Looking into a 04 Diesel toureg for a suv/tow vehicle. Anybody have an experience with em?

 

All i know is that they're badass, massive amount of torque from that motor for the size of SUV. IIRC

 

You don't need the power that thing comes with to tow. It's got way more power than it has chassis. If you're towing something that needs 400ftlbs, then you're gonna want a bigger track/wheelbase and suspension to go with it IMO. Towing isn't just pulling power. But I'm with Chad, totally badass. And that's reason enough to get one if it's in the budget. I think I've seen one on the road.

 

snow plow attachment.

 

A bunch of those locally. Rob, hit it right in the nail (as usual!). You don't want to tow around anything with it.

 

Hmm so towing the miata on an aluminum trailer to the track would be a bad idea in it?

 

Not at all. Point is, they proved on top gear you can tow a 747 with that car. It's a little overkill. Who doesn't love overkill. Get it.

 

Exactly. You'd only pay the premium for the badass factor right? Because you could get the v6 model and a trailer, and even a race car for the price of one diesel.

 

my mother had one. It had the annoying tendancy to overheat, leaky water housings, sometimes the truck would just turn off, the ABS system was whacked out, and the ride height would randomly change. VW sucks, don't do it.

 

There's a reason it rhymes with Poo Rag

 

At least you are buying it used. I don't want to know how bad the original owner got bent over buying it new.

 

I am a vw dealer tech, so I will try and be objective (because I only see the broken ones) The airbag system will throw warning lights all the time for lousy connections and you have to go to the dealer to have it reset. And if you do any real off roading all the wheelspeed and level control sensors will get dirty and pack up. But the engine in those things (and I am only talking about the v-10 diesel) are bullet proof, the trans is relatively robust, and they are very nice to drive. I wouldn't think twice about towing with it. And as I have also spent a few years as a Porsche tech (during the Cayanne rollout) I can say with some degree of authority that it is very very close to as powerful as the turbo Cayenne (and of course you dont look like a self important tool in the vw, or not as much as in the Porsche).

I wouldnt buy one as I am not a truck kind of guy, but if you are in the market forn an SUV it is a decent choice, and in the current market you can get them cheap.

 

Those tauregs dont hold their value for **** in the states, if it dies, you can get another.

 

The TDIs do...

DO EEETTTT.


Owner of the local dealership raced a Anniversary Edition 1.8T GTI (180hp), and even with his rather 'robust' *** in the drivers seat, he toasted that GTI.


It was very rare we had a TDi in for anything other than normal service.

 

as a vw/audi guy at heart i've heard some pretty kickass things about them as well.

that being said i don't think it would be my first choice as a tow vehicle simply because i'd rather get something disposable for that purpose.

but if you can swing it tdi engines are (as most owners will attest) pretty kickass.

 

If I were in the market for a tow rig, I would go with a nice used 4-door Tundra, or even a 2005-on Tacoma for that light of weight.

 

my dad just got a tacoma, it's a pretty nice truck. i have to say that would probably be my pick as well.

 

TDI Touareg's are extemely powerful! Parts on the Pumpedusa engine are very expensive if **** breaks. That's why most TDI guys go with the ALH engine in the earlier TDI's.

Sounds like you just need a truck.

What aluminum trailer do you have?

 

They go with those engines because they are older, and more plentiful, therefore cheaper...

 

you're half right. PD engines are notoriously known for being more expensive for parts repair.
For example: A single PD injector costs $400 compared to a SET of ALH injectors for $500.