[ATregularGuy]

I had wanted a 4Runner for years and years, to the point I had spreadsheets with data from Cars.com containing asking prices, miles, locations, the works. Then I went and rented one. Out on the highway, the 4Runner is horrifying. Toyota's 5spd auto is old, yet reliable, and MPG was horrifying. I went back to the drawing board. A few months later, I rented another and this time took it from Cleveland to New Jersey along the Penna Turnpike. The 4Runner couldn't handle highway curves, requiring me to brake a few times trying to do 75mph around some of those curves. It was then the Touareg appeared. I read how they handled better than the average SUV, the MPG was higher due to having the 8spd auto, and being a VW fan, the VR6 sold me.


Finding one was tricky as they aren't as common, but did manage to find one locally and jumped on it. Over 4 months, I've probably averaged about 24mpg, have had to replace the water pump, the AC control module, and have never wanted snow to arrive more than I do now. Coming from a MINI Cooper S, I can't wait to use the Touareg this winter.


Plans are to grab the lowering springs to bring it down, probably do bigger wheels once the idea of paying for 20" tires can be digested, and am debating doing the muffler delete to bring out the VR sound. I've seen a few videos with this, but not sure I'd want it that loud all the time. But currently all of the fun money is going towards the 70' Bug hiding in the garage :wink2:


Here's the shortbus, in her concrete jungle habitat.

 

[HVMihnea]

Very nice car! However, I'm curious about what made you choose the VR6 over the TDI (I'm the guy who would never ever consider a petrol/gasoline SUV).

 

[yuyueyuyue]

24mpg is not bad, I average about 17....

Handling is a lot better than 4runner, which is so disconnected and loose I thought it's going to shake itself to parts on Michigan roads...

Try find some anti roll bars with green dots and put them on, handling wise you will be on Cayenne level.

But still the toss-a-bility and acceleration will be a downgrade from a Cooper S. The truck is simply too heavy for the VR6, we are barely faster than a Dodge Caravan, if not slower... I wish VW had put the 3.0TFSI in there like they do in ROW market...

 

[FSJ Guy]

Snow tires may be more $$$ for 20" wheels. Just something to think about.

 

[touareg4]

I also had a Mini Cooper S, but a convertible and it didn't have near the acceleration of my Touareg. I am also getting 23-24 mpg which I think is excellent for a vehicle of this size and capability. The Mini S got about 27-29 mpg at best and that is a small car. My current Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia get 19 mpg at best.
Never had a better handling vehicle than the Touareg.

 

[HVMihnea]

Well, the VR6 is an old and underpowered (considering the displacement) engine. The 3.0 TDI is faster than the VR6 in a straight line if I recall correctly.
Yesterday I drove my T3 2013 3.0 TDI for around 300km, including heavy traffic and highways and national roads (still kept highway speeds), and came home with a reading of 7.4l/100km or 38 MPG. But yes, it is not incredibly fast. I should have gone for the V8 TDI. But this V6 TDI has what I would call "sufficient power", by which I mean that it's fast enough. We didn't buy a T for drag racing.
There was a 3.0 TFSI in the Hybrid which was amazing, but VW apparently dropped it.

 

[ATregularGuy]

Very nice car! However, I'm curious about what made you choose the VR6 over the TDI (I'm the guy who would never ever consider a petrol/gasoline SUV).

Was shopping on a budget, and the TDI's are quite a bit more. I have read how in the long run the return would payoff, with the greater efficiency, the power, but I don't plan to tow with this one. It's intending to be road tripping machine with a serious backseat for the dog. And if some friends want to ride back there, they won't be cramped.


- The 1 option TireRack.com has for winter tires in the 275/45/20 size, $1,061 (Dunlops) - yuck.


The MINI Cooper's are fun cars, the suspension is harsh, the steering is go kart like, the turbo had lag for days, and the upkeep is extremely costly for what your getting (ref. 2007-2013 years). I just realized I was a VW guy.


Where does one start looking for anti-roll bars with green dots? :grin2:

 

[yuyueyuyue]

Was shopping on a budget, and the TDI's are quite a bit more. I have read how in the long run the return would payoff, with the greater efficiency, the power, but I don't plan to tow with this one. It's intending to be road tripping machine with a serious backseat for the dog. And if some friends want to ride back there, they won't be cramped.


- The 1 option TireRack.com has for winter tires in the 275/45/20 size, $1,061 (Dunlops) - yuck.


The MINI Cooper's are fun cars, the suspension is harsh, the steering is go kart like, the turbo had lag for days, and the upkeep is extremely costly for what your getting (ref. 2007-2013 years). I just realized I was a VW guy.


Where does one start looking for anti-roll bars with green dots? :grin2:

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f44/2013-cayenne-suspension-parts-129162.html

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f64/sway-bar-42428-23.html

some good info in here with part no.

deals are always changing so google around for best price.

 

[HVMihnea]

My Vredestein Quatrac Allseason were about ?500. Quite a deal. Yes, a T is in no way a budget car..
By the way. If you go to the dealership, they will just pretend that you have a Cayenne. And charge you accordingly.
I would never recommend those sway bars if you have air suspension, but anyway, you'll be buying Cayenne sway bars... and just check out the price for new rims..

 

[HVMihnea]

Also, I just did the engine oil, brake pads (well the rear ones still had some rubber on them but I decided to change them as well) and the air filter myself with OEM parts (ok not OEM oil) and the score was a bit... unsettling. I'm going to do the tranny oil and filters soon and that's seriously disturbing. But hey, that's why they are called "luxury SUVs".

 

[yuyueyuyue]

My Vredestein Quatrac Allseason were about ?500. Quite a deal. Yes, a T is in no way a budget car..
By the way. If you go to the dealership, they will just pretend that you have a Cayenne. And charge you accordingly.
I would never recommend those sway bars if you have air suspension, but anyway, you'll be buying Cayenne sway bars... and just check out the price for new rims..

no air suspension for T3 for North America market. Even if you slap VW's face with piles of money, they won't sell. ](*,)

 

[HVMihnea]

Damn. I would never have considered a Touareg if not for the Air suspension. But VW has their own way, just like the 3.0 V6 TFSI they only made for China. I would have bought that engine (I know what I said about gas powered SUVs, but TFSI is TFSI and I can't say no to that).

 

[nickyt]

^^Agreed.

The TFSI engine would have made a huge difference in the VW Touareg North American sales numbers.

 

[yuyueyuyue]

I never understand why VW not putting that TFSI in the Touareg for NA... it's not like Touareg is going to cannibalize Audi or Porsche... Q3 is smaller, Q7 is larger, and I'm not saying all, but some Cayenne owners are only after the badge, they won't consider the Touareg even it gets a great engine...

Bottom line if Toaureg is going to cannibalize on Audi and Porsche, isn't this is still better than handing customers to BMW and MB?...

end of rant...

 

[nickyt]

It is a nice engine. About the equal of the older, no longer available V8, but with better mileage.

Click thumbnail for larger picture.

 

[HVMihnea]

I don't think Touareg fans are ever going away from VW. Half a year ago, I was set on getting an ML350. Drove one and I thought it was amazing. I told a friend and then he almost forced me to drive his T4 3.0 TDI and it took me no more than a minute to fall in love. The interior from the ML was pretty ugly and dated, and I never thought VW could make premium interiors. However, VW will never make a 3.0TDI to rival the 3 liter Diesels from Mercedes.
The Touareg is pretty much a unique thing, the only rival I can think of is the Grand Cherokee which is pretty ugly outside, and disgusting inside. It can go off-road (and the driver will back out before T does) and drive perfectly on the asphalt, especially with the air suspension (that VAG does so well). I don't think someone in their right mind would want a Touareg, but then switch for an X5 (which can do absolutely nothing more than a Passat can). If only VW had BMW engines, these things would sell more than all other SUVs in the world combined.

 

[HVMihnea]

It is a nice engine. About the equal of the older, no longer available V8, but with better mileage.

Click thumbnail for larger picture.

A respectable torque curve on that one, however economy would probably still be a horror story, and you would only check your mileage when you were sure the wife is not looking. I always thought that a supercharged TFSI was called TSI, after all that stands for Twincharged Stratified Injection. Doesn't "twincharged" mean turbo+supercharger?

 

[gareno]

I also have a Mini Cooper, my 4th.