2004 Volkswagen Touareg/Porsche Cayenne

[Thai]

First Drive:
2004 Porsche Cayenne V6
by Richard Russel

Rovaniemi, Finland - The Porsche Cayenne has confounded the pundits and allowed the company to report record profits and sales - albeit at the expense of the car side of the business. While there is little need, at the present time, to generate additional sales, Porsche is striking while the iron is hot. It has developed a third version of the SUV and priced it $18,000 below existing models putting it within reach of a large group of potential buyers. When it arrives in Porsche stores January 10th, the new six-cylinder Porsche Cayenne will carry a $60,850 sticker, compared to the $78,000 Cayenne S and the $125,000 Cayenne Turbo.

The Cayenne, or at least the concept of a Porsche SUV, got a pretty cool reception from the purist media at its introduction one year ago in the sunny south of Spain. Perhaps that explains why the company chose such a dull and very cold place to unveil the new base model.

The Finnish Capital of Lapland, just above the Arctic Circle, provided a variety of opportunities to sample not only the new six-cylinder Cayenne, but the V8 Cayenne S equipped with a newly-developed six-speed manual gearbox. The Arctic Driving Centre near here, with a huge variety of facilities and surfaces including slow and high speed skid pads and tortuous offroad courses, provided ample opportunity to probe the Cayenne

 

[brent0226]

A 3.2-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 will be sourced from Audi; a 5.0-litre V10 from heaven and the 6.0-litre W12 in-house.

The 3.2l V6 (actually it's a VR6, narrow angle V6) is really a VW engine, not Audi's. Audi is however using the V6 in the Audi TT 3.2.

 

[Thai]

True, but VW and Audi are the same company. Like Toyota and Lexus.

 

[Thai]

Porsche and VW Recall SUVs
By Alexander Huebner

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - Germany's Porsche said it had recalled 22,158 Cayenne sports utility vehicles due to wiring problems on Friday, while Volkswagen said 6,500 of its Touaregs had also needed fixing.

Both vehicles, built on the same platform, had a fault that could lead to a cable fire beneath the instrument panel, but there had so far been no known accidents as a result of the problem, Porsche said.

A spring in the handbrake risked damaging wiring below, a spokesman for Porsche said, adding that the recall by the sportscar maker was voluntary and purely a precautionary measure following long-running tests.

All 22,158 Cayennes produced between its launch in October 2002 and July 2003 will have to return to the workshop, including 11,355 sold in the United States where the chunky but sprightly off-roader has proved particularly popular.

Porsche said that all owners of the car, which like VW's Touareg has a foot-operated parking brake, had been informed and that the cable could be relocated relatively easily.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States said on its Internet site that the vehicle's main wiring harness had been incorrectly routed which could lead to the failure of electrical systems and in extreme cases a fire.

Volkswagen said that since the end of January it had informed 6,500 European owners of the same problem with its Touareg, which Europe's biggest car maker developed together with Porsche.

In the United States VW said that the problem had been spotted as early as last summer, ensuring that while 620 Touaregs were affected, most were altered before delivery and only 60 vehicles had to be returned to the workshop.

VW said at the time of the U.S. recall last August that the re-routing of the cable should take about 20 minutes and could be carried out at customers' homes or offices given the small number involved.

Shares in Porsche opened down 0.75 percent but turned positive later to trade up 2.4 percent at 479.38 euros by 1049 GMT, while shares in Volkswagen were up 2.8 percent at 38.96 euros as stocks in European car exporters jumped after the dollar neared one-month highs versus the euro. (Additional reporting by Jan Schwartz in Hamburg.)

 

[Thai]

Link:

Touareg Review on Forbes.com

HIGHS:
Amazing off-roading ability, smooth ride

LOWS:
Smallish cabin versus competition's, high price

Should You Buy This Car?
Another vehicle that must be mentioned in light of the Touareg's sticker is Toyota's (nyse: TM - news - people ) Lexus RX330. The RX is less sporty, and less off-road-worthy. But it's just as luxe, and it's both quicker feeling and more comfortable on a daily basis.

Maybe that's why the RX has outsold the Touareg more than 3 to 1 in 2004.

Or if you want to spend less, consider the five-passenger Nissan (nasdaq: NSANY - news - people ) Murano, which sells for $30,750. It has a V-6 that's makes the Murano a tad slower than the V-8 Touareg but delivers far superior fuel economy (20 city, 24 highway). Maybe that's why the Murano is doubling current Touareg sales.

If you're getting the idea that the Touareg has a lot of competition, you're right.

Volkswagen, naturally, would prefer that you compare its Touareg with the likes of a Land Rover Discovery. That's fine, but VW might also note that Land Rover is hardly kicking such vehicles out of the showroom at a brisk pace (Discovery sales are roughly half that of Touareg sales). It seems that over-the-top off-road capability isn't necessary to sell SUVs anymore. It was way back in the 1990s, but we're nearly halfway through the next decade now. What family-car buyers want are somewhat tall station wagons that handle like sports sedans.

VW actually had just such a vehicle, disguised as a minivan, about three years ago when it showed off the next Microbus concept. Released then, such a car would've proved that minivans can be cool; it would've split the difference between minivans and SUVs (much like the Acura MDX), which is really what you're seeing from the likes of the Cadillac SRX and the forthcoming Vision Grand Sports Tourer Mercedes people mover.

Luckily, VW has at least a minor fix for improving the VW Touareg package, a V-10 diesel that'll raise torque to 479 foot-pounds, serious grunt that'll compete with the output of the exceptionally fast Infiniti FX45. And what of fuel economy? Try 24 mpg combined, which is fantastic compared with any current-selling, sports-luxe SUV.

All we hope is that, for a change, VW doesn't tarry yet again and let its competition beat it to the performance-diesel punch.

 

[Thai]

Touareg thunders

The '04 Touareg's newly optional 5.0-liter diesel V-10, for example, gins up an astounding 553 pound-feet of torque at just 2000 rpm and 310 horsepower at 3750 rpm. It pulls like a diesel locomotive, endowing the Touareg with the ability to tow 7716 pounds, but doesn't sound or smell like one. In fact, it's at least as quiet as the Touareg's standard gas V-6 or optional V-8. Maybe more so at highway speeds - since that big lunker of an engine hardly needs to turn over more than a fast idle to propel the Touareg down the road at 70 mph.

And off-the-line performance? The Touareg diesel can nail 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, roughly four times as quick as the first VW diesel, the '76 Rabbit and right on the bumpers of the quickest gasoline-powered V-8 SUVs currently available, like the HEMI-equipped Dodge Durango and Nissan Armada. Passing power is particularly exceptional. Screaming 5500-rpm redline upshifts are not necessary to overtake. Push the pedal about halfway down at 50 mph and the six-speed tranny kicks down a gear, the revs climb to about 3500 and the linebacker muscle of the engine's torque bullies you forward. It's the easy power of a big block V-8 (for those of you old enough to remember) but with the ability to knock down almost 25 mpg on the road - astounding parsimony for a 5825-pound mid-size SUV with this much performance and capability. No other similar-sized V-8 powered SUV currently available can touch the diesel Touareg's efficiency; and only a handful offer better off-the-line acceleration or mid-range passing grunt.

VW has set pricing for the diesel-equipped Touareg at $57,800 - a fairly big jump over the $42,600 V-8 equipped model (and the $35,900 base V-6 version). On the other hand, the diesel's approximate 10-12 mpg advantage in overall fuel efficiency could make up the difference over 8-10 years. At the current price of about $2.25 per gallon, it costs about $60 to fill up the Touareg's 26.4-gallon tank. Assume 12-15 mpg fuel economy (gasoline V-8 models) that'll take you maybe 300 miles if you drive with a light foot. Real-world experience suggests a full tank can be sucked dry in as little as 250 miles. Now the diesel version can knock down average fuel economy in the high teens and low-mid 20s and has a possible highway range between fill-ups of 500-600 miles. If you save even the cost of one fill-up per month at current prices, you'll save at least $720 annually - or $5,760 over eight years.

The V-10 Touareg is also a great performer, don't forget - and it's loaded with high-end options including 4XMotion full-time four-wheel-drive, six-speed Tiptronic gearbox with manual gear select function, six-position adjustable ride height suspension, Hill Descent Control, Climb Assist and all the luxury amenities of the V-8 model and then some, including in-dash GPS and side-curtain airbags.

 

[Thai]

Volkswagen calls its third new diesel option, the Touareg V10 TDI sport-utility, "the ultimate extension of the modern direct injection diesel". It's probably unlike any diesel Canadian drivers have ever experienced.

With a six-speed automatic transmission, the Touareg V10 TDI is powered with a 5.0 litre ten-cylinder diesel engine with twin turbochargers, rated at 370 horsepower at 3,750 r.p.m. and 553 lb.-ft. torque (yes, 553) at 2,000 r.p.m. Towing capacity is 3,500-kilograms (7,716 lbs) and 0-100 km/h in the 2,642-kilogram (5,825 lb) Touareg is reached in 7.5 seconds. These numbers are achieved with a Transport Canada fuel rating of 10.8 L/100km on the highway, and 13.8 L/100km in the city.

Furthermore, the 4MOTION Touareg is a genuine off-roader -- its adjustable air suspension system and mighty torque enabling it to scale peaks, traverse boulders and ditches, and shrug off rough terrain with the very best of its competitors.

Inside, the Touareg is all leather, wood, high-tech and high quality. Grunt meets grand in an impressive marriage of opposites where the driver would feel at home in any environment, from backwoods trails to summer soirees.

On the road, each of the vehicles impressed with the smoothness of their engines. The clatter you might expect has all but disappeared, due to a technology called pilot ignition, where a tiny amount of fuel is injected into the cylinders microseconds before the main pulse arrives. This optimizes conditions in the cylinder for combustion, and reduces the noise normally associated with diesel engines.

Starting, idling and acceleration is comparable to gasoline engines of similar power, although the torque makes them feel more muscular, and the engine speed is lower than their gasoline counterparts.

Cruising on the highway is smooth and relaxed. At some speeds a gentle hum is emitted from the engine, but it's not intrusive. Many people would not know these vehicles were diesel-powered unless you told them.

 

[Guest]

Man, I wish Toyota offered a Diesel 4Runner! That would be great off road and for towing... plus that Treg gets 17/24mpg's with a V10 Turbo!

Plus it would be nice running old vegetable oil instead of gas!

 

[Thai]

This is the Article from Previous Page Link

Shame On You: Volkswagen Touareg SUV
A CBS 2 Special Report
Oct 30, 2003 11:53 pm US/Eastern

NEW YORK (CBS) The ad sure is dramatic. It's part of Volkswagen's catchy campaign for its new Touareg SUV, a luxury truck so tough it's shown towing a massive Airstream trailer with ease, "Touareg, the Volkwagen that does what other Volkswagens don't."

It wasn't just on TV, there's a Touareg pulling an Airstream in VW's national magazine ad. "I thought, well, this is perfect, it's the perfect car," says Airstream owner James Sinclair.

New Yorker James Sinclair owns an Airstream trailer similar to the one in Volkswagen's ad, and needed a new vehicle to tow it. So he went to his local VW dealer for a test-drive. CBS 2's Arnold Diaz reports.

When asked if they assured him that it could pull the trailer, Sinclair told Diaz, "Yes, they did assure me that it could pull the trailer."

He was sold, and paid over $42,000 for a new Touareg, but when he got home and hitched up his trailer he says it didn't work like the ad showed. “I just noticed that it wasn't driving very well. It was porpoising, which means that when you hit a bump you can feel the whole car going like this."

What's the problem? According to his local Airstream dealer the Touareg's towing hitch is not compatible with the trailer. "He said don't even try it, don't even attempt it."

And when Sinclair tried to install a different hitch Volkswagen told him that would void his warranty! "I was very surprised, I was, I felt very deceived."

While Volkswagen of America insists the Touareg can safely tow Sinclair's Airstream, unbelievably, the company now admits its nationwide TV and magazine campaign is misleading. The ads showing a larger Airstream being towed are a gimmick, they're simply not true!

"We did make a mistake." Volkwagen's embarrassed Press Relations Manager spoke with us via satellite from Detroit. Tony Fouladpour admitted the tongue weight of the trailer in the ad is too heavy for the Touareg, a fact VW's marketing department failed to check.

"It's our first SUV and our marketing folks wanted to be very dramatic in what the car can do,” said Fouladpour. “They got a little too excited, they took too much artistic license."

Artistic license? But this is a major ad campaign from one of the largest corporations in the world!

A lot of people would wonder, how could a big company like VW base an entire ad campaign on what's basically a phony premise?

"I don't think they meant to be dishonest and as soon as we found out about it we wanted to take the most honest approach and that was to come right out on shows like this and say we made a mistake," adds Fouladpour.

But it was more than just a mistake to James Sinclair. He told Volkswagen to take the car back, "I'd call them everyday. I said I want my money back, I would like you to return my money, and they said well, I don't know if that's gonna happen."

"Mr. Sinclair says he had been calling VW for weeks and had been told basically they couldn't do anything about it,” Diaz asked Fouladpour. “Well, we are doing something about it, we are doing something about it right now," responded Fouldapour.

What they've done is pull all of these ads, but only after Shame on You contacted the company did it agree to give James Sinclair a full refund for his Touareg. "I think they realized that you guys were involved and it was gonna be a big deal.”

So into the CBS 2 Hall of Shame, we induct Volkswagen of America for trying to hook the public on its new SUV with a misleading ad.

VW says it's in negotiations to compensate other owners who were misled by the ads. It plans to send letters to every Touareg owner explaining its towing capabilities.

 

[pokerface]

Porsche Unveils 500-HP Cayenne Turbo Option & Panorama Roof
Text & photos courtesy Porsche AG
edited 09-14-2004

Company also Offers an Optional Rearview Camera for all Cayenne Models
Stuttgart-based Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is expanding its Cayenne customization program to include increased horsepower for the Cayenne Turbo, an automatically extending rearview camera on all three Cayenne models, and new Panorama roof system that is approximately four times larger than the standard Cayenne tilt-and-slide sunroof.


Beginning in December 2004, Porsche will offer increased horsepower for the Cayenne Turbo through its Tequipment program. The upgrade includes increasing the engine performance from 450 to 500 horsepower, a reinforced brake system and an adapted suspension system requiring 19-inch or larger wheels. Thus equipped, the Cayenne Turbo can reach a top test-track speed of 167 mph (series production: 165 mph), and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds (Cayenne Turbo with 450 horsepower: 5.2 seconds). Fuel consumption, as with the 450 horsepower Cayenne Turbo, remains unchanged at 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway.


Porsche achieved the 50 extra horsepower by optimizing the flow design of the intercooler and other engine management developments. In conjunction with changed accelerator pedal characteristics, this results in an optimized torque build-up and even sportier engine characteristics. The maximum torque has increased from 460 to 515 pounds-feet, and maximum torque is available between 2,250 and 4,750 rpm.


The front brake system has a new aluminum six-piston monobloc disc-brake caliper with a brake pad area that is more than 12 percent larger than the standard Cayenne Turbo front brake system. The brake disc is 14.96 inches/380 mm in diameter and 1.5 inches/38 mm thick (series production: 13.78 inches/350 mm in diameter and 1.34 inches/34 mm thick). Porsche engineers also optimized the brake ventilation. The rear brakes discs have also been enlarged to 14.1-inches/358 mm (series production: 13 inches/330 mm).


The Cayenne Turbo with the Tequipment upgrade is available for a U.S. MSRP of $109,200. A retrofit package is available through Tequipment for $18,500 plus installation at an authorized Porsche dealer.


Variable Panorama Roof System for all Cayenne Models
From December 2004, all Cayenne, Cayenne S and Cayenne Turbos are available with an optional electrically operated Panorama roof system made from laminated safety glass. It has a surface area of just over 15 square feet/1.4 square meters and is approximately four times larger than typical sliding sunroof/pop-up sunroof systems.


The panorama roof system features three movable segments and one fixed segment. The front segment swings up when opened and acts as a wind deflector, which minimizes wind noise and turbulence at high speeds. The two central glass segments can be opened separately to allow a targeted flow of fresh air for the front and/or rear areas. The two segments can be pushed above or below one another, and to maximize the opening both segments can be moved all the way to the rear. In addition, it is possible to set the roof system in a raised position over the rear seats. In total, 15 different roof configurations can be selected.


In addition, an electric roller blind helps protect the interior from excessive sunlight. The entire roof system is operated by way if an illuminated rotary switch located in the roof console. The system is available for a U.S. price of $3,900.


Rearview Camera for Precise Maneuvering
All Cayenne models also will be offered worldwide beginning in December 2004 with a rearview camera system.


The camera, which is mounted just below the rear window and features a wide-angle lens, extends automatically when the reverse gear is selected. Once activated, it provides the driver with a clear image of the area behind the car via the 6.5-inch full-color display on the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. This system not only provides precise reverse parking and the ability to see obstacles behind the car, it also lets the driver couple a trailer without the driving having to rely on a second person providing directions. A cover plate moves to protect the rearview camera once a forward gear is selected or at speeds above 9 mph/15 km/h. The U.S. price will be $1,680.

 

[Koz]

I have a very good friend who is a service writer for Volkswagen and he told me to stay away from anything they make. I don’t what to go into details but some of the things he told me were very concerning. He said that from what he has experienced with Volkswagen, they must not test their products/parts enough before selling them to the public. He expressed concerns about the future of Volkswagen because of the amount of unhappy customers. He said a brand new Touareg came in for a transmission failure. He said the bill, which was covered by the warranty, was $14,000. I’m not bad mouthing Volkswagen, just sharing some important info that was shared with me.

Koz

 

[Thai]

Here is a nice & articulate VW former owner

I won't miss:
the whistling mirrors @ 40+ mph (yes, the racks were removed); random, erroneous MFI messages; one or the other headlight not turning on occasionally, them coming on after restart; the lurching tranny (but it sure was sweet on the upshifts in Sport mode); the hit or miss keyfob range even with antennae relocate done, especially coming up to the rear hatch; keyless entry - I like to be able to pull on the door handle "just to check" if I want to without unlocking the door; the doors locking back up if you open them with the fob and then don't enter the car after 30 seconds; TPM messages when the tires are inflated properly, and its blasted learning curve; the climate control coming on each time I start the car even though I set it to "off" the last time I drove it; having to take it in for service once for them to figure out what is wrong and what parts they need and then going back a second time to get them installed; taillight lenses that threaten to crack if you don't get them out "just so" - makes simple bulb replacement another trip to the dealer; the incredible amount of brake dust it puts out; the seat belt chime that won't quit, even when you're just sitting waiting for someone; lack of radio controls on the steering wheel; wondering what will go wrong next and how long it will take to get parts/fixed; the excruciatingly difficult oil change and the difficult availability of the proper oil, 8+ quarts worth, and the expensive oil filter you can't buy at Checker on a Saturday afternoon; the incredible difficulty trying to get an XM Commander wired in, given the complexity of the antennae system and the adapter needed to run through the changer (it now lives happily in my Corvette, FM modulated, no problem); wondering if the trailer lights will work each time I hook it up; the lousiest owner's manual I have ever experienced (and I've owned 25+ cars and 40 motorcycles); the general complexity of the vehicle - it seems some of the features are there because someone thought them up, not because you need them, and they only serve to confound.

I will miss: The engine; some aspects of the tranny - console shifter, 6 speeds, tiptronic; the ergonomics; the seats; the look of the car; instrument panel lighting - blue/red - very cool.

So, what'd I get? A Denali. I love it. Factory XM radio, free for 3 months. OnStar free for a year. Headlight you can adjust with a torx wrench and the screws are in plain sight. Taillight lenses that don't crack when you pull them out to change a bulb. Trailer hitch standard from the factory, my lights work when I plug it in. Plenty of power, somewhat different in delivery than 'Egg. Can get it serviced at practically any GM dealership -Chevy, GMC, Caddy. Simple MFI (GMC calls it DIC - Driver Information Center, you do not have to sacrifice chickens and burn incense to set a key fob to the seat adjustment and then wonder if it will "take"). a kebfob range of at least 50 feet. Radio controls on the steering wheel. Holds 6 quarts of oil I can buy at Costco and a filter I can get at Checker/Pep Boys/ Autozone, so I can change the oil on the spur of the moment on a Saturday afternoon because I have the time and can be done in 20 minutes. The hottest and best heated seats I've ever sat in, and they turn off when you turn off the car so if the day warms up and you forgot on the 'egg, you don't sit there wondering why you are so hot. I shoulda done this in the first place, I've owned 5 other GM SUVs and none had ever let me down or made me wonder.....

The Touareg was like a wild and inventive mistress that would really keep your interest up but she could leave you in the cold at any time, or take you for all you've got. The Denali is like a loving wife, maybe not as wild but still exciting and someone you can depend on and trust. I trust my Denali. I never trusted the Touareg. I will never buy a first year car again.

I've no regrets about having it or getting rid of it.

 

[TeryT]

Re: Here is a nice & articulate VW former owner

The Touareg was like a wild and inventive mistress that would really keep your interest up but she could leave you in the cold at any time, or take you for all you've got. The Denali is like a loving wife, maybe not as wild but still exciting and someone you can depend on and trust. I trust my Denali. I never trusted the Touareg. I will never buy a first year car again.

Hmm, I've bought a couple 1st year cars & been real happy with them - one a 1999 Altima & the other my 03 4Runner. Of course, I did buy the 4Runner used, so I was pretty sure that all you guys were telling the truth that it was solid. Come to think of it, I also bought an 88 Mazda truck new that was fine.

Let's see - what did all three of these have in common? Hmmm Well they sure weren't German or from Detroit!

There's a guy over on the RV forum who was always extolling the virtures of the Egg. (It is basically a very nice vehicle to be sure.) I was fond of telling him that the 4Runner was the "poor man's Toureg." He's stop extolling the virtures of the Egg - I've not stopped talking about the 4Runner!