Thread: Comparison advice requested: D4 v Touareg

IMHO

Toerag:- Good value, nice engine. Cargo space too small.

VoVo:- poor value and dated, smaller than Toerag or D4.

Anorak: Best of the utes.

Evoque:- Great looking head turner. But RR badge makes it exe.

D4 :- Lots of space, good value but doesn't handle as well as the others.

I have both, and still do, use both to tow a 3.5 tonne triple axle horse float.

We bought the D4 to take over the towing duties but also for touring (patrol swapped, so had to go for the 3.0 as the touareg was a great tow vehicle). The vw toaureg now has more options such as Bullbar, rear wheel carrier, top full length roof rack system, and 2 inch lift kit.....but.....I love my vw for day to day work so could not take it off road, but I have on one occasion in the sand dunes in Jurien....it was a weapon.

Towing, vw uses close the 1.5 lp 100 less than the disco, and with the wdh (which is no longer recommended by vw on the 2012 touareg) is a smoother tow than the D4. The D4 with air makes hitching a breeze. The wife loves the new hitch method, but even the wife noticed that you do feel the heavy trailer more with the D4......but we use the D4 for 90% of the heavy duty towing (only when I go bush does she use the vw).

The trade off is still worth the D4 for the overall things it can do, and the greater accessories options. I hope that in four years time it has performed faultlessly like the vw.

The vw has given me 4 years of perfect motoring, with sensational economy. The D4 on average is about 1.5 lp 100 more to run but it is much heavier, and it really is an arm chair on wheels, where the vw is more fun in its handling.

Just the other day we put them both side by side in a drag, both without sport mode and both with sport mode. The D4 beat the vw to 70 on both occasions, but then the vw wound up and shot past the D4 at 120 when the D4 just hit 100....not scientific but really surprised me that the D4 was that quick!

I love having both, but we are seriously considering swapping the vw for a vw passat cc....we really can work it out so we don't need two heavy duty tow vehicles.

Brett....

jc109, your mate is not really comparing apples with apples with the varied range of vehicles on his list except for the Touareg and the D4. And to an extent that depends on which model Touareg he considers as only one model, the V6 TDI 4XMOTION, has low range now.

He needs to decide what he wants/needs, an SUV, a ute or a 4WD. Once he decides a test drive will convince him which to choose.

I did consider a Touareg and still think that is is a very nice well built vehicle but, in my case, the D4 won out.

CaverD3's summation is pretty much spot on.

Discotwinturbo has given you a frank and unbiased appraisal of both vehicles so you have plenty of good info for you mate to help him decide.

Lou...

What is their planned / expected use for it?
And what vehicle are they coming from now?
I want to get some perspective on their expectations

As a "VW guy" I struggle to get past the Touareg's looks (even the new ones), but on paper it is certainly comparable to a Disco. Aftermarket support is average / minimal which is what swayed me towards Land Rover.
I test drove an Amarok a while back - aside from being 20% bigger than I thought it would be (it's no hilux), that was a really pleasant and familiar cabin style. Even though the manual was a nice drive it needs to have an auto to compete in this class. (I believe it's coming)

Bottom line is I wasn't prepared to be a guinea pig for VW (twin turbo 2.0 diesel in the Amarok) on such a large investment for my family. The Touareg is a bit more of a known quantity but I still feel like they are in the mode of 'getting it right'. The D4 is an evolution of a design that has been around for a while now.
I should add I had the twin charged 1.4 engine and a dual clutch gearbox in one of of my Golfs (personal cars, not family cars), as new releases and they were flawless. I trust the VW brand and believe that in a few more years they will be a force in every class of vehicle.

Until then I'll let others be the guinea pig for me.... So maybe your mate should get the touareg.

That's fantastic guys. Thanks so much for your help.

Tinto, I think they own a Golf Gti and a Passat. I may be off, but that's pretty close. I've just sent him a link to this thread so he may chime in and correct me.

He wants a fourby but isn't interested in anything too severe. Lives in Margaret River. Will do some beach time. Probably regular but easy beach time, with a board or two and some light gear.

They want something nice. I suspect comfort would be at the top of any list of priorities.

Mind you, once this gap is filled I think his wife will be after a new BMW, so this may not have to cover all bases.

Yeah for my wife and I, space and offroad capability won out between the D4 and the Toureg, but although you get more metal for your money around the $80k mark with the D4, there's a lot of the nice stuff you don't get - keyless entry, power fold mirrors, power tailgate etc, oh and that sweet 3.0l engine which remaps a treat

If it's light duties and their not worried about space or off-road mods, then the Evoque would be a better buy than the D4. More economical, and more of a "luxury sports car" feel, but will still do beaches and dunes with ease. We're taking ours to the Margaret River beaches at the end of the month!

Cheers,

Gordon