Don't make me agree with my wife: Range Rover or Touareg
Discussion
Soooooo,
We are after a nice 4x4 with decent road manners yet some genuine ability in the snow and off road.
Based out in the country in central Scotland down a rather dilapidated 1/2 mile dirt track. Pretend / miniature 4x4s are not of any interest.
Current fleet includes an old Disco 2 which keeps on going (just) but it ain't a very nice place to be on bumpy B roads that's for sure. Canine and human passengers look very grey after even a brief jaunt down some of the local and heavily patched country lanes.
Really not in to bling 4x4s so the X5 / Q7 type things are not on the list.
Short list is basically down to a TDV8 Range Rover (not the Sport) and a Mk2 Touareg 3.0 TDI. I do also like the idea of a Land Cruiser but they are very expensive for what I understand is a rather unrefined drive. They keep on going mind and that is a significant consideration.
So here is the quandary; for 25k I see I can get c 70k miles 2008 Rangie or a 30k miles 2011 Touareg.
Wife is convinced that any LR product will simply self destruct before her very eyes and is also a bit sniffy about getting a higher mileage car. Secretly I half agree but I do rather fancy wafting about in a huge RR for a few years - assuming that it will actually waft rather than repeatedly shudder to a mechanically or electrically induced halt.
Touareg looks to be an extremely good car and will certainly do way more than we ever need it to. In fact if I had not thought about the Range Rover I would be on the phone to the nearest Toe-rag dealer begging for a non-emasculating trade in price on one of our other cars. However what is known can not be un-known and the Range Rover is dressed in its devil's outfit and whispering to me from my left shoulder. On the other shoulder is the angelic Touareg imploring me not to be tempted by the dark side and to embrace fuel economy, reliability and restraint!
So come on folks - give me some robust, opinionated and passionate advice. Are you going to talk me away from Lucifer (RR) and all his electronic gremlins? I think you should, but I'm slightly excited that you won't.
TD
We are after a nice 4x4 with decent road manners yet some genuine ability in the snow and off road.
Based out in the country in central Scotland down a rather dilapidated 1/2 mile dirt track. Pretend / miniature 4x4s are not of any interest.
Current fleet includes an old Disco 2 which keeps on going (just) but it ain't a very nice place to be on bumpy B roads that's for sure. Canine and human passengers look very grey after even a brief jaunt down some of the local and heavily patched country lanes.
Really not in to bling 4x4s so the X5 / Q7 type things are not on the list.
Short list is basically down to a TDV8 Range Rover (not the Sport) and a Mk2 Touareg 3.0 TDI. I do also like the idea of a Land Cruiser but they are very expensive for what I understand is a rather unrefined drive. They keep on going mind and that is a significant consideration.
So here is the quandary; for 25k I see I can get c 70k miles 2008 Rangie or a 30k miles 2011 Touareg.
Wife is convinced that any LR product will simply self destruct before her very eyes and is also a bit sniffy about getting a higher mileage car. Secretly I half agree but I do rather fancy wafting about in a huge RR for a few years - assuming that it will actually waft rather than repeatedly shudder to a mechanically or electrically induced halt.
Touareg looks to be an extremely good car and will certainly do way more than we ever need it to. In fact if I had not thought about the Range Rover I would be on the phone to the nearest Toe-rag dealer begging for a non-emasculating trade in price on one of our other cars. However what is known can not be un-known and the Range Rover is dressed in its devil's outfit and whispering to me from my left shoulder. On the other shoulder is the angelic Touareg imploring me not to be tempted by the dark side and to embrace fuel economy, reliability and restraint!
So come on folks - give me some robust, opinionated and passionate advice. Are you going to talk me away from Lucifer (RR) and all his electronic gremlins? I think you should, but I'm slightly excited that you won't.
TD
you'll hear mixed views for sure....
for me i won't buy another RR product that i actually need to rely on- having owned 12 different LR products now (of just about every variety from old series to FFRR) I am yet to find one that i would actually recomend anyone buys- yet i keep buying them
I bought a landcruiser 3 years ago, and won't go back to LR products now- i had an 80 series and now hoping to buy a v8 200 series-
for me i won't buy another RR product that i actually need to rely on- having owned 12 different LR products now (of just about every variety from old series to FFRR) I am yet to find one that i would actually recomend anyone buys- yet i keep buying them
I bought a landcruiser 3 years ago, and won't go back to LR products now- i had an 80 series and now hoping to buy a v8 200 series-
I know why you like the RR and your wife prefers the Touareg - it's because one is a man's car, the other is a car for ladies and school run mums, there's your answer 
The Land Rover product will probably be less reliable, but you'll love it more - kind of like an old dog that farts and chews your shoes, but that you can't help love anyway and that you wouldn't be without.
The Land Rover product will probably be less reliable, but you'll love it more - kind of like an old dog that farts and chews your shoes, but that you can't help love anyway and that you wouldn't be without.
Impasse said:
The internet and its wife know about Land Rovers because their mate down the pub used talk about a bloke who once had one. However, it will be more than worthwhile doing your research on the Touareg's foibles. They aren't indestructible - far from it.
Yup, I'm sure you are right. I guess my thinking is that for the money I'd be able to get a VW Approved Used example with a solid warranty, where as for an 08 RR I think I'd struggle.Fair point though.
TD
My random two penneth... I used to work with a guy who ran a Touareg, seem to remember it was called an Altitude.
I've never know a car to cause so much bother - either it was a crap example or the dealer he was using was crap, but it seemed to suffer badly with electrical issues that were never quite sorted out. Not sure about the mechanicals though. He also never got much more than low 20's mpg out of it.
I also had a boss who ran a 2010 LR Disco. He loved it, it never went wrong, he thought it the best car he's ever had.
So there - a sample of two, neither of which is a first-hand account
I've never know a car to cause so much bother - either it was a crap example or the dealer he was using was crap, but it seemed to suffer badly with electrical issues that were never quite sorted out. Not sure about the mechanicals though. He also never got much more than low 20's mpg out of it.
I also had a boss who ran a 2010 LR Disco. He loved it, it never went wrong, he thought it the best car he's ever had.
So there - a sample of two, neither of which is a first-hand account
Matt UK said:
My random two penneth... I used to work with a guy who ran a Touareg, seem to remember it was called an Altitude.
I've never know a car to cause so much bother - either it was a crap example or the dealer he was using was crap, but it seemed to suffer badly with electrical issues that were never quite sorted out. Not sure about the mechanicals though. He also never got much more than low 20's mpg out of it.
Hmmm, interesting.I've never know a car to cause so much bother - either it was a crap example or the dealer he was using was crap, but it seemed to suffer badly with electrical issues that were never quite sorted out. Not sure about the mechanicals though. He also never got much more than low 20's mpg out of it.
Anyone know if the Mk2 is better? They came in late on in 2010 I think and the reviews suggest it was a big step forward, certainly in terms of efficiency.
Also in the interests of balance my 2010 VW decided this afternoon to go into limp mode for no apparent reason this afternoon. Made me late for a meeting and now I can't get back to the office and am being forced to log on to here!
It's a 2010 Passat CC on 84000 miles, so not a lot like a Touareg in any way, but does go to show that VWs are not the paragon of reliability.
Vote for RR, in non bling as possible.
It's a 2010 Passat CC on 84000 miles, so not a lot like a Touareg in any way, but does go to show that VWs are not the paragon of reliability.
Vote for RR, in non bling as possible.
Of your list Touareg
Although 25k buys a lot of grand cherokee. I can't help but like the latest shape.
Just an example. ( only one on ph classifieds)
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
Although 25k buys a lot of grand cherokee. I can't help but like the latest shape.
Just an example. ( only one on ph classifieds)
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
Edited by Pesty on Thursday 11th December 17:30
Spare tyre said:
old landcruiser
I'd have one immediately as a like for like replacement for the Disco - one of the old Colorado models - but the wife says NO! Too old, too many miles, plus a load of other finely tuned reasons that really just amount to "I want something fancier!"Think I'll keep the Disco what ever we do so that at least I can take the dog for a walk without having to change out of my wellies on the way back.
Our 3rd Touareg left the factory this morning. We had a Mk 1 which I hated for being too agricultural although my wife loved it. I conceded over a big estate as it has very subtle looks for a 4x4 whilst sits on the same chassis as the Cayenne. When we changed to a Mk 2 I couldn't believe the progress. +10 MPG real world, +70 BHP and half the tax. It now truly drives like a big saloon. Hence we ordered an R-Line a month ago as I got £8k off list even on the new facelift.
Reliability-wise we had some sensor issues on the Mk1 and the only problem on the Mk 2 (3 years + original owners year) has been a couple of ignition barrels and bizarrely a new steering column, all done under warranty. I suspect the steering column was the cause of the ignition problems but VW wouldn't go into details (suspect for safety/legal concerns....). We haven't had any RR product but everyone I know who has had them has had endless quality problems. VW dealers are so-so but there's a fair bit of independent expertise available (in our neck of the woods)
I love the stealth(ish) looks compared to other big 4x4's. I love its long distance cruising ability (couple of trips to the Alps each year for us) and the fact its quicker than my 90's Golf GTI 16V.
Off road it isn't going to match the Disco but put the right tyres on it and it'll do most things you generally need.
We're putting our current SE at 4 yrs / 31k up for £22k which I think is a steal. Very much looking forward to the 262R arriving in Jan.
Reliability-wise we had some sensor issues on the Mk1 and the only problem on the Mk 2 (3 years + original owners year) has been a couple of ignition barrels and bizarrely a new steering column, all done under warranty. I suspect the steering column was the cause of the ignition problems but VW wouldn't go into details (suspect for safety/legal concerns....). We haven't had any RR product but everyone I know who has had them has had endless quality problems. VW dealers are so-so but there's a fair bit of independent expertise available (in our neck of the woods)
I love the stealth(ish) looks compared to other big 4x4's. I love its long distance cruising ability (couple of trips to the Alps each year for us) and the fact its quicker than my 90's Golf GTI 16V.
Off road it isn't going to match the Disco but put the right tyres on it and it'll do most things you generally need.
We're putting our current SE at 4 yrs / 31k up for £22k which I think is a steal. Very much looking forward to the 262R arriving in Jan.
Edited by Speed 3 on Thursday 11th December 17:48
Edited by Speed 3 on Thursday 11th December 17:49
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