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Touareg Test Drive
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Posted by Jon in Chicago (more from Jon in Chicago) on Fri, 22 Aug 2003 13:31:14 Share Post by Email
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First off, I'm not a VW guy, or an Audi one for that matter. I consider these makes generally very good looking, but somehow too arrogant in their execution, and of rather poor quality, and over priced for the total package. If I wanted these same attributes I'd readily take a sexy BMW over a trendy VW/Audi.

That said, I *did* say that I think VW/Audi cars are great looking, and the alluring lines of the Touareg drew me in for a test drive yesterday evening.

$36,800 Base price for a V6 Black Touareg with standard grade leather package. No other options.

First up, THE PROS:

*Handling and especially Brakes are very nice. When turning corners you basically forget this is an SUV / SUV crossover and not a Passat. (I say SUV / SUV Crossover b/c it is almost like the size and shape are not either true SUV or true Crossover which, in my opinion, is almost the exact right size. Good job by the designers/engineers/marketers on getting the size right.)

*Several reviews say it is very capable off-road. In Chicago I couldn't get to this on just a test drive but I'll give the pro reviewers the benefit of the doubt.

*Interior is overall very well laid out and generally of a high quality, though the bright aluminum looking trim and the wood trim everywhere is often plastic instead; also, the instrument panel has no less than 6 separate gauges, 4 of which are too tiny to read easily.

*Leather is of a pretty decent quality, similar to the 02'- 03' 9-5 matte pebble grain charcoal leather, though not as thick as the 9-5s. The dash, console and doors nicely follow the same matte pebble pattern. In charcoal this was very understated, Euro and attractive.

* Interior space is not huge but adequate to good. Ditto legroom.

* Again, the exterior styling in any of the colors is just plain HOT for an SUV. Up close it looks to me like the big brother or at least the big cousin to the 9-3X concept.

Second up, THE CONS:

*V6 acceleration is absolute crap. Serious, serious crap. Not at all what any of us would want, even in the SUV land. Stay clear of the V6. I even wonder if at 220 hp this is not the one in the Passat???? Either way, you don't want this in an SUV of 5000+ lbs.

*V8 non-leather base model starts at $40k with the top of the line V8 at $52K. I'm not an expert on SUV pricing but this seems high for this car, even when we factor in that the V8 at 300hp is more likely to haul some butt even with this weight. Sitting in the top of the line V8 interior is too flashy for its own good and the plastic stuff, though shiny or wood-like, seem really out of place.

*Again, the interior space is adaquate, but no larger than a 9-5 wagon.

*Finally, for the same reasons as the recent full review of the Touareg in Consumer Reports, I'd put any recommendation of the car on hold til VW improves quality or better proves the reliability of this model. I know that some of you will immediately say that these reliability ratings are all due to the cassette/cartridge (as with Saab), but Consumer Reports is not as single minded in their quality rating as that. In other words, when VW proves the realibility of this car even with the somewhat high price tag it will be a car to beat in this segment is my opinion.

Thanks for reading. Go test drive one and tell us what you think!

Jon

02' 9-5
97' 900S convt

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