tiguan 125tsi or subaru forester xt

[Transporter]

Only problem (and one I could not get over, hence I am now on this forum) when test driving the XT for my wife was the 4 speed auto from the 1980s that it came with

Sometimes well-proven technology is better than a new technology with many problems. The first thing in designing of any product is KIS = keep it simple. If the vehicle can achieve good fuel economy and good emission and has good performance why would you care how many gears has a gearbox?
I'm not saying that Tig is going to be unreliable, however it is new to the market so it is too soon to say. We are yet to see any posts like "help needed with my Tig" or "DSG tried to kill me."
But one thing I noticed is that many people still waiting for the Tig. So their experience is based purely on the road test. Too short for me to convince me that it is much better than something else. Different cars suit to different drivers that’s why there is so many brads make and models, some of them hideously ugly and they still sell.
I really would like to have all the cars in my driveway to have VW badge on them but at the same time I want the vehicle that I could keep for 10 or more years with minimum problems and based on that the TIG would have to drive like nothing else and Forester would have to be really bad in handling and general feeling when one drives it. Of course with 25mm more ground clearance I don't expect I can take Forester to racetrack or drive like a maniac on the road. In 1999 when we were buying Forester it was the ugliest one from all SUV's with the best handling. Some review's of the new Forester are even saying that it drives and handle better than BMW X3, so it can't be that much worst than the TIG.

[NZTiguan]

Sometimes well-proven technology is better than a new technology with many problems. The first thing in designing of any product is KIS = keep it simple. If the vehicle can achieve good fuel economy and good emission and has good performance why would you care how many gears has a gearbox?
I'm not saying that Tig is going to be unreliable, however it is new to the market so it is too soon to say. We are yet to see any posts like "help needed with my Tig" or "DSG tried to kill me."
But one thing I noticed is that many people still waiting for the Tig. So their experience is based purely on the road test. Too short for me to convince me that it is much better than something else. Different cars suit to different drivers that’s why there is so many brads make and models, some of them hideously ugly and they still sell.
I really would like to have all the cars in my driveway to have VW badge on them but at the same time I want the vehicle that I could keep for 10 or more years with minimum problems and based on that the TIG would have to drive like nothing else and Forester would have to be really bad in handling and general feeling when one drives it. Of course with 25mm more ground clearance I don't expect I can take Forester to racetrack or drive like a maniac on the road. In 1999 when we were buying Forester it was the ugliest one from all SUV's with the best handling. Some review's of the new Forester are even saying that it drives and handle better than BMW X3, so it can't be that much worst than the TIG.

Sorry to disagree but the 6 speed auto on the Tig is so far ahead of the old 4 speed Sub that it's just not a joke. Incidentally i don't think anybody is going to say "the DSG tried to kill me" in a Tig cos they don't have DSG.

The Forester IS "really bad in handling and general feel" in comparison to the Tig (according to most people I've heard comment) and there are a number of people that have gone from X3 and even X5 to Tig because it's a better drive.

I'll be really interested to hear your end comparison because I suspect (if you're completely honest) you might be disappointed with the Sub after the build up you've given it. As I've said before I've yet to hear one person that's driven both suggest that the Sub is the one they'd own.

Good luck with your choice though, as you say "different strokes for different folks"

Cheers

[Transporter]

Sorry to disagree but the 6 speed auto on the Tig is so far ahead of the old 4 speed Sub that it's just not a joke. Incidentally i don't think anybody is going to say "the DSG tried to kill me" in a Tig cos they don't have DSG.

The Forester IS "really bad in handling and general feel" in comparison to the Tig (according to most people I've heard comment) and there are a number of people that have gone from X3 and even X5 to Tig because it's a better drive.

I'll be really interested to hear your end comparison because I suspect (if you're completely honest) you might be disappointed with the Sub after the build up you've given it. As I've said before I've yet to hear one person that's driven both suggest that the Sub is the one they'd own.

Good luck with your choice though, as you say "different strokes for different folks"

Cheers

I mentioned DSG only as example I know that Tig has ordinary auto trans.
I don't care how many gears auto trans has it could be CVT as long as it is reliable and last over 200,000km with no problems. Only after that time the one can be a judge: what is better, if old 4sp. auto or a new 6sp. auto. I didn't road test Tig or Forester yet and you can be sure that I will post the honest comment when I do.

[Paragon]

Sometimes well-proven technology is better than a new technology with many problems. The first thing in designing of any product is KIS = keep it simple. If the vehicle can achieve good fuel economy and good emission and has good performance why would you care how many gears has a gearbox?
I'm not saying that Tig is going to be unreliable, however it is new to the market so it is too soon to say. We are yet to see any posts like "help needed with my Tig" or "DSG tried to kill me."
But one thing I noticed is that many people still waiting for the Tig. So their experience is based purely on the road test. Too short for me to convince me that it is much better than something else. Different cars suit to different drivers that’s why there is so many brads make and models, some of them hideously ugly and they still sell.
I really would like to have all the cars in my driveway to have VW badge on them but at the same time I want the vehicle that I could keep for 10 or more years with minimum problems and based on that the TIG would have to drive like nothing else and Forester would have to be really bad in handling and general feeling when one drives it. Of course with 25mm more ground clearance I don't expect I can take Forester to racetrack or drive like a maniac on the road. In 1999 when we were buying Forester it was the ugliest one from all SUV's with the best handling. Some review's of the new Forester are even saying that it drives and handle better than BMW X3, so it can't be that much worst than the TIG.

Because if you actually care about things like good fuel economy and emissions, performance is probably not your thing. But it you choose your vehicles based on fuel economy and emissions do you think a car with 4 speeds or 6 would perform better? its pretty much a complacent Subaru slap in the face to its consumers when cars are coming out with a 7sp DSG as standard and Subaru feels fit to clear its leftover 1980s stock of 4 speed autos but sticking them into 2009 Foresters.

[clip]

its pretty much a complacent Subaru slap in the face to its consumers when cars are coming out with a 7sp DSG as standard and Subaru feels fit to clear its leftover 1980s stock of 4 speed autos by sticking them into 2009 Foresters.

True, they must be the last manufacturer to offer such an antiquated gearbox, but then the people that buy foresters probably wouldn't know the difference anyway - or at least wouldn't care whether it had a dang fancy gearbox in it or not. As long as it was a subaru, that's all that matters.

[Transporter]

Because if you actually care about things like good fuel economy and emissions, performance is probably not your thing. But it you choose your vehicles based on fuel economy and emissions do you think a car with 4 speeds or 6 would perform better? its pretty much a complacent Subaru slap in the face to its consumers when cars are coming out with a 7sp DSG as standard and Subaru feels fit to clear its leftover 1980s stock of 4 speed autos but sticking them into 2009 Foresters.

Unless it is 7sp DSG (s tronic) in Q5, which can handle 500Nm torque and is for longitudinal mounting (and which reliability is yet to be seen), than 7sp DSG like in Golf and Polo is very limited in how much torque it can handle. So, 4sp auto from Subaru is probably stronger transmission. As you start putting more gears in the transmission than you need more room inside to accommodate the extra gears and longer shafts, so the transmission gets bigger or weaker - hence 7sp DSG for less than 300Nm torque. Tiguan has 6sp auto tiptronic transmission, so it's not a DSG. When it has diesel engine the max torque is 320Nm, petrol has 280Nm torque. Please note the absence of the 125kW diesel and both petrol engines 125 and 147kW have the same torque 280Nm.
Here is the link to detailed description of the new forester with diesel engine. It has 6sp gearbox.

http://digiads.com.au/car-news/latest-SUBARU-news/2009_Subaru_Forester_Boxer_Diesel_200809.html

P.S. Even petrol version of Forester XT gives you more performance in 180kg lighter body. (from subaru website) "Underneath the distinctive bonnet scoop you’ll discover the powerful Boxer engine capable of producing 169 kW of power at 5,200 rpm and 320 Nm of torque at 2,800 rpm"

[Transporter]

maybe the new diesel Forester will be better ? but the drive I had in the petrol Forester didn't impress me one bit and nobody I know of that's driven it and then the Tig has had much good to say (except for ground clearance and boot space) about the Forester. To me it felt lightweight, loose, rough, and the handling wasn't within a mile of the Tig. There may be the odd occasion where the Sub has an advantage but I'd say in 99.9% of your driving the Tig would eat it. In my case it simply wasn't even in the hunt.

Did you road test Forester XT?
If not than you compared the performance of the turbo charged engine to non-turbo engine, that could explain difference in lack of performance.
But main thing is that you are happy with your car. It doesn't matter what badge it has.