Why the Volkswagen Touareg is so frustrating... | ReDriven used car review

Check out the Volkswagen Touareg Cheat Sheet here: redriven.com/cheat_sheet/volk...
Looking for a used Volkswagen Touareg? - carsforsale.com.au/volkswagen...
Why frustrating, you might ask? Well, on paper, it’s a fantastic car, excellent to drive and hugely practical. But do some digging and there’s plenty of reports of Volkswagen Touaregs being an absolute nightmare to own.
Let us know if we missed anything and be sure to subscribe to stay up to date with all of our latest content!
00:00​​​​​​​ - Intro
01:00 - What is it?
03:28 - How's the exterior?
04:39 - How's the interior?
06:22 - How's the tech?
07:15 - Is it practical?
08:23 - What goes wrong?
13:04 - Is it safe?
14:04 - What's it like to drive?
16:09 - How much is it?
16:41 - Fuel use, warranty & servicing
17:27 - Should you buy it?
#volkswagen
#touareg
#suv
---
At ReDriven, we’ll be taking you through the pros and cons of a huge range of used cars to see how well they’re going now that they’re a few years old, have thousands of kilometres on the clock, and are coming toward the end of their warranty, or maybe don’t have one at all.
Plus, thanks to our resident mechanic, Jim, you’ll find out what commonly goes wrong with them and what might need to be fixed.
Most importantly, we want to make ReDriven a voice for the most in-the-know used car experts there are...you guys.. See, you’re the ones that actually buy, live with, love and sometimes unfortunately hate the cars we’ll be reviewing.
So we want to hear your thoughts. Hit us up in the comments, or on Instagram and Facebook.
We’d love nothing more than for you to give us as much feedback as possible, so we can make this channel the best it can be.
Find us on:
INSTAGRAM: / redriven_official
FACEBOOK: / redrivenofficial

[@carlosorff]

This is the best car I ever owned no matter its flaws, it is a 3.0TDI with 245HP.I own it for three years and drive it daily for work and I do a lot of kilometers. Bought is with just a little over 100000km. Now it has 300000km. I serviced it by schedule and I have ordered the VW service (even if it is not specified as a necessary service - they said it was sealed for life) to service the automatic transmission every 100000km. So, replacing the transmission fluid and all the filters in the gearbox. At 220000 the leaking injector seals were replaced. At 280000km, there was a small oil leak between the transmission and the engine, due to the O-ring. The whole engine was taken out of the car and I kindly asked them to service the engine chain fasteners and turbo. I would say, for the miles/kilometers I do daily it was worth it. Oil and filters are replaced every 15000km and inside is always long-life engine oil. I want a reliable car, that I can depend on, which is great in snow, where I live and is a real workhorse. It can be driven very leisurely if you want to as it is quiet in the cabin at higher speeds above 140kmh, seats are super comfortable and the driving position and the feeling of the car is super, even if you want to drive it fast through the twisty road, it is a real pleasure to use it. I just hope, it will last as I really like it. At the time I had to service the O-ring (engine in engine out), I test drove some newer models of the recent Nissan cars, (I owned a Murano before switching to Touareg) Seat Tarraco, Qashqai, RAV4, Koleos looked at Lexus NX300h... Whatever I looked at or drove, it just did not feel the right way, when I closed the door or the sitting position, materials how it drives etc. Of all the features I just love the dynamic light bending feature. Fuel consumption with mostly highway driving at 130km/h is around 8.4l/100, if I drive around 120kmh it consumes 7.7l with Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season 275/45/20. So, with half of a fuel tank, you can do around 600kmh, on most occasions I can do well over 1000km per fuel tank which is 100l.The car is a little bit shorter than Q7 and narrower as well, I liked the Q7 while I test drove it. Touareg is easy to park. This car is perfect, if and when I will have to replace it, I will go for Touareg or a Cayenne, and perhaps I would consider a Q7.

[@Cparker8]

When u say u can do 1000kms a tank is that highway kms? I'm only getting around 750kms before I reach the red line on fuel gauge, but that's city driving.

[@carlosorff]

@@Cparker8 it would be combined with most of the driving like 70% highway at speeds from 110-130kmh. I get consumption from 7.7l if I drive 110 to 8.5l per 100km if I drive between 120 and 140kmh. I have 275/45/20 all year tyres on.

[@Chumbucketsecret]

Thank you for this comment. Going to see a 14 this Friday. So excited.

[@carlosorff]

@@Chumbucketsecret Good luck, you will not be disappointed by the car if you choose Touareg.

[@Cparker8]

@@Chumbucketsecret make sure you give the car a full inspection. Take off the engine cover and look into the valley below the mainfold for coolant leaks as it's common for these cars. Get the car onto a hoist if possible and look for any oil leaks.

[@K42023]

I was like “meh” with my Touareg until I got rear ended from a car going 30-40 mph. His car was totaled, but I just felt a bump and was still able to drive home. I was a lifelong fan after that.

[@PaulRinggerJr]

same. had a spinning car smack the back of mine on an expressway in the rain with my daughter in the car. the touareg was like "whatever." the other car destroyed. the curtain of airbags worked beautifully. still had to total because of the airbag cost. otherwise, you'd never know it was in a wreck

[@jimj2683]

This is why I am scared of cycling in traffic. Zero protection...

[@jimj2683]

Only disadvantage of these SUVs is the high center of gravity. They tip over relatively easy. The EV versions will have a lower center of gravity and be even heavier. An electric SUV will be the ultimate in road safety. The heavier the better.

[@marcinjaniszewski4843]

Great film. Thank you

[@douglasb.1203]

@@jimj2683 no, no they don't have a high center of gravity relative to the category they are in and the anti-skid works fantastic.

[@MartinJones123]

Honestly, I think this car has aged better than the equivalent Q7, especially pre facelift... Great video 👍

[@josef6415]

the interior from 2011 still looks modern and has good technology for today

[@TVBCStudios]

I bought my 2011 Touareg VR6 over a 2009 Audi Q7 and I'm so glad I did. The vehicle went virtually problem free for 5+ years, but these last years have been painful $8000 engine replacement, and another $1160 for a thermostat replcmnt & radiator expansion tank replcmnt. Still looks amazing with our 22" Lexani CSS8 wheels. I get offers every month.

[@MartinJones123]

@@TVBCStudios How much is it worth these days? Selling it may be a better option before the problems arise again, though we're you servicing it every 10,000 km?

[@84chrisso]

I would not hesitate to recommend one of these to anyone. They are massively underrated. My mum bought a one year old 2013 year model Touareg with 40,000kms much to my dads displeasure. He was a Toyota loyalist and hated the idea of having a VW parked in their garage. Fast forward to current day and he is now the biggest advocate for the car and will tell anyone that listens how good it is and that its far and away the best car they've owned. He now owns an Amarok V6 dual cab which he also loves - but not quite as much as the Touareg. Despite now having over 220,000 of trouble free kms on the odometer, I am always amazed at just how refined, smooth and comfortably the T-Reg drives and rides. There isn't a single rattle, squeak or vibration to be heard or felt from the interior, suspension or engine and transmission. It's not uncommon to find yourself unknowingly and effortlessly sitting at speeds way above the legal limit on winding country roads. There is a depth of quality and refinement to these cars you just don't get in any Toyota, Ford, Mazda or Mitsubishi etc.

[@michaabborrero2240]

I adore my 2012 TDI Touareg. Very reliable and never had any of the issues mentioned in the video. The only issue has been with the electronic E brake. Twice has gotten stuck on lock and getting it unlocked has been an interesting process. It’s a valued member of our family. We even named her Lilly. I’ve never owned a car so long and don’t see myself replacing it in the future. She’s the best car ever!!! Highly recommend it.

[@stasn3715]

Can you tell me what the issue was with the e-break. I have hold assist and when it is on at the still stand the car will not release it when I accelerate. So I have to floor it before that damn thing will release it. Very annoying when you need to move a car just an inch in traffic for example. Did you have the same issue?

[@michaabborrero2240]

@@stasn3715 twice the E Brake has locked and will not release. We’ve had to tow it to the dealership and in order to do so, they’ve placed dolly’s on the tires to make it roll. Extremely painful to watch.

[@tonydiaz2213]

I am a VW technician in the US,I have a 2006 Touareg v8 as a daily driver.My Touareg has 170000 miles and runs great.i love it.

[@davebrune4001]

Right! Got the same with 265 AT tires it's a tank with style..unstoppable..😎👊

[@shuoma5303]

In US, the Touaregs are covered with a 100k-mile powertrain warranty. I talked to maybe 4-5 people at different VW dealerships and no one seemed to know about it. They are pretty underrated.

[@JasonBedient]

Does that transfer even on used models to the new buyer? Any year limitation like "only good for 10 years or 100K mile?"

[@briangray9118]

120k miles

[@jeremyshirazee]

We own one and ..touch wood... it has been amazing! 2014 With the 180kw V6 TDI and it is a satisfying drive. Put your foot down and it lets out an almighty roar while taking off. Doesn't sound like a diesel and runs really smooth. We had some cold start up issues with it holding revs but that *magically* disappeared after a while lol. My wife and I love this car and hope our run of good luck continues :)

[@mzwandilenzimande4621]

I used to have the previous Gen 7L Touareg. They are thoroughly impressive whilst being understated. The worst part about owning it was that people would confuse it for a Tiguan. It's a lot of money to pay to not be noticed, but then a gain that's what Stealth-Wealth is all about.

[@anthonylardo6969]

Wouldn't buy a VW to be noticed, to be honest. Actually wouldn't be seen dead in one.

[@noahmcdaniel4920]

@@anthonylardo6969 your loss

[@craigsle]

Anthony Lardass probably drives a friggen Corrolla ...LMFAO..

[@noahmcdaniel4920]

@@craigsle tell me you don’t know much about cars without telling me. It’s literally a porsche cayenne with a Volkswagen badge. Bentley and Lamborghini even took the platform.

[@craigsle]

@Noah McDaniel , ya ,it's called platform sharing Noah , it's a brilliant way to save shit loads of money and increase your profits and it was pioneered by VW ,not sure what your point is . Maybe you should take Anthony Lardass with you, get back on your Ark , head out to sea and shut the front door .

[@semaj762]

I own a 2011 V6 TDI Touareg 4xmotion with all the bells and whistles and AT tyres. Love it. Know many other owners as I am in a Touareg group. I must say at 260000km I have not had the vast majority of the issues you refer to. From the research I have done I believe they are more reliable than this review portrays... Searching online you only find the complaining people... Not the thousands of very happy owners :)

[@ReDriven]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting James. In regards to talking with thousands of happy owners, we did. We joined multiple owners groups and asked members questions and we found that even those that love and adore their Touareg, many still had various issues. For example, the two Touareg we booked to film (that then broke down before we could feature them) are owned by fans and despite the issues they've had, love their Touareg. Please know that we spend days correlating our research and we present it as objectively as we possibly can. - AK

[@timblizzard4226]

@@ReDriven Mate, I love the review, very well done, but you made these things seem so unreliable that you were in constant fear that the doors were going to fall off or something.

[@MrInternFTL]

My grandmother had one of these as a dealer loaner when her eos was getting fixed, she had to bring it back for an engine fault

[@cliffbooth4826]

gold

[@MartinJones123]

Volkswagen, Das Auto

[@kjx4086]

I'm surprised the dealer would loan a Touareg, from my knowledge most would loan a golf or Passat at most

[@User-cb4jm]

@@kjx4086 depends on what they have on hand, while a Golf or Tiguan is more common, it isn’t impossible that they had a Touraeg available.

[@kjx4086]

@@User-cb4jm yeah agreed, thus surprised. And fascinated how the poor grandma had such bad luck with both relatively low probability event happened to her

[@brucemcnair2]

I own a 2014 Toureg. Love it. Never had a problem. 160,000km’s

[@vladilas]

I have a 2011 3.0 TDI 240HP Touareg and it's one hell of a car. Absolutely love it, drives well, so comfortable, it's fast. A dream car. I would only replace it with a newer Touareg or Cayenne. Almost a year since I have the car, brought it a little bit over 300.000km and I didn't have any major issues until now.

[@johnmeredith3485]

Bought my 2007 Touareg 3.0 TDi brand new. Traded it in last year on a smaller VW SUV. We had 14 years of basically trouble free driving. Things that went wrong - crank sensor replaced after 10 yrs, the aircon fan was replaced in 2018 and the tailgate gas struts gave out in late 2020. Not bad for 14 years and 190,000 km. That 3 litre diesel is as strong as an ox and purrs. Achieved on average 11 litres/100km over its lifetime with me. No rust despite having taken it and driven it all over Fraser Island for a week five times between 2009 & 2016. What it lacked in clearance, it made up for with torque. Only got it bogged once in the really soft stuff (dropped the tyre pressure a smidge and off we went again). Serviced the car religiously and resisted the urge to buy a car with a sunroof !

[@chrisossie5034]

A few mistakes were made in this KZbin review. Regarding power delivery. The part about 4motion, all Touareg's have the Torsen transfer box, permanent AWD system. It's the 4motion Haldex system used on Tiguans that's not full time AWD! By default, the Touareg’s torque split is set at 40% to the front axle and 60% to the rear axle, the 4Motion can send up to 60% to the front axle and up to 80% to the rear axle in low-traction conditions. A simple check of the owner manual will point that out. Also the review didn't even talk about Air Suspension! That is a major feature which makes the car still handle like new suspension never fades like normal shocks. It can also raise the Touareg 300mm for off roading. Nothing was mentioned about towing! A lot of buyers would like to know it can tow a full 3.5T. The model in this video is the base model Touareg that only has 150kw not 180kw. Basically no air suspension means it has the base engine with less KW. Still otherwise a great review thanks!

[@TopherField]

good comment, thankyou. I'm tossing up between a used Q7, Tuareg, or Hyundai Palisade (Don't judge me, much newer and lower km for the same money) and this comment was useful, thankyou.

[@FearlessMagpie]

he was referring to the 4XMotion ones, which have the locking rear differential option

[@taydencornish]

This was my friends touareg that I told Adam to take for the day, it was a 180kw car. No air suspension doesn't mean it's 150kw.

[@chrisossie5034]

I've never heard of a 180kw non air suspension version of the Touareg in Australia, must have been not common at all.What model variant was it? After market power upgrade perhaps?@@taydencornish

[@taydencornish]

@@chrisossie5034 they're very common here, we didn't get really any petrol 7p's however.. This one had bugger all options

[@yegor-ua]

Bought my 2012 Touareg VR6 at 90,000 km, added 160,000 km over last 6 years. Never had any problems at all. Just did regular maintenance like changing oil, brakes, spark plugs, etc. Amazingly reliable vehicle! I don’t think the author did enough research.

[@mlcs179]

Just discovered your site. Just what I was looking for. Education about what to look for in a second hand car is super helpful. Keep up the good work👌

[@chihweiteng253]

I currently own one and I had a few of the problems, including ABS module failure, steering pump issues and coolant leak. But for some reason, we keep loving it. The problem now is increasingly spare parts must now be sourced offshore. I think I now understand landrover owners, their cars are unreliable but lovable. I note that folks in the comments tell us to get Japanese or the LC Prado. I just looked at Pradopoint.. full of complaints too. I think cars are designed to fail nowadays.

[@bockerstar]

touareg is way more reliable on main components like engine and transmission...

[@faheemabbas3965]

Planned Obsolescence.

[@lilmoris1]

LC Prado full complaints? Now that's one HUGE cap right there mate.

[@billabong80RTO]

All Touaregs 7p are permanent 4wd, there was never a variant with 2wd. All of them have a transfer box with a Torsen derived central diff that in normal state will split the drive 40:60 front:rear. 4XMotion ads a 2 speed transfer box and lockable central and rear diff so it can split power evenly to the wheels (with help from the esp - no front lock), but it can NOT send 100% of the torque to just one wheel, that is mechanically impossible with locked diffs.

[@mAJORDEE]

Actually that is exactly what locked diffs CAN do.

[@billabong80RTO]

@@mAJORDEE 100% means all of the torque. That means the other wheels receive 0%, aka none of it. Diff locks are torque splitters. When you have all 3 diffs locked in a 4x4 (that is equipped as such) torque is evenly distributed among the wheels. You can't send 100% of torque to one wheel with diff locks, you could though with torque vectoring, but that's a different matter.

[@kjx4086]

Exactly what I was going to post

[@arthurk9567]

He confused 4motion with the haldex ones found on Tiguan. Touareg was a 4wd fulltime. I think it had a torsen centre diff with a low range transfer box

[@kjx4086]

@@arthurk9567 low range was only optional on the second gen pre facelift models only. Others were pretty much the same as the Amarok

[@danpiedra3910]

I had a 2014 TDI which I drove through to 2023. I loved it - it felt brand new from day one to when I sold it. Unfortunately, it ran into issues at 250,000 km ... first, it developed a crack in the sunroof frame which meant it began leaking water every time it rained. It could not be fixed and several service dealers indicated it needed to be replaced at a cost of +$5000. To cap it off, it developed a leak in the cooling system which required a lot of time to replace parts ... again, several dealers quoted me more than +$4000. All in all, it was time to let it go vs spending that kind of money to repair things. It is unfortunate that VW chose to pull all diesels from North America including Canada. I wish we would have had the 2021+ Touareg. Instead we ended up with the ugly box on wheels known as the Atlas. Pass on that one!

[@NLDMesa06]

"I'm just constantly worried that something's going to break." - A perfect description of how I feel driving any BMW.

[@Dickusification]

Buy an F80 M3. Absolutely bullet proof

[@willkoopman9306]

Couldn’t relate more. I have a ‘13 treg that I put about 15k miles on each year. Constantly worries

[@greyskulll1]

Every 8-10yrs old German brand infact!

[@13smarts1]

I love my Touareg, it is my second one, (first one got stolen and written off), both have been V6TDI's with air suspension, I have done 110,000 kms in the past 5 years in them without any major issues, a large percentage of those kms towing a 2300kg caravan (which it tows with ease), 16 litres per 100 km when towing and 7.5 when not towing, I will probably replace my current MY15 with an MY18 in the next year as I just can't find anything else that combines the value, comfort, quietness, versatility and capability of the Touareg, we recently did a trip with our van from Victoria to Uluru and Alice Springs via the Oodnadatta Track, it didn't miss a beat and coped with all of the mud and corrugations we went through and still feels solid with no rattles ,what else with a 6400kg GCM can do all of this?

[@jackh4787]

Watch the new ones with their tow ball weight. They get de-rated big time unfortunately, such a shame when the engines are a dream for towing.

[@timblizzard4226]

How would you say the touareg performs on the road? I'm currently driving a 3.2lt Passat and thinking about upgrading to a Touareg (mainly to tow a van) and I don't want to lose all of the fun. Obviously its a big car, but does it corner ok on the tarmac? Sounds like the TDI has plenty of squirt.

[@WillKinton]

I absolutely love my 2014 Touareg that nearly has 100k miles. I've only had a couple issues, the biggest was the water pump. It cost me about $500 from the dealer to replace it, which was about half what the same dealer quoted for my GTI's.

[@scottnever8732]

My first visit to ReDriven, I'm from England and love the no nonsense Australian attitude . Great video

[@shellglow9679]

Fantastic review there. I've been considering buying one. Now you have given me a lot to think about. I appreciate it, thankyou ☺️

[@jaimehop1763]

Most reliable car I have ever owned. Mine is a 2013 V6 Gasoline, with 116,000 km, which I bought new. Only problem I have ever had is the water pump leaking and replaced twice. Battery is almos 10 years old and never been replaced. That is how well made this vehicle is. Everything seems solid, and long lasting. Everything works as new. Never had a light on the dash.

[@saisal123]

Does battrey gives 10 years! What is the brand of the battery please 😊

[@satti1001]

A good brand AGM battery can easily goes 10 years if car runs less.

[@satti1001]

116,000 is nothing that prove reliablity, we need car that goes over 300k with no major repair

[@jaimehop1763]

@@satti1001 I disagree. My 116,000 km are not highway kms, but Mexico City kms. We have some of the worst traffic in the world, so in terms of hours of use, this is a lot. Also, our roads are full of potholes, bumps, etc. Other very reliable cars here, like Toyotas, never last anywhere close to 300K km.

[@satti1001]

@@jaimehop1763 you are right, wear and tear is higher in city. Toyota is most reliable company in world, i saw toyota diesel cars close to million kms in asia and india

[@koro287]

My 2012 has 340k on the clock. Eight owners. Looks and drives like new. yeah i just spent a few g's on coolant leak in the valley,but now all those plastic housings and hoses are replaced , i personally cleaned the soot from the intake and it wasnt that bad really. Its not all about money. Safety, road handling and build quality are big plus;s with these beasts.Every brand breaks one day.

[@johnwallace4913]

I got myself a 2016 180kw with the air suspension, the EGR was replaced at 120k and a set of Bendix ceramic pads on plus regular service. No problems, no weirdness or funky electricals. The water thing happened on my previous model but if you wash it down and keep the vents clean it’s a cracking car. I take mine off road and the suspension lifted to off-road is very capable, haven’t done sand yet but mud is no problem. Avoid smashing through deep water, fun but the air intake can suck in water and lead to some nasty and expensive engine issues. Fuel economy is great, especially compared to my old petrol version. Paid 40K for mine and recently had an offer for 45k after owning it for three years- what madness is this market at the moment? If you are willing to service and replace some valves and regulators then these are great budget Audi/Porsche alternatives, very much at home off road or heading to the shops in double bay/toorak (40K versus 130k makes you heaps smarter and way more attractive!)

[@kingjulian1549]

We hired a Touareg in Frankfurt and drove it for a couple of weeks around Germany and Austria. It was too big in German villages but it was truly lovely to drive and would sit happily at 160km/h on the Autobahn. Try that in a Prado. I've owned 5 VW's (Golf's and Passat's) and all have been truly wonderful vehicles and i've only had a few minor niggles. I've just ordered a Mark 8 Golf R Wagon. Unfortunately i won't see it for 12 months due to the Covid delays.

[@donaldmorrisey1532]

Absolutely love my 2016 Touareg TDI Executive. Currently has 86,000 miles and is still under warranty here in the US. Over here they came with a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. On top of that, it has the diesel gate extended warranty which covers 10 years/120,000 miles for both the emission control system and engine long block. Basically, anything within the emissions system to include the turbochargers, sensors, injectors, fuel pump, etc. and the long block (pistons, cams, rods, heads) are all covered. Not to mention the dealer has to fill the Adbblue at no charge. I honestly looked at other vehicles to possibly replace it but I haven't found anything that comes close to it. Tows great, rides great, handles great, luxury interior, great space, great traction, built like a tank, and gets good fuel mileage for a vehicle of this size. Is it expensive to maintain? Depends on your definition of expensive. Of course it will be more expensive to maintain and repair than a Honda or Toyota. You are getting a luxury vehicle and with that comes luxury maintenance. The Touareg is in the same class as a BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, etc. and is a bargain compared to them. This is an awesome vehicle. I just wish they were still sold in the US so I could have a proper replacement when its time.

[@aussiesam01]

Still loving your content and unique style mate. Well done on a great channel.

[@ReDriven]

Thanks so much mate. - AK

[@Brendan3195]

Great content as always. I’ve always wanted seated heats in a car :)

[@richards8718]

We have a 2009 VW Touareg and tow our van its a great car, pulls with easy and goes anywhere through the outback on our travels love it.

[@Ricardo-ur7tp]

What size van do you tow & what engine car is it?

[@sabinofernandes4753]

I've had a 2008 Tourage 2 since 2012. I love as much today, as I did when I first purchased it. It's a solid SUV !!!

[@stevencooper3615]

Had three Tregs. Only problems were related to the battery and door sensors. They are incredible. Very good response on road and best 5 seater (other than the Cayenne).

[@jon8066]

I had one of these in a tdi executive and absolutely loved it, they have aged better than their Audi brothers.

[@geraldsternagl5831]

I have a 7P 3.0 TDI from 2011 after I had a 7L. Absolutely loved both of them. Never had any issues luckily. But I agree with most what was said here including obscene services pricing at VW. It's a wonderful car but if something goes wrong it can quickly become very expensive.

[@fredericoknapp1531]

Awesome video, thank. I have a 2014 V8 gas in Brazil. My unit is armored (bulletproof) and has been very reliable as it has 54kkm. It is the best car I have owned. Will be with the car for a long while.

[@rob327c]

That sausage spot in the console is where the knob for the ride height adjustment is when optioned. I drove 4 of these in v8s. Decided it was too big for me and the dog and started looking at sq5s

[@berniehittner3585]

Best car ever. Have a 2013 V6 sport. Incredible traction in snow. 85k miles- no issues. Basically a Porsche Cayenne at a cheaper price.

[@MrDamburger]

my mate has one, costed him heaps in repairs and he's only driven on open road, centre differential making terrible noise, and uses so much gas

[@Cust0mBuilder]

Wait for the mandatory owner now to tell you he swears by his Touareg and that it NEVER had an issue or broken down. There's always one ;)

[@lukeclifton4392]

My mates a VW master tech and hates them, because of the issues. But I also know someone who has bought a 2nd hand V8 model… and after 5 years on semi rural roads has not had any issue AT ALL. On a different note my brother bought a 2nd hand Skoda Superb Diesel (he’s now had it 6+ years) and it lives on mainly dirt roads and gets driven 80km most days… it’s LHS headlight washer cap has fallen off!!!🤷‍♂️😀

[@noahmcdaniel4920]

@@Cust0mBuilder Because “my mate’s car” is such a reliable anecdote.

[@ln5747]

​@@noahmcdaniel4920 Haha exactly, touche!

[@RyanAlexanderBloom]

I like how there’s almost no negative commentary, despite the video bringing up potential issues. It seems completely in incongruous… maybe like the video is exaggerating the problems for entertainment value.

[@bernardwong963]

Fake news and click bates. Only people with no ownership experience say they're unreliable. Mine has been near perfect, and most owners have zero problems.

[@matus201]

I absolutely love my 2017 Touareg. Yea the VR6 petrol is a little weak... but other than that, it's absolutely amazing. Best $30k CAD car out there.

[@henkstols9326]

Had the first shape with us on a level 3 track and it actually did very well off road, no issues.

[@tobycoote8747]

Hey Guys Love the content! Just wondering what you think of the non ST/RS focus'. I have a 2013 one in a manual and it is an absolute blast to drive.

[@janbugaj2422]

My Touareg Altitude is a 2008 model and has completed 203,000 without missing a beat! It pulls our caravan and horse box effortlessly 👍. It is really versatile and with the back seats down has a mass of space! Best car ever owned!

[@sinesiopaco]

Finally!!! Thanks for making this review...

[@jacob2603]

I drove my 2015 Touareg to 250K Miles and the only “major” issue I had was the AC blower motor going out at 145k miles… cost $150 USD for a new one and installed it myself. The best car I’ve ever owned

[@kjx4086]

I had a previous Gen VR6 3.6 great car, only minor electric issues with the seated heat. The second gen only had 2 trive drains, permanent 4wd pretty much the same as a Amarok, and one with low range 4wd system carried over from the previous gen.

[@thomasclose3765]

@ReDriven The 7P generation you are reviewing uses a torsen centre LSD for a 38/62% split F/R. They are not FWD torque on demand like a Tiguan. As an owner, I loved the review. But thankfully haven’t had any of the issues raised @190,000km. Similarly my old man with his R-Line V8 TDi with 300,000km has had no notable issues.

[@oldskoolchevy1593]

Yes I came here to comment on the 4 motion system too. Doesn't do himself any favours in the credibility stakes when he gets fairly important details like this wrong.

[@BUEAU]

I've had my 2017 FSI (petrol) for 6 years and have had no mechanical or electrical issues whatsoever. It has a very regal, solid and expensive feel to drive. Absolutely love it. My only complaint would be that it's a bit underpowered for such a heavy vehicle. Can feel a bit sluggish at times.

[@tyroncraft3473]

We own a 2011 V6. Bought it second hand in 2013. It has been amazing and has barely skipped a beat except having the EGR replaced in 2015. It does tend to eat brake pads and rotors, couldn’t recommend one more, but that’s based on our experience

[@nissan911]

I have a Volkswagen Touareg & I love it

[@Randy-uh8wd]

You either misspoke or are just wrong about the AWD. They are rear wheel biased, not front wheel drive. In fact there is always a little power going up front while most power is going to the rear. The engine is longitudinally mounted. Do not confuse the Touareg with the Tiguan that has a transversely mounted engine and is in fact front wheel drive until slippage occurs and engages AWD. I love my Touareg TDI. Zero problems in 90k miles. This thing is a tank! I love it so much!

[@naruttaanime9471]

Do you change tires frequently due to the AWD tire scrub effect?

[@saavedra909]

Here in Mexico like 90% of the Touareg are armored (enough strong to stop ARs and AKs bullets) and still rolling perfectly for over 6-7 years! I've worked with those SUVs several times and are amazing despite be heavily armoured

[@tjm105]

They have to make bullet proof cars in Mexico?! 😮

[@mtozzy11]

We have a 2017 MY18 180kw V6 TDI its got 190,000km on it, with 95% of that being Country/gravel/farm driving. It's got all the bells and whistles, and has been a problem free car apart from the water pump leaking at 150,000km which cost $380 to replace along with a few coolant seals. Thoroughly love the car super comfortable even on quite frankly fucked roads, fuel efficient (it tows a 2.1T caravan and a 3T trailer with small tractor on it) avg 8L/100km and 11 - 13L/100km. Interior quality is great even with two farm dogs in it. The only thing well replace it with is a new 210kw Touareg.

[@bondjamesbond9041]

You have been one of the lucky few

[@mtozzy11]

@@bondjamesbond9041 we know a few people with them and they are happy with them to. Early variants tend to be the ones with issues

[@charlesenyeart5421]

I have an 04 4.2. Love It!!

[@noahmcdaniel4920]

The outlook is different in the US used market when it comes to comparable vehicles. There’s no Pajero or Prado. If you want something that’s kind of pleasant to drive and that can hold its own off road you’re basically looking at a grand cherokee, outback, land rover or land cruiser. Land cruisers are ridiculously expensive used and the other 3 aren’t much more reliable and cost about the same as the touareg. And the touareg is the best off road of that bunch aside from the land cruiser. Even if you buy a 4runner, you’re going to spend $5k more for something a few years older with probably 70-80k+ more miles. Why not pocket the $5k, get the nicer car, and save the money for repairs. Oh and you’ll probably save $1000/yr on gas. It’s all relative.

[@luisbrilhante1970]

I have one in Portugal and i totally love it. Super nice car, its the perfect combination of 4x4 and street car. Super suspension system with three main levels of hight and soft our hard suspension that you can control anytime easily.

[@jaysonlafaber2995]

The what goes wrong section length is a testiment to it being a money pit

[@Wedgetail96]

Seated heats 😆. We know what you meant, and you obviously chose to leave it in. Great video 👍🏻

[@ReDriven]

Thanks mate!

[@MartinJones123]

Seated heats should be an option on all cars 🤣

[@andrer8583]

love it!

[@al_easy7035]

This car is awesome and very reliable. I’ve owned 2 and would recommend

[@vicjay1972]

We love ours. It's my wife's daily driver. 2012 TDI Execline and we got it dirt cheap after Deiselgate. We are in Canada ant the thing is so incredible in the snow

[@dcartellone2659]

Best vwdub I’ve ever owned. Maintenance is expensive but it’s worth it.

[@lilmoris1]

Touaregs are pretty much modern german tanks. They're surprisingly capable off-road too, which is fun

[@bernardwong963]

Mine has none of the mentioned issues. In fact, after 6 years, it has been flawless.

[@benjamincroucher-rivayacht3758]

Owned 3 of these over time. I drove my first one to 250,000 MILES. Everything is really to fix if it ever breaks and is cheap. The key to owning these TDI is to change the oil every 5000 to 7000 miles. The car will run flawlessly

[@KB-ox7gm]

Love my 2014 V6TDI shes a beast and great for towing. Centre console arm rests also slide forward individually btw. Best car ive ever owned also

[@wheelbarrow01]

I have a 2011 V8 TDi with 240,000km on the clock and haven’t had any major issues, just regular servicing from a non VW mechanic. HOT TIP - left foot on brake, put transmission into sport mode, switch off traction control, push accelerator flat to the floor, then release the brake when the traffic light goes green. Yes it has launch control and it’s fricken awesome!!!

[@YerMama007]

2015 Touareg TDI Exec. 4.5 yrs owned, 64k miles and gotta agree with other owners…..best rig ever. Does everything well with good mpgs. Two minor emission issues covered under warranty rest has been routine maintenance so far. Plan to keep for many more years.

[@user-zr5uy8wg4q]

Just pulled the trigger on a 2013 TDI Lux.....and then watched this video ...which was fantastically entertaining but I'm also going to forget I ever saw it :). VW is in my blood and they've never left me down. Also - Slovakian Engineering doesn't have the same ring to it :)

[@PetroIv20]

I own this car for 4 years and I totally love it. Right now it has 197000Km and works fine. I didn't have any problems with this car, just some small ordinary 10years old car issues. I change oil every 8000 and it works fine. I enjoy every ride and I don't know what to buy instead.

[@simonmoriarty9987]

Thx, brilliant. I want to get a new model. Bloody luv it.

[@milaras4752]

i just bought touaureg V8 12 years old - drives like new.Happy !

[@bennyl7224]

Enjoy. I had a 2013 version. Incredible.

[@slowboat6021]

we just bought our second Touareg a 2015 r line V8, superb vehicle, the first was a 2004 V10 which is a freakin beast. has towed camper trailers and caravans to insane places always got us home albeit with some freights. No other car fitted with the same size tyres would be as capable off road as a Touareg. for me the pleasure far outweighs the pain.

[@ahmedhaoues8650]

I own the 2012 Touareg. I bought it in 2016, and I'm still in love with it. I'm 6'4" tall, and I fit in it comfortably with lots of leg space. My knees move freely under the steering wheel! vvry few cars could offer me that! I had to change the oxygen sensor, and the head gasket seal. Other than that, just the regular maintenance. it still runs beautifully. I'm thinking of changing it with a newer model.

[@sjanson08]

I live in OZ and owned a 2003 V6 petrol and now a 2015 V6 diesel, 180kw. I had the leaking injector (one had problem but replaced all), put on a oil catch can, had also a leaking problem but easy fix and cleaned the intake manifold at the same time. I have to say, with the joy and comfort and excitement you have when drive it everyday, the expense is worth it. Now i have driven it just over 180kkm, did multiple long distance trip and I felt very confident on highway and dirt road!

[@alexofford2642]

How much did it cost to have injectors done

[@teddy0139]

Mine Touareg petrol V6 is from 2013 has 116,000 miles and still with original battery. No issues so far (knocking on the wood). One repair was done as a part of recall (some exhaust mount was installed), and other than that - just tires, brakes, filters and oil changes. It eats the tires quite fast due to the weight. Very comfortable to drive, car feels solid. Even though I own it for 6 years, I still plan to keep it as long as it drives. Installing FocalINSIDE audio upgrade next month. I was planning to do that few years ago, but what the hell... it's time.

[@bockerstar]

touareg has aisin 8speed and torsen diff so it is not front bias... 2y ago i decided between touareg and lc150 prado and im soo happy i picked touareg.

[@yankeedoodle6293]

I drive a 2016 Touareg TDI, I’ve got 90,000 miles on the odometer. Mechanically it’s been great. I did have a sunroof leak which cost me $2500 to replace. I love the car and hope it will give me 250,000 miles + (very understated)

[@stasn3715]

I know a guy who has 600.000km on it and he still takes the car for the 'light' off-road from time to time. Just take care of your car and it will take care of your wallet :). By the way, I advise you to change the spark plugs because if they fail and got stuck ... it cost a lot to replace them. So do it before they go busted. Around 120K and I would replace them for another 120k. Also, be on time with the oil change in your gearbox. They say that it is never should be done but I would do it for around 200k. Nothing goes endless and all parts have wear so new oil only will prolongate the life of your gearbox.

[@aaronmcgaga83]

That's not fake wood, it's 100% real walnut. The only thing to really worry about in the TDI is the high pressure fuel pump. When it goes out, it sends shrapnel throughout the high pressure fuel system.

[@blascastro1822]

I have a 2013 and I love it thru and thru. only problem so far is a coolant temp sensor that makes the radiator fan run on high. It just started and I have yet to fix it so idk about price but I'm going to take it to the shop soon to take care of her

[@Maxofaxx]

This channel deserves more subs and views Tf?!! Thanks for full information that we had to know! Cheers mates from Israel 🇮🇱 🇦🇺

[@yassinebelhri2440]

Mine is a 2012 with 270000 km on it. Well maintained, I never had a single problem with it.

[@KT-en8pq]

2012. Tdi. 200k miles. Flapper valve and upper chain tensioner issues. Still drives like new. I'll repair and keep it. Its better than a new car.

[@AMO248]

I live in Minnesota and if you know anything about this area you know that our road a pretty much made of salt all winter long. My 2004 Touareg has spent is entire life here, it's my sons now and it has zero rust on it! My 2016 Touareg Lux has had a couple of sensor issues but other wise perfect so far...

[@fabioandrade5126]

I had a 2013 V8 Rline and towed a 3.5T caravan around Australia including Cape York Gulf of Carpentaria and never had a problem. Over 200k on the odometer. Actually regret selling it

[@corrado352]

As far as I know, the touaregs use the torsen based awd system which is essentially audis quattro. It's a longitudinal drivetrain, the transverse cars are the ones that use 4motion

[@zastava888]

Leather benches wear off more faster than 1st gen, at least i saw this tendency in used car market while comparing 1st gen and 2nd

[@Peteski-0]

I love my 3.6 gas version. Really handles well and just enough power.

[@Jsailor1210]

I have a 2016 Touareg executive. 143,000 miles bought but it in 2018 with 50k. The only thing I have done is the scheduled maintenance, and 4 wheel speed sensors. Which stops all your ACC. But we absolutely love it and will only get rid it once it starts getting to expensive to fox.

[@EmerInspires]

I have a 2006 commercial and just frickin love it! It's had wear and tear issues but still flying it. I am VERY attached. My garage has a 2012, black and automatic too and thinking of TRYING to let go. I will cry. I'm not going to deny it. Honestly every car / jeep is going to have issues. I'd love a comparison to others rather than just list stuff. I don't think anything will put me off. I could get a much newer one for the money, someone mentioned Nissan Qashqai but I don't think it's going to change my mind. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@tonydcurrawong]

I have the 08 cayenne which is very similar. It's a wonderful car. Super reliable.

[@gadeacristi]

You are wrong about the standard 4 motion system in the Touareg. All Touareg generations have been equipped with Torsen type center diffs, regardless of them having low range or not. And that means it send power to the rear wheels most of the time. The first gen had low range as standard, the second gen as an option and the third gen, which I own, has only the simple 4 motion system, also torsen, without any low range option available. The awd system in the Touareg is shared with its vw group siblings, the q7 and the cayenne

[@logan1068]

I’ve had a few from 05, model year , 09 T2 exct, & 14 R line they drive wonderful

[@chriss377]

The best ones are the early ones with locking two speed transfer cases. Absolute beasts. I have two V8 models.

[@matejvukovic3108]

My family friend from Germany owns a 2016 VW Touareg with 3.0 diesel engine. Car has been reliable from the day one, has a great amount of space and it is good on long yourneys. A new model is even better,and can be considered as “GLE” luxury cruiser in game of VW MLB platform.

[@j-froy4496]

The sausage holder is actually where the the dial goes for the versions that have the air suspension

[@tonymen5712]

Own 2014 ten this yr 100 km. Door lock actuator is only issue.. towed a 3 T boat no effort..hope it lasts love it

[@vloors1981]

I’ve had two facelift mk2 Touaregs, so for not put a foot wrong, except for HID bulb that had to be replaced and it was a drama as the whole bumper has to come off. Definitely worth looking for one with air suspension, the standard R-Line suspension is way way too hard (hence owning a 2nd one)…