DaGonz
Autopia fire/rescue.
Very nice, Brad!
Out with the old...and in with a diesel!
- Thread starter Brad B
- Start date
Brad B
New member
Accumulator said:
You're right. They couldn't be more different. The Toyota is a truck, plain and simple. Body on frame feel is very trucky. The handling, while pretty impressive for what it is, is still slow and wallowy. And it's a bit noisy is an agricultural sort of way. The interior is what I consider typically Japanese in style, lots of slick plastic, etc. All that said, it was a great vehicle to own. The size was perfect. It had no blind spots and was easier to maneuver in a tight space than anything I own. And I didn't worry about leaving it unattended in a parking lot.
The Touareg feels like it was carved out of a solid brick of aluminum. Things thunk when they close. switches are solid and feel well made. Everything looks and feels luxurious. The handling is very car like. And it has a really tight turning circle. And it's fast by SUV standards. The 400+ ft lbs of torque push it along very well. And it's so quiet. The seats all fold down with a push of a button. The same configuration of the 4Runner, but so much more convenient to use. It really feels a lot like our Audi...only bigger. But the size of the car, easily 10 inches longer and 6 inches wider than the 4Runner make things like back up cameras and parking sensors mandatory. That I don't like. I find it unnatural to drive while looking at a screen in the dash.
We definitely feel like we have gone upmarket and we are really happy with it. But I kind of miss the 4Runner a bit too.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Brad B.- Ah, yeah...that's about what I'd expected.
Heh heh, my Old Body Style (OBS) Tahoe is body-on-frame and even the Toyota is light-years more carlike than it is, but all the things you liked about the yota apply in the same way.
Heh heh#2, probably good for my wallet that I didn't know you were selling the yota
Those 4-Runners *do* have a lot of appeal in the "boxy truck" category and you sure had that one in nice shape.
Cool that the VW's interior works for you. That TBSS I had simple *DID NOT* work for what I use 'em for and I was hoping you'd found something nice and practical. So many "modern" SUVs don't really have all that much usable room inside for all their size and bulk.
Yeah..."a big Audi" :xyxthumbs Without all the tough-to-detail styling that makes me cringe whenever I see one of the Audi SUVs! The VW is nice and clean, oughta be pretty easy to live with.
Heh heh, my Old Body Style (OBS) Tahoe is body-on-frame and even the Toyota is light-years more carlike than it is, but all the things you liked about the yota apply in the same way.
Heh heh#2, probably good for my wallet that I didn't know you were selling the yota
Those 4-Runners *do* have a lot of appeal in the "boxy truck" category and you sure had that one in nice shape.Cool that the VW's interior works for you. That TBSS I had simple *DID NOT* work for what I use 'em for and I was hoping you'd found something nice and practical. So many "modern" SUVs don't really have all that much usable room inside for all their size and bulk.
Yeah..."a big Audi" :xyxthumbs Without all the tough-to-detail styling that makes me cringe whenever I see one of the Audi SUVs! The VW is nice and clean, oughta be pretty easy to live with.
2005GTPinMD
New member
Congrats - keep us updated about the Treg. I am looking into getting one myself so that I can transport our 85 lbs lab more easily than in a sedan.
Brad B
New member
2005GTPinMD said:
That's funny! A big decision maker for me was making sure Sparky, my Portugeuse Water Dog, could easily get in and out. I wanted plenty of floor room so she could step up between the front and back seat when she climbs in. I figure when she's old she won't as easily be able to jump up or down on the seat from the ground. The Touareg has a LOT of knee room and the back seat also slides for and aft and reclines. Very doggy friendly!
Accumulator
Well-known member
Brad B. said:
Ah, that's precisely what I was wondering about! I usually end up removing the rear seat (or at least one section of it) to better facilitate dog-access. Nice that you won't have to do that.
And thanks for sharing the pic of Sparky!
You given any thought to protecting/covering the interior with something like Canine Covers or a HatchBag?
2005GTPinMD
New member
Beautiful dog - as for the Treg it is a beautiful ride. The hybrid looks so tempting to me - not because of it being a hybrid - rather because of the power output.
Brad B
New member
2005GTPinMD said:
I drove one for the better part of a day and it is sweet. I went with the TDI mainly because of the power even though it cost a premium. The hybrid was even more $$ and I couldn't justify it. But if you have the coin it's worth a look.
Brad B
New member
Accumulator said:
Yes, I am going to do a variation on what I did for my Audi. On the Audi I went to a fabric store and purchased a length of gray vinyl that matches my leather color. I basically made a seat cover that hooked into the headrest holes, went down the seatback to the seat bottom. At the seat bottom I added some flaps that tuck into the crack at the base of the swayback to hold it in place. Then I continued along the seat bottom and let it overhang the seat several inches. I even went so far as to add flaps at the very bottom that flip out over the door sills to protect that area. It works perfectly well, is easy to install and isn't as noticable as some other solutions.
Now, several years later I have learned a bit and will simplify my design for Sparky. She hasn't ever done anything to the seat back so I am just going to do the seat bottom. And I covered my door sills in clear film so I will skip the lower flaps, too. But I am definitely going to use the vinyl fabric again since it really looks oem!
If you aren't handy with a sewing machine you can just cut the panels to fit and take it to a seamstress for assembly. There are plenty of folks that do freelance sewing. I found ours at the fabric shop community bulletin board. It cost only $25.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Brad B.- Shouldn't known that you'd a) do something along those lines, and b) do it right :xyxthumbs
I've toyed with the idea of having my leather/etc.-goods guy do some sewing on my stuff (bulk HatchBag material) but for now I've just cut it to size and tucked it in nice and tight.
Good move using PPF on the sills! I just have a length of HatchBag that folds down to cover that area, but then the vehicles I'm using for this are genuine beaters (by Autopian standards ) and kinda specific-purposed as opposed to a nice new Touareg 
I've toyed with the idea of having my leather/etc.-goods guy do some sewing on my stuff (bulk HatchBag material) but for now I've just cut it to size and tucked it in nice and tight.
Good move using PPF on the sills! I just have a length of HatchBag that folds down to cover that area, but then the vehicles I'm using for this are genuine beaters (by Autopian standards
) and kinda specific-purposed as opposed to a nice new Touareg Brad, I have always admired your garage. Now I have to admire it even more as I have a black 2012 TDI Touareg Executive. You will notice that after washing, the side view mirror housings will "bleed" water down the door for hours after washing. I use compressed air before I towel dry but it just re accumulates and drips back down causing some staining. If you come up with a solution, I would love to know. I also have a problem with the rear wiper dribbling washer fluid down the outside of the rear hatch seemingly at random. Very frustrating since I wash the car enough to never have to use the sprayer. Other than that, I have put 23,000 miles on it in a year. What a great road trip vehicle. Enjoy your TDI!
Accumulator
Well-known member
pmnewton said:
Not that I've ever done a Touareg, but I use compressed air again *after* I do the towel drying.
2005GTPinMD
New member
Brad B. said:
I cannot wait to test drive one....of course commuting into downtown DC with an SUV will suck.
Junebug
JAFO
Nice ride Brad! Now all you need to do is get some Mossy Oak Camo seat covers and you'll be ready to come over to my house for steaks and beer. You can slip them back off when you go back to your "hood".
Take care man,
JB
Take care man,
JB