I scored a Tiquan deal thread

[NZTiguan]

For crying out loud the Tiguan is an SUV !!!!!!! not a bloody race car, sure if you want a race car you'd change the system BUT unless you're a darn idiot you wouldn't have bought a Tig (or a Lumberjack for that matter) in the first place. Horses for courses the Haldex system is IMO vastly superior to the Subs for an SUV, though I'm prepared to accept that may not be so for a race car, which it isn't.

[Sharkie]

Well actually the Tiguan is just a small SUV playing at being a 4WD. What it is, is a predominantly FWD wagon with the ability to transfer power to the rear wheels when needed. In this respect it is no better than a current Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV or Nissan Xtrail. All have on demand systems and all including the Tiguan has some lag in transferring power to the rear. The Haldex std is pretty good but not perfect and this is why they (Haldex themselves) provide an "upgrade". It is not limited to race cars and many other 4Motion equiped drivers (including Multivan drivers) do this upgrade to improve the way power is distributed to the rear.

The main reason on demand AWD systems (including 4Motion) was developed was to reduce fuel consumption and not in any way to improve power delivery to the wheels. Yes, it is better than FWD only, but inferior to permanent AWD.

Permanent AWD drives provide much better balance and feel from a traction perspective and this is why many cars do it this way, not only race cars. All real SUVs (Landcruiser, Prado, Pajero, Pathfinder, Patrol) do it this way and for good reason. Even Audi is moving back to Torsen permanent AWD after dabbling with 4Motion for a while and this not only on their performance cars.

What differentiates a Tiguan from a Forrester is not the way it provides power to its wheels (IMO inferior) but in the way the suspension is setup for handling both on and off the road. It has the best suspension setup of any small SUV and this is 1 of the main reasons to buy it. It is this superior suspension setup that you feel when you testdrive all the small SUV's as a comparison and not the way power is transmitted to the wheels.

When you make the decision to buy a small SUV, for whatever reason, you have to accept its limitations. If I buy the Tig for my wife, I will most certainly upgrade the Haldex clutch and not because I want to race it (for that I have a R20T Golf on order) but because I am convinced that the std Haldex system is compromised (no better than a current RAV4) and less than what it ought to be.

And with that I apologize for going off topic and promise not to do it again ..... soon anyway .....

[freddy]

In what appears to be a rather controversial step for a newbie I'm going to post something on the Tiguan pricing thread about ..... Tiguan pricing ....

Have been having problems getting any dealer to move much on price on a 2.0TDI (I'm in the country, diesel makes more sense to me). Best I can do at the moment is a $2,500 no trade discount on an 09 build (arriving on the next ship). They don't even seem to want to play ball on 08 build vehicles on their lots. Maybe I'm just a crappy negotiator.

However I have one offer on a new 12/08 built (09 complied) TDI with close to $7k of options on it that works out at about $7K off list. That seems to be a great deal to me, given my previous experiences.

Anyone have any recent great epxeriences that might make me hold off for an 09 build (or expectations of better deals in the offing, given that a new shipment is arriving shortly)? However I'm not so concerned about the 08 versus 09 build as I hang on to my vehicles for a long time, so resale is pretty ordinary on my vehicles by the end anyway.

[Pullstarter]

There doesn't seem to be any stellar deals going at the moment, certainly better than 6-9 months ago when they wouldn't budge an inch though. The deal I got on my 125 ended up being about 2k off list I guess, probably not a great deal but not bad considering the local VW dealer here has no competition. If you're in a regional area like you say I suspect it will be pretty much the same.

[clip]

The new gen 2.0TFSI's seen 1st in the A4, Q5 and soon in the new Golf GTI is very different to the Tig's engines. The only thing they share is the displacement, almost everything else is new.

I'm confused now Sharkie. I'm sure you're right, but the american APR tech was saying that my Tig engine was the lastest TFSI, that was quite different to the current GTI engine. The Tig had some new internals and included changes to the fuel pump and other technical stuff. He said that's why they are getting more out of the Tigs than the current GTI's. He also said that they are more reliable having changed a few crucial components that have caused problems in the current GTI's. But maybe I misunderstood him.

[Sharkie]

You are right to some extent clip. The Tig engine is newer than the Mk5 GTI with internal upgrades etc. It is exactly the reason the tuners get more out of it than the GTI. Think of it as a v1.5 if you will. And it is more reliable as they have fixed some of the issues that they discovered along the way.

The new Mk6 GTI will have a new engine yet again. The v2.0 if you will. You have to remember that the engine changes over time and the 2005 GTIs have differences to the 2008 GTIs. I believe even the engine codes are different between 2005 & 2008.

It is also very likely that this new GTI engine will make its way into the Tig over time .... which is a good thing.

[Sanman]

The Tiguans on the boat now are '09 build, I've been quoted the same fleet pricing ($2k off RRP plus $1k dealer delivery) at 2 different dealers (metro Mel), with more room to move. Looking at the US 2010 model update (due in 6 months time) it appears the Tiguan will get Golf VI white lighting and s/wheel, upgraded CAN and heater controls. But what I really want to know is will it get the newer 2.0TDI and DSG now that its been released in the Q5.
The US market also gets LED taillamps, and other markets have tyrepressure as standard fitment. Might be a possibility.

[NZTiguan]

And with that I apologize for going off topic and promise not to do it again ..... soon anyway .....

Sorry, disagree with almost every statement you make, except for the off topic bit, but just can't be bothered going there.

[Johnno]

Which is fine IF you want a run of the mill bit of Jap kit rather than the latest and best engineered small SUV in the world. Don't let anybody ever con you into believing that a Sub and a Tig are even in the same ball park cos they're not, one drive's all it takes to dispel that claim.

Meh... I heard the same sh*t from the sales person. At the end of the day, I'm only going to buy the best car I can afford. A fully-kitted Subi, drive away for less than $40k is a viable option. Being coerced into buying a '08 plated car that has wheels I don't want, but the options I do want at a dramatically jacked up price, is not.

When the VW salesman told me that the car he had in stock was "worth" around $52k I nearly choked. That is the same car that is advertised at $36k (auto) as a base model.

So tell me, what makes German engineered fog lights and a French navigation system (Siemens, isn't it?) worth so much more??? That is the elitist bollocks that I have the most trouble believing.

[clip]

It's the way the Germans sell their cars. You can own any of them for "reasonable" money, but as soon as you want a few extras you pay for them.

But there are options out there to drastically reduce that cost of some of your options (leather, SatNav, fog lights, wheels) if you're willing to do the running around yourself.

I've done the list of my options and prices before- but just as a reminder, the car cost me $46,000 and for that I've got Comfort Pack, Park Assist, 19" wheels, SatNav with blue tooth and iPod, and 190kW 420Nm engine, plus everything else the Tig comes with as standard that not all the others do.

Now for the sake of the argument, lets compare some of the others that offer 'similar' levels equip (but still not quite at the Tig level):

Forester XT Premium 169kW 310Nm $47k + on roads,

RAV4 V6 - $40,500 + on roads,

Honda CRV Luxury $43,500 + on roads (they've got to be kidding - don't they?)

Sort of makes the Tig good value for money IMO.

[Transporter]

The Tiguans on the boat now are '09 build, I've been quoted the same fleet pricing ($2k off RRP plus $1k dealer delivery) at 2 different dealers (metro Mel), with more room to move. Looking at the US 2010 model update (due in 6 months time) it appears the Tiguan will get Golf VI white lighting and s/wheel, upgraded CAN and heater controls. But what I really want to know is will it get the newer 2.0TDI and DSG now that its been released in the Q5.
The US market also gets LED taillamps, and other markets have tyrepressure as standard fitment. Might be a possibility.

The DSG in Q5 is different [EDIT] transmission to that used in Tiguan. It is much longer and is only for quatro driveline, it has code DL501-7Q and is torque rated 550Nm at 9000rpm.

[Pullstarter]

As far as I know there aren't any Tiguans with DSG? Just tiptronics from what I've read. I have to agree with Clip, a Tig 125 with a 2k chip is a performance bargain as far as I'm concerned.

[Sharkie]

No DSG in any Tiguans (yet) and nothing from the Q5 will make its way directly into the Tiguan. Q5 has longitidunal engine and gbox whilst Tiguan (and the Golf it is based on) is transverse.

The new 2.0TDI from the Q5 is the one (adapted to fit) in the new MK6 GTD being released overseas so it could make its way into a Tig eventually.

Have to agree with Johnno that there seems to be a lot of sales brochure b******t out there (and here for that matter) and that an unbaised picture is unlikely to be found on this forum ...... Price of Tiguan with options is steep.

BUT agree with clip and Pullstarter that a base Tig with a chip is a performance bargain. Like a small SUV GTI. Just watch the options you add.

There are currently 130+ TDI Tiguans (all new 08 models) for sale on carsales. Got to be a bargain to be had atm and your bargaining position will just improve as end of fin year comes closer.

I'm worried what a "mid life" upgrade (new lights etc) will do to the value of the Tigs already out there though.

[motk]

Permanent AWD drives provide much better balance and feel from a traction perspective and this is why many cars do it this way, not only race cars. All real SUVs (Landcruiser, Prado, Pajero, Pathfinder, Patrol) do it this way and for good reason. Even Audi is moving back to Torsen permanent AWD after dabbling with 4Motion for a while and this not only on their performance cars.

Since when has Audi used Haldex/4Motion on anything but their east-west engined A3?

[Sharkie]

Since when has Audi used Haldex/4Motion on anything but their east-west engined A3?

A4 has been using Haldex for about 9-10yrs now. Ask Jmac or another Audi tech. Latest A4 (B8 ) I believe to be Torsen again.

A6 may have been as well, but I've never been interested in it so never bothered getting into the tech specs on it.

Audi TT Quattro (previous and current model) use Haldex.