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 Around
Auburn Hills, Michigan, the restaurants must be filled with happy VW execs.
Volkswagen continues to pull in strong sales numbers and their cars continue
to get better and better. One of the best buys on the road today is a
Volkswagen, which can be had from most dealers at or below invoice price.
Volkswagen stands apart from its German comrades --Mercedes, BMW and Audi--
by delivering to the customer high quality automobiles at price points that
don't require a six figure salary.
 Few
cars can actually make you better at driving. Cars from this side of the
Atlantic have not been doing their part so far while cars from autobahn
tested Germany have been connecting people with the road for many years
now. Listen up Germany, not having a speed limit has greatly improved your
vehicles over the years, making them one of the finest cars on the roads of
America. Our recent test of the mesmerizing Blue Silver 2007 Touareg
reminded us how nice it is to be behind the wheel of a finely crafted German
engineered machine.
 The
2007 Touareg adds more horsepower bringing 276 horses at 6,200 revolutions
per minute all the while delivering 266 lbs.-ft. of torque at only 2,750
rpm. An advanced direct injection system contributes to quick performance
and great fuel efficiency even when adding more horsepower. Also new in
this year"s model is a reconfigured oil pan and drive belt so that you can
cross a mudslide and transverse mountains on your way to a area not effected
by global warming. For those wanting more power don't forget the V8 engine
that now produces 350 horsepower or the V10 diesel variant which goes like a
steam engine on rails.
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 The
Blue Silver exterior color of our Touareg is both neutral for those who
don't want to stick out and sexy enough that it glitters in the evening
sun. The warm glow of the blue slowly gets more intense as the evening
approaches, transforming the Touareg into an elegant, night-on-the-town kind
of vehicle. Also did you know that looking at a blue color for five minutes
in the morning increases your brain activity for the rest of the day? So
stare at your sky blue Touareg all you like and get smarter doing it.
 A
six speed transmission with Tiptronic allows you to do gear changing
manually but we found putting the shifter in Sport mode works the engine so
nicely that you might think you are in a sports car. Engaging engine and
exhaust sound as well as the quick shifts from a standstill give you a great
smile behind the wheel. We are puzzled as to why VW would source the
transmission from Japan.
 Can't they build a suitable 6-speed automatic
in-house? Aren't the Germans good at transmissions? We
found that on poorly built highways the road noise could be lowered just a
tad for a quieter cabin. We experienced both wind and road noise
penetrating into the cabin at louder levels than in the Porsche Cayenne.
Turning up the optional upgraded 11 speakers stereo system and an
eight-channel amplifier will achieve good results in the meantime.
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 Suspension
setup without the air system is almost perfect with low body lean and tight
handling in the twisties. It is a bit softer than a Cayenne though good for
daily driving on somewhat bumpy roads. Stopping power is also quite good
when you need to come to a standstill from 130 mph in Germany. Four wheel Anti-Lock
(ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) stops you with
confidence. Electronic Stabilization and Electronic Differential Lock, as
well as Anti- Slip Regulation and Engine Braking Assist are all the
electronics packed within the Touareg.
 Also available are hill descent
control and hill climb assist for serious off-roading. Reading through all
the technological features in this vehicle can be mind-boggling, but knowing
that you are getting the latest and greatest safety features in the market
today brings a sense of peace when behind the wheel.
An
interesting note that many Touareg owners will never know is that it can
handle water crossings up to 22.8 inches deep.
 Or wait, with the rise in
massive storms throughout the country, maybe people will be able to test
these feature as they navigate through flooded streets. But rest assured,
you will be sitting in a luxurious interior wrapped in Cricket Leather with
gleaming Walnut wood trim. Everything inside speaks to beautiful opulence
in a way few other SUV"s can offer. Sure a
 Lexus
is smoothly styled but a Touareg feels solid. Parts like the armrest and
glove box are heavy and glide open. Look at the instrument cluster fitted
in chrome dials and you will find nothing like it in almost any price
range. Make sure you go and see this at dusk at your local dealer.
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Twelve way power driver and passenger seats with
 3-position
memory for driver was a nice feature to have. The driver's seat can be
positioned very low to feel like you are driving a sedan or way up high when
you need to see above the glaring sun hitting your eyes. Everything is
power adjustable in so many ways, from the telescoping and tilting steering
wheel, to the seats, exterior mirrors, and seat belts. Doors feel very
good as well and do not close on you if you are on a slight incline.
Just put the key in the ignition and hear the tune of a solid feeling SUV
wake-up. The Touareg is one vehicle that is a great value for your
money.
High grade wood trim
with aluminum offers you the best of both materials in a strong design
schema. The leather package is a great addition, as the steering
 wheel
feels very soft and supple along with soft yet thick leather on the seats.
Steering wheel buttons and window controls all light up at night, even the
floor ambiance lighting can be adjusted from the instrument cluster; it is
one of the best interior lighting packages we have seen in any vehicle.
Dual zone climate controls that actually work well in the automatic setting
and heated front seats offer high levels of comfort. An auxiliary input
jack in the armrest allows you to connect your Ipod or MP3 device easily.
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 Safety
features include driver and passenger front and side impact airbags as well
as side curtain airbags on all four doors that help protect all passengers.
We would also like to mention the Bi-Xenon headlights which illuminate the
road far better than standard halogen lights. The optional Bi-Xenon lights
cost $850 but are a well worth the price as they significantly improve night
time road visibility. They are particularly effective in back roads where
there are no street lights.
 The
rear seats fold down 60/40 and folding them flat is a chore by any sense of
the word. You must flip forward the bottom of the seat first and then flip
down the rear seat backs. It takes some effort to unlock the bottom seat
cushion out of its hinge, there is no smooth and effortless way to fold down
the rear seats in the Touareg. New is an 115v power outlet in the cargo area so
you can just plug things in as you do at home. It is good to see automakers
going away from the traditional 12 volt outlets
 which
really don't serve any practical purpose in our lives. When is the last
time you actually used a 12 volt piece of equipment? We would like to see
VW put another 115v outlet in the center armrest, so we can plug in our cell
phone or laptop without having to jump all the way back in the trunk for a
recharge.
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 Our
test car starts off at $37,990. Added to this are the Navigation Plus
package for $3,350 which includes a DVD based NAV plus a rear view back up
camera, a 6-disk trunk mounted CD changer with upgraded 11 speaker stereo
system with eight-channel amplifier and an auxiliary audio jack. Also
included in our test vehicle was option Package 1 which includes 12-way
power seats, Cricket leather seats, and park distance control for $2,980.
The Bi-Xenon headlights are only $850 bringing our total to $45,840 with the
$670 destination price. The Touareg is made in
Bratislava, Slovakia and most parts inside come from Germany.
 When
comparing all the choices in this price range the decision is not so tough.
A BMW X3 is smaller than the Touareg. The Porsche Cayenne has a stiffer and
more performance oriented ride, but that also translates into a much price
tag when similarly equipped. Both the Mercedes ML and BMW X5 cost a lot
more and may have tons of electrical glitches or other small burdensome
issues. The all new 2007 Acura MDX offers similar interior room and better
technology at a slighter higher price but will not wear as well as a German
built vehicle. So the Touareg has carved itself a nice position. The high
level of luxury with fine leather and chrome/wood accents, the fit and
finish both inside and out, and the powerful and sporty engine makes this a
great buy that we would highly recommend to friends and family. A great backup camera and navigation system with superb quality of all parts really makes this a sleeper SUV that people are overlooking. Wwe
believe that VW can further improve on the styling of the Touareg by giving
it a more "bold and aggressive" appearance. It's current 'nice guy'
looks makes it easy to overlook on the road. |
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