RE: 2021 VW Tiguan R order books open

[Roger Irrelevant]

I'd really like one of these. Quick possibly daft question from somebody who's not used to buying cars new: would it be possible to spec smaller wheels with higher sidewalls from the factory? The absolute biggest I'd want would be 19s and preferably 18s (if they'd clear the brakes, obvs).

[The Rotrex Kid]

Roger Irrelevant said:

I'd really like one of these. Quick possibly daft question from somebody who's not used to buying cars new: would it be possible to spec smaller wheels with higher sidewalls from the factory? The absolute biggest I'd want would be 19s and preferably 18s (if they'd clear the brakes, obvs).

Not normally, no. These 21’s are standard (which is mental) you could likely get some aftermarket smaller wheels but from the factory they’re unlikely to offer smaller wheels.

I like that you can add an Akrapovic exhaust for £3100

[Arsecati]

GTEYE said:

It's because the Germans have gone all Eco developed a phobia about animal based products, such as leather on the seats.

Witness Autogefuhl on YouTube - on reviews, he often marks cars down for having "animal skin" seats.

Curiously, the UK prefers leather to cloth.

I personally find leather quite chavvy. Granted, 3 of my cars do have leather, but they are all old. I certainly wouldn't order it in a new car - I think we've gone past the stage where we need to spread animal skins over our seats now (like leather jackets and leather trousers, yeah, very classy!!).

[Every day a journey]

A tall golf R.

How exciting...

[RonnieHotdogs]

I wonder how many VW group cars you CAN'T get with the 300bhp(ish) EA888, a DSG gearbox and 4WD?

[iphonedyou]

Ecosseven said:

Looks OK although I think the wheels are way too big. 18" should be more than enough and give a better ride.

I would also question the costs. I know that VAG will make far larger margins on this model than a basic Tiguan but in the real world a 150 diesel model will suit the vast majority of people interested in a family SUV. Good to have the choice though.

The 150 diesels are a bit lethargic in something this size and weight, though.

My wife has no interest in cars, or going fast - but still felt her Q3 (150 diesel) was gutless enough to warrant trading for a 45TFSI which at 227bhp just feels better suited and less exasperated all the time.

[Every day a journey]

Arsecati said:

I personally find leather quite chavvy. Granted, 3 of my cars do have leather, but they are all old. I certainly wouldn't order it in a new car - I think we've gone past the stage where we need to spread animal skins over our seats now (like leather jackets and leather trousers, yeah, very classy!!).

Leather is great.

1. If you have small children it's easier to clean.

2. It smells nice (unless you're a vegan).

3. It looks nice, way way nicer than cloth.

4. It smells nice.

5. There's nothing 'Chav' about it (unless it's some god awful two tone thing with bk holders a la the new M3)

6. IT smells nice.

7. If you and the Mrs are into dogging, see point 1.

8. It's far more hard wearing than cloth.


Faux leather, now that IS st. None of the benefits of proper leather, looks st, feels st, wears out quicker than cloth.

A lot depends on the quality of the leather too. Up until it dies last year I had an oldish Jag (90s XJ) was a lovely place to be. at 25 years old the leather was in far better condition than my Dad's current X something (really not sure what one it is) BMW which was 4 maybe 5 years old and with far lower mileage than the Jag. Step into a new Rolls Royce and that is other worldly!

[ajap1979]

Every day a journey said:

Leather is great.

1. If you have small children it's easier to clean.

2. It smells nice (unless you're a vegan).

3. It looks nice, way way nicer than cloth.

4. It smells nice.

5. There's nothing 'Chav' about it (unless it's some god awful two tone thing with bk holders a la the new M3)

6. IT smells nice.

Believe it or not, but there are some people who don’t like the look of it, don’t like the smell of it, and do think it’s chavvy, regardless of the provenance of cow it came from.

[Every day a journey]

ajap1979 said:

Believe it or not, but there are some people who don’t like the look of it, don’t like the smell of it, and do think it’s chavvy, regardless of the provenance of cow it came from.

But they're either:

a) Vegan. In which case their opinion is worthless.

b) EA7 tracksuit wearing idiots. With tiny man bags.

[ajap1979]

Every day a journey said:

ajap1979 said:

Believe it or not, but there are some people who don’t like the look of it, don’t like the smell of it, and do think it’s chavvy, regardless of the provenance of cow it came from.

But they're either:

a) Vegan. In which case their opinion is worthless.

b) EA7 tracksuit wearing idiots. With tiny man bags.

I’m sure you’re joking, but you’re coming across like a bit of a dick.

[Escort Si-130]

Much better than the Golf R, part from the crappy R logo. I would chose this over the Golf R anyday. At least they havent screwed up the front of the Tiguan like they did with the Golf.

[abzmike]

Every day a journey said:

A tall golf R.

How exciting...

A tall Golf R is a T-Roc R... every gap is filled dear customer.

[okenemem]

not sure about this especially with the existence of the sq5 or the cupra Formentor five pot

[DoctorX]

occasionalranter said:

I have a year old 230 TSI 4motion Tiguan, which was previously the warmest version available. Thoughts:
- the 230ps lump (an old iteration of the Golf GTI lump) is a bit overwhelmed by the lardiness of the Tiguan and I would enjoy the extra power of the R;
- the Tiguan's other problem is the dullness of the drive and steering. If the R version cuts the understeeriness, great. If it allows the power to be rear- rather than front-biased, even better, but I'm not sure whether it does that. BMW's xdrive it is not.

But those are the only things that might get me interested. The price of the R is ridiculous. The seats are gash (compared particularly to an SEL/Elegance which has very smart if dull interior). The new haptic controls are an act of self sabotage by VW. And the wheels are very silly indeed. The road noise will be irritating, the kerb rash instant and the tyre replacement cost criminal.

Will keep running my TSI on its sensible-ish 19s and just remap it in a couple of years to "keep the marriage fresh".

I’ve got a mere 190 bhp in my three year old SEL. The DSG makes it feel reasonably brisk away from the lights, I’d imagine the 230 is nice. This recent facelift does nothing for me and there’s some blatant cost cutting going on. These nasty heater controls are probably cheaper to produce, the R line equipment is no longer comparable to the SEL or whatever it’s now called (so no pano roof etc) and even the hard boot floor is gone (unless you spec a spare wheel or audio upgrade) with just a bit of floppy carpet lobbed in. As much as I like mine, I can’t see me getting another at the prices they’re now charging.

[anonymous-user]

50k for a fast VW, world's mad. Can see why everyone leases now.

[anonymous-user]

curvature said:

That interior is shocking for a £45k car.

Absolutely. Looks crap for the money.

[Arsecati]

Every day a journey said:

But they're either:

a) Vegan. In which case their opinion is worthless.

b) EA7 tracksuit wearing idiots. With tiny man bags.

Well I'm neither of them, so clearly you need to update your stereotypes. We're well in to the 21st century now, and to keep thinking that sliced skin from a cow is the ultimate way of covering the seats on a 21st century car, is frankly archaic and anachronistic. Modern leather doesn't smell either, and even the smell of aged leather in an ancient car is purely subjective and from what I remember - gave me a headache after a while (certainly does in my 50 year old SL). Hard wearing? You may want to say that to the cloth interior of my old Volvo 940 (currently in semi-retirement in a shed till I decide to do something mad with it) with well over 320k miles on it. Apart from a small area of the drivers seat where the stitching has come undone, the material all over the car is still superb. 'Looks' again are also subjective, but there are plenty of non-leather alternatives which look indistinguishable.

You need to come in to the 2020's mate, though considering you have actually stated you're into dogging - I guess it kinda makes sense now why you have such a fixation on leather.

[FlukePlay]

I like this and I have always liked this generation of Tiguan. It's subtle, not over-styled and although the interior is bland and lacking in any 'wow' or 'this is a nice place to be' it suits the car. If it had massive touchscreens you'd be kicking it hard in the nuts.

Compare interiors...the Mustang Mach-E sits at the same £46K price point, offers AWD is probably the EV version of the Tiguan. Which interior do you prefer? I am really not sure why the Mach-E has such a vastly oversized screen...the in-car version of home cinema? Maybe in this eco vegan sharing is caring world you'd like the occupants in the car behind to watch the same screen as you?

[ch37]

FlukePlay said:

Compare interiors...the Mustang Mach-E sits at the same £46K price point, offers AWD is probably the EV version of the Tiguan. Which interior do you prefer?

Honestly, for day to day usability I'd much rather have the Tiguan interior. That Mach-E screen is my worst nightmare (supersized), and I say that as a young-type person more than happy with a 'smart' home, mirrorless camera and oversized phone that doesn't really fit in my pocket etc.

[wastedyouth86]

FlukePlay said:

I like this and I have always liked this generation of Tiguan. It's subtle, not over-styled and although the interior is bland and lacking in any 'wow' or 'this is a nice place to be' it suits the car. If it had massive touchscreens you'd be kicking it hard in the nuts.

Compare interiors...the Mustang Mach-E sits at the same £46K price point, offers AWD is probably the EV version of the Tiguan. Which interior do you prefer? I am really not sure why the Mach-E has such a vastly oversized screen...the in-car version of home cinema? Maybe in this eco vegan sharing is caring world you'd like the occupants in the car behind to watch the same screen as you?

Just imagine the annoyance of getting a dead pixel right in the middle of that screen!