E70s, with halogen lighting

[Poppin]

Sorry to semi-hijack this interesting thread but I notice you said you had a Touareg previous. I really don't like VWs these days but I am told they are strong and pretty cheap so just curious... how did you get on with it? Interested to hear your thoughts on it, MPG in particular.
thanks

[sapphireblack]

Mine was the five cylinder (R5) 2.5tdi. I really liked it a lot, i didnt want to sell it but had too leave it in Greece.

It was on 140k miles and still going strong. They're picky on oil, 506.01 spec only, the 3.0l models are less fussy, i beleive. MPG on motorway use about 29, less obviouly if pottering about. Plenty of aftermarket parts for them and well known for their towing abilities. A proper low range gearbox unlike X5s.

I looked for months for a like replacement but after the 2006 VED hike, good early ones are hard to come by, so i opted for an X5

[Poppin]

Interesting thanks. I don't mind low MPG round town but would be nice to see 30s on a run, one of the things that attracts me to the X5. My only fear is the shock costs. I do have a son who can do labour for free so less of a problem. For some reason I thought Touareg was better on fuel than X5s. How does the low ratio/4 wheel drive stuff work on a Touareg? Does it have Haldex system? I hear they are more capable off road and whilst thats not needed for me I am curious to know how it's better than an X5 in slippery stuff or off road

[sapphireblack]

I have never had circumstances for a back to back test and tbh, I'm not sure what system the Touareg has,, its fully electronic and i think Haldex is the VAG system. Off road on uphill loose rocky surfaces, which i encountered in Greece, the Touareg would demolish an X5. The guy who has the car now off roads it all the time.

[Poppin]

Hmm. They sound pretty capable. May have to force myself to see one at less than 100 yards which i never have!

I really do think someone dropped the ball, AVG looks way better on a webpage than VAG. Maybe just my one track mind.

[sapphireblack]

Although i am new to the E70, my E71 of six years is basically Identical when facing forwards in the driving seat.. i think the E70/71 is a more focused road going car with 4WD. The early Touaregs with low range gears is, imo, far more accomplished at anything appoaching off-road.

High spec Touaregs with electric memory seats are not common. I got lucky with mine as it had electric everything including seat belt height adjustment in the B post. I would have bought another Touareg had i been able to find one of similar age and condition. That said my X6 which is very well spec'd, is a great place to be.Having bought the E70 i was abroad within days so will get acquainted with it very soon., neither have the four useful supplementary gauges like the VW, and i personally wouldnt take either on some of the unmade roads that the VW encountered. I would have kept it and reimported it had it been financially viable.

As for your mind, tut tut,

[X5Sport]

Top Gear used a V10 Touareg to tow a 747 a few years back. It managed it with ease.

[Poppin]

Although i am new to the E70, my E71 of six years is basically Identical when facing forwards in the driving seat.. i think the E70/71 is a more focused road going car with 4WD. The early Touaregs with low range gears is, imo, far more accomplished at anything appoaching off-road.

High spec Touaregs with electric memory seats are not common. I got lucky with mine as it had electric everything including seat belt height adjustment in the B post. I would have bought another Touareg had i been able to find one of similar age and condition. That said my X6 which is very well spec'd, is a great place to be.Having bought the E70 i was abroad within days so will get acquainted with it very soon., neither have the four useful supplementary gauges like the VW, and i personally wouldnt take either on some of the unmade roads that the VW encountered. I would have kept it and reimported it had it been financially viable.

As for your mind, tut tut,

hahaha. I am really being forced to consider the bloody Touareg now! First look at one a few weeks ago when you first mentioned, yuk.But the more i look at the more its growing on me. It'll never look as attractive as an x5, but as a replacement for a Disco it sure as hell looks the best thing on the market.That said, I am not really looking to replace the Disco as i never really needed such a capable vehicle anyway. I hardly ever leave the road, but occasionally do need to, tow an animal trailer with a sheep or two across fields, or shoot some bunnies, or tow and launch a boat (under 2 ton all in). So I think an x5 would do all I need, but probably better on the 18 or 19"wheels rather than 20". But the more I look at the Touareg the more it shouts 'I can do what a Disco can do, but I am half way to being an x5 in terms of luxury and smoothness"!

[Poppin]

Top Gear used a V10 Touareg to tow a 747 a few years back. It managed it with ease.

A V WHAT?!!!! TEN?!
Actually that's a good point, i have glanced at Touaregs on ebay/autotrader and it seems there are two engines. 2.5 and 3.0 TDIs. Fuel economy figures make the 2.5 look better, but they botyh look bloody thirsty. Their book figures are lower than a Disco 2 and they get nowhere near book values! I do think an X5 will be significantly better on fuel which has to be a consideration tyhese days on evbery vehicle purchase.

[Poppin]

X5Sport - As a resident and veritable expert, may I pose a question...

If I got an X5, and I wanted to make it a bit more agricultural looking (bear with me!) - I think I could fit 19" wheels,some say 18" too butu others say 18s won't clear the brakes (maybe thats only M Sport if they have bigger brakes) - But could I fit some bigger profile tyres? I know it must match all round for the X Drive system, but what if I wanted a second set of wheels/tyres for winter. On my Disco it came standard with 18" wheels. Knocked your teeth out on bumps so I got a set of 16" wheels with much deeper profile on the tyres. It drives much nicer too as it happens, but bit more squashiness for field or bumpy roads. Is it possible to do something similar with an X5, whether it be an M Sport or a standard model?

[X5Sport]

It’s possible but you’ll impact the Speedo if the outer diameter changes. Whether it’s enough to matter I can’t say as I’ve never done it. The wheel sizes are 18” - 21” and I believe it’s only the V8 petrols or possibly the M50D that have the brake challenge. A dealer would be able to confirm. Either that or look at the tyre pressure plate as that will have the ‘approved’ sizes for that car. A square setup would be the only safe option to avoid wind-up.

What might be an issue would be turning circle where the tyres might foul the wheel arch inner wall or suspension at some point.

The V10 Touareg was made from 2003 to 2009. 5.0 Litre V10 diesel. 140mph, 308bhp and similar torque to the X5/6 40d of 2010 plus Euro3 and 330g/km emissions killed it. Was supposed to have been a bit of a beast.

[Poppin]

Wow, bet that was fun before the guvvermint ruined it like they do with everything else anyone enjoys.
Will keep an eye out for one!

[Greydog]

I do understand customising a car but for me it has to be subtle or even not noticed unless the person seeing it is a real petrol head
When moving to the X5 it was a simple decision, the car had to be able to pull a Horse Trailerlook smart with reasonable performance and cope with mild off road stuff when out shooting. I was coming from a series of 3 AMG Estate cars (Shooting I used the wifes Subaru Outback) so first look was the Mercedes ML but that was ugly, the Porsche Cayenne of that era looked half finished. I had friends with Range Rovers and I had had one. I also had friends with Audi and Touregs both had suffered issues so it was a 4.4 V8 X5 LPG equiped followed by a 4.6is V8 and then the Current 3.0d E70, all have had some personal upgrades but would I want it to look like a Farm Tractor !! I dont think so
Wheels and tyres as said I run a set of 19" wheels fitted with 255x50x19 Wintrac Extreme winter tyres. summer set are 275x40x20 Front and 315x35x20 Rear Hankook are the current tyre fitted

[Poppin]

Thanks. Personal tastes - Personally I think a 3.0SD X5 with 18" wheels and all terrain tyres could look perfectly cool to my eye

[sapphireblack]

Thanks. Personal i think a 3.0SD X5 with 18" wheels and all terrain tyres could look perfectly cool to my eye

What is your location? You're welcome to try out my newly acquired E70 before my personalising commences.

FWIW a 19" square set up on regular tyres rides ok, still firm but not bone crunching as offered by the 20" runflat tyres. There are some nice looking original 19" square wheel set ups. I missed a local set with winter rubber quite recently for £150 because i couldn't get them inside the X6. They were filthy and i didnt want them inside the car. Now of course the X5 would have accomodated them

An additional thought with a square set-up is the rears looks pretty lost in the arches if only a 9" width. You would need spacers imo to widen the track, albeit you won't be looking at the cars rear while driving ir. Another scenario is to look for an SE spec car without the flared wheel arches, though I discovered many of those don't have heated seats or the nice anthracite headlining.