You Americans get these for 50% less than we do, and our dollar is worth more ! You actually pay about half of what the rest of the world pays, so really you have a great $100,000 dollar car, and if the US dollar keeps going down then you might have a great $200,000 dollar car ! Congrats.

 

Thanks for the intelligent write-up!

 

I see that you are in Philadelphia so I know that all you have to do to find snow is to look out your window after the weekend storm you guys had!

 

How's the weather down-under? I guess we should not complain about auto prices, considering all the taxes that are imposed by other countries that virtually double the cost. However, VW and its sister brands (Audi and Porsche) sure do offset their reasonably decent base prices by over-charging for optional equipment, at least here in the USA. I also find it disturbing that to get the factory installed ultrasonic backup sensors that beep as you get near an object, I would have to opt for the $9,550 "Executive" package. It seems ridiculous that I can't select that feature for $500 rather than having to spend $9,550 to get it along with other items that I may or may not want. Therefore, I am having after-market reverse sensors installed for $450 which includes having them painted to match the exterior paint.

 

How's the weather down-under? I guess we should not complain about auto prices, considering all the taxes that are imposed by other countries that virtually double the cost. However, VW and its sister brands (Audi and Porsche) sure do offset their reasonably decent base prices by over-charging for optional equipment, at least here in the USA. I also find it disturbing that to get the factory installed ultrasonic backup sensors that beep as you get near an object, I would have to opt for the $9,550 "Executive" package. It seems ridiculous that I can't select that feature for $500 rather than having to spend $9,550 to get it along with other items that I may or may not want. Therefore, I am having after-market reverse sensors installed for $450 which includes having them painted to match the exterior paint.

The package thing is just an American thing. You can't really order individual items on any car anymore here reguardless of brand. I personally would love to remove the PDS. I hate them and since you can't turn them of permanently I am stuck with them. I would give those up in a heartbeat to get my memory seats and power folding mirrors back in my 2010.

 

I agree about the PDS, a reall annoyance. And memory seats/mirrors would be a terrific addition to an already terrific vehicle.
And, yes, colegar, over a foot of snow that allowed me a minor test of my 2010 and very happy with the way it handled, but no surprise there.

 

I have a good reason for wanting the PDS installed. I live in a condo that has a two-car garage, but the two cars have to be parked one in front of the other, not side-by-side. For sidewalk safety reasons, my wife and I always back our vehicles in the garage. Therefore, I want the sensors to beep before she backs the Touareg into our other car. I our last several cars have all had PDS, as well as rear cameras, and she (and I) have learned to depend on them.

I am curious to know why you and Yeti don't like them. The only time I find them to be an annoyance is when they get covered with dirt or snow that activates them.

 

I just don't feel they are necessary as long as you are paying attention to what you are doing. I backed into my garage for years with my 04 and never hit anything, now I get to listen to these annoying ass beeps unless I turn it off. I hate them for offroad uses since they tend to pick up even small branches along the trail. I would not care if you could turn them off and leave them off, but the come back on as soon as you restart the car. I also don't like them for the reasons you mentioned, dirt and snow.

 

I just had my first experiences with the snow problem with these devices. Some of the noise came from the sensors being covered, but even after I cleared them they started reacting to the mounds of snow left after our recent blizzard.
It sounds like Colegar has an unusual situation given tight quarters & pedestrian dangers, but I find the jarring noise a distraction when parallel parking or other close work so would prefer to just disable them. As it is I often forget to turn them off when I start the Treg, then am startled when they trigger.

 

• Seems to have used 1/2 quart of oil in 3,300 miles (per the electronic oil gauge)

This is perfectly normal during break-in. I'm not sure how accurate the electronic gauge is however, I noticed the other day it was showing about halfway on the screen then later on that same day was full, I'm probably going to order an actual dipstick just to be safe.

I just got back from out east and had a small taste of the winter storm they had. And I have to say i'm very impressed with the performance of the T-reg as well in snow. I am just using the stock 20's with all season continentals, and I had to drive up this mountain which hadn't been plowed yet through about 2 feet (with some 3 foot drifts) of fairly heavy wet snow, and the touareg didn't miss a beat, when i got to the top of the mountain i saw the plow was actually in the ditch. I was totally extatic with the performance of the awd. I'm finding the ESP is very forgiving as well, allowing the t-reg enough wheel spin in snow conditions to prevent getting stuck. I'm not sure if the program is different than the previous gen t-reg, as i've read alot of comments to turn off ESP in slippery conditions.

I also had a second experience where I was visiting a friends cottage, and the road was pure ice + a fairly steep grade with some slippery grass exposed between the tracks and a few stumps and boulders to traverse, the t-reg was incredible, much better than some 4x4's (ranger, suburban)that i've driven with lockers. All this without winter tires, I can't wait to see what it can do with a good set of M+S tires.

 

Yep test drove one in Edmonton with crappy roads and it drove like a dream, I was so impressed.