My asst is looking at buying a VW Touareg with AWD and V8... Any insight?

Know that the cost of ownership for German cars will be a good bit higher than other brands. Plus routine maintenance around 100k will be $$$ since parts for them are more expensive.

Audi/VW makes some pretty good V8s. They're typically set up different than American ones though - high revving with top end power instead of low revving with low range torque.

EDIT: Rookie mistake. Meant German cars and thought the Touareg was an Audi. But both companies do have the same ownership.

A VW SUV would be at the very bottom of my list of cars to buy, even a brand new one. I just do not trust VW at all. Also, what's the need for an AWD V8 for a single mom? AWD's are higher maintenance and lower fuel efficiency.

I'm guessing based on the description, her price is around 10k? I would be looking for a used crossover with lower miles. A CR-V or Edge would be good to look at.

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Are those V8s good engines?

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Very. Arguably one of the best.

A VAGCOM tool can be bought for pretty cheap but it doesn't sound like she's going to be doing her own work.

The little things on these cars can nickel and dime you to death. The struts and ball joints wear out pretty quick around town.

Make damn sure the timing belt has been done, get proof if you can, or change it the first day.

Also there is this funky gear for the AWD that likes to bind up at low speeds. People who bounce around town in these have problems but there is a software update that corrects this issue. Make sure it has this update.

I've said it before and I will stand by my theory that the best ever around town SUV is a 2007 and up FWD 3.2 XC90. We use one for our runners and it's gets rode hard. ZERO mechanical failures in over 300k miles. My buddy just bought one for his 16yr old daughter, it's an 08 with 79k miles, loaded, for $10,850 after tax title and license.

Definitely do not neglect the timing belt.

My insight is you can't read....

Clearly states is an 06 with 100k on it

stay away from AWD. Tear up one tire with road hazard or blowout and depending on wear, you buy 4 because of differences in wear and rotation. Computer can't handle the different tire circumferences has been my experience from actual experience.

The AWD isn't the draw.... It's the cost of the vehicle. It's been well kept from what I can see, I just want to make sure it's dependable after 100k.

Can't have her not being at work!

yeh.... i told her she needed to probably look into something else. I think she is trying to keep it under 10k. Found an XC90 at baton rouge volvo that is an 08 with 84k on it. they have it listed for 11,980. I told her to call on it and see what its about.

a good friend's wife drives a 2013 XC90. we rode in it to houston and it was much more comfortable than I thought it would be. I know this, its built like a tank. She got into an accident a while back and there was a lot less damage than there should have been.

We are looking at buying my wife a new vehicle at the end of the year/beginning of next year and its one of the few on the list. The damn price tag on the 16s are tough to eat though.

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Computer can't handle the different tire circumferences has been my experience from actual experience.

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Well, yea. You shouldn't have staggered wheel diameters on an AWD vehicle. And even if you do replace an older tire with a new one from a blowout (happened to me a couple weeks ago) the difference is so small that it won't tear up the differential or anything.

My Yukon is AWD and it's somewhat grown on me. I like how predictable it is in any weather condition.

I will say this about AWD vehicles though... They absolutely chew through tires. I drive a bit more aggressively than others but you will see those front tires get chewed up faster than usual. It has surprised me but it's something I'm willing to deal with for the benefit of AWD.