[s-cars] Non Audi, but VAG question.... VW Touareg V10 TDI vs. V8 opinions?

[Kent McLean]

Jim Fleischer wrote:
> I’m looking for a tow vehicle to tow a 23’-25’ Airstream (Sub 4,000 lb. Dry weight) throughout the western US, and mostly throughout the Rocky Mountains on a regular basis as I travel for business and avoid hotels/AirBnB etc. 

Regarding diesel…  I had a 2002 VW TDI; it got great mileage (near 50 MPG), and I loved the torque. But at times diesel fuel was $1 more per gallon (WTF?), and whatever I saved in fuel mileage, I gave back in repairs (over about 50K miles). For the Rocky Mountains, a turbo is good, but be careful of diesel fuel gelling in the cold and causing a no-start. Like I found with my Audis, I loved the car, but I hated fixing it.

No Audi content… It’s replacement is an Audi V8 Avant wannabe — a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4.7L V8, loaded with dual climate controls, navigation, tow package, and I can switch it into 4WD Low. I drove it from NH to IL and back, in relative quiet, great comfort, ate up the highway miles, and I didn’t worry about it not starting or it breaking something expensive. Mileage isn’t great (15-18mpg), but my buy-in price of $7800 this spring didn’t hurt. That generation GC NVH and handling benefitted from Mercedes-Benz merger. I would think the newer ones are even better. Before you dismiss it, test drive one.

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Kent McLean
ex-02 VW Beetle TDI and lots of ex-Audis, including Bad Puppy