I need a new car

[kccougar]

Volkswagen Touareg. The Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne are basically the same vehicle, and the previous owner added the Cayenne wheels and painted calipers. I've never been a fan of the oversized VW logos they used on the Touareg, but I didn't want to be a Porsche poser so I did a little customization.

I replaced the front grille with a badgeless version and took off the nameplate and other text on the rear. To remain somewhat true to brand, I decided to use the old Wolfsburg logo just because it's kind of a cool crest. I also replaced the VW centercaps on the wheels with the same logo. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

And I love the Touareg.

[TripletDaddy]

Is it for your wife? You seem to be implying that you are ditching your other car. Why the new ride?

I'm actually in the market for an SUV, but on the smaller side like yours. I don't want some massive SUV.

[Donuthole]

Is it for your wife? You seem to be implying that you are ditching your other car. Why the new ride?

I'm actually in the market for an SUV, but on the smaller side like yours. I don't want some massive SUV.

I would say the Touraeg is a mid-size SUV. Not as large as a Yukon or an Expedition, but not as small as a Tucson or an Equinox.

[wuapinmon]

I've just gotta say that I dig running boards. The official ones from Honda for our Odyssey run almost $700, uninstalled. If I could afford them....man.

[TripletDaddy]

I would say the Touraeg is a mid-size SUV. Not as large as a Yukon or an Expedition, but not as small as a Tucson or an Equinox.

A middie is what I'm looking at. I don't want one of the huge ones. Just something that will do well in the snow commuting back and forth to downtown. Used is fine and even a bit rugged....I plan on throwing skis on top and stuff like that.

I want to hear the story behind KCs sled. He always seems to find some random person in Wyoming or Idaho that is willing to sell a nice car for under 10k.

[Surfah]

I have a friend with a Tourareg. He bought it off eBay from a dealership in Texas I believe. He's had a ton of electrical problems with it. He's also had lots of issues with the tire pressure monitoring system. He's had the packs and sensors replaced yet he still get the light on his dash that the tire pressure is low. He also was a bit miffed that his wife's Toyota Sienna had more get up and go than his car. This was at least 5 years ago so maybe they have worked out the issues. VW/Audi is notorious for electrical issues, but I am sure you knew that.

Edit: Sorry, not ragging on your ride. I am a VAG guy and love VW. I dig the Wolfsburg touches.

[kccougar]

I needed a different vehicle for work. With business picking up again I am spending more time visiting construction sites and occasionally hauling equipment. I was getting tired of parking the M5 outside the fence when I showed up somewhere.

I briefly considered a truck, but I've never been much of a truck guy and as I looked around I thought truck prices were ridiculous. I guess I'm usually looking for a different sort of used vehicle, but obviously you don't find trucks for sale that have been covered and garaged their whole life. I was surprised at the high mileage on most used trucks and the prices people still wanted for them.

So I went back to a mid-size SUV. The Touareg actually has much more off-road capability than I need, but I'm looking forward to trying a little off-roading with it - I've never done any and it looks like fun. It's got plenty of ground clearance, and once I get a heavy-duty cargo mat for the rear I can haul work stuff around when I need to.

I considered the BMW X5 and a couple others, but I kept coming back to the Touareg. This one I found on KSL, and it was a 2005 but it only had 47,000 miles on it. Far fewer miles than most of what I was seeing in my price range. The seller is in the middle of a move from Utah to Ohio so I thought he was pretty motivated, but he rebuffed my initial offer. I kept on him for a couple weeks, and eventually he relented.

This Touareg is completely loaded, and it's got plenty of power (V8 and not the V6, adjustable suspension, center and rear differential locks, navigation, etc). Gas mileage is not great, but I expected that. The Sport setting for the suspension helps it not drive like a truck around town. I expect it will have a few issues pop up (the tire pressure sensors are a notorious one), but I'm okay with that.

[Surfah]

I needed a different vehicle for work. With business picking up again I am spending more time visiting construction sites and occasionally hauling equipment. I was getting tired of parking the M5 outside the fence when I showed up somewhere.

I briefly considered a truck, but I've never been much of a truck guy and as I looked around I thought truck prices were ridiculous. I guess I'm usually looking for a different sort of used vehicle, but obviously you don't find trucks for sale that have been covered and garaged their whole life. I was surprised at the high mileage on most used trucks and the prices people still wanted for them.

So I went back to a mid-size SUV. The Touareg actually has much more off-road capability than I need, but I'm looking forward to trying a little off-roading with it - I've never done any and it looks like fun. It's got plenty of ground clearance, and once I get a heavy-duty cargo mat for the rear I can haul work stuff around when I need to.

I considered the BMW X5 and a couple others, but I kept coming back to the Touareg. This one I found on KSL, and it was a 2005 but it only had 47,000 miles on it. Far fewer miles than most of what I was seeing in my price range. The seller is in the middle of a move from Utah to Ohio so I thought he was pretty motivated, but he rebuffed my initial offer. I kept on him for a couple weeks, and eventually he relented.

This Touareg is completely loaded, and it's got plenty of power (V8 and not the V6, adjustable suspension, center and rear differential locks, navigation, etc). Gas mileage is not great, but I expected that. The Sport setting for the suspension helps it not drive like a truck around town. I expect it will have a few issues pop up (the tire pressure sensors are a notorious one), but I'm okay with that.

Yeah it's a nice ride for sure. One thing I love about VAG is the fit and finish of the vehicle's interior. It's too bad none of the W12's made it over to the US.

[NorthwestUteFan]

I am a VAG guy and love VW. I dig the Wolfsburg touches.

What a coincidence. I am also a vagitarian...

About the Touareg, it is a solid car. I would love to get a TDI version, but they are very rare in America.

I also love the Wolfsburg badge. It reminds me of the Castle Patch worn by Engineering Battalions:



My mom used to drive the girliest of all girlie vehicles. It was a red, ~'92 VW Cabriolet. It was a Wolfsburg edition, was red with a white top and white seats, and four round headlights. The irony of looking like a total girlie car belied its inner beauty: a supremely balanced and willing engine that begged to be redlined like a motorcycle, a throaty exhaust note, smooth shifter, supportive seats, an excellent suspension, slotcar-like handling, a great Blaupunkt stereo, electric heater (that got HOT well before the engine warmed up), and many other fine examples of superior (at the time) German engineering and manufacturing. Sure I was a bit embarrassed to be seen driving the car, but it was just so much damn fun that I didn't care. It topped out at ~90 mph, but was fun all the way there.

My buddy's convertible Cooper Mini S 'John Cooper Works Edition' is reminiscent (though it has twice the horsepower and is significantly quicker/faster).

[kccougar]

What a coincidence. I am also a vagitarian...

About the Touareg, it is a solid car. I would love to get a TDI version, but they are very rare in America.

I also love the Wolfsburg badge. It reminds me of the Castle Patch worn by Engineering Battalions:



My mom used to drive the girliest of all girlie vehicles. It was a red, ~'92 VW Cabriolet. It was a Wolfsburg edition, was red with a white top and white seats, and four round headlights. The irony of looking like a total girlie car belied its inner beauty: a supremely balanced and willing engine that begged to be redlined like a motorcycle, a throaty exhaust note, smooth shifter, supportive seats, an excellent suspension, slotcar-like handling, a great Blaupunkt stereo, electric heater (that got HOT well before the engine warmed up), and many other fine examples of superior (at the time) German engineering and manufacturing. Sure I was a bit embarrassed to be seen driving the car, but it was just so much damn fun that I didn't care. It topped out at ~90 mph, but was fun all the way there.

My buddy's convertible Cooper Mini S 'John Cooper Works Edition' is reminiscent (though it has twice the horsepower and is significantly quicker/faster).

The V10 TDI would be awesome, but they are very pricey. Mine has a tow package, but if I really needed a tow vehicle, 550+ ft-lb of torque at 2,000 rpm would be great.


Surprisingly, the funnest car I've ever owned, all other considerations aside, was a 1984 GTi.

[Surfah]

The V10 TDI would be awesome, but they are very pricey. Mine has a tow package, but if I really needed a tow vehicle, 550+ ft-lb of torque at 2,000 rpm would be great.


Surprisingly, the funnest car I've ever owned, all other considerations aside, was a 1984 GTi.

I miss my Golf.

[Uncle Ted]

This Touareg is completely loaded, and it's got plenty of power (V8 and not the V6, adjustable suspension, center and rear differential locks, navigation, etc). Gas mileage is not great, but I expected that. The Sport setting for the suspension helps it not drive like a truck around town. I expect it will have a few issues pop up (the tire pressure sensors are a notorious one), but I'm okay with that.

Compared to what? Your M5?

There are many reasons I drive my M5... Great gas mileage isn't one of them.

[YOUTUBE]srrbvNNUKrA[/YOUTUBE]

[kccougar]

Compared to what? Your M5?

There are many reasons I drive my M5... Great gas mileage isn't one of them.

[YOUTUBE]srrbvNNUKrA[/YOUTUBE]

Actually, I am thrilled with the gas mileage of the M5. In mixed driving, a good percentage of which would always be defined as "spirited" in a car like that, I still average 18.5 mpg. I could coax 24 or 25 mpg out of it if I really tried, but who wants to do that?

[NorthwestUteFan]

Surprisingly, the funnest car I've ever owned, all other considerations aside, was a 1984 GTi.

Twenty years ago I was blasting an '85 Porsche 944 Turbo through some twisties up a canyon and was frustrated that I couldn't lose the VW Corrado in my rear view mirror. Granted, the Porsche had a really peaky power delivery with no low-end power while the Corrado had a buttery smooth supercharged power curve, but I was greatly impressed with the handling prowess of the goofy little Corrado. It was very balanced for a FWD vehicle and didn't seem to suffer from torque steer despite the supercharger.

Were I in a similar year 911 (NA, not turbo) he probably would have passed me. I never did get used to the throttle-lift-oversteer on those froggy-looking cars; it was just so unnatural!

[NorthwestUteFan]

Actually, I am thrilled with the gas mileage of the M5. In mixed driving, a good percentage of which would always be defined as "spirited" in a car like that, I still average 18.5 mpg. I could coax 24 or 25 mpg out of it if I really tried, but who wants to do that?

Sounds great. I love the older Bimmers* (note: BEEMERS have 2 wheels). It is simply superb. My bro had an '06 (?) M3 until earlier this year and I found it thoroughly enjoyable to drive. It was equally comfortable running to the grocery store as it was burning up the canyons at ludicrous speed.

Porsches, on the other hand, are far more demanding to drive and require too much muscle to be practical running around town. Much like quarterhorses, they want to RUN.

p.s. I enjoyed that bmw ad when it came out, even if they didn't use the m5 for all the stunts. I loved that Madonna could mock herself.


*I can't get over how much the newest Bimmers look like Pontiacs. Their design has taken a dramatic turn for the worse lately, and it is a shame.