Considering new Tiguan pros and cons

[fully]

As a current golf MK6 owner I'm considering moving to a Tiguan probably a 132tsi model

My concerns are DSG, I've always driven manuals, and I know they use a stronger 7 speed wet clutch but still seems to be issues.

One thing i love about my mk6 is the air cond' it's freezing, never been hot driving my car and I'm a heat hater, though I've read many posts about the Tiguan air Cond be sub standard and the vent placement means you can't get cool properly, true??

I've read a few horror stories in general so I'd like to hear from owners regarding reliability? Should I or shouldn't I ? lol.

Cheers.

[coastvw]

Hi Hope I can help even though I sold mine one month ago, I had a 103TDI, but had the 7 spd DSG so hopefully some synergies in the reply.

I had mine for 4.5 years and from a reliability point of view it was faultless, and I mean absolutely faultless, not even the battery replaced. Yes the DSG was interesting at low speed but after about a month you got used to it and learnt to adapt, the only thing that did me a few times is parking downhill and forgetting to put the autohold on, the gearbox didnt like trying to react that quick. Fuel economy was great, cant comment on the 132tsi, but sure other forum members can.

Aircon, never an issue and I took it out Western NSW a few times in summer, so I wouldnt have thought that would be an issue.

What didnt I like, I had the cloth seats, probably should have gone leather (mainly because I would have the dog in the back and the dog hair stuck to the seats really well). Thats really the only gripe I had. So why didnt I buy another one, the current one inside doesnt look much different to the one I had, I like variety.

Good luck which ever way you go

[tigger73]

Firstly the 132TSI runs the same engine as the mk6 GTI in a de-tuned state. This engine is generally pretty reliable. There have been the odd issue with timing chain tensioner failures: CAM chain tensioners failing..... TSI engines.. Though if you're buying a new car this should have been sorted as I believe there is an updated part.

Regards the DSG in the Tiguan there really have not been any major problems that I am aware of with this gearbox. I have seen in the Transporter forum (which shares the same 7 speed wet DSG) that there have been some maintenance issues with higher mileage (130-150k) vehicles. Though given the number and mileage that these vehicles do it is still a relatively small number and probably not something that would be totally unexpected with the km and load that some of these vehicles may have carried. It's probably not any different to conventional auto gearboxes needing maintenance. Manuals need clutches replaced and it's just what you get with an older car. I guess it depends on what mileage you do and how long you expect to keep the car.

I think if you have a look through this forum area you'll see that the majority of Tiguan owners are really happy with their cars. There are always maintenance required on cars as they get older and that is to be expected. The entry level 118TSI has had some engine failures - same as the 118TSI in the mk6 Golf. I would steer clear of these if I was on a budget - better to get a used 132TSI than a brand new 118TSI.

Though if you're looking at new cars I would go and drive the new 130TDI Tig and get prepared to be pleasantly surprised. It drives really, really well with the low end torque from the diesel and shift points of the DSG box working perfectly together to make day to day driving effortless. Certainly worth a look.

[Dingah]

We have had several Golfs diesel and petrol the last a modified and well sorted GTi.
I now drive an Audi SQ5.
I was so pleased with my wife's Tiguan R Line 155 I was almost tempted to move out of the SQ5 back down to another VW - separate story on that one.
All cars have had various iterations of the DSG and I regard it as a must have option.
Never had issue with reliability and the new Tiguan is great with it.
If you wish with the petrol engines the APR Stage 1 will take them all to 189kW and over 400Nm which makes them an extraordinarily competent car.
The chassis dynamics with the adjustable electronic system now is sensational.
Aircon has never been considered an issue and I really wonder if there are some folk who just don't understand how to operate these systems or never bother to read the manual.
It a nutshell - a very surprising and competent design; just wish the R-Line came with Xenons but a couple of 6 inch light bars behind the grill will soon sort out high beam.

Dingah

[fully]

Thanks all, gives me a lot to think about. Wish they still had a manual option other than the 118tsi.

[tigger73]

I wouldn't let the DSG in the Tiguan put you off owning one. They got a lot right when they made the Tiguan... which is why it's still doing OK now 7 years after the vehicle was launched here back in 2008. Fundamentally it's the same car with a few engine tweaks and a mid-life cosmetic upgrade along the way. Right now they're throwing just about every option on the car for the same price which makes it still quite an attractive proposition.

The next generation Tig is not due here until late 2016 (overseas launch later this year).

[mike64]

I have the 130kw tdi with 7 sp eed dsg. 33,000km since new, Perfect match. I have 2 other dsg vehicle, one approaching 200,000km, the other 120,000km and the dsg boxes have not caused any problems. (All 2012 or later wet boxes)

Tiguan 130kw TDi

[fully]

Cheers for that, this is good to hear.

I want an suv this time and I like the size of the Tig' other SUVs are getting a little large for my needs. Plus I've had a great run with my current golf even though the engine has been bagged to death. I guess the only downside is the interior of the Tig looks very much like my golf, it would be nice if it looked more like the current golf.

Guess we can't have it all. lol

[tigger73]

I want an suv this time and I like the size of the Tig' other SUVs are getting a little large for my needs. Plus I've had a great run with my current golf even though the engine has been bagged to death. I guess the only downside is the interior of the Tig looks very much like my golf, it would be nice if it looked more like the current golf.

Don't worry about the 118TSI comments. I've a work colleague that has one, loves it and hasn't had a problem with it. Though he only uses his car on the weekends and does low km. He's had it 4 years and he'll probably have it for another 4.

Just given the (relative) higher failure rates of these engines I couldn't recommend any car running this engine to others.

I get what you're saying about the Golf and Tiguan interior looking the same. This is the main reason I didn't get an updated shape for my daily as it was a bit like deja vu. You sit inside it and it looks exactly like the car I just got out of. And the trade-in price I was going to get it really didn't make a whole lot of sense to change just for the lower km car.

There is also the Q3 if the budget stretches that far. These run the same platform and similar engines and the bug plus is you'll end up with a nicer interior. Second-hand there's some around the similar $ as a Tiguan. Alternatively the Skoda Yeti is an option but the looks are not to everyone's taste. The advantage of the Yeti is that you can get these in a manual

[arcadelt]

The advantage of the Yeti is that you can get these in a manual

...and it has a decent sized boot. The boot in the Tiguan is a bit on the small size, mainly due to the rake in the hatch window, which the Yeti doesn't suffer from. In fact, the boot in the Tiguan doesn't feel much bigger than the Golf.