Tempted by Touareg

[harks11]

Very informative discussion.Thanks. There is no doubt we are spoiled for choice these days. I also had a look at the service costs. A very good resource site is http://carservice.com.au/ServiceCost.aspx. The Touareg is one of the cheaper vehicles to service. Now that was a surprise. I think was of the attractions is alos the long distance cruising reputation of the VW. I have a very good relationship with the Newel hwy.

[dmm_au]

Like you I've been researching the same vehicle, the TD V6, and am now awaiting delivery (expected March).

The Pajero was my second choice, the two issues that let it down, was that I liked the aesthetics of the 2 door short wheel base and leather was not an option on the more off road featured model.

The Touareg and Pajero both promise a good on-road performance, and better than average off road.

I ruled out anything that didn't have low range as a tall car.
The Touareg with steel springs, has greater ground clearance than the Paj, and I've seen a new Pajero go across what I anticipate will be the equal of any weekend adventures in my future.

I think your concerns about service and support in remote areas is valid, and if you were really buying a car for that sort of thing, the advice I think you'd get is to keep the electronics to a minimum. That's getting pretty hard to do with new vehicles. For online forums, I feel pretty confident that the 2005+ models are much more reliable, and the horror stories that let the brand down were from the brave souls who pioneered the Touareg. I've ordered the T2, and will get the slightly re-spec'd engine (550Nm Torque).

There aren't many accessories available for the Treg.
One of the reasons I'm waiting on a factory delivery, is I ordered the full size spare wheel. I think that's worth waiting for, especially since we intend to go off road. You can get roof racks, but there is no 'roo' bar. Mounting driving lights is therefore tricky, but there are solutions.

Really what the Touareg represented was a really good compromise of safety and comfort on-road, and freedom and flexibility for off-road adventures. For city dwellers like myself, any 'off-roading' is always accompanied by substantial on-road to get there and back.

The Pajero may be a better choice for you, Japanese reliability, lower price, but I'm pretty confident the T2 was the best choice for me.

[Moonan]

Buy the Touareg. You won't regret moving up a class of vehicle - I have the base poverty pack model '05 with the R5 engine. I won't go back to a Japanese car. You will be driving the "thinking man's 4wd".. I still smile every time I get in mine. I have had 8 of my own 4wd's (continuously since my first 2-stroke suzuki in 1981) and more as company vehicles. I will buy another one.