I live in Tacloban City, Leyte Island, Philippines. I bought a 2004 1st generation gasoline engine vr6 touareg. An import from the California USA. It was low mileage. I replaced the vaccum tubes, purge valves, ignition coils and fan belt. Had filters and valve cover gasket replaced. It is now a reliable daily driver and ideal for a flood, typhoon and land slide prone country like the Philippines. For long drives across mountain roads you feel very safe and comfortable inside. I intend to keep it for as long as its mechanical life will allow. Thanks Volkswagen for this SUV.
I'm one of the ones that do. I had a 2005 Cayenne Turbo until a drunk driver hit me on the 18th of Feburary this year (2024), I specifically picked the first generation. It was either that or the V10 Touareg TDi. The TDi was 200 miles away, and the Cayenne was 20 minutes away, so I got the Cayenne first.. Zero regrets. Will be getting a replacement.. I took it off road, towed with it, and even played A LOT in the snow with it.. I was restoring it but it was my daily. I'm a "Champagne tastes on a beer budget" kind of guy.. lol I had my Cayenne just UNDER 4 years..
Thanks for the video. I am the owner of a 2005 R5 TDI in Spain. It is not the most powerful of them but I am happy with it. I have driven the car to the mountains and it is simply amazing and comfortable. I have done some maintenance work on it but normal things with the passing of time. It has 269000 km right now and I hope I can drive it for many years.
That was a great run down. Thanks... I have an 2004 V6 Petrol. I have owned her since new and apart from the usual consumable maintenance items the only thing to have failed was the rubberised interior buttons. I replaced all of those last year... VW Germany actually manufactured two of the buttons for me. Cannot complain about VW customer serve at all. I replaced the sound system with an alpine setup with Apple play etc and a sub in the boot. She's running Eibach lowering springs and 21" rims with Pirelli PZeros. Full custom exhaust and tune in Germany. She still presents like new. Last week I gave her a polish with autoglym ceramic quick polish stuff... She shines baby!!! Disclamer.. I live in Australia. The car has never been off-road and lives in underground carparks.
The air suspension was standard on the V10 and optional on the V6 gas, V6 diesel, and V8 gas in the USA for model years 2004-2010. Europe got the 6.0 W12 and also a 2.5 I5 diesel that had a manual 6 speed. Europe also had the Phaeton optional with that V10 diesel! Almost forgot, Europe also got a special R50 V10 Touareg with even more torque!
@@BernonCars No you wouldn't, I almost made that mistake and then I learned that the TDIs have so much torque that the manuals are burning clutches quite frequently.
@@C_R_O_M________ in the vans it’s the opposite, the auto boxes break all the time and the manuals are practically the only choice (the t5 vans with the 2.5 r5)
I’m looking to buy a 2008 2.5 diesel this summer with 190k Km in Europe, are they reliable enough? I’m driving a 2018 atlas for a 4 years now and I’m very pleased with the performance.
I have two of these : A 2010 TDI made for USA market and a 2011 TDi made for Mexican market (no DPF) Both get over 500 miles range and sometimes just over 600 miles per tank. The 2010 has air suspension and locking rear and center diff. I have had another 2010 TDi w/ air suspension and locking diffs before dieselgate and used it for 30 months and more than doubled my money on it. I LOVE these vehicles.
VOLKSWAGEN really dropped a HUGE W on this TOUAREG , everything about it from the design , speed , power and comfort is just INCREDIBLE, I CANNOT WAIT TO BUY ONE SOMEDAY , WHAT A VEHICLE THIS IS :) !!!!!!!!!!!
No mechanic will ever say these are underrated as these are trouble prone, hence why they are so rare even in the most common v6 form haha. I will say they had beautiful interiors
Hi VW Touareg owner here. 🖐I live high in the mountains where we get LOTS of snow and this is the only vehicle I've had that has not once EVER gotten stuck. Where I live even Jeeps get stuck, Lol. You do have a very solid point on the trouble prone they 100% are but it's for sure the only vehicle I've owned that I really think is underrated in the car market.
In europe we have the air ride suspension on the V6 as well. And in 2006 on the Highline you had, preheat on the car, homelink, full electric seats, heated, the seatbelt height was electric as well, 4 zone climate control with individual fan speed, temp control, and blower zone. Heated mirrors as well, and all kind of other nice options.
I had 2010 Touareg TDI loaded with every option including air suspension. The fit and finish was exceptional. Sold it back to VW post diesel scandal with over 120k miles and never had a check engine light. Normal maintenance was manageable at the dealer except for brakes and excessive tire wear but hey it was over 2 tons and AWD. VW was little slow to acknowledge some issues like leaking water pump and ad blu heater but eventually covered them. The night before turning it in to VW I finally took it off road to see what it could do and had a blast. I hated to see it go and even cleaned it before turning it in even tho it was probably destined for salvage. I am not sure why they didn't apply the fix to that generation of TDI's??? I took the proceeds and immediately found a low mileage 2013 TDI executive. I just broke 120k on the 2013 and still have never had a check engine light. There are some things which are improved (seats, tranny, etc) but the ride is no comparison to having had the air suspension. I also own a 2015 Audi Q5 TDI which has the normal Q5 issues such as wheel bearings, moon roof rattle etc. and ad blu pump failed but was covered under extended emission warranty. The Q5 drives like a sports car and averages over 30mpg being almost 1000 lbs lighter. Eventually time will catch up to these remaining TDI's and andit will be a sad day for me to move on. I am not sure what could be a comparable replacement?
the 2010 TDI Touareg 2 is probably one of the best SUV's on the road and minimal cost to maintain as long as you take it into the VW dealership for regular maintenance. German cars require specific oil, filter and other basic service, if you take them to a Jiffy Lube your just asking for them to destroy your car.
Im on my second V8. There isn't a new SUV of the same size in it's class aside from it's cousin Cayenne. The Q7 of the era didn't have low range. People have asked why I drive an older VW, until I take them for a ride. I would buy a brand new V10 in a heartbeat built on this chassis if all the electrical gremlins were worked out. My 04 and 06 V8's are still crazy solid feeling. Amazing vehicles.
A few fun facts about this car. You can get it with up to four ashtrays (including in the rear doors for the kids), earlier years came with an instructional VHS tape, higher end trims come with a heated and electrically adjustable steering wheel, as well as power adjustable seatbelts and passenger seat memory. You can get as early as 2003 with paddle shifters, push button start, and Bluetooth. When you put a destination in the GPS, it'll show you the directions in the instrument cluster. The changes between Touareg 1 and 2 aren't as substantial as they say they are. Mainly minor styling changes outside, a few new features, some cost cutting, and replacing the interior button material with stuff that doesn't peel. The majority of these parts are interchangeable between new and old The reliability on these isn't as horrible as people make it out to be (depending on year and options). Without the V10 and air suspension, expect it to be comparable to a Grand Cherokee of similar vintage. But with very high maintenance costs. Mine's costed me a fortune in leaks, raddles, and engine lights, but it's never left me stranded.
I'm gonna be honest here, the facelift absolutely ruined the exterior design. The original Touareg has that insanely beautiful and timeless understated VW 2000s design. One of the most beautiful SUVs ever imo.
Great video! I really miss the quality of the Touareg in comparison to the Atlas. I think VW needed the Atlas more than the Touareg in their lineup at the time but it was a shame we didn't get the new model when they decided to make the Atlas Cross Sport. That was what hurt the most for me.
Luckily here in Europe we get the new Touareg. It’s literally a Bentley Bentayga with a different body and interior and it’s only £53,000 here in the UK!
the Atlas is the result of VW's goal of building "affordable" cars for the US market, just like the new Jetta and Passat. They are all cheap versions of what used to be very solid, very well engineered vehicles. We have a 2012 Touareg TDI and previously owned a 2007 Jetta Wolfsburg. Both were built like a tank and very reliable. The newer cars are also very bland in their styling, I really miss the "old" Volkswagen.
Great video. I have a 2009 with the 3.6L V6, which is an absolute gem of an engine, and I just love and plan on keeping it. The V6 is not as powerful as the V8 but totally adequate for such a large, heavy vehicle. I also had a 1st gen, 2005 Touareg and those were less reliable and had crazy quality issues, especially in the interior, but still they were even more solidly built than the facelifts of 2008+.
I love my 08 4.2L V8. In fact, I know I will eventually have to move on from it, but I still have a hard time trying to find anything that comes close to it. For comparison, I thought of a range rover sport or cayenne, since those would be the most comparable. The problem is that the cargo area is smaller on both of those, and the Cayenne ditched the 4WD system (same one that used to be in the old Touareg) in favor of a less capable AWD system (and no low range, much less locking diffs). The full size range rover gives you the space and off road capability, but is not as sporty as Touareg (with air suspension). Even with all-terrain tires, I can go decently hard in the corners when the suspension is set to "sport mode." Towing capacity is good too. It's not the best at any one thing, but it does a lot of different things pretty well. I love it. P.S. The atlas is garbage in comparison. I drove one recently, and it was so lackluster in comparison.
HID headlights swivel to illuminate turns, plus BIGHT side lights when you turn past 45 degrees. My favorite vehicle of all time. I have had two 2010 TDi w Air Suspension and 2011 without many of the items I love, but an 8-speed transmission that is pretty cool. The air suspension option has an air tank and the ability to rapidly refill tires if you choose to lower tire pressure to say 20-22 psi for added offroad grip, say in deep sand. Then rapid refill with factory-provided hose. Anyone that stil;l has that factory hose connector, I will pay you top dollar for it. Mine is missing and I really want one because at 12 years old and 110k miles, I now use it off-road in Mexico often and really want to refill tire pressure in remote areas when I get back to pavement.
I got a 04 V8 that used to have air suspension until converted to coil. It has been quite the hassle and money pit I expected. Only good thing Is I am figuring out how to fix its strange quirks myself. If I ask a mechanic they are usually stumped or want to overcharge to fix anything on it.
My 2010 TDi has air suspension and lockers. Not "only available on V8". 30 GB Hard Drive, SD Card, DVD audio multi-disc, aux. input makes this media VERY advanced for 2010.
You have the BRass Ring of US Market Touareg! 2010 TDI with AIR Suspension and Rear Lockers! I avoided this model for 2 reasons - "All efforts to repair OE rear locker controls- without selling a kidney- have been deemed futile..." is the first reality. The second reason is that the Air suspension, after 14 years in the Southwest Desert, will GUARANTEED FAIL and require costly repair.
I have white one 2009 with 3.0 TDI 176kw and its a beast.I love the car but if something brakes its going to cost.But still its a very very nice car,very comfy.
The service now probably just means the miles are up for a regular service, it's not a "reliability" issue. If there was something else wrong, it would have a check engine light and a fault message.
Great review. I have a 2011 with the VR6 and it competes very well with my 2012 Mercedes ML350 and my recently sold 2007 Mercedes ML350. My biggest gripe is the seat in the VW isn't as supported as those in the Mercs, and it's not as enjoyable to work on. It's the first vehicle I won't do my own oil changes because it is such a pita, and they're expensive to get done. But great car and awesome in the snow.
Having the low range engage before the 4x4 lock is alot better for the transfer case especially on hard ground, more vehicles should have been designed that way
I have a 2009(T2) with the 3.6, but full load with air suspension, 4 zone climate, radar cruise etc. had it two years now and spent $800 in maintenance(oil changes, air filters,diff fluids, etc) and about $800 in repairs, which were an alternator and a crankcase heater. Otherwise it’s been absolutely fantastic. I love my Touareg. Wish I got the diesel, or the 4.2, but the 3.6 does the job fine. But man is it bad on fuel. That’s my only complaint 😂
@@deechicago25 yep. I try not to drive it too much but I inherited a boat and have taken it out every weekend this summer. Definitely noticed my fuel bill has gone up 10X than normal. But I say it’s worth it. What a tank. It’s an awesome vehicle
Just came across your channel on some confirmation bias regarding the XC90 off road capability 😀. Spot on on the XC90, I own one. And great insight on the Touareg which was my second option when purchasing some 5 years ago. Now, split between the VW and the Grand Cherokee. The latter shaped up nicely. Wonder what’s your pick between the two. Great video. Wishing you much success with the channel.
I just got a 2010 v6 tdi with air suspension. Love it, same color interior as yours. They did me dirty with a bad headliner repair though, it lasted about 3 weeks. I got some 68 lb pull strength 1" magnets to hold it up from k&j magnetics, DX0C-N52 if you want to try those out. I put 1 each above each rear seat (left, right, middle) and one right in the middle behind the sunroof bump. Been working fine and with that sunroof bump, you don't see them from the front seats
I loved my 1 owner 2010 toureg with V8 had it from 2012 to 2019sadly it was taken out by a speed n Chevy Silverado saved the life of my brother but the frame was bent 😭 the V8 was great and was not slow at all I drove it like I drive my golf R this guy understands the toureg I'm impressed I tried looking for a new one but dealership only had atlas which is not the same at all
I do have 2008 Touareg V10 TDI and it’s way more power than what you think! It’s has more torque and sight faster than Porsche Cayenne GTS torque. Therefore I have four Touaregs in my garage because I’m collection them we don’t see them on road very much.
I got the 2005 V10 without (thankfully) the DPF. Winter package with webasto auxiliary heater (never used it) and 2 locking differentials which is rare,.
Wait what? No rear fog lights? Every car in the EU must have at least a rear fog light. Front is optional. Woooow. US needs to step up their safety game. PS: The VR6 doesnt feel as smooth? Something is very wrong here.
Great review. always liked the Taureg since I first saw it at the auto show in 03’ The mpg for the TDI was amazing. It’s too bad that there aren’t a lot of diesel vehicles & mechanics. Having a larger amount of diesel cars & trucks would lower prices a bit. Like other countries. Except out prices are a bit higher from coast to coast.
I went to buy one new when they came out, went to drive one and the A/C did not work brand new and that is when I figured they were junk, but damn they look so good.
People are like "a Toyota is so much easier to work on" have you seen how insanely expensive Land Cruisers are? This could be in the shop for months for a Land Cruiser to be cheaper. And they are now at the age were things just start to break so a Toyota is not magically troublefree either.
What about the awesome R50? They never brought the R50 or even offered it in the states, just like the R36 or the Polo GTI! Owned the R32 😢 wish I still had mine
I found a 2012 TDI for pennies. Sold my GS450h because of several things that this gem does better. Let’s start with its CHEAP….#2 405 ft pounds of torque matted to the QUATTRO drive train 🤤, smiles per miles. On rain this monster eats into EVERYthing….mustang, charger, Cummins, whatever. On dry pavement it gives anything a run for it’s money. It’s ugly raw German diesel power….400 mile round trip just this weekend…34 mpg! It’s 11 years old, is it perfect no occasional gremlin pops up but I have the service manuals and I have had zero major problems….it’s the lux version and it held up well and feels upscale. Mine set me back $7.6k. No way would I get a EV with this sleeper. Don’t pass up a TDI. No comment on gas
Is a great all arounder i have it for overland and offroad, there are some eletrical problems, but its fixable, get vcds, air suspension is great for highways/offroad hybrid.
I have had two 100 series land cruisers and an 80 series, and I had a series one Touareg and a series 2 TDI. All excellent reliable cars. 80 series terrible ride quality.
While the newest touareg looks cheap this generation of touareg looks fking amazing like a mini cayenne which the cayenne dosent even look as good as the touareg
I have one of these (4.2 V8). I hate it. Bought it new in 2008. It’s unreliable, the transmission shifts HARD, it’s a gas guzzler, and the ride is rough as hell. My 1997 Chevy Tahoe has twice as many miles and is a lot more reliable and enjoyable to drive. Even with its crappy 90s GM plastic interior
SAD that VW went off course especially when Touareg was first introduced as a lux off road capable SUV. They even were racing them off road. If they stayed the course VW could have been set to take on Land Rover . The replacement Atlas - not even close. Touareg was the perfect size, a little heavy, $$$ -but a beast. Chalk it up to US Corp not having vision. I have a 2017 gas - could have the 2016 TDI but dealers were asking 15k above MSRP. RIP.
2007 here, love most of the Touareg but am having a lot of Jerk from the tranny. Had it flushed and reset, helped but did not cure? any suggestions? Or should I dump it? thx diego
Buy a bottle of "Lube Guard Platinum" from an auto parts store if you haven't traded it in or junked it yet. It's about $15 but it's the best transmission fluid additive you can buy off the shelf.
I just LOVE these stealth wealth (or not when bought used lol) vehicles. I'd MUCH rather drive a Land Cruiser than a Lexus LX, or a Touareg over an Audi Q7 or even a Porsche Cayenne, which is just too damn over-engineered to be driven as anything but a lease. That V12 TDI is VEEERY sweet tho. It's as awesome as it is expensive. 😂😭
By experiences of many people Touareg II with newer 3.0tdi 180kW is more better car than this old. This is too old to buy it for daily driving, service costs will kill it.
Worst $%#$ car I have ever been within several miles of. EVERYTHING breaks. Costs a fortune. A constant nightmare. Buyer beware. You will HATE this car.
I live in Tacloban City, Leyte Island, Philippines. I bought a 2004 1st generation gasoline engine vr6 touareg. An import from the California USA. It was low mileage. I replaced the vaccum tubes, purge valves, ignition coils and fan belt. Had filters and valve cover gasket replaced. It is now a reliable daily driver and ideal for a flood, typhoon and land slide prone country like the Philippines. For long drives across mountain roads you feel very safe and comfortable inside. I intend to keep it for as long as its mechanical life will allow. Thanks Volkswagen for this SUV.
Just like the Land Cruiser the Touareg disappeared because too few Americans appreciate luxury cars from mainstream brands. Sad.
I'm one of the ones that do. I had a 2005 Cayenne Turbo until a drunk driver hit me on the 18th of Feburary this year (2024), I specifically picked the first generation. It was either that or the V10 Touareg TDi. The TDi was 200 miles away, and the Cayenne was 20 minutes away, so I got the Cayenne first.. Zero regrets. Will be getting a replacement.. I took it off road, towed with it, and even played A LOT in the snow with it.. I was restoring it but it was my daily. I'm a "Champagne tastes on a beer budget" kind of guy.. lol I had my Cayenne just UNDER 4 years..
Thanks for the video. I am the owner of a 2005 R5 TDI in Spain. It is not the most powerful of them but I am happy with it. I have driven the car to the mountains and it is simply amazing and comfortable. I have done some maintenance work on it but normal things with the passing of time. It has 269000 km right now and I hope I can drive it for many years.
Thank you! Oh cool! Nice, I hope you drive it for a long time!!
I have 2008 v6 diesel Touareg. With air suspension, both front seats memory (including steering). Its 230000km mileage. And I absolutely love it)
Nice!!
That was a great run down. Thanks...
I have an 2004 V6 Petrol. I have owned her since new and apart from the usual consumable maintenance items the only thing to have failed was the rubberised interior buttons. I replaced all of those last year... VW Germany actually manufactured two of the buttons for me. Cannot complain about VW customer serve at all. I replaced the sound system with an alpine setup with Apple play etc and a sub in the boot. She's running Eibach lowering springs and 21" rims with Pirelli PZeros. Full custom exhaust and tune in Germany. She still presents like new. Last week I gave her a polish with autoglym ceramic quick polish stuff... She shines baby!!!
Disclamer.. I live in Australia. The car has never been off-road and lives in underground carparks.
Thank you! Wow nice. I bet she's looking great!!
The air suspension was standard on the V10 and optional on the V6 gas, V6 diesel, and V8 gas in the USA for model years 2004-2010. Europe got the 6.0 W12 and also a 2.5 I5 diesel that had a manual 6 speed. Europe also had the Phaeton optional with that V10 diesel! Almost forgot, Europe also got a special R50 V10 Touareg with even more torque!
Neat!! Thanks for the note. I'd love a manual Touareg haha
@@BernonCars No you wouldn't, I almost made that mistake and then I learned that the TDIs have so much torque that the manuals are burning clutches quite frequently.
@@C_R_O_M________ in the vans it’s the opposite, the auto boxes break all the time and the manuals are practically the only choice (the t5 vans with the 2.5 r5)
@@trainslife5638 maybe they are different transmissions and not made by Aisin (Japan) like the ones found in the Touaregs.
I’m looking to buy a 2008 2.5 diesel this summer with 190k Km in Europe, are they reliable enough?
I’m driving a 2018 atlas for a 4 years now and I’m very pleased with the performance.
I have two of these : A 2010 TDI made for USA market and a 2011 TDi made for Mexican market (no DPF) Both get over 500 miles range and sometimes just over 600 miles per tank. The 2010 has air suspension and locking rear and center diff. I have had another 2010 TDi w/ air suspension and locking diffs before dieselgate and used it for 30 months and more than doubled my money on it. I LOVE these vehicles.
That's great to hear! I love to Touareg. I hope you continue to enjoy yours!!
12:37 Seeing a diesel in the USA in anything that isn't a heavy duty pickup is just so nice.
6:10 OMG THAT'S SO COOL! I absolutely miss turning the key in modern cars so seeing this? It's a blessing. 😍
VOLKSWAGEN really dropped a HUGE W on this TOUAREG , everything about it from the design , speed , power and comfort is just INCREDIBLE, I CANNOT WAIT TO BUY ONE SOMEDAY , WHAT A VEHICLE THIS IS :) !!!!!!!!!!!
It is such a shame!!!
No mechanic will ever say these are underrated as these are trouble prone, hence why they are so rare even in the most common v6 form haha. I will say they had beautiful interiors
You can say what you want for Touareg,but for Grand Cherokee it is premium. GC can be named Rusty😂😂😂😂, rust is everywhere
Yea but if you're smart and you get a diesel... it's life changing
Hi VW Touareg owner here. 🖐I live high in the mountains where we get LOTS of snow and this is the only vehicle I've had that has not once EVER gotten stuck. Where I live even Jeeps get stuck, Lol. You do have a very solid point on the trouble prone they 100% are but it's for sure the only vehicle I've owned that I really think is underrated in the car market.
In europe we have the air ride suspension on the V6 as well. And in 2006 on the Highline you had, preheat on the car, homelink, full electric seats, heated, the seatbelt height was electric as well, 4 zone climate control with individual fan speed, temp control, and blower zone. Heated mirrors as well, and all kind of other nice options.
Nice! They're so sharp
My 2004 basic Touareg has rear fog lights, just pull the switch out one more time.
Those switches near the compass are interiors lights.
I had 2010 Touareg TDI loaded with every option including air suspension. The fit and finish was exceptional. Sold it back to VW post diesel scandal with over 120k miles and never had a check engine light. Normal maintenance was manageable at the dealer except for brakes and excessive tire wear but hey it was over 2 tons and AWD. VW was little slow to acknowledge some issues like leaking water pump and ad blu heater but eventually covered them. The night before turning it in to VW I finally took it off road to see what it could do and had a blast. I hated to see it go and even cleaned it before turning it in even tho it was probably destined for salvage. I am not sure why they didn't apply the fix to that generation of TDI's??? I took the proceeds and immediately found a low mileage 2013 TDI executive. I just broke 120k on the 2013 and still have never had a check engine light. There are some things which are improved (seats, tranny, etc) but the ride is no comparison to having had the air suspension. I also own a 2015 Audi Q5 TDI which has the normal Q5 issues such as wheel bearings, moon roof rattle etc. and ad blu pump failed but was covered under extended emission warranty. The Q5 drives like a sports car and averages over 30mpg being almost 1000 lbs lighter. Eventually time will catch up to these remaining TDI's and andit will be a sad day for me to move on. I am not sure what could be a comparable replacement?
Nice, I’d love me a TDI!
Touareg ages well; nice vid!!
Indeed, thank you!
the 2010 TDI Touareg 2 is probably one of the best SUV's on the road and minimal cost to maintain as long as you take it into the VW dealership for regular maintenance. German cars require specific oil, filter and other basic service, if you take them to a Jiffy Lube your just asking for them to destroy your car.
Im on my second V8. There isn't a new SUV of the same size in it's class aside from it's cousin Cayenne. The Q7 of the era didn't have low range. People have asked why I drive an older VW, until I take them for a ride. I would buy a brand new V10 in a heartbeat built on this chassis if all the electrical gremlins were worked out. My 04 and 06 V8's are still crazy solid feeling. Amazing vehicles.
Nice! Yeah especially with the capability these offer. So solid
how reliable are they? are there a lot of small gremlins to deal with? what is the most reliable touareg
I have the W12 version of this…a blast to drive! Fuel “economy” is anything but “economy” 🤪… but I love this beast.
I can only imagine how the W12 is! That’s sick!!
A few fun facts about this car. You can get it with up to four ashtrays (including in the rear doors for the kids), earlier years came with an instructional VHS tape, higher end trims come with a heated and electrically adjustable steering wheel, as well as power adjustable seatbelts and passenger seat memory. You can get as early as 2003 with paddle shifters, push button start, and Bluetooth. When you put a destination in the GPS, it'll show you the directions in the instrument cluster.
The changes between Touareg 1 and 2 aren't as substantial as they say they are. Mainly minor styling changes outside, a few new features, some cost cutting, and replacing the interior button material with stuff that doesn't peel. The majority of these parts are interchangeable between new and old
The reliability on these isn't as horrible as people make it out to be (depending on year and options). Without the V10 and air suspension, expect it to be comparable to a Grand Cherokee of similar vintage. But with very high maintenance costs. Mine's costed me a fortune in leaks, raddles, and engine lights, but it's never left me stranded.
Wow nice. Good to know! They’re such solid feeling machines
I'm gonna be honest here, the facelift absolutely ruined the exterior design. The original Touareg has that insanely beautiful and timeless understated VW 2000s design. One of the most beautiful SUVs ever imo.
Great video Bernard. Excellent work. I love that TDI!!!
Thank you!! I really want one now!
Great video! I really miss the quality of the Touareg in comparison to the Atlas. I think VW needed the Atlas more than the Touareg in their lineup at the time but it was a shame we didn't get the new model when they decided to make the Atlas Cross Sport. That was what hurt the most for me.
Thank you sir! Same here!! The Atlas was definitely a smart decision but a total bummer :/
Luckily here in Europe we get the new Touareg. It’s literally a Bentley Bentayga with a different body and interior and it’s only £53,000 here in the UK!
the Atlas is the result of VW's goal of building "affordable" cars for the US market, just like the new Jetta and Passat. They are all cheap versions of what used to be very solid, very well engineered vehicles. We have a 2012 Touareg TDI and previously owned a 2007 Jetta Wolfsburg. Both were built like a tank and very reliable. The newer cars are also very bland in their styling, I really miss the "old" Volkswagen.
@@FFAdventuresOriginal VW is definitely not the same as it used to be, even 10 years ago. Very plasticky cheap interiors now. Big bummer
Awesome review,needed that! Thanks buddy 👍
Glad to help!!
Had a 2013 TDI for 10 yrs but sadly it’s time came to an end. After a year with a Tiguan I’ve gone back to a 2010 Touareg and so much happier.
Ack yeah I would never get a Tiguan from a Touareg! Glad you’re back in one!
@@BernonCars I nearly cried after driving an Atlas.
Had a 2013 Touareg with air but have gone back to a 2009 t1 the older ones such a pleasure to drive
Great video. I have a 2009 with the 3.6L V6, which is an absolute gem of an engine, and I just love and plan on keeping it. The V6 is not as powerful as the V8 but totally adequate for such a large, heavy vehicle. I also had a 1st gen, 2005 Touareg and those were less reliable and had crazy quality issues, especially in the interior, but still they were even more solidly built than the facelifts of 2008+.
Thank you! The 3.6 is a great engine. Probably a bit more easy to fix as well
I love my 08 4.2L V8. In fact, I know I will eventually have to move on from it, but I still have a hard time trying to find anything that comes close to it.
For comparison, I thought of a range rover sport or cayenne, since those would be the most comparable. The problem is that the cargo area is smaller on both of those, and the Cayenne ditched the 4WD system (same one that used to be in the old Touareg) in favor of a less capable AWD system (and no low range, much less locking diffs).
The full size range rover gives you the space and off road capability, but is not as sporty as Touareg (with air suspension). Even with all-terrain tires, I can go decently hard in the corners when the suspension is set to "sport mode."
Towing capacity is good too.
It's not the best at any one thing, but it does a lot of different things pretty well. I love it.
P.S. The atlas is garbage in comparison. I drove one recently, and it was so lackluster in comparison.
this is by far the best touareg generation. if you have ever seen a touareg R50, you'll know
If you ever get the chance, review a 2004 V10. Older tech' but much closer to heaven ;)
I’ll try to get my hands on one!
HID headlights swivel to illuminate turns, plus BIGHT side lights when you turn past 45 degrees. My favorite vehicle of all time. I have had two 2010 TDi w Air Suspension and 2011 without many of the items I love, but an 8-speed transmission that is pretty cool. The air suspension option has an air tank and the ability to rapidly refill tires if you choose to lower tire pressure to say 20-22 psi for added offroad grip, say in deep sand. Then rapid refill with factory-provided hose. Anyone that stil;l has that factory hose connector, I will pay you top dollar for it. Mine is missing and I really want one because at 12 years old and 110k miles, I now use it off-road in Mexico often and really want to refill tire pressure in remote areas when I get back to pavement.
I got a 04 V8 that used to have air suspension until converted to coil. It has been quite the hassle and money pit I expected. Only good thing Is I am figuring out how to fix its strange quirks myself. If I ask a mechanic they are usually stumped or want to overcharge to fix anything on it.
Oh wow, yeah certainly a labor of love!!
Service now means it needs an oil change lol. That’s got nothing to do with reliability
My 2010 TDi has air suspension and lockers. Not "only available on V8". 30 GB Hard Drive, SD Card, DVD audio multi-disc, aux. input makes this media VERY advanced for 2010.
You have the BRass Ring of US Market Touareg! 2010 TDI with AIR Suspension and Rear Lockers! I avoided this model for 2 reasons - "All efforts to repair OE rear locker controls- without selling a kidney- have been deemed futile..." is the first reality.
The second reason is that the Air suspension, after 14 years in the Southwest Desert, will GUARANTEED FAIL and require costly repair.
I have white one 2009 with 3.0 TDI 176kw and its a beast.I love the car but if something brakes its going to cost.But still its a very very nice car,very comfy.
Nice! Yeah I love them!
Fun fact, besides VW Phaeton, that steering wheel was also used on Bentley Continental
Ohh interesting!
The service now probably just means the miles are up for a regular service, it's not a "reliability" issue. If there was something else wrong, it would have a check engine light and a fault message.
Great review. I have a 2011 with the VR6 and it competes very well with my 2012 Mercedes ML350 and my recently sold 2007 Mercedes ML350. My biggest gripe is the seat in the VW isn't as supported as those in the Mercs, and it's not as enjoyable to work on. It's the first vehicle I won't do my own oil changes because it is such a pita, and they're expensive to get done. But great car and awesome in the snow.
Thanks for sharing! I like that era of Touareg as well
Great background info on the vehicle
Thank you!
Absolutely wonderful review! Great job!
Thank you sir!!
Having the low range engage before the 4x4 lock is alot better for the transfer case especially on hard ground, more vehicles should have been designed that way
Ah that’s a good thought!
I have a 2009(T2) with the 3.6, but full load with air suspension, 4 zone climate, radar cruise etc. had it two years now and spent $800 in maintenance(oil changes, air filters,diff fluids, etc) and about $800 in repairs, which were an alternator and a crankcase heater. Otherwise it’s been absolutely fantastic. I love my Touareg. Wish I got the diesel, or the 4.2, but the 3.6 does the job fine. But man is it bad on fuel. That’s my only complaint 😂
They are great SUV's!
I have the 08 3.6 basic model so less Maintaining. Just keeping it for winter months in the Midwest but gas does suck 👎
@@deechicago25 yep. I try not to drive it too much but I inherited a boat and have taken it out every weekend this summer. Definitely noticed my fuel bill has gone up 10X than normal. But I say it’s worth it. What a tank. It’s an awesome vehicle
Great review! Disappointed to see the sagging headliner; thanks VW! Glad to see the CEL heritage carried on to these heh 😃
Thank you! Yeah hopefully it’s an easy fix! Hahaha
I thought it was a “Service Now”, not a “ Check Engine” light 😏
My high mileage 2005 has no warning lights at all. But that's because I spend a fortune maintaining it
This service message is a hint and not that there is an issue. 😉 Sensors calculate that and/or integrated terminis.
You pull the rotating switch in the front fog on position to turn on the rear fog lights. It's true of all VAG cars
Good to know!
Just came across your channel on some confirmation bias regarding the XC90 off road capability 😀. Spot on on the XC90, I own one. And great insight on the Touareg which was my second option when purchasing some 5 years ago. Now, split between the VW and the Grand Cherokee. The latter shaped up nicely. Wonder what’s your pick between the two. Great video. Wishing you much success with the channel.
Thank you! I prefer the Touareg honestly! Just feels like a better built vehicle.
I just got a 2010 v6 tdi with air suspension. Love it, same color interior as yours. They did me dirty with a bad headliner repair though, it lasted about 3 weeks. I got some 68 lb pull strength 1" magnets to hold it up from k&j magnetics, DX0C-N52 if you want to try those out. I put 1 each above each rear seat (left, right, middle) and one right in the middle behind the sunroof bump. Been working fine and with that sunroof bump, you don't see them from the front seats
I loved my 1 owner 2010 toureg with V8 had it from 2012 to 2019sadly it was taken out by a speed n Chevy Silverado saved the life of my brother but the frame was bent 😭 the V8 was great and was not slow at all I drove it like I drive my golf R this guy understands the toureg I'm impressed I tried looking for a new one but dealership only had atlas which is not the same at all
Thats sad! The Atlas is definitely not the same!
I do have 2008 Touareg V10 TDI and it’s way more power than what you think! It’s has more torque and sight faster than Porsche Cayenne GTS torque. Therefore I have four Touaregs in my garage because I’m collection them we don’t see them on road very much.
They’re so cool!
I got the 2005 V10 without (thankfully) the DPF. Winter package with webasto auxiliary heater (never used it) and 2 locking differentials which is rare,.
Wait what? No rear fog lights? Every car in the EU must have at least a rear fog light. Front is optional. Woooow. US needs to step up their safety game.
PS: The VR6 doesnt feel as smooth? Something is very wrong here.
Repairs can be costly, but if you keep up with them, they will keep going. Have a 2004 4.2
Very nice!
6:32 the service now light means your friend is past their oil change lol. It does not indicate a problem on the car.
Great video though. Haven’t seen one done on an r line T2
Ahh Thank you!
Great review. always liked the Taureg since I first saw it at the auto show in 03’
The mpg for the TDI was amazing. It’s too bad that there aren’t a lot of diesel vehicles & mechanics. Having a larger amount of diesel cars & trucks would
lower prices a bit. Like other countries. Except out prices are a bit higher from coast to coast.
Really? Not even because it’s written in the video can’t you spell Touareg correctly?
I went to buy one new when they came out, went to drive one and the A/C did not work brand new and that is when I figured they were junk, but damn they look so good.
Damn!
@@BernonCars , that’s what I said. 😆
People are like "a Toyota is so much easier to work on" have you seen how insanely expensive Land Cruisers are? This could be in the shop for months for a Land Cruiser to be cheaper. And they are now at the age were things just start to break so a Toyota is not magically troublefree either.
Very true
How did you make the car so beautiful in the front? Tuning?
I have a porsche cayenne . Yes its a more refined car but not at pretty as tourareg I think.
My 04' touareg had memory seats and electric steering wheel adjust.
“Service now” is not an indicator of poor reliability. It means the car is due for service 😫
Very good review, though.
4:56 I'd say a VW is still more reliable than a Land Rover. 🤷
I agree!
What about the awesome R50? They never brought the R50 or even offered it in the states, just like the R36 or the Polo GTI! Owned the R32 😢 wish I still had mine
I wish they gave us more of the R models here, ugh
@@BernonCars 💯
Love these.
Same!
My dad had a gray 2010 touareg, until he wrecked it /: ive only seen 3 Touareg’s in America, pretty rare.
Pain!!
I found a 2012 TDI for pennies. Sold my GS450h because of several things that this gem does better. Let’s start with its CHEAP….#2 405 ft pounds of torque matted to the QUATTRO drive train 🤤, smiles per miles. On rain this monster eats into EVERYthing….mustang, charger, Cummins, whatever. On dry pavement it gives anything a run for it’s money. It’s ugly raw German diesel power….400 mile round trip just this weekend…34 mpg! It’s 11 years old, is it perfect no occasional gremlin pops up but I have the service manuals and I have had zero major problems….it’s the lux version and it held up well and feels upscale. Mine set me back $7.6k. No way would I get a EV with this sleeper. Don’t pass up a TDI. No comment on gas
Good deal to me!!
no comment on gas? why?
Is a great all arounder i have it for overland and offroad, there are some eletrical problems, but its fixable, get vcds, air suspension is great for highways/offroad hybrid.
I have had two 100 series land cruisers and an 80 series, and I had a series one Touareg and a series 2 TDI.
All excellent reliable cars.
80 series terrible ride quality.
it is not service now, it is SERVICE NOW!
thinking of getting one for next car towing horse box 3.0 tdi .
I think it's worth it to consider!
While the newest touareg looks cheap this generation of touareg looks fking amazing like a mini cayenne which the cayenne dosent even look as good as the touareg
Right, it's a shame what VW has turned into
I think no mechanic will tell you that the first gen Touareg is a good car 😂
still looks great
I agree!
I have one of these (4.2 V8). I hate it. Bought it new in 2008. It’s unreliable, the transmission shifts HARD, it’s a gas guzzler, and the ride is rough as hell. My 1997 Chevy Tahoe has twice as many miles and is a lot more reliable and enjoyable to drive. Even with its crappy 90s GM plastic interior
That’s unfortunate! Yeah those Chevy’s were solid! I hope you can get out of it!!
Money pits to expensive to maintain
SAD that VW went off course especially when Touareg was first introduced as a lux off road capable SUV. They even were racing them off road.
If they stayed the course VW could have been set to take on Land Rover .
The replacement Atlas - not even close.
Touareg was the perfect size, a little heavy, $$$ -but a beast.
Chalk it up to US Corp not having vision.
I have a 2017 gas - could have the 2016 TDI but dealers were asking 15k above MSRP.
RIP.
It is very sad!!
2007 here, love most of the Touareg but am having a lot of Jerk from the tranny. Had it flushed and reset, helped but did not cure? any suggestions? Or should I dump it? thx diego
Gearbox solinoids give them a clean
Buy a bottle of "Lube Guard Platinum" from an auto parts store if you haven't traded it in or junked it yet. It's about $15 but it's the best transmission fluid additive you can buy off the shelf.
I just LOVE these stealth wealth (or not when bought used lol) vehicles. I'd MUCH rather drive a Land Cruiser than a Lexus LX, or a Touareg over an Audi Q7 or even a Porsche Cayenne, which is just too damn over-engineered to be driven as anything but a lease. That V12 TDI is VEEERY sweet tho. It's as awesome as it is expensive. 😂😭
Land Cruiser=Lexus LX. They're the exact same car. Always have, always will.
@@damilolaakanni I prefer Toyota brand image over Lexus and Land Cruiser exterior and interior design over Lexus LX
The interior of a black vehicle should never not be black.
you don't want a touareg.... you don't want a touareg...
I knoww I knoww :(
180k on my gen1 3.0 v6 engine purrs like a kitten still
Nice!
vw doesn’t keep cars that don’t sell. The atlas does sell very well unfortunately!
You’re not wrong! When I worked at VW, we were constantly selling Atlas’s
But the new ones are not as good off road as the old ones
That is true
By experiences of many people Touareg II with newer 3.0tdi 180kW is more better car than this old. This is too old to buy it for daily driving, service costs will kill it.
In Australia, they are poorly regarded as money pits. Vehicles to avoid.
Here in the US too!
Service light has nothing incommon whith reliability,That’s a stupid comment
Worst $%#$ car I have ever been within several miles of. EVERYTHING breaks. Costs a fortune. A constant nightmare. Buyer beware. You will HATE this car.
That's not a first gen
First
Ayee!
@@BernonCars if I were to get my first car it would be a Celica or An mdx or maybe a Touareg
One word to describe this vehicle "TRASH"