[Bucky]

No doubt this has been discussed many, many times, but I'ma bring it up once more because I'm frankly too damned lazy to search through old threads.

That said, whom amongst you fine people (except you, Steve, you suck.) has had experience with both the V6 and the V8 versions of the gasoline engine (the V10 TDi does not count in this discussion because it's way cooler and torqueier (it's a word) than the gas ones).

I debated the virtues of each when I bought mine, and ultimately went with the V6 because:

1) I live in Colorado, and there aren't many hills here.

2) The vast majority of my driving is to work and back, and with premium gas at a, well, premium, it's good to save a few bucks.

3) I don't own a boat or have anything else to tow. We'll leave my girlfriend's butt out of this discussion.

Now I'll be honest, I really wanted the V8, but I couldn't justify the extra few grand for the models that had it. That, and I really liked to color pattern that came with my V6 (I'm not gay, not that there's... well, you know)

So what are your thoughts? What am I missing out on? I think the V6 performs admirably, but should I have gone for the extra muscle? Talk to me, dear folk. Except you, Steve.

Cheers!

 

[volkswagendude]

First the positive. There are no doubt, some super awesome deals on the used car market to be had with the V6 models. The ones particularly with no nav and no air suspension, are CHEAP! If one is bargain hunting, look no further than the V6.

.........
2) The vast majority of my driving is to work and back, and with premium gas at a, well, premium, it's good to save a few bucks.
.....

Well both the V6 and V8 do require premium 91 AKI, in order to run as the engineers intended it to. Fuel economy figures between the two motors? Maybe a couple of figures at most for the V6, but there are no bragging rights to be had.

You don't sound ike a 0-60 type of guy, so the only other thing that you are missing out on is that creamy V8 sound. Then again, the VR6 does sound great also with the appropriate minor mods, but it still ain't no V8 in that department.

Unless you saved something really significant, I think that you should have gone for the V8. If you did save a bundle on the other hand, and happy with it, then obviously that is super good too.

 

[Bucky]

Thanks for the kind words, good sir, but I have to say that I am a 0-60 kind of guy, and I do kinda miss my Audi's (A4 2.8) pep. It wasn't a screamer, as few AWD's are, but it was quite a bit more responsive because, well hey, BHP to weight ratio and stuff.

I'm not at all disappointed with the performance of my '06 V6, and yeah, I got a smokin' deal on it (with Nav and all the lux features, but not the air suspension).

It fits my needs, but being a greedy bastard, I do want more. This is an incredible vehicle which has already proven its off-road mettle, but I still wonder if I should trade up. Is it worth it?

And yeah, the throaty grumble of the V8 sounds quite satisfying. So sell me. Or at least placate me. In any case, thanks.

Cheers!

 

[BonesNTX]

I have 2 V8s.

0-60 = V8

THE Sound = V8

MPG V6 vs V8 is insignificant We see 22MPG at 70-75 MPH (Per Dash Display)

Cruises at 80-100+MPH effortlessly.

Get a boat and you will have an awesome Tow Vehicle.

I WHIPPED a new Mustang GT500 Stop Light to Stop Light!

V8

 

[vwW12]

But wait, I understand newer V6 and V8 are more powerful than older 2006 V6s and V8s... the newer V6 with more hp while keeping the same weight is said to be rather satisfactory.

It sounds as if I might be the only one not exactly thrilled by the way the old 2006 V8 sounds. :wave:

Here's my take: if I had been able to get the following items on a 2006, without a shadow of doubt I would most certainly have gotten the V6:

• keyless access (which enables keyless start mod, a sine qua non in this household)
• teak leather (couldn't care less whether Nappa nor Cricket)
• 4 zone climatronic

But alas!, one couldn't get those, so VWoA pushed me into V8 territory.

 

[nickm]

If you want more and the craving won't go away, sell the v6 and buy a v8. You won't find a difference in fuel economy, but you'll find a huge difference in sound, speed and feel. I'll be honest with you the v6 and v8 don't even feel like the same vehicle (and the v10 feels different as well). I've owned all 3 versions...

 

[jfurb]

I have an '09 V6 and find the performance to be more than adequate - is it a race car or an SUV? If you want 0-60 and awesome rumble sounds buy something else, but the overall performance on the road or off can only be matched by another Treg...

 

[rostrow416]

the 3.6 is good in the treg. i found it feels about the same as my buddy's 05 v8 (never raced him or anything just feels about the same) i test drove a used 08 v8 and the 350 hp is a stronger feeling engine. i wanted a v8 but they had stopped new v8s when i got mine last year.

 

[fledermaus98]

I have the 07 V6. I drove an 06 V6 and an 06 V8. I went with 07 V6. It had more power than the 06 V6, but was a lot cheaper than the V8.

 

[GQ//22]

I didn't even glance at the v6. I determined before looking into the 'reg that I was going to get an air suspension on my suv, and that it had to be able to tow my wakeboarding boat. The torque on the 4.2 is adequate, but when towing don't anticipate it to tow like a diesel, it just doesn't. Gas mileage is going to be bad either way, and the options list for the v8 is much better IMO, but then again, I had to have air susp, nav, and 4 zone. If any of those pique your fancy, jump on it.

 

[Yeti]

I didn't even glance at the v6. I determined before looking into the 'reg that I was going to get an air suspension on my suv, and that it had to be able to tow my wakeboarding boat. The torque on the 4.2 is adequate, but when towing don't anticipate it to tow like a diesel, it just doesn't. Gas mileage is going to be bad either way, and the options list for the v8 is much better IMO, but then again, I had to have air susp, nav, and 4 zone. If any of those pique your fancy, jump on it.

V6's could be had with those options, just was not very common unless it was special order. V8's were not always fully loaded either.

 

[vwW12]

V6's could be had with those options, just was not very common unless it was special order.

This is interesting. I have the 2006 catalog and it does not mention that you were able order 4-zone or teak separately. In fact, instead of "Standard" or "Package", the V6 lists those options as "•", i.e., not available.

But who knows. I've known the rare person willing to deal with dealerships which are generally hostile to the idea of special ordering, pay cash upfront, and wait 6 months for their conveyance to arrive from Germany.

Rare birds, but they do exist.

 

[Yeti]

When I say special order I mean you were not going to typically find a V6 on the lots with air suspension, since most dealers would not sit on one that loaded on the lot, but they could be had with the ordering it. As far as four zone I don't know about that since I never really looked around. Teak would just be had with particular exterior colors and I don't think was dependant apon motor. But again I don't know for sure. I have seen V6's with a locking rear diff option and did not have air suspension, so you could get away with some weird option choices if you found a dealer willing to work on it.

 

[NIN10DO]

The correct answer to this question is V10.

/thread

 

[siberian]

First check out my various thoughts on V6 vs V8 in the Touareg reviews after driving the CFO's (occasionally) for 2 years whilst I scoured for a 2008 V8.

Worlds of difference. The air suspension is awesome, keyless entry is great, memory seats (won't even go into why this isn't standard on every VW), Nav is nice but a Garmin is way more useful and portable for those of us who travel sans the Treg, the mileage difference is negligible, power is just awesome compared to the V6 and it definitely SQUATS on the road, the color display is nice and much more info (though this could be ordered on the V6). Lastly I don't care for the 4 zone air OTHER than the fact that you now have individual fan speed control

The V6 is nimble, lighter and a wee bit more economical (read 6.7 qts of oil vs 9 etc.).

Dislikes on both: Few color choices, very difficult to get a remote start installed (kind of useful up here in winter), price, dealers (which luckily I seldom have to deal with)

Lastly for the 0-60 in you, get a 71 'Cuda 440 or Hemi Roadrunner, or 67 GTO. Much more reasonable than drag racing a near 3 ton AWD. OR get a 70s Audi Quattro if you're into rallyes

All in all the V6 and V8 are different car for different folks. Read my review perhaps it will shed more questions

siberian

 

[prosh]

hey what ever model you have you have one hell of a truck i have the 06 v6 and it moves i bought it for a steal preloved if the price was right and one was available i would have bought a v8 more power , of course

 

[volkswagendude]

This is interesting. I have the 2006 catalog and it does not mention that you were able order 4-zone or teak separately. In fact, instead of "Standard" or "Package", the V6 lists those options as "•", i.e., not available.

But who knows. I've known the rare person willing to deal with dealerships which are generally hostile to the idea of special ordering, pay cash upfront, and wait 6 months for their conveyance to arrive from Germany.

Rare birds, but they do exist.

I'm one of them, or should say was.

Ordered my 2005 Passat TDI fully loaded, but without sunroof, because I'm tall, appreciate the extra headroom no sunroof provides, I never use them anyways, etc.

Had to visit 3 dealers, and call VW customer service to try and figure things out why the first two dealers claimed it was impossible to have leather seating with no sunroof.

I came out the winner in the end through sheer determination, twisting their arms. Would that strategy work again today in 2010-2011? Alas, I have a feeling they may just have collectively demolished the "a la carte" availability. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[Theyellowaudi]

The correct answer to this question is V10.

/thread

2nd the motion. I got a pretty awesome deal on mine and love every second of being in it.

 

[vwW12]

Had to visit 3 dealers, and call VW customer service to try and figure things out why the first two dealers claimed it was impossible

Don't get me started. Years ago, we wanted a Mini, the brand that prizes itself that there are millions of possible configurations, all available a la carte. We configured online, printed and went not to one, but to both dealers in town and said we wanted this exact car, and we wanted exactly like so (oh, which didn't quite double the price, but it was way out there). Which just shocks them. For them it is sales off of the lot, or nothing. We got the runarounds, the implications that we were stupid, the lies, etc.

Of course we never bought a Mini, which in the U.S. at least, seems to be a brand for people with self-expression. Well, so long as such self-expression does not go much beyond what´s available in the lot!

In comparison, in Germany, a large % of new VWs are picked up in Wolfsburg or Dresden... and nearly all of them with some degree of customer customization.