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Long-term Test
Volkswagen Touareg V6 3.0 TDI

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Touareg at 10K
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Introduction

FUELLING AROUND

For all of us at Carsales Central, one of the attractions of running a Touareg long-termer has been getting first-hand experience of living with a modern diesel. Hmmm -- at times perhaps that should be 'dirty hand' experience.

There are a lot of positives to driving a modern diesel (see more below). Alas, the negative is still the condition of the infrastructure offered at service stations.

While diesel-powered vehicles themselves have moved on considerably -- no more smoke; no more smell, and performance that is in the case of the Touareg, lusty -- for diesel consumers, the condition of forecourts, pumps and the like, at better than half the servos we visit is simply substandard.

Many services stations insist on offering only truck-style high-flow nozzles and we've experienced aprons that are slippery enough to be dangerous. While you can fill the Touareg with a high-flow nozzle, it requires a delicate touch. A big dose of eau d'diesel cologne is only a slip away…

Like most owners, we'd suggest, we've addressed the issue of substandard facilities by bypassing the bad service stations and establishing a list of favourites. At these servos we know we can get access to diesel pumps that: a) have the right size nozzle; b) have the right diesel; and, c) have clean pumps and forecourt.

In general terms, we reckon BP servos are leading the field. Typically the BP servos we use in and around our south-east Melbourne locality have standard flow nozzles on at least one of their diesel pumps (yep, they also tend to have more than one diesel pump at the bigger outlets now) and either the customers are more careful about spilling diesel, or the pumps are regularly cleaned.

BP's diesel is also not currently cut with biofuel -- a no-no for the Touareg, says VW.

For those occasions when we need to fill up elsewhere, there's a box of disposable gloves under the Touraeg's cargo floor. Least there was last time I looked -- when you're commuting only a short distance, it can be a while between fills in the Reggie.

Having to plan you fills is, we reckon, a relatively small price to pay for the amenity modern diesels deliver. As much as we like the extended range the V6 TDI delivers (over 900km per tank is no real drama with our TDI, we've spoken with petrol V6 Touareg owners who struggle to get 500km), it's the power delivery that is the key benefit of the latest oilers… It's definitely one quality that defines the character of the Touareg.

With over 8000km on the odo, the V6 is really starting to hit its straps. Experts may argue there's no need to 'run-in' modern vehicles, but in living with long-term testers we've found that some do not give their best until everything's well bedded-in. In the case of the TDI it's been evidenced by a slight but noticeable reduction in noise and vibration (already well controlled) and a bit more oomph.

The V6 TDI engine isn't a rocketship away from the lights (the Touareg is no lightweight, after all) but at real world speeds on the open road performance it is, well, effortless. Often has been the case that, after a week or two away from the Touareg in other test vehicles, that one of us comments anew on the muscular midrange of the V6 diesel.

That said, our attention to the TDI's economy is in line with most SUV owners concerns, we reckon. In early September 2007 when we took over 'our' TDI, diesel was costing around $1.33 per litre. Our most recent fill was at $1.61. Ouch!

Typically our Touareg is returning an average consumption of under 12L/100km -- not bad for a large SUV fighting with urban traffic. Get out on the open road and with a light throttle it's possible to get consumption figure into single figures.

We've also found there can be another 0.5-1.0L/100km to be eked out if you 'drive' the car, rather than leave it to its own devices (via the otherwise excellent cruise control). Anybody else had a similar experience?

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Also read:
Touareg at 10K
Great, but not perfect
Tow Test
Taking Delivery
Introduction

 » Get the best price on a new Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI