Took my V6 TD to stockton beach a few weeks ago. If you don’t know where that is it is just north of Newcastle and is probably one of the best places for soft sand dunes around. And I am talking some massive sand dunes. I had alot of trouble to start with… i think just basically learning how to drive the car on sand after many years of owning a Landcruiser. Mine also has the 19in wheels so I found I just had to keep dropping the tyre pressure – eventually down to about 12psi. Once I did that and drove the car in tiptronic mode it was amazing. Normally I could get away with 20psi, but i suspect because there is not much tyre to bulge with the 19in wheels I had to go significantly lower.

You should have no troubles at all. Hope this helps.

Bought a V6 Touareg instead (air suspension option, sport setting is fantastic around the streets – sometimes i even prefer it over the VY SS). I can tell you this car is fantastic so who cares whether VW has a long history of making 4wd. I just can’t imagine why you would base a decision on history? (sure if they have a history of building crap, then that makes sense) It’s your choice I guess but I reckon you are going to miss out on some great vehicles. Sure 120K is alot but in reality its probably pretty cheap compared to other similar cars, especially when you look at the included options if you buy the V10.

I guess the only concern I have is when I take the VW out to the outback will I find someone who can work on it??? One of the advantages of the Toyota is it seems easy to find someone to work on it… although maybe even the newer Landcruisers might be getting a bit too high tech??

I always get a chuckle when I hear people try and can the Touareg by using lack of history in 4wd or that it does not have the prestige of BMW etc.

I own this model Touareg with the V6 diesel (same colour etc as the pics above).
It has been taken to out-back NT, Mallee deserts etc.
It performs extremely well.
I have driven the Cayenne S and the BMW X5 in V6 and V8 trim.

Value for money the Treg wins hands down.
The X5 is terrific on the highway but is not a ‘real’ 4wd, BMW agree that it is not an offroader.
The Cayenne is great fun but you are really buying the same car at a more expensive price (the differences are less than people would think).

The beauty of the Treg is that it is not the brand aware tossers that buy it, it is for a different market segment.

You cant compare it to Jeep, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mercedes and Toyota as the Touareg is multi faceted (compare the first 4 on the highway) and does not rattle and leak dust.

The Land Rover is the nearest comparison and to be honest I think both are very good cars. Land Rover think the Treg is the only real threat to their market segment… that speaks heaps.

It’s very capable off road, especially with AT tyres.
You’d want to order the full sized spare option.

VW did invest heavily in highly modified race touaregs for the dakar rally (which was canceled last year) but also used stock cars as support vehicles.

If you want the most capable 4wd, I think you could find better for less. There are few accessories for the Touareg, such as winches, bull bars, lights and importantly snorkels.

If like most of us you drive on the bitumen most of the time (including the 100K+ trip from the city to you favourite off road site) then I think you’ll appreciate the all terain nature of this car. It does everything well.

It’s scary fast off the line….it has soooo much torque!

Thanks very much for your comment. That makes sense, and in some cars you can’t feel what the steering is doing – too true.

However the Touareg doesn’t have that problem, and we failed to get it bogged, even on road pressures, therefore it’s probably only necessary in conditions that most owners will never experience.

‘Linked to the steering is an angle sensor, which alerts you to your wheel offset in relation to the straight ahead. I’m not exactly sure why that’s necessary’

If I understand this feature correctly, I can see geat advantage in its use.

As a semi-professional vehicle recoverer on Nth Straddie I can’t tell you the number of paniced 4wd’ers I’ve seen trying to push a mountain of soft sand because their front wheels were not in alignment with their car. Usually as a result of paniced driving or trying to reverse out of trouble. This of course ensures they bog themselves up to the axle. It can be quite difficult to feel where your front wheels are pointed in very soft sand.
This sensor would be of great benefit to these drivers in ensuring the maintain maximum momentum.
I would like to see it as a standard feature on all 4WD’s.
…excellent review, isn’t powder soft sand adrenalin enducing! And that stuff looked soft!

“Now, to question the credentials of the VW/Cayenne off Road packages, indicates a severe lack of Googling.?”
I never said it wasn’t good and did not “bag it” again you are assuming things I have not said. I was questioning the heritage of VW and 4WD and that $120K should buy you some heritage with regards to any class of car. I don’t believe the VW Toureg offers this. To some people I’m sure this is not important. For me it is, not for a $30K car but for a $120K car it is.

May I suggest the reason VW are competing in various events is because they too realise heritage and history is important when trying to shift $120K 4WDs? They understand by having a strong involvement in a particular field of motor sport is good for the brand. It builds trust, respect and integrity. But it is built over time, maybe even 60 years as you mentioned.

Name one that has made off-road 4×4 vehicles for over a century.

Land Rover and Jeep have maybe chalked up 60 years each, and both have been capable, until perhaps recently, of making unbelievably UNRELIABLE vehicles.

Now, to question the credentials of the VW/Cayenne off Road packages, indicates a severe lack of Googling.

Touareg holds the altitude record for a standard vehicle car-reviews.automobile.com/news/vw-sets-altitude-record-with-stock-touareg-v6/1282/ , Porsces competed in a Cross-Siberia Rally, The R5 touareg is used in the Paris-Dakar, and various other off-road challenges.

So, since you like to be provoked to think, I suggest you do some research on the vehicle before you bag it.

When I said Porsche I did not mention Cayenne, you have assumed this. I wouldn’t buy one either and think it deserves the same respect as the VW. I meant if I were looking at a rear engined sports car Porsche would be what all cars are are compared to in my eyes. Same with a M3 if I was looking for front engine rear drive sports car.

Reckless says: “You should get “centuries” of manufacturer experience” – you can’t buy a Land Rover, Jeep, Toyota or any Jap car if that’s your criteria.”

I was speaking in general terms some manufacturers have gone over the 100 year mark designing a certain type of car. It makes sense to think they are good at it because they have been doing it so long.

Reckless says: “what a stupid comment.”

Because it is different from your own? There’s a wise saying I heard once “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” At least I’m provoking people to think, and hey we might even learn something including me.

The Porsche Cayenne (gets a plus) is the same chassis and drivetrain as the Touareg (doesn’t get a plus) – how does a thinking person reconcile this?. Yes, the VW doesn’t have the Porsche v8, but to even try and imply that the V10 diesel has no soul is falling into the bottom of the stupid pit.

“You should get “centuries” of manufacturer experience” – you can’t buy a Land Rover, Jeep, Toyota or any Jap car if that’s your criteria – what a stupid comment.

Andrew queried whether VW had a long history in off-road vehicles. I assured him they did. Have another read. Sorry, but I wasn’t kidding myself.