I have been searching for a reliable and comfortable 4x4 mostly for long trips on the highway and I noticed that the Touareg was pretty good deal on the second hand market, especially the gasoline versions. I was never looking at them until I checked some websites of people reporting their mileage and it's incredible, the diesels average 8l per 100km on the highway and the gasolines around 10. For such a big car that is excellent mileage.

Another point that got me to look more is their price. A gasoline 04 model between 100k and 150k varies from 10k CHF up to 15k CHF. The diesels are much more expensive, from 8 to 10k CHF for similar spec models. I plan to drive not more than 20k km per year, even that is optimistic. Calculated for 20k pa, if I buy a diesel I will need to clock 100k km just to break even, and no maintenance is calculated in this. Basically, if I buy the gasoline one for the next 5 years I drive for free and after that I have 30% more expensive mileage compared to a diesel. It doesn't look that favorable to the diesel because it will need more oil, more expensive maintenance...

I did some research on the 03-06 models to find out that there are some issues with the automatic transmission (specifically the V10 TDI) but also frequent turbo leaks on the same model.

Any other infos, thoughts, recommendations? There are many on this forum more knowledgeable then me... As I said searching for a all wheel drive, comfortable as it will be used mostly on highways. I will do some maintenance to it (oil and filtre changes, brake pads) for other repairs I will go to Germany or France.

V10 TDI is a beast of a car, great engine, tough to work on 'tho. Gearboxes are usually only a problem due to the HUGE 800+ nm of torque those things kick out!

Unfortunately the old Touareg suffer the same problem as the same base Cayenne... a mass of electrical issues These appear in everything from folding the wing mirrors in when you are driving to the sensors putting the engine in save mode thinking there is a mass flow problem and even stability control kicking in and out.

I would really love to get the V10 TDI but I think it will be costly to maintain, most of the transmission problems are on the V10, as you said, it's basically ripping the transmission every time you hit the pedal!

From the diesels, I see a lot of good words for the V6 TDI which is 3.0l, the R5 or 2.5l is not the best in the reviews. For the gasoline only version with similar mileage is the V6 3.2l.

My daughter has had one for the past 6 years and she swears by it.

I have V10 and it is a beast. This is our 3rd T-reg. I would not buy anything else, and by the way the new model does not even come close to the original. I would stay away from 2004-2005 as I had one back home and it has a lot of electrical problems. Anything late 2005 and up is much better, as they have fixed all small issues.

BTW I will be moving back in summer of next year and the T-reg will have to go on sale in few months. It is a August 2006 with 80,000 km, under warranty until August 2012, black on black, full package line (Over 110k CHF new), has new brakes and summer tires (winter tires/wheels are in their second season).

My thanks button isn't woking on this thread for some reason so thanks Florida99; I wasn't sure exactly the years when the electrical faults were 'till and they solved the gremlins, I know some were as stupid as faulty connectors in the boot that were throwing other systems out.

I would suggest to the OP that if you are looking at the gas / petrol models that the 3.2 v6 is only about 220 bhp and not much torque, It is a big heavy car and as such rice pudding powered is not so great. The V6 3.0 TDI would have a mountain more torque, kinda useful for hilly switzerland unless you want the transmission to be shifting the whole time and holding up tractors.

Hi Florida99

We are looking to buy a Touraeg and would be interested to know aprox when you will be selling?
Many thanks
D

Doesn't surprise me. They are often used to pull 747s

I think the Touareg is quite cheap motoring when compared to similar range cars even the smaller SUV tend to be a bit more economical but cost more when purchasing. Give that older Touaregs are now very cheap if you know how to maintain it it will be a bargain to get!

Check this one out:

Yes it has a lot of kms but at that price range it's still acceptable. I would expect at least another 150k kms if it was maintained well. Doesn't say if it has MFK but the state looks very excellent, except the bumper on the back, wonder if that will be an issue to pass MFK or you will need to repaint it:

VW's and their electrical problems...never ending story right there

Thanks, the one on the photos looks good, I will give them a call. I am also searching for a mechanic that can do vag-com diagnostics and see the car too, recommend a friendly garage?

From what I read maintaining it should not be too expensive as long as I find independent garages or buy the parts and install them myself, for what I can do.

It's just very hard to find anything decent, 10k being the minimum up to 20k CHF unless I go for french cars...Which I don't plan to. The same money buys me Touareg or Golf with similar spec and condition...

Small update. I have given up on the idea of getting the Touareg. In 20k price range no warranty is available and from reading on forums and other reviews, you really need one for this car.

Today I saw a very good looking, '07 Qashqai 2.0 automatic petrol with 35k kms the Tekna (full option, sun roof, no leather) with 1 year warranty for 20k, it's from a Nissan garage. I have been reading reviews and this seems like a good reliable car. Any other happy users? Checked for prices on my deal it really seems a good one...