Are any VW’s really built for the autobahn? If anyone is making an entry level autobahn vehicle it’s the zoom-zoom people at Mazda. I would argue for every VW model there is a competitor model for less money that is more an equal or more engaging drive.

The “German” engineering gimmick worked 15 years ago, but today their cars do not stand out against the Japanese rivals and many VW models are approaching prices where the move up to Audi, Mercedes and BMW is minimal for 10x the vehicle.

I like to harp on Volkswagen because I think they get a pass because they are German owned. Wonder if Volvo would get the same if they were still Swedish owned? The 4 of 5 stars is ridiculous when the Tiguan fails against its competition in major areas – price…fuel econ…historical reliability. VW fans will buy it just like Jeep fans will only buy their brand, but at the end of the day it’s not a winner.

Second off, if you are really going to buy an expensive VW, buy one that Germans actually drive. Seriously, how many Tiguans (Tiguani?) are slated for sale in the Fatherland? This thing, engineered for our wide butts and CUV egos, will have none of the DNA of the VW vehicles we really want; it’s not built for the Autobahn…so why spend the extra $$$ for it? Oh wait, I already answered that…our hipster doofus egos.

How is this most “excellent?” Premium fuel required, sub-standard MPG’s and a not too flawless record of reliability.

I’d much rather take a Honda v-tec 4 pot with better MPG’s and rock solid reliability without the turbo.

Tiger in German is the same
Iguana in German is leguan

Out of some wierd word play, the same word works in both English and German.

“tiguan” sounds like “hinting pipe” in Chinese.

Frank Williams: “Interestingly, the Q7 I reviewed had a similar sunroof setup but its sliding screens were heavier and did block the heat. I guess that’s what the difference between $33k and $67k will get you.”

Those are some expensive sunshades…

There is a translucent window shade (some kind of fabric, not a solid panel) that rolls back and forth. However, it’s perforated, fairly thin and isn’t insulated. There’s about an inch of air space between it and the glass that traps a lot of heat which then radiates into the passenger compartment. During the week I drove it I was never comfortably cool during the daytime unless it was cloudy. While I really liked it, there’s no way I’d own a Tiguan with this greenhouse option.

Interestingly, the Q7 I reviewed had a similar sunroof setup but its sliding screens were heavier and did block the heat. I guess that’s what the difference between $33k and $67k will get you.

I thought the Tiguan and Q5 shared platforms but you’re right, they don’t, although in my defense it was originally intended that they would :)

It seems someone at VAG realized it wouldn’t be a smart idea.

Still, the Q5 is already launched in Europe and it will also come with the 2.0T (with 2 different HP outputs) and a 2.0 TDI over here, alongside the 3.0TDI/3.2 FSI, but oftentimes it remains to be seen which of those will make it to the US as well, although I’d imagine offering the 2.0T would make sense from the perspective of Audi at least.

VW Tig: 18/24
Rav4 V6 FWD: 19/27 (with 271 hp!)
Escape V6 FWD: 18/28
Subie Forester AWD: 18/26
Subie Outback AWD (20/26)…(surprisingly, same as the forester!)
CRV AWD: 20/26
Nissan Rogue: 20/26.

If I had no other SUV, then height alone would be a factor. I am likely going out of town Friday, and taking the wife’s car because we suspect a foot of water in the streets on Saturday, and she made need to go into work. Some people in snowy areas may have the same issue. Higher means less need of shoveling if you live where they don’t plow.

If not, VW would surely have to be the only current manufacturer that offers a sunroof in such a manner, making the omission virtually unfathomable.

It’ll be interesting to see how Q5 pricing reflects the differences.

Megan,

according to consumer reports, the gti and all over 2.0turboed vw’s are the ones that have been iffy with regards to reliability, regardless of well built.

both the mexican made jettas and wolfsburg made rabbits with the mexi 2.5 have proven thier reliaiblity and have had litte to no issues.

i’d still not hesitate on owning a gti, even with the quirks, but in the same way that honda guys think that the models built in japan are inherently ‘better’ and are mistaken, the same goes with vw.

as far as the new beetle goes, my wife just got an 08, and we used to own an 07 mkv rabbit. there is a reason the gti is nicer. well, actually two.

1. the mk V is a MUCH newer design, the beetle is almost what, ten years old? if anything its held up rather well. it feels more upscale then my 7 year old honda fit, and feels ‘newer’ than a civic designed 10 years ago.
2. the mkV gti is the top of the line mkV (with the exception of the r32) and hence is shod more nicely. you could also say that its interior is nicer than a base rabbits no? thats understandable.

and to all posting the ‘where is the fuel ecnomy and smaller engines!!??’

you would be the same people to criticize how slow it would accelerate as well.

It certainly wasn’t for a co-worker who purchased an ‘08 Touareg. After a month or so, electrical gremlins began to appear such as erratically functioning lights, locks, windows, radio, etc. (when did VW hire the Prince of Darkness?). It then spent the better part of a month at the dealer while they went through the electrical system. If there was any upside to the whole thing, they replaced the radio with an upgraded unit with nav. for the owner’s trouble.

Also know a few others with “troubled” VW’s, so I don’t think they’ll be on my shopping list anytime soon – regardless of whether it’s source is Europe, Mexico or wherever.

If the New Beetle is cheap inside, then it’s because that’s how it was designed–in Germany. I don’t see how the Mexican point of manufacture has anything to do with it. Designing the New Beetle primarily for the U.S. market–that probably has more to do with it.

People like simple explanations. On Acura forums, it’s Japan = good, U.S. = bad. On VW forums, it’s German = good, Mexico = bad. I suppose when you’re paying extra for a German car, you want to believe that anything from Germany is inherently better, and consequently want the car to be touched only by German hands.

I do remember people posting photos on the ‘tex of 2006.5 GTIs with awful panel fits.

As for the data, it turns out that nearly all of my 2007 and 2008 MkV owners have the Rabbit or the GTI–not many Jettas. I do have a lot of 2005.5-2006 Jetta owners. In general, I get more participants from the first year of a design than for later years.

Anyway, the most comparable numbers I have:

2005.5-2006 Jetta — 52 repair trips per 100 vehicles per year

2007 Jetta — 32 per 100, but based on only 13 cars

2006.5-2007 Rabbit and GTI — 52 per 100

2008 Rabbit and GTI — 32 per 100

The Passat has a higher repair rate than the MkV Rabbit and Jetta–80 per 100 for the 2006, 61 per 100 for the 2007, 55 per 100 for the 2008 (small sample size for the last)–and it’s made in Germany.

And the Touareg? No results for it yet, but the rep certainly isn’t good.

Toyota RAV4, Suzuki Vitara, Honda CR-V, VW Tiguan… = All of them are baby SUVs.

Call them what you like, baby SUVs are for those who are aroused with the feeling of a SUV, but find SUVs difficult to drive along crowded European streets.

I don’t like them. Small hatches, sport coupes, sport sedans, coupe crossovers and luxury SUVs are my favorite types of vehicles. To hell with those wannabe-but-maybe-not-SUVs.

Golf based Tiguan in EU is considered as city-only utlity vehicle, as oposed to Touareg and other real SUVs like BMW X5, Audi Q6, Opel Antara, Mitsubishi Pajero and Jeep Cherokee.