VW Touareg vs. 4Runner
- Thread starter MikeinCincy
- Start date
veloindy
New member
I love the Gti and always will.
But the Toureg?? Give me a break. I honestly can't believe VW is still making this "car". A buddy of mine had one, leased. It was such a problematic car.
Try to change the oil yourself, that's an adventure. When you give up attempting to tackle the oil change, take it to the dealer. When they tell you the filter isn't in stock, you'll have to come back, then ask them the price. I think he told me the oil change at the dealer was over $100. Of course this was a couple years ago, so it might be down to around $80 today. The filters might be more readily available too.
I have to admit, they look cute in the parking garage at Vail.
But the Toureg?? Give me a break. I honestly can't believe VW is still making this "car". A buddy of mine had one, leased. It was such a problematic car.
Try to change the oil yourself, that's an adventure. When you give up attempting to tackle the oil change, take it to the dealer. When they tell you the filter isn't in stock, you'll have to come back, then ask them the price. I think he told me the oil change at the dealer was over $100. Of course this was a couple years ago, so it might be down to around $80 today. The filters might be more readily available too.
I have to admit, they look cute in the parking garage at Vail.
MikeinCincy said:
...uh, wait a sec. This guy is a freshman and is driving his own t-reg? And you're a student, too, and driving your own 4R?
Wow, times have changed.
I was limping along with a VW bug in college, and man, did it have it's own personality, so to speak. I loved the car, though.
JustAnotherT4R
New member
thats funny. Vw can suck it.
piece of junk! thats all i have to say.
piece of junk! thats all i have to say.
00void
New member
josh220 said:
no sh*t! while i'm not going to school, it's still odd/ disturbing/ crazy to see 17-19yo kids driving around in H2's, G500's, E classes, etc etc. my old lady says: 'if the parent's can afford to put them in safer cars, why wouldn't they?'. and she's got a point...
anyway, in terms of the T-rag, the only one worthy of mention is the V10 TDI imo. that engine is a beast.
i know the reliability issue with VW is horrible and the many friends of mine who own VW cars have consistent problems with theirs. VW peeps just seem so hardcore and brand loyal with these things that they don't care about the quality issues. something i'll never understand.
Last edited:
MikeinCincy
New member
lockerc18 said:
Yea, I have been working since I can remember and this is my third car. My first was a Corolla, then 2 years ago I got an Audi A4 (which was a piece of junk let me tell you), and I just got my 4Runner about 1 month ago. I love it! I can finally sleep at night without worrying about what's going to go wrong next (as I did with the A4).
MikeinCincy
New member
alaskaman said:
:iagree:
4Runner=:dancin:
Touareg=:cannon:
rook
New member
We are a Toyota and VW camp here. My wife has driven a 2.8l VR6 Jetta for 72k trouble free miles. It goes like hell and returns 33mpg.
That said I like VW's but the Touareg has been plagued with demons since its inception. Most recently, the 'reg base engine was upgraded to a 280hp 3.6 VR6. There have been numerous documented catastrophic engine failures with this engine. Misalignment of a critical engine component is the culprit. Dont quote me, but IIRC I believe it was a bearing leading to the oil pump.
VW has the highest build cost of any vehicle mfr. A pleather V6 'reg will run into 4R V8 limited territory. I am not even sure you get the air suspension for that price.
4runner hands down...
That said I like VW's but the Touareg has been plagued with demons since its inception. Most recently, the 'reg base engine was upgraded to a 280hp 3.6 VR6. There have been numerous documented catastrophic engine failures with this engine. Misalignment of a critical engine component is the culprit. Dont quote me, but IIRC I believe it was a bearing leading to the oil pump.
VW has the highest build cost of any vehicle mfr. A pleather V6 'reg will run into 4R V8 limited territory. I am not even sure you get the air suspension for that price.
4runner hands down...
MikeinCincy
New member
rook said:
4dailyRunner
New member
Be Careful Thai
They might "boot you off the site" ....that's right; they already did!!!
:biggrin2:
Thai said:
They might "boot you off the site" ....that's right; they already did!!!
:biggrin2:
E
Even Steven
Guest
Two things that will prevent me from ever owning a Toureg:
1- They are futt bucking ugly.
2- Reliability problems X 10,000
Seriously though, the Toureg is an egg-shaped car trying to pretend it's an SUV. I'd rather drive a Subaru than a Toureg.
Anyone who thinks that a Toureg will last as long as a 4Runner is seriously off his rocker. One of my co-workers used to lease a Toureg, but it spent more time at the dealer getting repaired, so he managed to get VW to let him out of his lease. Guess what he drives now? No, not a 4Runner, but it is a Toyota!
1- They are futt bucking ugly.
2- Reliability problems X 10,000
Seriously though, the Toureg is an egg-shaped car trying to pretend it's an SUV. I'd rather drive a Subaru than a Toureg.
Anyone who thinks that a Toureg will last as long as a 4Runner is seriously off his rocker. One of my co-workers used to lease a Toureg, but it spent more time at the dealer getting repaired, so he managed to get VW to let him out of his lease. Guess what he drives now? No, not a 4Runner, but it is a Toyota!
charlier180
New member
Back in 2004 when I was shopping for a vehicle I researched a number of vehicles.
Two of the finalists that got put under the nuclear powered, electron microscope were the Touareg and the 4Runner.
Here are just a few items from that research:
- The 4Runner was $16K less than a Touareg. Getting a Touareg with comparable equipment to a 4Runner was really
not possible since the Touareg had a S**TLOAD of standard equipment (some might call techno-junk).
- The 4Runner included a hitch as standard equipment. On the Touareg it was a $1,200 option that the dealer had to install.
That installation almost ALWAYS resulted in one or both tail light being broken.
- The V8 engine in the 4Runner had less horsepower but more useable torque
- Insuance costs were about the same for both
- Maintenance costs for the Touareg were D*O*U*B*L*E that of the 4Runner.
Can you imagine spending $1,200 to $1,600 to have all for rotors and their brake pads replaced????
Then there are the oil changes that cost $100 to $150 each and front windshield wipers that run $50-65.
- The OEM tires on the Touareg are well know for lasting only 15-18K miles
- The real world MPG of the V8 Touareg is less than the 4Runner
- Touareg tows about 7,700 lbs but weight distributing hitch is NOT recommended. R4unner tows about 7,000 lbs WITH a weight distributing hitch.
- 4Runner weights about 750 pounds LESS
- Three Toyota Dealers withing 30 minutes of my house, only one VW Dealer (that has a less than sparkling reputation for service)
Other thoughts:
- Even 5 YEARS after it's release it is not uncommon for a Touareg owner to have to wait one or more WEEKS for a part to repair a Touareg.
- Due to the design of the engine and body of a Touareg, some work requires that the entire engine be dropped out.
As part of my research I checked on-line owner forums for each of the vehicles.
I found roughly TWENTY-FIVE complaints by Touareg owners for each ONE complaint by a 4Runner owner.
At that time my sister-in-law was driving a 3rd gen 4Runner that had ZERO problems since new with 72K+ miles on the clock.
All my brother did was scheduled maintenance.
I every so often I post in the Touareg Forum on VW Vortex.
Usually I do it to "enlighten" Touareg owners. Needless to say, some Touareg owners did not appreciate that information especially when
they found out that the 4Runner actually has some of the same features that the Touareg has (HAC, DAC, VSC, etc.)
Oh, BTW, ... Before I purchased my 4Runner I had owned nothing but VWs. When most of my family and friends saw my 4Runner they thought
I had gone crazy. After telling them many of the items listed above, they realized why I purchased the 4Runner and what put the smile on my face.
Two of the finalists that got put under the nuclear powered, electron microscope were the Touareg and the 4Runner.
Here are just a few items from that research:
- The 4Runner was $16K less than a Touareg. Getting a Touareg with comparable equipment to a 4Runner was really
not possible since the Touareg had a S**TLOAD of standard equipment (some might call techno-junk).
- The 4Runner included a hitch as standard equipment. On the Touareg it was a $1,200 option that the dealer had to install.
That installation almost ALWAYS resulted in one or both tail light being broken.
- The V8 engine in the 4Runner had less horsepower but more useable torque
- Insuance costs were about the same for both
- Maintenance costs for the Touareg were D*O*U*B*L*E that of the 4Runner.
Can you imagine spending $1,200 to $1,600 to have all for rotors and their brake pads replaced????
Then there are the oil changes that cost $100 to $150 each and front windshield wipers that run $50-65.
- The OEM tires on the Touareg are well know for lasting only 15-18K miles
- The real world MPG of the V8 Touareg is less than the 4Runner
- Touareg tows about 7,700 lbs but weight distributing hitch is NOT recommended. R4unner tows about 7,000 lbs WITH a weight distributing hitch.
- 4Runner weights about 750 pounds LESS
- Three Toyota Dealers withing 30 minutes of my house, only one VW Dealer (that has a less than sparkling reputation for service)
Other thoughts:
- Even 5 YEARS after it's release it is not uncommon for a Touareg owner to have to wait one or more WEEKS for a part to repair a Touareg.
- Due to the design of the engine and body of a Touareg, some work requires that the entire engine be dropped out.
As part of my research I checked on-line owner forums for each of the vehicles.
I found roughly TWENTY-FIVE complaints by Touareg owners for each ONE complaint by a 4Runner owner.
At that time my sister-in-law was driving a 3rd gen 4Runner that had ZERO problems since new with 72K+ miles on the clock.
All my brother did was scheduled maintenance.
I every so often I post in the Touareg Forum on VW Vortex.
Usually I do it to "enlighten" Touareg owners. Needless to say, some Touareg owners did not appreciate that information especially when
they found out that the 4Runner actually has some of the same features that the Touareg has (HAC, DAC, VSC, etc.)
Oh, BTW, ... Before I purchased my 4Runner I had owned nothing but VWs. When most of my family and friends saw my 4Runner they thought
I had gone crazy. After telling them many of the items listed above, they realized why I purchased the 4Runner and what put the smile on my face.
MikeinCincy
New member
Great post charlier 180. I think you basically summed up what kind of SUV the Touareg really is. Unreliable, expensive to maintain, and overall a hassle.
MikeinCincy
New member
lawwailok said:
I think that's the general consensus here.
