2003-2005 Touareg - any know problems?
Discussion
I will soon be on the look out for a 2003~2005 3.0 TDI Touareg, always fancied one and due to uncertainty over work in the coming new year a replacement lease car is not happening, and I've decided on a Touareg.
Are there any known things to look out for on these models of this age?
Any pointers to owners forums with helpful lists of potential known problems?
Is it a good idea to go down to my local VW garage and get them to print out the full service history for any potential cars I'm looking at? (I believe that would cover any accident damage / major repairs done by VW).
Any other helpful tips gratefully received.
Are there any known things to look out for on these models of this age?
Any pointers to owners forums with helpful lists of potential known problems?
Is it a good idea to go down to my local VW garage and get them to print out the full service history for any potential cars I'm looking at? (I believe that would cover any accident damage / major repairs done by VW).
Any other helpful tips gratefully received.
Complicated, over-engineered cars and a 10+ year old example could cost a lot to maintain if age-related consumables give up the ghost. Not a car to run on a tight budget.
Check ALL the electrical items work.
Check condition of all suspension bushes and joints. Big, heavy car and these take a pounding, as do the brakes.
Remove mats from front footwells and press down hard on the carpet with your hands and make sure the area is bone dry. Water ingress can puddle here and corrode wiring looms. Expensive to fix.
Propshaft centre support bearing needs replacing at 60k miles, but it's a 300 quid job, so not too ruinous.
I have managed 30k miles on a set of rotated Grabber AT2 tyres.
Wonderful car. I'd keep mine over my M5.
Check ALL the electrical items work.
Check condition of all suspension bushes and joints. Big, heavy car and these take a pounding, as do the brakes.
Remove mats from front footwells and press down hard on the carpet with your hands and make sure the area is bone dry. Water ingress can puddle here and corrode wiring looms. Expensive to fix.
Propshaft centre support bearing needs replacing at 60k miles, but it's a 300 quid job, so not too ruinous.
I have managed 30k miles on a set of rotated Grabber AT2 tyres.
Wonderful car. I'd keep mine over my M5.
A colleague had an 04 one, but a 2.5L manual. He spent a lot of money on the engine at around 80K miles and had various transmission and drive-shaft problems.
He ran it for another 80K and his indie told him to get shut of it. He was crapping himself when its replacement was delayed a month in case it packed up again.
Having said that, if you buy almost any car that's 10-12 yrs old it's pretty well at the end of its life so how long it keeps going without major repairs is a matter of luck unless you can find one that's had a ton of money spent on it recently.
He ran it for another 80K and his indie told him to get shut of it. He was crapping himself when its replacement was delayed a month in case it packed up again.
Having said that, if you buy almost any car that's 10-12 yrs old it's pretty well at the end of its life so how long it keeps going without major repairs is a matter of luck unless you can find one that's had a ton of money spent on it recently.
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