Worth getting?

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Joined
Sep 16, 2004
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63
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212
Location
Boulder CO
So I am trying to decide what to do. I am on the market for a new truck. Now, I have zoned in on two models.....the FJ which I was about to bite on or to hold out and get the 2009 vw TDI touareg (sp). The only thing holding me back right now is the mpg with the FJ. I have a VW Golf TDI and I am around the 50 mpg range on 100% Bio. I LOVE THAT. I am sold now on diesels for the fact of the mpg and the bio since I feel like I do two things to make a change at once. Has anyone looked into the FJ for a diesel swap. I would love to do it if the cost would be 10-15k for the swap (which would put me at the cost of the VW. BUT, I just have not seen many options.....what would you guys do?
 
Haven't heard anything about a diesel swap being done. One issue with the Touareg is that there can be some fairly serious maintenance issues. I have had two Jetta diesels, both great cars with super mileage.
 
Go with the VW, I have had my FJ for 4 months and it sucks the gas.
My average MPG has been around 17.
 
24 mpg, Imperial or U.S.? We're certainly not getting anything like that.
 
Go with the VW, I have had my FJ for 4 months and it sucks the gas.
My average MPG has been around 17.

Ignore Rushfan. He's a Troll...and banned now I see.

I have a friend with a Toureg and they have had nothing but trouble. I considered one when they came out, but now I am glad I waited. Do some research on their repair history and I think you'll find that it's not that great.
 
It also depends on what you are using it for. They are wildly different in price. The TDI Toerag is in the stratasphere of $60-70,000 I think. It also depends on if you want to offroad or not.

you can google the reliability history of the Toerag, it's scary. I don't know if it's all been addressed.
 
Hey there, 83 white. Last fall I had the unfortunate opportunity to replace the engine in my FJC. Under 14000 km. Lets just say ICBC sucks. I did some checking around and Luxury Imports out of Calgary, Alberta would have done a deisel conversion for around 10 to 12 grand (canuck $). I went with the factory gas job because I still want the Toyota warranty, but the deisel conversion was tempting.
 
Try Proffitts Cruisers...they'll put a diesel in it for you.
 
If you’re considering a Touareg, I doubt you'll like the FJC. The FJC is really built as a more rugged vehicle for off-road use, and won't be as nice in a lot of respects as the Touareg especially for on-road use.

The FJC will beat the Touareg in off-road capability, and be much nicer on the wallet; even with the gas mileage difference.
 
spaldam summed it up nicely, but i wanted to add one thing. i used to sell VW's for a dealer, 90% of the owners of VW's regardless of year, or model had tool kits in their trunk for the not-so-rare just in case i break down scenario. while i love the T-reg and nearly bought one myself i personally cannot reccomend it. i think you underestimate the inital cost firstly, IIRC the base price is like $38k (US) if you're interested in the diesel it more than like will be north of $55k, probably closer to $60k. you will be pleased with its on road manners and surprised by its off road abilities, but unless you opt for the air suspension (again mooooore money!) you're off road abilities will be far more limited than an FJ. even with air susp. the T-reg isint really well supprted by the offroad community so if you intend to customize it you will have a real challenge. also the Toureag is deceptivly small, the rear cargo area is i'd say about 2/3 the size of the FJ (and thats not big). of course in the end you will need to Test Drive both because 90% of your decision will fall on how it drives, assuming you can afford either or =) the T-reg will have great visibility and nice little amenities where as the FJ is spartan and functional. in the end i chose an FJ over the T-reg for 2 reasons...


1 price (it was hard to scrape together FJ money let alone T-reg money

2 the FJ really captures my heart with its simplicity and ruggedness, its somthing that you dont fnid often these days
 
Ignore Rushfan. He's a Troll...and banned now I see.

I have a friend with a Toureg and they have had nothing but trouble. I considered one when they came out, but now I am glad I waited. Do some research on their repair history and I think you'll find that it's not that great.

Even if he is a troll and, mud is a better palce without it.
I still get 17 mpg if I drive like a grandma... 15-16 if I drive like I ussually do.. I do have the Full time 4WD and a lift so that might be something to take into account...

Before the lift it was 18-19 if I drive it grandma style, 16-17 if leadfoot Carlos is around.

Automatic/Rear Wheel drive should put you in the 20s easily though.


edit: I live in this humid hot(s***tier mpg) place I like to call NC and I run 87 octane for comparison purposes
 
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My average for the 24 tanks I have run thru it so far is 22.935 mpg. Two tanks over 25 mpg. Worst tank was 20.055 mpg. I have a stock 5AT, use 91 octane and live at high altitude so your results may/will vary.

DEWFPO
 
VW's are expensive maintenance wise too

Your crazy. I dont know a lot of the Touareg but VWs have ALWAYS been VERY DEPENDABLE cars.
I wish they made an affordable 4x4 diesle truck I wouldnt even look at anything else.

If they cost a lot to fix its because they never break. :doh:
 
Fox, what are you basing your observations on? Here is the '07 Consumer Reports list of used cars to avoid. It covers 98-05. The first 2 years of Toureg production were 04-05 and they are both listed.

Toyota had 0 vehicles on the list.

Volkswagen Cabrio ’99, ‘01-02;
EuroVan ‘02-03; Golf (4-
cyl.) ’98, ‘03-04; Golf (4-
cyl. turbo) ’01; Jetta (4-
cyl.) ‘98-02, ’05; Jetta (4-
cyl., turbo) ‘01-03; Jetta
(4-cyl., turbo-diesel) ’02;
Jetta (V6) ‘99-03; New
Beetle ‘98-04; New Beetle
Convertible ’05; Passat (4-
cyl.) ‘98-02, ’05; Passat
(V6) ‘99-01; ’04; Passat
Wagon (V6) ’03; Passat W8
’03; Touareg ‘04-05
 
Lonestar, I said I dont know a lot of the Toureg but Ive been in and around VWs for 50 years and these critters just run forever, especially the beatles.
My brother had a bug that he offroaded and it was amazing for a 2wd car, not so much where it could go but what it could stand up to.
I also base it on good old German engineering.
 
Consumer Reprts list the FJ at the very very top. Taureg is at the very bottom as with alot of VW's for some reason. Resale of the FJ is also going to be hard to beat being a Toyota and you live in Boulder. Different Cars one is a real tuff 4x4 the other a wanta be cruiser that is more of a car.
 

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