CD Article: 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V8

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


Though extremely capable on-road and off, and featuring an upgraded 350-hp V8 engine, the 2008 Touareg 2 is nevertheless "one of the thirstiest vehicles I've driven all year" and not much fun to drive "enthusiastically", says contributor Laurance Yap.

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[Mitlov]

Of course it's thirsty and not sporty.  The Tuareg is most analogous to the Toyota Land Cruiser, if I understand it's mechanics.  It's not meant to be a German CX-9.

That said, Volkswagen needs a CX-9 type vehicle, because the people who actually use Tuaregs and LCs off-road, and will continue to pay the hefty price tags and the hefty gas prices, are a small group and will continue to shrink.

[airbalancer]

If you are paying $80gs, do you really care about the mileage

[tpl]

If you are paying $80gs, do you really care about the mileage

Maybe!   how do you think rich people stay rich ? 

[wing]

At that price I'd rather the 4 rings on the front (Q7 Anyone?) or how about a little company called Porsche?

[jitsu303]

Decent review but why whine about not being able to use small knobs with gloved hands when you have a heated steering wheel?

[sailor723]

If you are paying $80gs, do you really care about the mileage

Maybe!   how do you think rich people stay rich ? 

I suspect that as the years go by driving a gas guzzling SUV is going to be about as cool as smoking.

[The Mighty Duck]

Of course it's thirsty and not sporty.  The Tuareg is most analogous to the Toyota Land Cruiser, if I understand it's mechanics.  It's not meant to be a German CX-9.

  It's not a Cayanne, despite being built on the same platform.  If VWAG had wanted to build a sporty SUV, they would have just built more of the Porsche one.  The Touareg is its own vehicle, and I'm quite a fan of the styling and (off-road) performance.  My choice would be the V10 TDI and its insane stump-pulling torque, though.  Would make an excellent off-road warrior and tow-vehicle for someone with far too much money. 

Why did VW decide it had to be the Touareg 2, though?  Is it selling so poorly they need to announce "Hey, we did something to it!"?

[Blueprint]

Sir Yap, here's Tiguan pricing as given by VW at the Montreal Auto Show :

2.0T   6-speed manual       27 575 $
2.0T   6-speed Tiptronic     28 975 $
2.0T   Tiptronic & 4Motion   30 975 $

Options will drive these prices up, of course, but if these msrps hold up 'till the Tiguan makes it into showrooms, sales should take off quite well.  Congrats to VW for offering a proper gearbox, even if only in fwd 

[BJB]

I've driven the Toureg2 and was quite impressed by it.  While I think the badge on the front is a major problem for the market it's playing in, I still enjoyed my drive (although, it's in the ballpark of a Cayenne/Q7 which I would certainly prefer)

[JSCC]

What the Touareg 3 should be:

longer body length
7 seater option
less luxury
less high tech gadgets
less starting price, around $40,000
Further differentiate itself from the Q7 and Cayenne.

I believe more Q7s were sold than Touaregs in Canada in 2007.

Yes, basically a VW version of the CX-9.
That is what sells in North America.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I like the Touareg because it's super comfy - love the huge supportive seats - but feels more maucho truck-empowering than most of the other luxury SUVs out there and tracks train straight at speed. All in a managable size.

Touareg 2 with the chrome schnoz and darkened tail lights (and upgraded MFI) was needed from the get-go. And V6 TDI would have helped a lot.

Most have a problem with the price. It's less than direct Euro competitors and about on par with some of the base Asian-branded SUVs/crossovers, but the difference likely isn't enough for many. And even with the $5,000 discounts bringing a base V6 to $44,9, Lexus and Acura are discounting more attractively. The Q7 is appealingly priced too and beautifully (aggressively) styled, although I find they crammed 3 rows into it somewhat uncomfortably.

With discounted pricing, perhaps it stands to gain sales when people come in to look at a Tiguan, despite them being different vehicle concepts.

[carcrazy]

What the Touareg 3 should be:

longer body length
7 seater option
less luxury
less high tech gadgets
less starting price, around $40,000
Further differentiate itself from the Q7 and Cayenne.

I believe more Q7s were sold than Touaregs in Canada in 2007.

Yes, basically a VW version of the CX-9.
That is what sells in North America.

   VW should compete with the mainstream not premium/luxury and the prices should adjusted for the segment. This holds true for every single VW model.
Maybe one day VW execs will get this simple concept.

[JSCC]

Well VWoA claims they want to increase their US sales form ~300,000/yr to ~800,000/yr.
The only way to do that is to make more mainstream, economy vehicles.

Expect more lower-market vehicles in the next 5-10 yrs.

[mmret]

2.0T   Tiptronic & 4Motion   30 975 $

I suspect this is in CDN as it was at the Montreal Auto Show?

If so, that's a sweet deal. Does this use a torsen diff or haldex?

[JSCC]

Should be the same design as the R32 and Passat 4Motion, so haldex.

[Cortina]

I know what I rather have. A Porsche Cayenne nuff said.

[Mirek]

If you are paying $80gs, do you really care about the mileage

Maybe!   how do you think rich people stay rich ? 

Agreed! Any news on 3.0 diesel in Canada, please?

[Blueprint]

2.0T   Tiptronic & 4Motion   30 975 $

I suspect this is in CDN as it was at the Montreal Auto Show?

It should be !

If we go back to cute-utes (we had a CR-V prior to the MPV), a stick is mandatory (not awd) so the Tiguan pricing looks pretty good...

[sirAQUAMAN64]

If you are paying $80gs, do you really care about the mileage

Maybe!   how do you think rich people stay rich ? 

Agreed! Any news on 3.0 diesel in Canada, please?

Think currently scheduled for January '09CY.