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**Stefrobrts** · 07-03-2003, 11:15 PM

After Without A Trace this evening I saw a commercial for the new VW SUV. They're running a series of 'why you need their SUV' commercials, because it does things other VWs can't, like tread sorta-deep water. Anyway, they show a bug being hooked up to a big ol' AS, and it tips it's front wheels up in the air. So then they hook it up to the new SUV, and happily go pulling it away. In the fine print, it says towing mirrors may be required, but I think it's going to take a lot more than that to make that rig safe! Talk about not enough wheelbase. Oh well, who ever said there was truth in advertising right?

Weird thing is when we were visiting the Oregon AS dealer earlier this year, they showed us a CCD which the salesman said had just been returned from a volkswagon commercial shoot. But the AS in the commercial wasn't a CCD judging from the windows down the side. I wonder if there's another VW/AS commercial coming along?

Chas · 07-04-2003, 07:33 AM

Haven't seen that yet, it was probably the VW version of the Porsche Cayenne, called a Torreague or something??

I know they are coming out with a new van to replace the Eurovan but I doubt if it would have enough hp to pull any trailer, let alone an A/S.

Chas

59toaster · 07-04-2003, 07:45 AM

Yeah there was a advertising firm asking around in here for people that would let them use their camper. I put the lady on the spot to see if it was the VW but she wouldn't say.

VW contacted my 4x4 club about a month before they were asking about the Airstreams to see if we could take them to a 4x4 trail here in GA. We couldn't respond fast enough (they wanted to go mid week on one days notice). To be quite honest we don't have much that is tame enough to take that type of SUV on. It would have come out the other end with a lot of body damage including rockers jammed up into the doors. I have 28 inches of clearence to my 4x4inch steel rockers and I drag them regularly. LOL

**Stefrobrts** · 07-04-2003, 10:21 AM

Yes, I think they were bragging about it being able to traverse 22 inch deep water. Not too impressive to those of us with 35 inch tires :-) We call that a puddle!

59toaster · 07-04-2003, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stefrobrts
Yes, I think they were bragging about it being able to traverse 22 inch deep water. Not too impressive to those of us with 35 inch tires :-) We call that a puddle!

Heheh Yeah that is a puddle. I don't start sweating it till about 48 inches. That's when my feet get wet.

Dr. Harold Becker · 07-04-2003, 08:23 PM

Haven't seen that yet, it was probably the VW version of the Porsche Cayenne, called a Torreague or something??

Actually, the VW SUV is called a 'Toureg' and in comes in a 220 hp V6 with 225 ft-pds of torque as well as a 310 hp V8 with 302 ft-pds of torque. But the really impressive model is the V10 TDI turbodiesel rated at 720 ft-pds. It's supposed to be powerful enough to pull a house with great gas mileage to boot.

The Porsche Cayenne, a similar body style, but built under the Porsche name with a few Porsche do-dads, comes in a 340 hp V8 rated at 310 ft-pds and a 450 hp V8 Turbo (non diesel) rated at 460 ft-pds. But you need to own a bank to afford the turbo.

Both the VW and the Porsche (all models) are similar body styles, and are all rated at pulling up to 7700 pounds.

rluhr · 07-05-2003, 06:34 AM

Yes, I was checking out the Touareg recently. The word is that from the specs it will actually be quite a good tow vehicle, especially with the diesel. The wheelbase is not all that short, and it has numerous features which make it ideal for towing. The ability to low the body (suspension) at highway speeds is an example: this cuts aerodynamic drag.

The question is whether the diesel will be available in 2004 models -- some sources I've read suggest it will, others say it won't. Any authoritative source which can confirm the availability of the diesel -- and the price -- would be appreciated.

-- RL

qqq · 07-05-2003, 07:23 AM

If one can tow with a small Touareg, I'll put a hitch on my 94 Explorer...

Hart

TBKP's Overlander · 07-05-2003, 12:26 PM

It isn't that small. Length is the same as a Explorer, but it's 4 inches wider and 3 inches lower.

LittleRadio · 07-05-2003, 01:56 PM

It's "the" SUV to have if you seek a truly capable off-road vehicle, but require on-road comfort and impecable fit and finish.

I wish I had one!

brunoffrance · 07-05-2003, 10:49 PM

The Volkswagen Touareg is on the roads in Europe , not many because it's a too much expensive suv;
Volkswagen is not Porche but prices are. I don't know how much it'ld be sold in USA but the range of price 'll be well over most of great american suv & trucks.

They want to copy Mercedes & BMW suv but they don't do better, except the price.

Bruno.

hhuber · 07-06-2003, 07:42 AM

I checked out the Touareg web site and I sure
wouldnt make fun of it. It's a great looking SUV.
I've had 2 VW's about 15 yrs. ago. One of them
was my favorite car. If I had not just bought the
Tahoe to pull the trailer I'd be looking at the
Touareg. Of course my trailer is little.

Heidi
'67 Caravel

**Stefrobrts** · 07-06-2003, 02:42 PM

Maybe they just need to work on their commercials, but they're not selling me on it. Thing looks about as big as a Geo Tracker! Looked pretty rediculous hooked up to a huge trailer. And I'm never fond of vehicles I can't pronounce

Plus I'm an all-American car girl, through and through.

uucal · 07-06-2003, 05:57 PM

I just drove down to a local dealer here in Utah to look at a real live speciman. The wheel base is longer than my Jeep Grand Cherokee that I pulled a 25' Safari with. It is less than my 2003 Tahoe Z71. It is rated to puill 500 lbs more than my Tahoe and the base price is in the same range as the Z71 series. And clearly has more features. Widh I could afford to make a swap

Cal Hansen 25' 2003 Classic

RoadKingMoe · 07-07-2003, 09:09 AM

Has anyone figured out which Airstream model that is? Looks to me that it could be a 25' Safari.

thenewkid64 · 07-07-2003, 09:41 AM

Maurice,

I saw the commercial for the first time last night, and i would say a 27 footer at least. The trailer is not centered on the wheels, most 25 foot models are.

Looking at the VW site both versions, V6 and V8 are rated to tow 7700 LBS. That should be enough to tow most AS 27 feet and under, but you are cutting it close on safety margins.

Silvertwinkie · 07-07-2003, 03:56 PM

Just took a look at the VW site. Nice SUV. Darn thing has got 4.56 gear set with a 6 speed. Impressive. Rating is with a V8 over 7k lbs. Nice.

What's not so nice is the cost....

$40+k!

Making it the same as a Tahoe and the Tahoe cheaper to repair. At any rate, to each their own. Nice VW, but at that price, I myself would be looking elsewhere for more power to tow more (in case I get that Classic someday) at about the same price point!

However there is something to be said about the German quality and fit and finsh. It just wouldn't be a Chevy if it didn't have a few bolts floating around the trunk!

Eric

**Stefrobrts** · 07-07-2003, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Silvertwinkie

However there is something to be said about the German quality and fit and finsh. It just wouldn't be a Chevy if it didn't have a few bolts floating around the trunk!

Eric

LOL! Yes, same thing about our Fords, but for some reason I keep buying them. Of course, I've never even come close to anything that caosts $40k!

Silvertwinkie · 07-07-2003, 07:07 PM

I think the Tahoe's are in the 40s and I know for sure the H2 is about 53k, but I believe that both will out tow the VW.

Glad to see we GM folks are in good company!

Bought an Impala SS new in '96, no kidding, bolt lying on the trunk floor.

Got a '96 Caprice used and got it back from the bodyshop and guess what, bolt found lying in the trunk.

More things change, the more they stay the same!

Eric

uucal · 07-07-2003, 07:31 PM

The last time I went to the Chevy web site my Tahoe Z71 was over $42,000. I don't recall what options that included. On my way back from Salt Lake this afternoon I stopped at a VW dealer. He has both a V6, with lots of options, and a v8 with minimal options. The V8 was stickered at around $42,000. Both units come with many standard features that cost extra on my Tahoe. And as I said before, they are rated to tow more load than my Tahoe.

Both units had the Tiptronic tranny with a low range setting for off road usage.

It will be interesting to get real world feedback on these SUV's.

Cal 2003 Classic