[surt]

New here, curently have a G 500. Thinking about a TDI. I read somewhere that next year (2010) will be a redesign and considerable weight savings. Since the majority of my driving is on road this is interesting to me. What have you heard? Do I wait or buy now.

Also comments please on the air suspension. I am more concerned about tuneing from stiff to smooth to improve long distance travel comfort. The height adjustment is not a big thing for me.

I have driven a new V6 with standard suspension. Good ride. Will the air improve or is it just something to possibly go wrong in coming years.

Wife is the primary driver so she probably will set it and leave it.

Also any thoughts on the Treg vs. Audi Q7 I believe same TDI but the Treg has the plus on looks for me.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[nltomba]

I like air but if you are an asphalt warrior and not a heavy tower I would not worry. Besides that V6tdi with air currently on a lot is almost impossible to find.
If you order a 2010 you can get it

 

[grmaster1]

New here, curently have a G 500. Thinking about a TDI. I read somewhere that next year (2010) will be a redesign and considerable weight savings. Since the majority of my driving is on road this is interesting to me. What have you heard? Do I wait or buy now.

Also comments please on the air suspension. I am more concerned about tuneing from stiff to smooth to improve long distance travel comfort. The height adjustment is not a big thing for me.

I have driven a new V6 with standard suspension. Good ride. Will the air improve or is it just something to possibly go wrong in coming years.

Wife is the primary driver so she probably will set it and leave it.

Also any thoughts on the Treg vs. Audi Q7 I believe same TDI but the Treg has the plus on looks for me.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Well, if you bought the G500 in AMG version brand-new--you could've bought 3 new Touaregs...

I would personally get a G500 in a diesel/convertible version and be happy!

Get your TDI now, so your wife can enjoy a new car, and write off taxes, and get a diesel tax credit as well.

In mine, I can get about 650 miles per tank, ride is much better than the G500 very comfy on long trips, and it can probably go most places off road, too. Insurance is lower, cost is lower, looks are good.

Your choice.

 

[surt]

G500 is getting old (2002) but we love it. The extd. waranty will run out at 100k (about 11 months). I am not paying $100k for a new one. As well it would be nice to get more than 14 mpg. The G has been great, all round and suprisingly comfortable. Treg will be much more comfortable, however there is no substitute for the exclusive factor of the G. But all things must pass. Just trying to make sure the Treg is the right thing. The Q7 and the GL 320 or ML 320 and the X5 just don't do it for me.

 

[volkswagendude]

G500 is getting old (2002) but we love it. The extd. waranty will run out at 100k (about 11 months). I am not paying $100k for a new one. As well it would be nice to get more than 14 mpg. The G has been great, all round and suprisingly comfortable. Treg will be much more comfortable, however there is no substitute for the exclusive factor of the G. But all things must pass. Just trying to make sure the Treg is the right thing. The Q7 and the GL 320 or ML 320 and the X5 just don't do it for me.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Land Rover Range Rover on your list?

 

[grmaster1]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Land Rover Range Rover on your list?

Those makes are all available in diesel, I don't think that LR is, in the States that is.

 

[surt]

We like the Land Rover, but no diesel. I don't know what they are thinking at Land Rover. For 2010 they increased the HP but no efforts on mpg improvement.

I think the days of cheap gas are soon to be over. At curent prices it is not a major issue to me, however, when the price gets to be $4 + you begin to think "do I realy want to pay an extra $5000 per year just to drive this vehicle when there are other possibilities out there.

 

[nltomba]

Range rover has an awesome V8 diesel in Europe. Shame we cannot get it

 

[TREGinginCO]

From Edmunds

2011 Volkswagen Touareg Exclusive Spy Video and Photos


I will say this... my sources at VW continue to say there are no plans for a Touareg with a 3rd row.

 

[markluke]

"Look for an optional four-cylinder engine on entry-level models". Wow, that's not a smart move...

 

[nltomba]

"Look for an optional four-cylinder engine on entry-level models". Wow, that's not a smart move...

Guess you have no clue what they can do with 4 bangers nowadays

 

[Moonan]

In Europe people don't have the same need for cubic inches that Americans (and to some degree Australians) do. The entry level Touareg has always been the R5 TDI - a 5 cylinder diesel of capacity 2.5 litres. This produces 128kW (sorry 172hp). (and by trhe way goes for nearly 700 miles on a tank of fuel). Now my new Audi Q5 has a 4 cylinder (2.0 litres) TDI producing 125 kW. So, if the proposed new Touareg will be lighter than the existing, and gets a similar engine to the Q5, then it will have a better power/weight ratio than the current R5. So maybe they aren't so dumb after all.
Still, don't worry, they'll produce a big thirsty engine for the US market

 

[markluke]

In Europe people don't have the same need for cubic inches that Americans (and to some degree Australians) do. The entry level Touareg has always been the R5 TDI - a 5 cylinder diesel of capacity 2.5 litres. This produces 128kW (sorry 172hp). (and by trhe way goes for nearly 700 miles on a tank of fuel). Now my new Audi Q5 has a 4 cylinder (2.0 litres) TDI producing 125 kW. So, if the proposed new Touareg will be lighter than the existing, and gets a similar engine to the Q5, then it will have a better power/weight ratio than the current R5. So maybe they aren't so dumb after all.
Still, don't worry, they'll produce a big thirsty engine for the US market

My remark was targeted at the US market obviously

While I realize that you can do a lot to a 4 banger (turbo/supercharging, etc) and give it a fair displacement, there is still a low-end stigma attached to a 4 cylinder SUV in the US. It'll also put it more in direct competition with a base Ford Escape and its ilk - and a base Escape is around $20K (FWD, not AWD). Who would pay nearly double for a 4-cylinder Touareg in North America?

The current V6 provides adequate power and torque with a reasonable amount of smoothness, pretty much a prerequisite for a higher-end SUV. Most 4 or 5 cylinder cars/trucks I've driven (domestic and imports) have to work much harder to get off the line. Even with the projected 300lb+ weight savings it'll still be a bit of a pig no doubt, and I'm sure the reviewers will note this. BTW, the Q5 weighs around 3800 lbs, with today's Touareg around 5000. I don't think the engineers are planning to shed 1200 lbs (20-25% weight reduction)...that's what the Tiguan is for...

 

[surt]

The 2011 spy photos are the unit I am wondering about. I realy like the curent body style more. The 2011 begins to look a little like all the other ones out there. I read somewhere that there would be two versions, "Road and Track" obviously aimed for the way most people use their cars, and "Field and Stream" more like the curent unit and how it was designed to be used. I read the Road and Track version could loose as much as 700 lbs. This should realy help performance. The question I can't seem to get answered is will it be out next year or later. Dealers say at least 2 years, but they are usualy the last to know or admit the release schedules. Anybody know different?

 

[schubie]

I'm with you on the current styling, prefering the muscular, wide-gait stance with minimal aesthetic 'add-ons.'

As for the two versions, thats the same way the Tiggy was packaged. However, the NA market has yet to see the Field & Stream version. So don't hold your breath on getting the corresponding Treg version here. For us, the T2 may be the last in the line with true offroad capabilities (e.g. low range, air susp., etc.).

For me, ordering a 2010 that may be the last of this breed in 2009 (with the tax credit, sales tax deduction, etc.) was a no-brainer.