Discussion
CHEF_GOLF said:
Hi does anyone have the actual mpg of the v10. Also any good or bad points about owning as I am thinking of buying one
I thought this guy gave you a pretty good answer the last time you asked....Pentoman said:
Yes.
Parents have one, very early car, late 03 I think.
I have also borrowed it for a week at a time. I pay attention to the mpg, not because I want to save, but because I think it's technically interesting. As such neither me or anyone else do the whole 'driving economically do you can boast about it' thing. So here's my lowdown:
When car was acquired at about 55k miles, it had 22.5mpg as a long-term average on the computer. This was 4 years ago. After another 40,000 miles (now at 90k ish) of driving it has been used for a lot of country lane type driving. It has also done numerous trips to Europe, France, even Spain, often towing a trailer and race car, and usually absolutely laden with toolboxes, race car parts and passengers. It reads, last time I looked, 21.5mpg.
Now, to when I borrow it. I drive it, just me driving, no luggage. I also do nearly all town mileage at rush hour times. Because it's a novelty to have such a car (compared to my 1990 Mercedes), I drive it a lot more briskly than I would if I owned it myself and it wasn't novel. I also like to see how well it handles (bloody well for the size). As such, it gets a lot of safe acceleration and use of the paddle shift. In this driving it does about 17mpg, but I stress this is when driven uneconomically. To compare, my 206 1.6 did 39mpg normally, but when I started doing only town mileage it dropped to 30mpg.
In the motorway it doesn't top 25, I guess due to aerodynamics.
What else to say...? For some reason when I first borrowed it, years ago, I expected 30mpg plus, 'because it's a diesel'. Never mind 2.3 tons, ~330bhp (note that the official power figure is underrated), automatic gearbox and large frontal area!
For the performance and size of car it's great economy but it still takes adjustment. But it's still a very difficult mpg figure justify when compared to many more 'normal' cars. However to compare like for like I sat in a 3.2 v6 petrol Touareg once, looked at the long term average consumption - 17.5 mpg. Shocked I was.
I test drove a 2003 Merc SL500 last month. It did 13mpg on the test drive. I was stunned. In the same condition the Touareg would have done about 17-18.
I can't understate the all round appeal, though. For me it's the comfort, usability, the characteristic performance, and the handling. Yes the handling. The v10 is I think the only one with adjustable damping, and the sport mode firms up the front end turn-in feel, a lot. But make sure you can afford to run it if you get the v10. This one has largely been reliable, but I wouldn't want to be paying if I picked up a lemon.
Oh they go through tyres quickly... Surprise.
Parents have one, very early car, late 03 I think.
I have also borrowed it for a week at a time. I pay attention to the mpg, not because I want to save, but because I think it's technically interesting. As such neither me or anyone else do the whole 'driving economically do you can boast about it' thing. So here's my lowdown:
When car was acquired at about 55k miles, it had 22.5mpg as a long-term average on the computer. This was 4 years ago. After another 40,000 miles (now at 90k ish) of driving it has been used for a lot of country lane type driving. It has also done numerous trips to Europe, France, even Spain, often towing a trailer and race car, and usually absolutely laden with toolboxes, race car parts and passengers. It reads, last time I looked, 21.5mpg.
Now, to when I borrow it. I drive it, just me driving, no luggage. I also do nearly all town mileage at rush hour times. Because it's a novelty to have such a car (compared to my 1990 Mercedes), I drive it a lot more briskly than I would if I owned it myself and it wasn't novel. I also like to see how well it handles (bloody well for the size). As such, it gets a lot of safe acceleration and use of the paddle shift. In this driving it does about 17mpg, but I stress this is when driven uneconomically. To compare, my 206 1.6 did 39mpg normally, but when I started doing only town mileage it dropped to 30mpg.
In the motorway it doesn't top 25, I guess due to aerodynamics.
What else to say...? For some reason when I first borrowed it, years ago, I expected 30mpg plus, 'because it's a diesel'. Never mind 2.3 tons, ~330bhp (note that the official power figure is underrated), automatic gearbox and large frontal area!
For the performance and size of car it's great economy but it still takes adjustment. But it's still a very difficult mpg figure justify when compared to many more 'normal' cars. However to compare like for like I sat in a 3.2 v6 petrol Touareg once, looked at the long term average consumption - 17.5 mpg. Shocked I was.
I test drove a 2003 Merc SL500 last month. It did 13mpg on the test drive. I was stunned. In the same condition the Touareg would have done about 17-18.
I can't understate the all round appeal, though. For me it's the comfort, usability, the characteristic performance, and the handling. Yes the handling. The v10 is I think the only one with adjustable damping, and the sport mode firms up the front end turn-in feel, a lot. But make sure you can afford to run it if you get the v10. This one has largely been reliable, but I wouldn't want to be paying if I picked up a lemon.
Oh they go through tyres quickly... Surprise.
CHEF_GOLF said:
Hi does anyone have the actual mpg of the v10. Also any good or bad points about owning as I am thinking of buying one
Percentage wise the Tdi will better most petrol motors making similar power, however with diesel the price it is you might not get the same gains in your wallet. At the end of the day it is a BIG powerful motor and will like a drink.However some prefer the power delivery of a turbo diesel over a n/a V8 and the Tdi is very easily tuned for make a descent chunk more power.
When I've read up on Touaregs in the past it seems they are NOT the pinnacle of reliability and build quality. It's also worth noting they were a premium model when new, so budget this in for servicing and maintenance, even more so if you want to stick to main dealers.
They are however very good 4x4's, quite capable off road and pretty descent on it. Oh I think the V10 can and does lunch it's gearbox from time to time.
I just spoke to a work colleague who ran a Touareg 5.0 V10 TDI from new. I'm repeating his advice verbatim (without the swearing 
) so can't vouch for the accuracy - but he knows his cars.
His advice was to think very carefully before buying one that is either an early model, or that has received anything other than first-class maintenance backed up by a full documented history.
Apparently these cars have gear-driven camshafts (as opposed to belt- or chain-driven). The gear train can skip a tooth, throwing the timing out and causing damage. Fixing this is an engine out job.
There are apparently 2 fuel pumps, which are different to each other, and either of which can leak or fail. Replacing either of these is also an engine-out job.
Many other jobs are engine-out, e.g. alternator replacement.
In order to take the engine out you need a special VW engine cradle; the car is raised up and the engine is dropped out of the bottom onto the cradle (you can't lift it out through the bay). Not all VW main dealers have them and I imagine that almost no indies would have them. If you use other equipment you run the risk of damage.
Here is what the engine looks like when it comes out:
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?6213...
It is 9 hours labour to get the engine out and another 9 to put it back in, so you are looking at nearly 2 grand in labour costs for one of these jobs before you have even done anything. This will exceed the claim limit on many third party warranties.
They are more sensitive to oil and fuel quality than regular TDIs. Parts are very expensive.
Many parts were upgraded over the lifetime of the model, hence his advice to buy the latest one that you can afford.
He wouldn't buy another, even if they were still available
) so can't vouch for the accuracy - but he knows his cars.His advice was to think very carefully before buying one that is either an early model, or that has received anything other than first-class maintenance backed up by a full documented history.
Apparently these cars have gear-driven camshafts (as opposed to belt- or chain-driven). The gear train can skip a tooth, throwing the timing out and causing damage. Fixing this is an engine out job.
There are apparently 2 fuel pumps, which are different to each other, and either of which can leak or fail. Replacing either of these is also an engine-out job.
Many other jobs are engine-out, e.g. alternator replacement.
In order to take the engine out you need a special VW engine cradle; the car is raised up and the engine is dropped out of the bottom onto the cradle (you can't lift it out through the bay). Not all VW main dealers have them and I imagine that almost no indies would have them. If you use other equipment you run the risk of damage.
Here is what the engine looks like when it comes out:
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?6213...
It is 9 hours labour to get the engine out and another 9 to put it back in, so you are looking at nearly 2 grand in labour costs for one of these jobs before you have even done anything. This will exceed the claim limit on many third party warranties.
They are more sensitive to oil and fuel quality than regular TDIs. Parts are very expensive.
Many parts were upgraded over the lifetime of the model, hence his advice to buy the latest one that you can afford.
He wouldn't buy another, even if they were still available
AmitG said:
I just spoke to a work colleague who ran a Touareg 5.0 V10 TDI from new. I'm repeating his advice verbatim (without the swearing ) so can't vouch for the accuracy - but he knows his cars.
His advice was to think very carefully before buying one that is either an early model, or that has received anything other than first-class maintenance backed up by a full documented history.
Apparently these cars have gear-driven camshafts (as opposed to belt- or chain-driven). The gear train can skip a tooth, throwing the timing out and causing damage. Fixing this is an engine out job.
There are apparently 2 fuel pumps, which are different to each other, and either of which can leak or fail. Replacing either of these is also an engine-out job.
Many other jobs are engine-out, e.g. alternator replacement.
In order to take the engine out you need a special VW engine cradle; the car is raised up and the engine is dropped out of the bottom onto the cradle (you can't lift it out through the bay). Not all VW main dealers have them and I imagine that almost no indies would have them. If you use other equipment you run the risk of damage.
Here is what the engine looks like when it comes out:
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?6213...
It is 9 hours labour to get the engine out and another 9 to put it back in, so you are looking at nearly 2 grand in labour costs for one of these jobs before you have even done anything. This will exceed the claim limit on many third party warranties.
They are more sensitive to oil and fuel quality than regular TDIs. Parts are very expensive.
Many parts were upgraded over the lifetime of the model, hence his advice to buy the latest one that you can afford.
He wouldn't buy another, even if they were still available
Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I own one of these V10 Touareg, and a close friend also owns one - some of this post is incorrect.) so can't vouch for the accuracy - but he knows his cars.His advice was to think very carefully before buying one that is either an early model, or that has received anything other than first-class maintenance backed up by a full documented history.
Apparently these cars have gear-driven camshafts (as opposed to belt- or chain-driven). The gear train can skip a tooth, throwing the timing out and causing damage. Fixing this is an engine out job.
There are apparently 2 fuel pumps, which are different to each other, and either of which can leak or fail. Replacing either of these is also an engine-out job.
Many other jobs are engine-out, e.g. alternator replacement.
In order to take the engine out you need a special VW engine cradle; the car is raised up and the engine is dropped out of the bottom onto the cradle (you can't lift it out through the bay). Not all VW main dealers have them and I imagine that almost no indies would have them. If you use other equipment you run the risk of damage.
Here is what the engine looks like when it comes out:
http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?6213...
It is 9 hours labour to get the engine out and another 9 to put it back in, so you are looking at nearly 2 grand in labour costs for one of these jobs before you have even done anything. This will exceed the claim limit on many third party warranties.
They are more sensitive to oil and fuel quality than regular TDIs. Parts are very expensive.
Many parts were upgraded over the lifetime of the model, hence his advice to buy the latest one that you can afford.
He wouldn't buy another, even if they were still available
Yes, a number of repairs necessitate taking the engine out, but 9 hours out and 9 back in is totally ridiculous. As is the "special cradle"
This independent:
http://www.tanworth-garage.co.uk/
has dropped the engine and gearbox from my friend's car on two occasions, first to repair and oil leak and second to service the turbos - labour is about half that quoted above, nothing like 9 hours. It's really quite straightforward.
Both his car and mine are early cars. Yes, they need to be properly maintained and I would advise anyone thinking of buying one to make sure it has had the requisite maintenance and, yes, it isnt the cheapes car to run. But I would say exactly the same thing about any other £50K car. I previously owned an A8 4.2Tdi and this was similarly costly to run (although it was more economical on fuel) But teh Touareg is nothing like the problem car suggested above. Quirky, yes, but a superb vehicle. Tanworth Garage are quite experienced with these vehicles and I would recommend them.
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