Welcome,

You are right to conclude that the Touareg fits your bill, but you could get a lot of differing views about which model is the best.

I assume low-range transmission is a must for you - if so, this very much simplifies your choice to those models with 4 X Motion (not the standard VW 4Motion AWD) - available in 7L models (2004-2010) and as variant in 7P models 2010-2014. [Note: 7P 4 X Motion only available with 3.0L V6 TDI engine and was discontinued after 2014].

7P 4 X Motion Touareg transmission has five modes: On Road (Permanent 4WD) / Off Road / Off Road + Low Range / Off Road + Low range + Locked Centre Diff / Off Road + Low Range + Locked Centre Diff and Locked Rear Diff. Off Road mode changes gearing and electronics (eg ABS)

7P 4 X Motion has 100L fuel tank whereas other 7P models have 85L - 1200km fuel range is quite achievable.

Other than a towbar and a roof rack, there are no "off the shelf" off road accessories or mods available anywhere globally for Touareg - no snorkel, no roo bar, no nudge bar. Some forum members have fitted a bash plate manufactured locally by forum member Dragline1570.

Air Suspension was a factory option for 7P 4 X Motion 2010-2012 and IIRC was standard fit 2013-2014 - why settle for a 50mm lift kit on steel suspension when you can have up to 100mm lift at the turn of a dial. Normal on road height = 200mm (175mm in Sport mode) and off road height = 245mm (speed limited to 70kph) - very good when on fire trails etc. Extra off road height = 300mm (claimed, but more like 275mm) for water crossings and gnarly stuff (speed limited to 20kph, and uses up all suspension articulation so the ride is very bouncy).

In any case, I have never heard/read about anyone doing a lift on a steel-sprung Touareg.

As for larger tyres, there is not a great deal of scope before wheel arch rubbing. On 17 inch rims, 265/65 is a good fit; and I think you can get by with a little bit of rubbing using 265/70. 7P 4 X Motion came with 18 inch rims standard - but not hard to come by 17 inch rims from other models.

Reliability is pretty much a subjective matter, with a broad range of individual experiences. My Treg has done 275,000km and the only issues have been leaking injector seals and a leaking seal on the timing chain cover (big job covered by extended warranty in my case). I always feared having to do costly repairs to the air suspension but its been faultless through 9 years.

Hope that helps.

 

I agree with, Martin ... 7P (2011-2014) with 4XMotion (not 4Motion) with Air Suspension ... and add 265/65's.

You could still find a 7L (2004-2010) with those specs (4XMotion & Air) ... but the 7P 180kw diesel motor is more fuel efficient than the equivalent 7L 176kw motor.

Be careful, many 7P's are advertised as 4XMotion ... but they are not. Need to have the specific dial to lock the center diff to be 4XMotion.

Special extra bonus points if you find one with the optional rear diff lock fitted.

 

Special extra bonus points if you find one with the optional rear diff lock fitted.

View attachment 244009

In your photo the furthest setting is Locked Centre Diff and Locked Rear Diff.

Standard fit for 7P 4 X Motion, but you had me thinking for a bit. Just checked my vehicle and MFD picture shows both diffs locked when dialled to that setting.

 

Unkydunky,

Thanks for the informative response. Sounds like the 7P 4 X Motion with air suspension is the one for me then, low range a must. So the 3.0l V6 diesel it is.

Cheers.

 

Smclaren,

Thanks for your input, I do require the rear diff lock version, how hard are they to come by? Was it a special order thing when new or luck of the draw?

 

Rear Diff Lock's are hens teeth. Was a special order from new. You could wait for years to find one. Many hard-core Treg 4x4'ers reckon its not necessary ... the standard centre diff lock is sufficient.

Here are some photo's of my 7L showing the control panel (no air suspension on left, 4xMotion on right with seperate high range, low range & centre diff lock controls. I don't have the rear diff lock option) Also the dash with "low range/off road" selected and then "low range/off road + centre diff" engaged. Note the rear diff lock icon is blank as I don't have that option fitted.

The photo I showed in my first post in this thread is an example of a vehicle fitted with the rear diff lock option on the control panel.

Good luck.

Steve

 

Where I go I would prefer the rear diff lock, I'm coming from a Patrol with solid axles, so great articulation, also a strong rear LSD and front diff lock. The VW with independent suspension all round will have less articulation so more wheel lift is likely, having drive to three wheels will be good enough, not keen on only having one front and one rear wheel under power when in the rough stuff. The added clearance of all round independent suspension is a bonus, no diff pumpkins to get hung up on rocks.

 

Buying a Used Touareg - What to look for ????

There have been a number of requests from new members asking what to look for when buying a used Treg. I thought it may be useful to gather all the info into one post which could perhaps be pinned. I've prepared a draft below. I wonder if the regs could suggest any amendments or additions, I'm...

www.mytreg.com

 

If your looking for aftermarket off road accessories they are more and more parts becoming available for 7L & 7P's. But you will need to ship them from overseas. Check out https://shop.eurowise.com/default.asp and if your on facebook "Off-road VAG and Porsche".

 

Some nice suspension kits on that Eurowise website.

 

 

Rear diff lock is totally unwarranted.

Mines unlocked, have been tackling some of the harder tracks in the glasshouse mountains and it keeps up with my old mans twin locked GU on 35's.

Mods and accessories are far more available then they were a few years ago, Forge motorsport and eurowise are at the forefront of it now. Shipping from the states is abit costly but overall worth it. If you're looking to do some more serious tracks opt for steel sprung over air. Chances are you're going to ditch the air anyway if you're going to upgrade suspension so it's one less thing you need to code out with VCDS.

For what it's worth, mines a 7L with 28x,xxxk's on it, never really have issues with it except breaking a few CV's and losing a few idler pulleys.

 

Rear diff lock is totally unwarranted.

Mines unlocked, have been tackling some of the harder tracks in the glasshouse mountains and it keeps up with my old mans twin locked GU on 35's.

Mods and accessories are far more available then they were a few years ago, Forge motorsport and eurowise are at the forefront of it now. Shipping from the states is abit costly but overall worth it. If you're looking to do some more serious tracks opt for steel sprung over air. Chances are you're going to ditch the air anyway if you're going to upgrade suspension so it's one less thing you need to code out with VCDS.

For what it's worth, mines a 7L with 28x,xxxk's on it, never really have issues with it except breaking a few CV's and losing a few idler pulleys.

Thanks for those encouraging words. What mods do you have on yours?

 

I've done a reasonable amount of off-roading in my 7L touareg - I would also agree a rear locker is not a must have. The traction control on these is just about as good as it gets, as long as you have the centre locked up, the TC takes are of each axle really well. The other nice thing is that LR1 is a really nice slow crawl, which really helps the TC do its job.
heres a good example (not my car)

 

Thanks for all your input. The Touareg seems to fit the bill of the best off and on road combo around. I have read many articles and forum threads and the reliability is putting me off a bit. The 7P 4XMOTION is the one have been concentrating on. Are the problems as bad as I read? I typically perform all of my own maintenance and repairs, the Touareg looks to be a bit complex, I feel a laptop is required for when I venture beyond the black stump in case it throws a code.

 

I feel a laptop is required for when I venture beyond the black stump in case it throws a code.

Too true, a few of us when venturing to places out of the way carry VCDS and a small PC with the Ross-Tech S/W to identify any error codes thrown.
I also have the Elsawin Engine Repair Manual on that PC so if I happen to break down somewhere hopefully it gives a remote area mechanic a guide to possibly fix a problem without ever having worked on a Touareg before.

TonyB