MK1 Tiguan any good?
Discussion
Our shed Saab is nearing it's death, and we are on the look out for replacement. I've always liked the look of these early Tiguan's but not had much experience with them at all. I've noticed there are a fair few examples under £4k now, although the vast majority are quite high miles (doesn't bother me too much, granted it's been looked after)
Is the unit the CR140? Should I avoid 4motion? Any pitfalls or experiences?
Is the unit the CR140? Should I avoid 4motion? Any pitfalls or experiences?
We have owned a 2013, 2 litre 170bhp version since 6 months old and now has 147000 miles on it. It has been a great car without any significant issues over that time. I service it myself every 10000 miles.
Haldex oil and filter on the 4 wheel drive system benefits from 30000 mile changes, if left too long the pump filter can clog which turns it into a 2 wheel drive. It has broken all four of its original springs over the last few years, at different times. This seems a common complaint nowadays and not unique to Tiguans.
Haldex oil and filter on the 4 wheel drive system benefits from 30000 mile changes, if left too long the pump filter can clog which turns it into a 2 wheel drive. It has broken all four of its original springs over the last few years, at different times. This seems a common complaint nowadays and not unique to Tiguans.
The wife has had one for the last 7 years. Fundamentally decent if dull cars (no driving pleasure to be had out of them).
Worth noting that it suffers from classic VAG build quality in the sense that the paint, interior and engine all seem strong but the suspension and brakes are made of cheese and generally something needs replacing at every MOT.
It’s only on 70K miles and I have replaced all the springs, the front dampers, all the drop links, the front control arm bushes and the prop shaft bearing.
Throw in the need to service the haldex every 4 years and a cambelt every 5 years, it does need feeding more often that some other cars. I have also just changed the rear brakes after only 30K miles since the last set.
In comparison, I smoke around in a Ford Mondeo of the same age with twice the milage and suspension wise, it’s only ever had some rear trailing arm bushes.
Worth noting that it suffers from classic VAG build quality in the sense that the paint, interior and engine all seem strong but the suspension and brakes are made of cheese and generally something needs replacing at every MOT.
It’s only on 70K miles and I have replaced all the springs, the front dampers, all the drop links, the front control arm bushes and the prop shaft bearing.
Throw in the need to service the haldex every 4 years and a cambelt every 5 years, it does need feeding more often that some other cars. I have also just changed the rear brakes after only 30K miles since the last set.
In comparison, I smoke around in a Ford Mondeo of the same age with twice the milage and suspension wise, it’s only ever had some rear trailing arm bushes.
Edited by (steven) on Monday 20th June 21:21
I'm keen to avoid the 4motion, but a large percentage of them do appear to be so! I'm not after dynamics or fun really, it'll be a work horse replacing a Saab estate. Just something comfortable for a 60 mile round trip commute and a routine jaunt down the M62 to visit family. Interestingly, I have been looking at the Kuga as an alternative. The cars in my budget seem to be in generally better condition with lower mileage, and the boots appear cavernous in comparison to the Tiguan's. I'm a VAG fanboy at heart and know the platform well but I'm conscious of running costs.
Wife has one of the last of mk1's - which means it's got the 150PS EA288 EU6 engine, including Ad Blue. They got that from mid 2015. It's 4Motion (I thought if I'm buying an SUV then it should have some version of 4WD/AWD or whatever) and DSG. I also fell lucky and got the pukka VW winter wheel and tyre set for £250. Only ever driven in proper snow once, but it started and stopped as if the snow wasn't there - nearly caught me out as cornering wasn't quite the same!
So it's coming up to 7yrs old and has only done 35K. We've never been a VW family and the main thing that brought it to my attention was the £89/mth headline lease deals at the time. Mission creep meant we upped the spec and decided to buy.
Touch wood it's been pretty good - we did get a comment on the video health check (but nothing on the MOT) about the front console bushes at its 3rd service, 15K miles. On the forums many dealers were changing them under warranty and ours clearly recognised that they'd dropped a clanger by mentioning it. They got them authorised (think they said they were noisy).
The rear discs get mentioned for having rusty edges but it's still on original pads. Did have a glowplug fail recently but I'd taken the All In service and warranty package which covered the cost. While it was in they noted the rear shocks were leaking and got those authorised too. I looked back at the last VHC and they're clearly exaclty the same, but there was no comment about it (VW has a thing about misting shocks being OK, but the dealer reckoned ours were beyond that).
Haldex change is every 3yrs now, and many owners think that's pushing it depnding on mileage. Really the pump should be removed and the pump screen cleaned, but the dealers won't do it and don't even hold the seal as a spare (or the separate filter, where fitted, but you can buy those elsewhere).
I'm not totally up on these things but is the earlier 140PS engine the EA189 that's affected by the emissions mods? Some people say once the car has been updated it's never the same again.
I think the car is a nice size for everyday use - not awkward to park and reasonably spacious inside. The boot is surprisngly small - even normal shopping trips will see my wife putting a couple of bags on the back seat.
I will say I think the car has gone noticeably "looser" this last year - I'm expecting some suspension bits to be at least commented on next service and MOT (August).
So it's coming up to 7yrs old and has only done 35K. We've never been a VW family and the main thing that brought it to my attention was the £89/mth headline lease deals at the time. Mission creep meant we upped the spec and decided to buy.
Touch wood it's been pretty good - we did get a comment on the video health check (but nothing on the MOT) about the front console bushes at its 3rd service, 15K miles. On the forums many dealers were changing them under warranty and ours clearly recognised that they'd dropped a clanger by mentioning it. They got them authorised (think they said they were noisy).
The rear discs get mentioned for having rusty edges but it's still on original pads. Did have a glowplug fail recently but I'd taken the All In service and warranty package which covered the cost. While it was in they noted the rear shocks were leaking and got those authorised too. I looked back at the last VHC and they're clearly exaclty the same, but there was no comment about it (VW has a thing about misting shocks being OK, but the dealer reckoned ours were beyond that).
Haldex change is every 3yrs now, and many owners think that's pushing it depnding on mileage. Really the pump should be removed and the pump screen cleaned, but the dealers won't do it and don't even hold the seal as a spare (or the separate filter, where fitted, but you can buy those elsewhere).
I'm not totally up on these things but is the earlier 140PS engine the EA189 that's affected by the emissions mods? Some people say once the car has been updated it's never the same again.
I think the car is a nice size for everyday use - not awkward to park and reasonably spacious inside. The boot is surprisngly small - even normal shopping trips will see my wife putting a couple of bags on the back seat.
I will say I think the car has gone noticeably "looser" this last year - I'm expecting some suspension bits to be at least commented on next service and MOT (August).
Gassing Station | Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff