[Dustin8285]

Hello everyone! I am new to this forum and have had a love affair with the Touareg ever since we raced with it in the Baja 500. I already own a 2006 GLI and I LOVE Vdubbs so this is the next logical step for me.

I have been doing a lot of reading and research and from what I can tell the V6 and V8 models prior to 2006 are not reliable and basically a big pile of electronic crap, money pits and maintenance nightmares. What I have not been able to find is a good review of the 2004 V10. Are they as big of a pin the the but or are they reliable. This is going to be my daily driver and I am by no means wealthy. I can handle routine repairs and services in line with a German cars but I cannot handle multi thousand dollar repairs due to bad design every other month. Can I get some insight on this?

From what I can tell I can pick up an 06 V8 for about the same price as the 04 V10... I am at a personal cross roads.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Sebbers]

That's a little harsh bro. I'm sure you'll find quite a lot of pre '06 owners who couldn't be happier with their 'Eggs....

Me included...








Now...That being said....

Not a day goes by where I'm not afraid that somethings gonna go...

Knock on wood...

Rub the rabbits foot..

Lol...

 

[johnt]

I bought a 2004 V10 in September of 2009. It had 29,00 miles on it. I also purchased a Real Driver 6 yera/72,000mile warranty. Since I purchased the car I've done 23,000 miles, averaged 20.88 MPG, and done the regular services. I also addressed as TPMS issue for $100.00 I go 4 new sending units and 4 new receiving units and a new TPMS processor. I've also gotten new glow plugs on a recall. That means 23,000 miles of fantastic driving, towing to races, high speed runs to visit friends/relatives at the drop of a hat, end general motoring pleasure. I have never regretted buying my 'egg, though I did spend 5 months waiting and looking to buy the "eggsactly" right one.

johnt

 

[noobytoogy]

This is going to be my daily driver and I am by no means wealthy. I can handle routine repairs and services in line with a German cars but I cannot handle multi thousand dollar repairs due to bad design every other month. Can I get some insight on this?

From what I can tell I can pick up an 06 V8 for about the same price as the 04 V10... I am at a personal cross roads.

The reason car forums such as this appear to have a high concentration of reported faults is because this is where folk come when they do have a problem.

It does not necessarily reflect the overall percentage of faults for a particular car.

That said, the UK warranty company, Warranty Direct, has recently put the Touareg in 3rd place as the most expensive 4x4 for the cost of repairs.

Touaregs are big, complex, heavy 4x4s that were expensive cars to buy when new.

Just because they are getting older it doesn't make them any less complex or cheaper to run and as the cars get older things will wear out, break more often or become time expired, and that's a simple fact of life on just about everything mechanical from a washing machine to an aeroplane.

IMHO you're already starting with a pre-conceived and inaccurate idea so I'm not sure a Treg is for you, but as with all cars, I'd advise you to buy the newest/lowest mileage car you can with the cash you've got and get a good warranty regardless of whether it's a VW or not.

 

[atikovi]

From what I can tell I can pick up an 06 V8 for about the same price as the 04 V10... I am at a personal cross roads.

Thanks for your help in advance.

You can find nice '06 V8's for under $20K. You won't find a decent '04 V10 under $25K. Spend the extra money, it'll be worth it.

 

[Dustin8285]

Sorry if I came off wrong or offended anyone I am just concerned that is all. I had a bad experience with a 3000gt a few years ago and it left a bad taste in my mouth... darn thing was a jack stand queen and never seemed to want to hold together for very long. Drove me crazy. I loved the car but I spent more time under it then in it. I just don't want that kind of experience again.

 

[Built4Sin]

Take a look at the ones for sale here.

Either way just make sure to check out its history "Accucheck / Carfax" and see if you can get a service advisor to pull the records on the VIN. If you know the VIN you can use the VW website to pull the open recalls against it.

Either way V8 or V10 is perfect. One has better mileage and the other less common maintenance IMHO.

 

[Sebbers]

I don't think you offended anyone...

They are a little scary to own but a hell of a car none the less...

 

[Dustin8285]

Take a look at the ones for sale here.

Either way just make sure to check out its history "Accucheck / Carfax" and see if you can get a service advisor to pull the records on the VIN. If you know the VIN you can use the VW website to pull the open recalls against it.

Either way V8 or V10 is perfect. One has better mileage and the other less common maintenance IMHO.

I sold a house to the service manager at local VW dealership I am sure I can get some good info from him. I also have a good friend who is a used car manager at ford and can pull up the history for free! Got to love knowing a wholesaler!!

 

[ÜBERV10]

Early model V10's are probably the most expensive touaregs to own. If you want to avoid some of the multi-thousand dollar bills then just get an '06 V8

 

[atikovi]

Early model V10's are probably the most expensive touaregs to own. If you want to avoid some of the multi-thousand dollar bills then just get an '06 V8

An '06 is multi-thousand dollar bills more than an '04. Why do you say early model V10's are probably the most expensive touaregs to own. '06 was the second year they were sold so I'd say they are early models too.

 

[ÜBERV10]

Take someone like Nickm's experience with his lengthy list of replaced parts. Unless you're buying an '08 V10 you are getting an early V10... The V8 is cheaper in all years to maintain, I dont know how you could argue against that. It wasn't meant to be inflammatory, I'm in the same category...

 

[nltomba]

I would say that if you can pay cash for the touareg and keep 10k in reserve for unforseen repairs if they are necessary. Then buy an 04 V10

If not buy a low mileage documented 04 and keep the change between the 06 and the 04 for maintenance.
The V8 is lots of fun. You will not regret it that way and keep finances under control
I would hate for someone to buy a V10 get an expensive repair and then have to pay monthly for a car that sits in the drive way, because you cannot pay for the repair

 

[norsecarnut]

A rule of thumb / saying from my favorite private repair shop is that you must be able to afford to maintain an expensive vehicle just like you would be able to afford it new.

In other words, an older/used '04 V10 Touareg is going to require maintenance on the level of a $70,000 vehicle. Simple things like a new headlight housing are more expensive, etc.

People too often buy a cheap/used but high end vehicle and then can't afford to properly maintain it - it's totally silly because they are being swayed by some ridiculous ideas of status or desire or whatever that toss out all common sense.


Nltomba is totally correct. If you can't afford to do it that way, you probably shouldn't be stepping into the situation. Cars are just metal and paint and stuff, it's not always so important to have these "things" in life.

 

[Dustin8285]

I 100% agree with you jwestpro. I know all to well about trying to keep up the Jones's. It's not about that. I love the cars!

I am not financially strapped by any means and I could afford a new one if I wanted but I learned a long time ago that I don't have to have the newest and latest to be happy. I have a personal budget I like to maintain and it bugs me to go over that. Like a said I am not wealth but I am not poor either

 

[norsecarnut]

So why do you want a gas guzzling v8 with potentially expensive repairs? There is no ill tone or presumptions meant by the question - it's a good question I often ask myself

 

[nickm]

I bought my '04 V10 on a whim since I was satisfied with -but not in love with my '07 V8. I since sold the V8 and basically replaced all the expensive parts in my V10 (new turbos, new tranny, new driveshaft, new brakes, completed all the TSBs)...nearly $20K later its perfect...would I do it all again? absolutely. Its such a unique vehicle!

My advice is know what you're buying, an '04 with all the TSB work done and the key stuff replaced (ie: turbos, driveshaft) will be fine...carfax is generally crap since its irrelevant at this stage and would never show anything like TSBs performed or major repairs.