut and polish, vacuum, add some chrome exhaust tips and be happy with it for another 12 months

 

[logger]

I don't see omitting air suspension as a compromise. If I was to buy a Jeep I doubt that I would add it either. I see it as unnecessary complexity that I pay extra for and could add to repair cost down the track. Happy to be without it.

Why did you get steel suspenion on your own Touareg instead of buying an older one with air suspension?

 

[seafarer28]

Why did you get steel suspenion on your own Touareg instead of buying an older one with air suspension?

I'll be quite honest with you I did buy my Treg as a 2yo with 45K on the clock and saved myself $30K, but had no one to offer me advice re the air suspension as you have, so I had to learn it all by myself.
BTW, I did not know this forum existed then!

TonyB

 

[logger]

Fair enough. I am only new to this forum. It is most informative and has a nice friendly tone unlike some other automotive forums I visit . I do appreciate your thoughts and recommendations by the way.

 

[vinniv]

I agree with you 'seafarer28' - I'd avoid buying any new luxury cars in Australia...my T3 and other European (origin) cars I own, saved me thousands of dollars given they drop so much of their original price in a year or two and I'd hate paying our infamous "Luxury Tax".
You only need some patience to find the right car on the second hand market and I generally have enough time for unpaid 'research'

 

[Gr33nbastad]

Does anyone know what the price of the 150 will be when its off add after 31 March?

Assuming you are in NSW, $77,397 will be the normal full on-road cost including metallic paint. I paid $68,000 for mine yesterday with Tungsten Silver.

I was looking at the Disco Sport as well, but it looked a little smaller, not a fan of seven seats in most cars (Disco 4 is an exception) and wasn't going to able to be even looked at for months, so I bit the Treg bullet whilst VGA was paying the LCT, dealer delivery, stamp duty and rego. That felt pretty good!

 

[Treg48]

$9397 discount on normal on road!............ not bad!

Thanks Gr33...

Congrats and good luck with your new purchase

I better figure out what I want to do before the end of March.

 

[tgh05]

Interesting discussion

My eg does drop a tad with towbar load but it's a small price to pay for avoiding the thump and thud of air.
I have had an air suspended rangie and did not like the feel one little bit.
One of the special things about mi-eg is the balance, the feel for the road and the corner ..
IMnsHO waiting for rubber to stretch is not a nice feel.. but viva le difference .. to each his own…

 

[logger]

$9397 discount on normal on road!............ not bad!
...
I better figure out what I want to do before the end of March.

I reckon you will subsequently be able to get virtually the same pricing if you have access to corporate fleet pricing. If not you better get cracking.

 

[Laggyband]

^^^ Excellent point very well made.

For twenty or more years, companies bought me nicer and nicer cars every two or three years culminating in Range Rovers, the last one of which was 18 months old when I bought for half its new cost when I went out on my own and was my first foray into used cars since I was a teenager.

I bought my 2003 V6 3.2 for the equivalent of AUS$16,500 seven years ago [the first two owners had lost about 75% of the new price between them!] when big, petrol powered 4x4s were rock bottom due to the price of fuel [which has always gone up until recently though diesel now costs more than petrol which makes me chuckle as the pump!!]

To have bought a 3.0 Tdi of the same vintage at the same time would have cost me more than double - used 2.5 TDis were around the equivalent of AUS$27K. The hugely discounted purchase price versus the trade off on fuel cost, plus the smoother petrol engine and a lot of short journeys that diesels don't like, worked for me.

Now the car is 11 years old I look around - I'm a bloke and we like changing our cars - but I really cannot see anything else I want. I get in the old tool each day, and, yes, it's getting scruffy, but I enjoy the Touareg experience for a fraction of the cost anyone buying new cars is paying.

The decontenting that has gone on over the years doesn't really bother me though it is handy having the opening glass in the tailgate as, to the astonishment of the timber yard guys, I can pop half a dozen 4.2 metre timber joists - 47mm x 200mm - in the car suitably tied down and with a hi-viz on the end!

I'm off road every day but never use the HI-LO gizmo knob - I just point and squirt and let the car sort out what's happening underneath so losing the low box is not a problem for me and, from what I have seen, the standard T3/4 is pretty capable off road with owner's bravery probably running out before the car's.

But paying out for the new blinged up T4, or even a used T3 . . . no, sorry, no appeal whatsoever . . . unless, maybe, perhaps, actually a three year old V8 Tdi might just do the trick one day!!

I have fell in love with the V8 tdi. I hired an A8 4.2V8tdi and it was a beast with crazy power and good economy. Then I found out the engine is in the Treg-----It got me thinking

 

[Laggyband]

What other options are available though?? Yep the Jeeps look nice and the build quality is OK (Still not German). Toyota's though very capable in my eyes will always be fancy work utes--the Prado and Land cruiser are very bland with basic technology in them. (though they are bullet proof--but if you keep it basic then it can be nothing else). Subaru------uurrrrgh-----had one hated it---gutless, thirsty, plastic, with only one benefit--amazing handling. Nissan--Cheap work utes---Mitsubishi---plastic and bland with gearboxes that need the engine de-rating as they are made of cheese. Merc ML---Beautiful and capable but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$, Audi Q7 my second choice which could overtake the treg as its spacier (I have 3 kids under 6 and a dog), but its not got the off road ability. Disco----Beautiful car but again $$$$$$$$$ for one with bells & whistles. Holden, Ford, Mazda, all cheaply made cars on a budget and no real ability or outstanding features. Range rover--mega bucks$$$$$ and often seen as the best 4X4 available. Hummer--LOL---Chrysler---ROFLMAO.
I love the Defender 110 and the Merc G-wagon but again $$$$$$$$$ and built for one thing only (Unless you get the AMG spec) and that's off roading, with less options than a Welsh fish and chip shop.