Rob Schermerhorn (Rexrcr)
Member
Username: Rexrcr
Post Number: 567
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 11:07 am: | |
This past week I instructed on the new VW Touareg at VW's Arizona Proving Grounds and Gila River Indian Reservation for VW's dealer meeting and introduction.
If you're looking to buy an SUV, the Touareg in one word is: awesome.
Very capable on-road and off. This will be tough competition with the Porsche, BMW, Lexus, Land Rover, etc. as it's every bit as nice and $20K less.
I drove and instructed on both the V6 with 215 HP with non-adjustable suspension and V8 with 310 HP and 'skyhook' air adjustable suspension, which adds an entire other dimension to the vehicle. A V10 diesel with 550 lb-ft of torque is out in six months.
Cruises comfortably at 130 mph, climbs 45o inclines, drive sideways at 35o angles (all of wich I did all week!), crawl over huge boulders. It even has a more sophisticated hill descent feature than the X5. Tow 7700 lbs. Huge six piston front and four piston calipers with enormous brake rotors. Very sharp interiors. Great navigation system, stereo, other toys.
V6 starts at $35,000 (a very capable vehicle) and V8 around $41,000 with air suspension. |