2004 Volkswagen Touareg/Porsche Cayenne
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Thai
Elite Member
Link:
NCTD.com Review of Cayenne
Summary
The Porsche Cayenne is a 165-mph high-performance machine that will fit a family of five, haul a small washing machine, tow a large boat and get you carefully through the woods when there's no road. It's a 5000-pound speed-sled that can handle rugged trails.
Do rapid acceleration, excellent brakes and the right sounds add up to a Porsche, or just a nice SUV that goes faster than the rest? Maybe the Cayenne is immensely practical. Maybe it's excess. Most SUVs buyers will be able to fill their needs for a lot less than the price of a Cayenne. We can't imagine that many buyers need the extreme mix of attributes offered by Porsche's SUV. But then, how many buyers actually need an SUV? How many actually need a sports car? Often, need isn't the issue or even the primary motivation in purchasing an automobile. Porsche is banking on that.
NCTD.com Review of Cayenne
Summary
The Porsche Cayenne is a 165-mph high-performance machine that will fit a family of five, haul a small washing machine, tow a large boat and get you carefully through the woods when there's no road. It's a 5000-pound speed-sled that can handle rugged trails.
Do rapid acceleration, excellent brakes and the right sounds add up to a Porsche, or just a nice SUV that goes faster than the rest? Maybe the Cayenne is immensely practical. Maybe it's excess. Most SUVs buyers will be able to fill their needs for a lot less than the price of a Cayenne. We can't imagine that many buyers need the extreme mix of attributes offered by Porsche's SUV. But then, how many buyers actually need an SUV? How many actually need a sports car? Often, need isn't the issue or even the primary motivation in purchasing an automobile. Porsche is banking on that.
Thai
Elite Member
Link:
Cars.com Review of Cayenne (very detailed)
Turbo model:
Normal-aspirated model:
Rear suspension:
Front suspension:
Normal-aspirated engine:
Turbo engine:
Cars.com Review of Cayenne (very detailed)
Turbo model:
Normal-aspirated model:
Rear suspension:
Front suspension:
Normal-aspirated engine:
Turbo engine:
Thai
Elite Member
Link:
Edmunds First Drive of Touareg
The Bottom Line: A pleasant blend of the pavement-dwelling crossover and the rugged off-roader swathed in Volkswagen style.
Edmunds First Drive of Touareg
The Bottom Line: A pleasant blend of the pavement-dwelling crossover and the rugged off-roader swathed in Volkswagen style.
Thai
Elite Member
Link:
TruckWorld.com Review of Cayenne
With up to 450 horsepower, a six-speed manual-shift automatic and a twin chamber exhaust, the all-new Cayenne has all the elements of a high-performance Porsche sports car. Add to that four doors, four wheel drive and rear seating for three, and this luxury marque's first SUV has all the elements of a responsible family car.
Now you can have your mid-life crisis and your carpool, too. Motor at a raceway and navigate the mud and muck.
The 2003 Cayenne is Porsche's first foray into the four-door family vehicle category, but far from its first run on the 4x4 trail. The brand best known for premium sports coupes actually has a hundred-year-old history of building four-wheel drive vehicles, having designed its first '4 electric' system with motors in all four wheels in 1902.
Throughout the century, Porsche developed rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo rally in 1965 and emerging as a player in the Paris-Dakar race during the 1980s - which clearly fueled the development of the 1989 911 Carrera, Porsche's first vehicle with all-wheel drive.
In development since 1998, Cayenne's four-wheel drivetrain, dubbed Porsche Traction Management, showcases the latest iteration of this German automaker's off-road prowess. High hopes have been pinned on its first SUV, which is intended to double Porsche sales in North America. Buyers are projected to be 88 percent male, mostly married.
Why an SUV from a manufacturer whose sports car purism has kept even cupholders from the cabins of most of its models? Opportunity was knocking. Even during tough economic times for the auto industry, the premium SUV market has continued to grow, and Porsche found that about 40 percent of its own customers also had a sport ute locked in the garage. With timing on its side, Cayenne was born.
This all-new vehicle is available in two trim levels, the 340-hp 'S' and the Turbo, with twin chargers that boost output to 450 horses. Both models are outfitted with leather seating, automatic climate control and a Bose
TruckWorld.com Review of Cayenne
With up to 450 horsepower, a six-speed manual-shift automatic and a twin chamber exhaust, the all-new Cayenne has all the elements of a high-performance Porsche sports car. Add to that four doors, four wheel drive and rear seating for three, and this luxury marque's first SUV has all the elements of a responsible family car.
Now you can have your mid-life crisis and your carpool, too. Motor at a raceway and navigate the mud and muck.
The 2003 Cayenne is Porsche's first foray into the four-door family vehicle category, but far from its first run on the 4x4 trail. The brand best known for premium sports coupes actually has a hundred-year-old history of building four-wheel drive vehicles, having designed its first '4 electric' system with motors in all four wheels in 1902.
Throughout the century, Porsche developed rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo rally in 1965 and emerging as a player in the Paris-Dakar race during the 1980s - which clearly fueled the development of the 1989 911 Carrera, Porsche's first vehicle with all-wheel drive.
In development since 1998, Cayenne's four-wheel drivetrain, dubbed Porsche Traction Management, showcases the latest iteration of this German automaker's off-road prowess. High hopes have been pinned on its first SUV, which is intended to double Porsche sales in North America. Buyers are projected to be 88 percent male, mostly married.
Why an SUV from a manufacturer whose sports car purism has kept even cupholders from the cabins of most of its models? Opportunity was knocking. Even during tough economic times for the auto industry, the premium SUV market has continued to grow, and Porsche found that about 40 percent of its own customers also had a sport ute locked in the garage. With timing on its side, Cayenne was born.
This all-new vehicle is available in two trim levels, the 340-hp 'S' and the Turbo, with twin chargers that boost output to 450 horses. Both models are outfitted with leather seating, automatic climate control and a Bose
Thai
Elite Member
Part II of Review above
5 Questions:
How does it handle?
After driving both models of the all-new Cayenne nearly 300 miles on highways, through the tight and winding back roads of a national forest, on a high-speed raceway and over an aggressive off-road course, this new crossover earns the highest marks in all areas. Jam-packed with state-of-the-art technologies, and despite its tall stature and curb weight of nearly 5,000 lbs., this SUV has truly superb power (starting with the "S" version, and especially with the Turbo), responsive steering (it has a great 'on-center feel'), competent braking (the largest ever offered on an SUV- 18-inch, six-piston inter-ventilated fronts and 17-inch, four-piston rears) and overall maneuverability on pavement and shines in the backcountry, as well.
What is Porsche's all-wheel drive history?
A Porsche 959 won the famed Paris-Dakar ralleye in 1985, but this German automaker's work with all-or four-wheel drive systems dates back to the turn of the century and the Lohner-Porsche.
What are Cayenne's off-road capabilities?
For starters, it has a 2.7:1 low range set of gears, with a locking center differential. (An optional off-road package brings a locking rear differential.) With the automatic air suspension, Cayenne has a maximum of 10.75 inches of ground clearance, which means it can ford close to 22 inches of water.
What's a stand-out feature?
On road, its stand-out feature is the new bi-xenon headlamps system that will direct lights to where you're going when you take a corner. For 4 x 4 capability, it's the automatic hillholder. On uphill climbs of as much as 45 degrees, the automatic hill holder will keep you from slipping backwards of climbs of up to 45 degrees, and will also guide you gently down a slope at two miles per hour, when engaged.
What can it carry and tow?
Cayenne has a maximum payload of nearly 1850 pounds and a rated towing capacity of a whopping 7716 pounds.
5 Questions:
How does it handle?
After driving both models of the all-new Cayenne nearly 300 miles on highways, through the tight and winding back roads of a national forest, on a high-speed raceway and over an aggressive off-road course, this new crossover earns the highest marks in all areas. Jam-packed with state-of-the-art technologies, and despite its tall stature and curb weight of nearly 5,000 lbs., this SUV has truly superb power (starting with the "S" version, and especially with the Turbo), responsive steering (it has a great 'on-center feel'), competent braking (the largest ever offered on an SUV- 18-inch, six-piston inter-ventilated fronts and 17-inch, four-piston rears) and overall maneuverability on pavement and shines in the backcountry, as well.
What is Porsche's all-wheel drive history?
A Porsche 959 won the famed Paris-Dakar ralleye in 1985, but this German automaker's work with all-or four-wheel drive systems dates back to the turn of the century and the Lohner-Porsche.
What are Cayenne's off-road capabilities?
For starters, it has a 2.7:1 low range set of gears, with a locking center differential. (An optional off-road package brings a locking rear differential.) With the automatic air suspension, Cayenne has a maximum of 10.75 inches of ground clearance, which means it can ford close to 22 inches of water.
What's a stand-out feature?
On road, its stand-out feature is the new bi-xenon headlamps system that will direct lights to where you're going when you take a corner. For 4 x 4 capability, it's the automatic hillholder. On uphill climbs of as much as 45 degrees, the automatic hill holder will keep you from slipping backwards of climbs of up to 45 degrees, and will also guide you gently down a slope at two miles per hour, when engaged.
What can it carry and tow?
Cayenne has a maximum payload of nearly 1850 pounds and a rated towing capacity of a whopping 7716 pounds.
Thai
Elite Member
Link:
TruckWorld.com Review of Touareg
As any socialite knows, it is always best to be fashionably late.. Volkswagen's latest offering to the North American market, the Touareg SUV, is a latecomer to the sport utility millennium party, but its strong powertrain, on- and off-road capability, and luxury amenities should make it a strong contender for belle of the ball this year.
Named for a nomadic tribe in the Sahara, Touareg (say Tour-regg) is Volkswagen's first sport utility model, but not its first off-road machine. 'Dune buggy' Beetles have achieved rally fame and a cult following for the company, and its 4Motion all-wheel-drive system - now available on the Passat luxury sedan - has demonstrated that VW thinks on terrain other than smooth highways.
The introduction is the third in a series, of sorts, for the Volkswagen-Audi-Porsche triumvirate. Both Audi and Porsche have debuted SUVs in recent years, and both have drawn on rally-car performance roots to do it. So far, the luxury duo has succeeded with its allroad crossover wagon, with softroader SUV packaging, and the two new Cayenne models, the normally aspirated and the turbo-charged S version. Will the people's car follow suit?
Resembling an outsized Passat wagon and with design cues recalling its close cousin Cayenne, Touareg looks every inch a Volkswagen. The front grille is wide and cheerful, with a large, low-hanging air dam and chrome trim. The hood is sculpted with lines that narrow toward the front, giving the vehicle a slightly more aggressive look, definitely a requirement to join the off-roader's party. Halogen headlamps are standard.
The body is built to be extra rigid, while the front mud wings are a flexible plastic for durability. Bumpers are made of a composite plastic material, as well, which, although not pretty, resists scrapes and dings. The hood is aluminum, which reduces body weight.
In profile, Touareg is big and a tad bland, with a flat beltline and chrome doorsills borrowed from Passat--and, yet, it is decidedly attractive, also. The roofline rises to the B-pillar then angles down to the rear, creating narrow back windows that are stylish, but not unusual. The rear cargo door, which looks somewhat like a larger Golf hatch, actually is a two-piece tailgate with independently opening window. Shock absorbers with springs make it easy to open.
Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the base model (with V6 engine); up-level models with the V8 get 18-inch alloys. An adjustable roof rack is included and finished in black.
The powerplant is a standard 3.2-liter V6 motor delivering 220 horsepower at 5,400-6,400 rpm and 225 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,200 rpm. Models equipped with the optional V8 get 310 horses at 6,200 rpm and 302 lb.-ft. at 3,000-4,000 revs. Both are matched to a six-speed automatic, with Porsche's Tiptronic manual-style shift. A 'Sport' setting can be selected for higher-revving gear ratios.
Permanent four-wheel drive is standard on all Touareg models. The system is VW's 4XMOTION, which automatically redistributes power between axles depending on driving conditions. The system has a low-range set of gears for serious off-road travel, with both a High and Low setting, for on-road (High) and off-road (Low) traction. Its adaptive torque distribution will send as much as 100 percent of its power to any one wheel if all others have lost traction. Drivers can lock both the center and the rear differentials.
Despite its trail-ready powertrain, Touareg's high-end appointments seem to indicate most of the adventure driving behind the wheel of this VW will take place in the suburban jungle. Luxury and cargo space rule this interior, which comes with leather trim, chrome and wood accents and a premium 10-speaker sound system. The driver has a high command position, which can be raised and lowered with the power-adjustable seat controls, and the instrument cluster is easy-to-read, with VW's signature blue-lit gauges.
In the center dash, a large screen holds the optional navigation system display, which is flanked by symmetrical controls, buttons and a digital climate control readout. A dual-zone Climatronic system with driver and passenger controls is standard on V6 models, while a four-zone climate-control system for front and rear passengers comes with the V8. Seats are manually adjustable on the base model and 12-way power adjustable on models with the beefier motor. The power seats are heated.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel is a good match for optional leather seats, but a drawback to the Touareg is the standard leatherette upholstery on the base V6. Audio, cruise and onboard computer controls are mounted to the telescoping wheel. A power sunroof is standard, as are power locks, windows and exterior mirrors.
Cargo space is 31 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 71 feet when folded.. The center front armrest has a large, illuminated stowage compartment and a holder for a one-liter beverage bottle. Additional cupholders are in the center console. A large compartment has room for maps, CDs and cell phones in the instrument panel.
Touareg is built to be capable on desert dunes and muddy trails and its standard independent suspension offers a generous 8.3 inches of ground clearance, while an optional air suspension floats between 6.3 and 11.8 inches. VW calls the standard suspension 'class-leading' in city and highway handling, as well as performance on steep inclines.
The air suspension includes Continuous Damping Control (CDC) which uses wheel sensors to monitor road conditions and the driver's reaction to them. The suspension lowers at high speeds and can be adjusted manually to three damper settings: Auto (a mid-range setting for most driving conditions), Sport (a 'hard' setting for high speeds and sharp turns on pavement) and Comfort (a 'soft' setting for a more luxury sedan-type ride).
Traction control is standard on all models, as are a host of acronyms that stand for handling enhancement. Hill Descent Control (HDC) helps regulate engine speed at speeds under 15 mph on declines greater than 20 percent. Hill Rollback Control (HRC) locks the gearbox to prevent rolling back on inclines. Towing capacity is 7,716 pounds - a number that Beetles only dream of.
Safety equipment includes driver and front passenger head and side airbags, side curtain bags and LATCH child seat tethers. ABS is standard on all Touaregs, as are four-wheel vented disc brakes.
Overall, the Touareg is a highly capable, comfortable and luxurious SUV. Although most buyers are likely to be road warriors, not off-road adventurers, the vehicle's four-wheel drive and suspension systems are truly made for trail blazing. This model is certainly late to the SUV extravaganza that defined the late 1990s, and, yet, at a $34,900 (base price for the V6), it will fit right in with the crowd. The question remains: will it stand out? Very likely, but only time will tell.
TruckWorld.com Review of Touareg
As any socialite knows, it is always best to be fashionably late.. Volkswagen's latest offering to the North American market, the Touareg SUV, is a latecomer to the sport utility millennium party, but its strong powertrain, on- and off-road capability, and luxury amenities should make it a strong contender for belle of the ball this year.
Named for a nomadic tribe in the Sahara, Touareg (say Tour-regg) is Volkswagen's first sport utility model, but not its first off-road machine. 'Dune buggy' Beetles have achieved rally fame and a cult following for the company, and its 4Motion all-wheel-drive system - now available on the Passat luxury sedan - has demonstrated that VW thinks on terrain other than smooth highways.
The introduction is the third in a series, of sorts, for the Volkswagen-Audi-Porsche triumvirate. Both Audi and Porsche have debuted SUVs in recent years, and both have drawn on rally-car performance roots to do it. So far, the luxury duo has succeeded with its allroad crossover wagon, with softroader SUV packaging, and the two new Cayenne models, the normally aspirated and the turbo-charged S version. Will the people's car follow suit?
Resembling an outsized Passat wagon and with design cues recalling its close cousin Cayenne, Touareg looks every inch a Volkswagen. The front grille is wide and cheerful, with a large, low-hanging air dam and chrome trim. The hood is sculpted with lines that narrow toward the front, giving the vehicle a slightly more aggressive look, definitely a requirement to join the off-roader's party. Halogen headlamps are standard.
The body is built to be extra rigid, while the front mud wings are a flexible plastic for durability. Bumpers are made of a composite plastic material, as well, which, although not pretty, resists scrapes and dings. The hood is aluminum, which reduces body weight.
In profile, Touareg is big and a tad bland, with a flat beltline and chrome doorsills borrowed from Passat--and, yet, it is decidedly attractive, also. The roofline rises to the B-pillar then angles down to the rear, creating narrow back windows that are stylish, but not unusual. The rear cargo door, which looks somewhat like a larger Golf hatch, actually is a two-piece tailgate with independently opening window. Shock absorbers with springs make it easy to open.
Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard on the base model (with V6 engine); up-level models with the V8 get 18-inch alloys. An adjustable roof rack is included and finished in black.
The powerplant is a standard 3.2-liter V6 motor delivering 220 horsepower at 5,400-6,400 rpm and 225 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,200 rpm. Models equipped with the optional V8 get 310 horses at 6,200 rpm and 302 lb.-ft. at 3,000-4,000 revs. Both are matched to a six-speed automatic, with Porsche's Tiptronic manual-style shift. A 'Sport' setting can be selected for higher-revving gear ratios.
Permanent four-wheel drive is standard on all Touareg models. The system is VW's 4XMOTION, which automatically redistributes power between axles depending on driving conditions. The system has a low-range set of gears for serious off-road travel, with both a High and Low setting, for on-road (High) and off-road (Low) traction. Its adaptive torque distribution will send as much as 100 percent of its power to any one wheel if all others have lost traction. Drivers can lock both the center and the rear differentials.
Despite its trail-ready powertrain, Touareg's high-end appointments seem to indicate most of the adventure driving behind the wheel of this VW will take place in the suburban jungle. Luxury and cargo space rule this interior, which comes with leather trim, chrome and wood accents and a premium 10-speaker sound system. The driver has a high command position, which can be raised and lowered with the power-adjustable seat controls, and the instrument cluster is easy-to-read, with VW's signature blue-lit gauges.
In the center dash, a large screen holds the optional navigation system display, which is flanked by symmetrical controls, buttons and a digital climate control readout. A dual-zone Climatronic system with driver and passenger controls is standard on V6 models, while a four-zone climate-control system for front and rear passengers comes with the V8. Seats are manually adjustable on the base model and 12-way power adjustable on models with the beefier motor. The power seats are heated.
A leather-wrapped steering wheel is a good match for optional leather seats, but a drawback to the Touareg is the standard leatherette upholstery on the base V6. Audio, cruise and onboard computer controls are mounted to the telescoping wheel. A power sunroof is standard, as are power locks, windows and exterior mirrors.
Cargo space is 31 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 71 feet when folded.. The center front armrest has a large, illuminated stowage compartment and a holder for a one-liter beverage bottle. Additional cupholders are in the center console. A large compartment has room for maps, CDs and cell phones in the instrument panel.
Touareg is built to be capable on desert dunes and muddy trails and its standard independent suspension offers a generous 8.3 inches of ground clearance, while an optional air suspension floats between 6.3 and 11.8 inches. VW calls the standard suspension 'class-leading' in city and highway handling, as well as performance on steep inclines.
The air suspension includes Continuous Damping Control (CDC) which uses wheel sensors to monitor road conditions and the driver's reaction to them. The suspension lowers at high speeds and can be adjusted manually to three damper settings: Auto (a mid-range setting for most driving conditions), Sport (a 'hard' setting for high speeds and sharp turns on pavement) and Comfort (a 'soft' setting for a more luxury sedan-type ride).
Traction control is standard on all models, as are a host of acronyms that stand for handling enhancement. Hill Descent Control (HDC) helps regulate engine speed at speeds under 15 mph on declines greater than 20 percent. Hill Rollback Control (HRC) locks the gearbox to prevent rolling back on inclines. Towing capacity is 7,716 pounds - a number that Beetles only dream of.
Safety equipment includes driver and front passenger head and side airbags, side curtain bags and LATCH child seat tethers. ABS is standard on all Touaregs, as are four-wheel vented disc brakes.
Overall, the Touareg is a highly capable, comfortable and luxurious SUV. Although most buyers are likely to be road warriors, not off-road adventurers, the vehicle's four-wheel drive and suspension systems are truly made for trail blazing. This model is certainly late to the SUV extravaganza that defined the late 1990s, and, yet, at a $34,900 (base price for the V6), it will fit right in with the crowd. The question remains: will it stand out? Very likely, but only time will tell.
Thai
Elite Member
Part II of Review above
5 Questions:
What makes the Touareg an all- new SUV worth taking a look at?
Touareg has a great blend of on-road handling comfort and practicality, and true backcountry 4WD capability. It also comes with a long list of standard features, even on the base V-6 model, which comes with dual-zone climate control, and a manual tilt-and-telescope wheel- the V-8 is electrically adjusted. It also has seat heaters, a high-line CD sound system and full-time standard all-wheel-drive starting at a base price of $34,900 for the V-6, and $40,700 for the V-8.
Any surprise and delight features?
There are a number. One is the sliding roof rack. When not carrying a load, the rails come together at the rear and lock. This provides better aerodynamic performance, increased fuel economy, and less wind noise. Another is the graphic for steering angle when the vehicle is engaged in 4-Low. This lets you see where you wheels are pointed at all times, a feature that can be very helpful with the precise driving that is called for in some off-road applications.
Any complaints?
We look forward to a manual shift as the new model is available with an automatic transmission only.
Will there be a diesel version of the Touareg?
Yes, VW will bring a diesel version of the Touareg to the U.S. market early next year, powered by the V-10 TDI already in hot demand in Europe. Volkswagen of America reports that diesels could account for somewhere between 15 to 20 percent of total VW brand sales this year, perhaps topping the 60,000 mark.
What are its off-road capabilities?
On the outside, Touareg appears to be an upscale wagon or crossover vehicle, but its high ground clearance, large wheels, body cladding and 4WD technology made it a very impressive ride on the challenging rock track, dubbed Hell's Revenge Trail in Moab, Utah. This trail has a number of places where high ground clearance, low range gearing, good tires and brakes can be not just helpful, but even life-saving, because of death-defying drops off the trail. Technologies such as Hill Hold and Hill Descent are also impressive and add to confidence in rugged and rough four-wheeling. In addition, we liked the large video display with both on- and off-road navigation modes. The system lays down electronic "breadcrumbs," so you can retrace your steps, and keeps a watchful eye on direction, altitude, and steering angle, a helpful feature for narrow trails, and when you don't have a spotter.
5 Questions:
What makes the Touareg an all- new SUV worth taking a look at?
Touareg has a great blend of on-road handling comfort and practicality, and true backcountry 4WD capability. It also comes with a long list of standard features, even on the base V-6 model, which comes with dual-zone climate control, and a manual tilt-and-telescope wheel- the V-8 is electrically adjusted. It also has seat heaters, a high-line CD sound system and full-time standard all-wheel-drive starting at a base price of $34,900 for the V-6, and $40,700 for the V-8.
Any surprise and delight features?
There are a number. One is the sliding roof rack. When not carrying a load, the rails come together at the rear and lock. This provides better aerodynamic performance, increased fuel economy, and less wind noise. Another is the graphic for steering angle when the vehicle is engaged in 4-Low. This lets you see where you wheels are pointed at all times, a feature that can be very helpful with the precise driving that is called for in some off-road applications.
Any complaints?
We look forward to a manual shift as the new model is available with an automatic transmission only.
Will there be a diesel version of the Touareg?
Yes, VW will bring a diesel version of the Touareg to the U.S. market early next year, powered by the V-10 TDI already in hot demand in Europe. Volkswagen of America reports that diesels could account for somewhere between 15 to 20 percent of total VW brand sales this year, perhaps topping the 60,000 mark.
What are its off-road capabilities?
On the outside, Touareg appears to be an upscale wagon or crossover vehicle, but its high ground clearance, large wheels, body cladding and 4WD technology made it a very impressive ride on the challenging rock track, dubbed Hell's Revenge Trail in Moab, Utah. This trail has a number of places where high ground clearance, low range gearing, good tires and brakes can be not just helpful, but even life-saving, because of death-defying drops off the trail. Technologies such as Hill Hold and Hill Descent are also impressive and add to confidence in rugged and rough four-wheeling. In addition, we liked the large video display with both on- and off-road navigation modes. The system lays down electronic "breadcrumbs," so you can retrace your steps, and keeps a watchful eye on direction, altitude, and steering angle, a helpful feature for narrow trails, and when you don't have a spotter.
Thai
Elite Member
Thai
Elite Member
Link:
USA TODAY review of Touareg
SUV's got style, grace and growl
Volkswagen and Porsche jointly developed midsize sport-utility vehicles. Porsche took a wrong turn and wound up with the Cayenne. VW trod the right path and has the Touareg to show for it.
Touareg is a beauty behind the wheel. It's also better-looking outside than Cayenne to most eyes. It even feels roomier inside, although dimensions are nearly identical.
Seats in the two preproduction test vehicles — a loaded V-6 and V-8 — were among the most comfortable ever tested. Power is wonderful in the V-8, adequate and well-emphasized aurally in the V-6.
The automatic transmission offers six speeds, two automatic modes — regular and grrrr — and a manual-shift mode. Upshifts are silken but downshifts more like corduroy.
Brakes are prompt to the point of touchy. Steering stays where it's pointed.
Interior lighting is gorgeous, gauges are handsome, trim is classy.
The unusual all-wheel drive, called 4XMotion and unlike the 4Motion setup on VW cars, is a standout. It splits power evenly to all four wheels normally, adjusting as traction changes.
Off-road, you first choose the low-range gears for slogging. Then you twist the knob to lock the center differential, so power goes fore and aft equally, no matter what. An option lets you also lock the rear diff, so each rear wheel gets half the power going to the back.
The optional air suspension allows about 5 inches of height adjustment, giving Touareg 11.8 inches of ground clearance vs. about 8 inches on a typical midsize SUV.
With all those height and gearing advantages, it will take some trying to get stuck.
Touareg truly gives you the feeling you're high, wide and handsome and running with ease and aplomb.
And, oh, if only we could stop there, what a wholehearted endorsement Touareg would get. But perversity abounds. While VW took pains to get many attributes just right, others that should have been no-brainers are bollixed up. It seems best to wait until VW can remedy them — as surely it must, for they are so stupid. For instance:
• No back-seat DVD entertainment system is offered, VW says. Even the yeoman-duty Chevrolet Malibu will have a rear-rider DVD for '04. There's precisely zero excuse for VW not to have it as an option in an expensive SUV. Dealers will fill the breach, no doubt.
• The navigation system is especially evil. Most navis are Beelzebub's handiwork for starters. But VW takes you deeper into Hades using a CD-based system. You need to carry nine different discs to have maps for the whole USA. The DVD-based systems popular today put all that on a single disc. The CD maps in Touareg have few street names or other fine detail. A DVD navi gives you remarkable resolution and detail.
And the navigation CD uses the music-CD slot, so you can't listen and navigate simultaneously unless you buy the CD changer. And that's in the cargo area, where it can't be reached easily. A DVD-based navi is about two years off.
• The trip computer — perhaps the auto industry's only useful foray into electronic information display — can't be customized. You can scroll through different info pages, but you can't pick which one pops up each time you start the vehicle, VW says.
• The roof rack is a total bother. Unusually robust, it holds a meaty 220 pounds and looks great, like a tasteful roof air spoiler when the two crossbars are tight together at the rear.
But to move the crossbars for a load, you have to pull down a plastic cover on each side; use a small auxiliary key on the fob to operate a lock under the cover on each side; pull down on the gizmo you just unlocked on each side; voila — you now can slide the crossbar from either side, one-handed. The Lexus RX 330 SUV, by contrast, lets you do all that with the push of a button on only one side — no key, no walking around the vehicle; just push and slide.
• Temperature-control knobs clacked among settings with a sound and feel much like breaking the wishbone on the Thanksgiving turkey. You expect the knobs to snap loose any moment.
• There's no third-row seat. Never meant to have one, so VW has eliminated buyers who require such accommodations.
It's enough to make you pound the table in frustration. Such a wonderfully turned out machine, felled by such absurd mistakes.
If you simply must have one now — and it would be hard to argue a person out of that rush, so inviting is the Touareg as an overall package — you can minimize the aggravations by skipping the navigation system, using the climate control as a truly automatic system on which you never touch the adjustment knobs, and flooring the gas as often as possible to let the wonderful engine sounds get your mind off how mad you'll be when an improved Touareg comes out, with the flubs fixed.
2004 Volkswagen Touareg
•What is it? Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle, developed with Porsche Cayenne but very unlike that SUV. Manufactured at a Bratislava, Slovakia, factory that also makes European-market VW cars and transmissions.
•What's up with that name? Pronounced TOUR-regg, VW says it's a tribe of Saharan nomads and translates as "free folk."
•How soon? On sale since June 20.
•How much? V-6 starts at $35,515, including $615 destination charge. V-8 starts at $41,315. Expect to pay close to full sticker price, Edmunds.com says.
•Who'll buy? 45-year-old married college grads.
•How many? 24,000 this year, then 40,000 annually.
•What's the powertrain? 3.2-liter, VW narrow-angle V-6 is rated 220 horsepower at 5,400 rpm, 225 pounds-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm. 4.2-liter Audi V-8 is rated 310 hp at 6,200 rpm, 302 lbs.-ft. at 3,000. Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic manual-shift mode; 4XMotion all-wheel drive with electronic center-differential lock.
•What's the safety gear? Normal bags and belts, plus side-impact bags for driver and front passenger, side-curtain head-protection bags, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, anti-skid control.
•What's the rest? Key standard features on the V-6 model include dual-zone automatic climate control; sunroof; AM/FM/CD stereo; power steering, brakes, windows, locks and mirrors; heated seats; cruise control; remote-control locks; tilt-adjustable and telescoping steering column; automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers with washer-nozzle defrosters; rear window wiper and defroster; outside-mirror defrosters; auto-on/off headlights; tire pressure monitor; adjustable roof rack; 255/60-17 all-season tires with a temporary spare.
V-8 model has leather upholstery; power seats; auto-dimming exterior mirrors; 255/55-18 all-season tires.
•How big? Slightly longer, wider and taller than Lexus RX 330 SUV; Touareg is 187.2 inches long, 75.9 inches wide and 68 inches tall on a 112.4-inch wheelbase. V-6 is rated to carry 1,400 pounds; V-8 is rated to carry 1,250 pounds. Both are rated to tow 7,716 pounds.
•How thirsty? V-6 is rated 15 miles per gallon in town, 20 on the highway. Test vehicle's trip computer showed 13.5 mpg in boringly normal suburban driving. V-8 is rated 14/18 mpg. Trip computer showed 10.5 mpg in suburban use punctuated by moments of enthusiasm. Premium is recommended, not required.
•Overall: Sweet and sour; almost delicious.
USA TODAY review of Touareg
SUV's got style, grace and growl
Volkswagen and Porsche jointly developed midsize sport-utility vehicles. Porsche took a wrong turn and wound up with the Cayenne. VW trod the right path and has the Touareg to show for it.
Touareg is a beauty behind the wheel. It's also better-looking outside than Cayenne to most eyes. It even feels roomier inside, although dimensions are nearly identical.
Seats in the two preproduction test vehicles — a loaded V-6 and V-8 — were among the most comfortable ever tested. Power is wonderful in the V-8, adequate and well-emphasized aurally in the V-6.
The automatic transmission offers six speeds, two automatic modes — regular and grrrr — and a manual-shift mode. Upshifts are silken but downshifts more like corduroy.
Brakes are prompt to the point of touchy. Steering stays where it's pointed.
Interior lighting is gorgeous, gauges are handsome, trim is classy.
The unusual all-wheel drive, called 4XMotion and unlike the 4Motion setup on VW cars, is a standout. It splits power evenly to all four wheels normally, adjusting as traction changes.
Off-road, you first choose the low-range gears for slogging. Then you twist the knob to lock the center differential, so power goes fore and aft equally, no matter what. An option lets you also lock the rear diff, so each rear wheel gets half the power going to the back.
The optional air suspension allows about 5 inches of height adjustment, giving Touareg 11.8 inches of ground clearance vs. about 8 inches on a typical midsize SUV.
With all those height and gearing advantages, it will take some trying to get stuck.
Touareg truly gives you the feeling you're high, wide and handsome and running with ease and aplomb.
And, oh, if only we could stop there, what a wholehearted endorsement Touareg would get. But perversity abounds. While VW took pains to get many attributes just right, others that should have been no-brainers are bollixed up. It seems best to wait until VW can remedy them — as surely it must, for they are so stupid. For instance:
• No back-seat DVD entertainment system is offered, VW says. Even the yeoman-duty Chevrolet Malibu will have a rear-rider DVD for '04. There's precisely zero excuse for VW not to have it as an option in an expensive SUV. Dealers will fill the breach, no doubt.
• The navigation system is especially evil. Most navis are Beelzebub's handiwork for starters. But VW takes you deeper into Hades using a CD-based system. You need to carry nine different discs to have maps for the whole USA. The DVD-based systems popular today put all that on a single disc. The CD maps in Touareg have few street names or other fine detail. A DVD navi gives you remarkable resolution and detail.
And the navigation CD uses the music-CD slot, so you can't listen and navigate simultaneously unless you buy the CD changer. And that's in the cargo area, where it can't be reached easily. A DVD-based navi is about two years off.
• The trip computer — perhaps the auto industry's only useful foray into electronic information display — can't be customized. You can scroll through different info pages, but you can't pick which one pops up each time you start the vehicle, VW says.
• The roof rack is a total bother. Unusually robust, it holds a meaty 220 pounds and looks great, like a tasteful roof air spoiler when the two crossbars are tight together at the rear.
But to move the crossbars for a load, you have to pull down a plastic cover on each side; use a small auxiliary key on the fob to operate a lock under the cover on each side; pull down on the gizmo you just unlocked on each side; voila — you now can slide the crossbar from either side, one-handed. The Lexus RX 330 SUV, by contrast, lets you do all that with the push of a button on only one side — no key, no walking around the vehicle; just push and slide.
• Temperature-control knobs clacked among settings with a sound and feel much like breaking the wishbone on the Thanksgiving turkey. You expect the knobs to snap loose any moment.
• There's no third-row seat. Never meant to have one, so VW has eliminated buyers who require such accommodations.
It's enough to make you pound the table in frustration. Such a wonderfully turned out machine, felled by such absurd mistakes.
If you simply must have one now — and it would be hard to argue a person out of that rush, so inviting is the Touareg as an overall package — you can minimize the aggravations by skipping the navigation system, using the climate control as a truly automatic system on which you never touch the adjustment knobs, and flooring the gas as often as possible to let the wonderful engine sounds get your mind off how mad you'll be when an improved Touareg comes out, with the flubs fixed.
2004 Volkswagen Touareg
•What is it? Midsize, four-door, five-passenger, four-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicle, developed with Porsche Cayenne but very unlike that SUV. Manufactured at a Bratislava, Slovakia, factory that also makes European-market VW cars and transmissions.
•What's up with that name? Pronounced TOUR-regg, VW says it's a tribe of Saharan nomads and translates as "free folk."
•How soon? On sale since June 20.
•How much? V-6 starts at $35,515, including $615 destination charge. V-8 starts at $41,315. Expect to pay close to full sticker price, Edmunds.com says.
•Who'll buy? 45-year-old married college grads.
•How many? 24,000 this year, then 40,000 annually.
•What's the powertrain? 3.2-liter, VW narrow-angle V-6 is rated 220 horsepower at 5,400 rpm, 225 pounds-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm. 4.2-liter Audi V-8 is rated 310 hp at 6,200 rpm, 302 lbs.-ft. at 3,000. Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic manual-shift mode; 4XMotion all-wheel drive with electronic center-differential lock.
•What's the safety gear? Normal bags and belts, plus side-impact bags for driver and front passenger, side-curtain head-protection bags, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, anti-skid control.
•What's the rest? Key standard features on the V-6 model include dual-zone automatic climate control; sunroof; AM/FM/CD stereo; power steering, brakes, windows, locks and mirrors; heated seats; cruise control; remote-control locks; tilt-adjustable and telescoping steering column; automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers with washer-nozzle defrosters; rear window wiper and defroster; outside-mirror defrosters; auto-on/off headlights; tire pressure monitor; adjustable roof rack; 255/60-17 all-season tires with a temporary spare.
V-8 model has leather upholstery; power seats; auto-dimming exterior mirrors; 255/55-18 all-season tires.
•How big? Slightly longer, wider and taller than Lexus RX 330 SUV; Touareg is 187.2 inches long, 75.9 inches wide and 68 inches tall on a 112.4-inch wheelbase. V-6 is rated to carry 1,400 pounds; V-8 is rated to carry 1,250 pounds. Both are rated to tow 7,716 pounds.
•How thirsty? V-6 is rated 15 miles per gallon in town, 20 on the highway. Test vehicle's trip computer showed 13.5 mpg in boringly normal suburban driving. V-8 is rated 14/18 mpg. Trip computer showed 10.5 mpg in suburban use punctuated by moments of enthusiasm. Premium is recommended, not required.
•Overall: Sweet and sour; almost delicious.
Thai
Elite Member
I drove a V6 Touareg. It's not bad, but it's a VW, so the overall construction inside the cabin feels a little flimsy. Buttons take a LONG time to react to the push, and pushing them doesn't have a high-quality feel... They feel a little vague, so you never know if you really engaged the button or not.
V6 a bit sluggish off the line, whether in auto or manual mode but picks up some steam at higher speeds. Good handling characteristics, though - not much body lean.
Leatherette interior isn't my taste. It's either leather or cloth for me. The pedals didn't have a solid feel to them - the brake pedal was wobbling!
The car certainly has good packaging overall, I am just worried about long-term quality and sturdiness.
V6 a bit sluggish off the line, whether in auto or manual mode but picks up some steam at higher speeds. Good handling characteristics, though - not much body lean.
Leatherette interior isn't my taste. It's either leather or cloth for me. The pedals didn't have a solid feel to them - the brake pedal was wobbling!
The car certainly has good packaging overall, I am just worried about long-term quality and sturdiness.
Apprently Volkswagen mislead consumers about the Touareg's 7700# towing capacity. If you look at VW.com you will see that they took off the towing compacity figures off the Touareg spec sheet.
http://cbsnewyork.com/shamestories/local_story_303155456.html
http://cbsnewyork.com/shamestories/local_story_303155456.html
Last edited:
Thai
Elite Member
Test Drive:
2004 Porsche Cayenne S
Story and photos by Haney Louka
The price of independence
The Porsche SUV is here. And we have to accept that. Given the choice between an independent sports car company that produces SUVs to survive and a company that is swallowed up by a multinational melting pot of corporate bureaucracy, I
2004 Porsche Cayenne S
Story and photos by Haney Louka
The price of independence
The Porsche SUV is here. And we have to accept that. Given the choice between an independent sports car company that produces SUVs to survive and a company that is swallowed up by a multinational melting pot of corporate bureaucracy, I
Thai
Elite Member
Link:
Edmunds Full Review of Touareg
VEHICLE TESTED
2004 Volkswagen Touareg V8 AWD 4dr SUV (4.2L 8cyl 6A)
Ups: High-quality interior, plenty of power with V8, great Volkswagen looks, high level of off-road capability, balanced handling on pavement.
Downs: Touchy brakes and throttle, can be a chore to drive around town, some controls are hard to use.
The Bottom Line: A pleasant blend of pavement-dwelling crossover and rugged off-roader swathed in Volkswagen style.
Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $40,700
Options on Test Vehicle: Premium Plus Package ($7,300
Edmunds Full Review of Touareg
VEHICLE TESTED
2004 Volkswagen Touareg V8 AWD 4dr SUV (4.2L 8cyl 6A)
Ups: High-quality interior, plenty of power with V8, great Volkswagen looks, high level of off-road capability, balanced handling on pavement.
Downs: Touchy brakes and throttle, can be a chore to drive around town, some controls are hard to use.
The Bottom Line: A pleasant blend of pavement-dwelling crossover and rugged off-roader swathed in Volkswagen style.
Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $40,700
Options on Test Vehicle: Premium Plus Package ($7,300
G
Guest
Guest
The joy of VW ownership
An owner:
"My Touareg is in the dealer's service department for the fourth (or fifth - I've lost track) time since I bought it on September 19. This time it's been there since the day after Thanksgiving.
It sounds like many of us are having problems with the remote and the tailgate, although the problems sound different. Here's mine:
1. Tailgate comes open while I'm driving - an alarm sounds and the display shows the tailgate unlocked.
2. When the tailgate has been open, either because I opened it or it just opens spontaneously, closing it doesn't work. You can hear the mechanism working, but the display shows the tailgate open, and indeed, you can lift the tailgate without releasing it. Usually takes five or six tries before it actually closes. In the meantime, the alarm won't engage and I'm standing out in the rain like an idiot, repeatedly closing the tailgate.
3. Opening the tailgate with the remote works occasionally, but not always.
4. Opening the doors with the remote takes several tries.
5. Locking the door with the remote and activating the alarm takes several tries.
6. The CD freezes up while playing.
7. The dual climate control gets stuck and can't be adjusted up or down or turned off. A corollary to this is when it suddenly puts itself into tandem mode and moving the dial on one moves the dial on the other.
Also, when I bought the car, the tire pressure alarm was displaying, and I had to bring it back the first time to take care of that (and install the roof racks). Now I wonder if they did, indeed, fix the tire pressure mechanism or if they just turned it off.
I've also had varied experiences with the loaners they give me. The first one was a crappy old Jetta with no gas in it. I blew up over that because the Touareg also had no gas in it when they let me drive it away. Then they had me rent from Enterprise. The first rental was an automatic that didn't shift gears so I went about two exits on the freeway and brought it back. Then they gave me a minivan for about five days.
They said the problems were fixed, but no. So it's back in the shop again, and this time I have a new 2004 Jetta. What I want though, is my Touareg. Working.
When I pay this much for a car, aside from regularly scheduled service, I don't want to have to see the dealer for at least five years. "
Another owner:
"I purchased a lemon. I have had problems with the Tyre Pressure Warning light since day 2 of owning the car. Volkswagen does not know how to correct the problem and there is a recall on the car for that particular problem. VW will not admit any fault they are very aware of the problem. If you have a Touareg and have this problem call a lemon attorney NOW. There are great web sites for lemon law attorneys on Yahoo. VW will not help you. I've been at this for more than 2 months. My car was just towed on Tuesday - a light came on that said "STOP" then the car lowered and the air suspension stopped working. Please call a lemon attorney now if you are experiencing a Tyre Pressure or a Running gear Workshop problem. There could be safety issues associated with these problems."
Yet another;
"I've had my Touareg for about 3 months now and 6,000 miles. The bad news: my Touareg was in the shop for about 32 days (VW could not get parts). The good news: I'm getting a brand new replacement Touareg from VW. Can you believe it takes VW about 45 days to complete the paper work to swap the vehicle! "
An owner:
"My Touareg is in the dealer's service department for the fourth (or fifth - I've lost track) time since I bought it on September 19. This time it's been there since the day after Thanksgiving.
It sounds like many of us are having problems with the remote and the tailgate, although the problems sound different. Here's mine:
1. Tailgate comes open while I'm driving - an alarm sounds and the display shows the tailgate unlocked.
2. When the tailgate has been open, either because I opened it or it just opens spontaneously, closing it doesn't work. You can hear the mechanism working, but the display shows the tailgate open, and indeed, you can lift the tailgate without releasing it. Usually takes five or six tries before it actually closes. In the meantime, the alarm won't engage and I'm standing out in the rain like an idiot, repeatedly closing the tailgate.
3. Opening the tailgate with the remote works occasionally, but not always.
4. Opening the doors with the remote takes several tries.
5. Locking the door with the remote and activating the alarm takes several tries.
6. The CD freezes up while playing.
7. The dual climate control gets stuck and can't be adjusted up or down or turned off. A corollary to this is when it suddenly puts itself into tandem mode and moving the dial on one moves the dial on the other.
Also, when I bought the car, the tire pressure alarm was displaying, and I had to bring it back the first time to take care of that (and install the roof racks). Now I wonder if they did, indeed, fix the tire pressure mechanism or if they just turned it off.
I've also had varied experiences with the loaners they give me. The first one was a crappy old Jetta with no gas in it. I blew up over that because the Touareg also had no gas in it when they let me drive it away. Then they had me rent from Enterprise. The first rental was an automatic that didn't shift gears so I went about two exits on the freeway and brought it back. Then they gave me a minivan for about five days.
They said the problems were fixed, but no. So it's back in the shop again, and this time I have a new 2004 Jetta. What I want though, is my Touareg. Working.
When I pay this much for a car, aside from regularly scheduled service, I don't want to have to see the dealer for at least five years. "
Another owner:
"I purchased a lemon. I have had problems with the Tyre Pressure Warning light since day 2 of owning the car. Volkswagen does not know how to correct the problem and there is a recall on the car for that particular problem. VW will not admit any fault they are very aware of the problem. If you have a Touareg and have this problem call a lemon attorney NOW. There are great web sites for lemon law attorneys on Yahoo. VW will not help you. I've been at this for more than 2 months. My car was just towed on Tuesday - a light came on that said "STOP" then the car lowered and the air suspension stopped working. Please call a lemon attorney now if you are experiencing a Tyre Pressure or a Running gear Workshop problem. There could be safety issues associated with these problems."
Yet another;
"I've had my Touareg for about 3 months now and 6,000 miles. The bad news: my Touareg was in the shop for about 32 days (VW could not get parts). The good news: I'm getting a brand new replacement Touareg from VW. Can you believe it takes VW about 45 days to complete the paper work to swap the vehicle! "
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