G'day to All

[Bunyip]

We, my wife and I, have been Tiguan owners since Feb 2010. The Tiguan is a 103 TDI, with the 'old', although quite efficient, torque converter automatic, 6 speed, lock-up on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th. The Tig' is essentially 'hers', and she doesn't hang around. In the four and a half years ownership just achieved, it has clocked-up 145,000 kms. She loves the Tig', named it 'Harry', after my father, whose estate paid for it. It's Blue, (Biscay), and as it frequently negotiates 20 kms of Kangaroos, often in the dark, sports a 'Roo Bar and LED Driving Lights, (the standard lights are quite inadequate on country roads, and the soft pedestrian friendly nose is prone to expensive repairs even if stationary when hit by a bounding 'Roo). The Tiguan is our return to the VW Brand, each of us having started our car ownership with VW (real) Beetles: - no water here. Mine was a '57 Model, small oval back window, hotted-up and rallied, and I later had an original Karman Ghia. Anyway, now it's Watercooled, all wheel drive, and even Diesel! - What a way to go.

[vwpolo]

welcome we to have a 103tdi 4motion we have had ours only a few months and looking towards all terrain tyres and some other offroad friendly adds. we got it mainly for travel and exploring while away , hoping to be towing a small camper or caravan soon .. i to have had many different types of vw from beetles to kombis to caddy and polo to the tiguan ...

[Bunyip]

Thanks for the welcome.
You may be interested in our experience of AT tyres: the original road tyres gave us only 51,000 kms, (they were road tryres, Avon I think). A set of Bridgestone D693's, (AT's), were fitted and gave 88,000 kms. We sought another set of D693's, but the size is no longer available. A set of D 697's is now fitted, and although not expected, they are LT & AT tyres, so a little heavier and stronger than 'car' tyres, & produce a little noise at Motorway speeds. Given the 'temporary spare', (which we have had to use only once so far), the LT's are probably a good idea if you intend to do some Aussie style travelling, (as we have done to limited degree).
Thanks again for the welcome, and all the best.