Tiguan approach angle - Track & Field

[DieselTig]

I think it's pure economics. Each different variant that they bring in costs extra. Extra to comply, extra to supply spares for, extra to train mechanics, etc... In Australia, the Tiguan is most definitely a value proposition, and the included value is rather high. The hidden costs of extra model variants would bump the price of all variants up, and VWA obviously had a target in mind when bring the Tiguan here.

They've picked the models that their market research has told them will sell the best. IMO the demographic split of the members here is not indicative of the split of people actually buying the Tiguan. I think it will be used more as a shopping trolley than anything else. Track and Field nose isn't going to help that.

Even though we don't get the Track and Field nose, I think we get a better deal than the NZ'ers, with a bunch of extra combinations available.

Let's not kid ourselves here either. The Touareg and the Tiguan are for servicing completely different markets. They're not two models that would be cross shopped very often.

Ben.

High-Fidelity, you are correct, it is pure economics. We can make all the noise we want, VW will not change. Market politics in the VW boardroom take precedence.
Well I had enough of big and cumbersome offroaders and opted for a small easy to park even with two kids at the back. Touareg at nearly 2.5 ton is just another landcruiser. The Tiguan is by far a better option together with my hard working X-Trail. As I said before the Track and field nose would have been a bonus but VWA makes the call on our behalf in this case.

[Seano]

I would wager that VW Oz have not coughed up the many tens of thousands of dollars required to do ADR compliance on Tiguan when fitted with the T&F bumper. Which means...they can't legally supply the T&F version. End of story.

[gerhard]

I would wager that VW Oz have not coughed up the many tens of thousands of dollars required to do ADR compliance on Tiguan when fitted with the T&F bumper. Which means...they can't legally supply the T&F version. End of story.

That could be right on the money.

However, companies like Renault stump up the ADR bucks for cars they finish up selling 3 of, and they keep doing it.

Maybe the ADR costs are not so big?

A friend just bought a Pathfinder (don't ask me why, haha) and apparently their seat manufacturer went to the wall so they had to get a new one. That caused the car to have to be ADR complianced again, causing a 3 month delay on supply of the "new" Pathfinder.

[Sharkie]

A dealer (BMW) told me that ADR costs are about $50K per specific model. For instance a 335i sedan is $50K for the auto, $50K for the DSG (whatever the BMW equivalent) and $50K for the manual. So 3 derivatives of the 335i costs $150K to get ADR compliance.

Then the manufacturer has to spread this cost across what it thinks it can sell to make a profit. Hence the reason the 335i is not available in a manual......

I wanted a manual and was told, yes we can arrange for you to get one if you really want it .... the cost will be RRP of the 335i auto + $50K to get ADR compliance because we dont think we'll sell enough manuals to recover the cost ourselves.

So the bottom line is the cost to the manufacturer and then the probability to recover that cost through sales ..... Tiguan with Track & Field given its market demographic probably a tough call for VWA.

I do suspect however that we might see it later as a mid-life upgrade option to freshen the appeal down the track .....

[NZTiguan]

A dealer (BMW) told me that ADR costs are about $50K per specific model.

So the bottom line is the cost to the manufacturer and then the probability to recover that cost through sales ..... Tiguan with Track & Field given its market demographic probably a tough call for VWA.
n:

That's probably why in NZ ALL Tigs are 103kw diesel auto, and the only actual "model difference" is standard or track and field.

[DieselTig]

I just got reply from VWA and the basic response is "we don't import this model so you can't have it changed at the production line and happy motoring" ha ha ha. No other explanation. Very arrogant response, but take on the chin and move on.

[clip]

Maybe so, but I've been to Cape York via the OTL towing a camper trailer. The only people we saw getting into trouble were LC100s, LC80s, and Troopies.

hmmm, I lived at Weipa for 4 years and made many, many runs to the tip and other places around that part of the world (fantastic country if you haven't been there), and trust me I couldn't count the number of numb nuts getting stuck by driving inappropriate vehicles because they read a review or spoke to someone that said their little Sportage, CRV or whatever, would be fine. They might be OK in perfect conditions, taking the right track and a careful driver, but they are not 4x4 in any sense of the word. And we got tired of having to rescue them and seeing their poor faces as their SUV was brutally ripped out of the creek/river crossing, mud hole, sand etc. There were some truly very sad moments as they realised the mistake they had made, and then with their wives screaming and crying about what are they going to do now because their brand new SUV was now undrivable.

All I can say is I wouldn't take a Tig anywhere near FNQ unless I was just going to drive it around Weipa. I don't think the chassis, for one, is anywhere near coping with what is needed (it already twists far too much for my liking), let alone it's 4x4 ability. It would do some of it in good conditions, but I wouldn't be bringing it back with me after a few runs of it. The problem with driving up in those parts is it only takes a slight deviation of track around a fallen tree, a slight change in weather, a detour to a more scenic route - and you're buggered. The Tig would be toast.

[gerhard]

hmmm, I lived at Weipa for 4 years and made many, many runs to the tip and other places around that part of the world (fantastic country if you haven't been there), and trust me I couldn't count the number of numb nuts getting stuck by driving inappropriate vehicles because they read a review or spoke to someone that said their little Sportage, CRV or whatever, would be fine. They might be OK in perfect conditions, taking the right track and a careful driver, but they are not 4x4 in any sense of the word. And we got tired of having to rescue them and seeing their poor faces as their SUV was brutally ripped out of the creek/river crossing, mud hole, sand etc. There were some truly very sad moments as they realised the mistake they had made with their wives screaming at them about what are they going to do now because their brand new SUV was now undrivable.

All I can say is I wouldn't take a Tig anywhere near FNQ unless I was just going to drive it around Weipa. I don't think the chassis, for one, is anywhere near coping with what is needed, let alone it's 4x4 ability. It would do some of it in good conditions, but I wouldn't be bringing it back with me after a few runs of it.

I should have noted that we didn't actually see any soft-roaders attempting the journey, so maybe in our small time window the soft-roader numnuts stayed home

The one we enjoyed most was the LC100 V8 - we bypassed Gunshot with our trailers, but the numnut with the LC100 and large Camper (all brand new gear, he was probably 55yo and fat and stupid) bragged his head off about how he had "done Gunshot" while we were enjoying a dip at Elliot falls, and what pussies we were for bypassing.

Well, he nosed into Nolan's (no snorkel - LC's go anywhere in Aus according to the salesman) without a blind and promptly sucked his fan into the radiator, making a noise/vibration which caused him to back off the throttle, which in turn filled his intake with water and that was the end of the V8 donc.

He had a long wait for the two tow trucks from Bamaga, and last we saw it was being loaded on the boat for Cairns.

The ones we didn't enjoy were the Troopies, all of which (we saw 3 !!) had rolled after hitting sandy ruts. The drivers all had no idea that you shouldn't wrench the wheel when the ruts are controlling your direction - purely a result of too much speed for the conditions, and front wheel digs in and roly poly results.

[clip]

I agree gerhard, troopies are bad news, and kill far too many people too.

And then there's so many funny stories like the LC100 one that I could tell, but all at someone else's expensive of course -so I won't, but some truly "epic" moments of sheer stupidity that had us either rolling in the dirt in laughter or running for cover!

[DieselTig]

I agree gerhard, troopies are bad news, and kill far too many people too.

And then there's so many funny stories like the LC100 one that I could tell, but all at someone else's expensive of course -so I won't, but some truly "epic" moments of sheer stupidity that had us either rolling in the dirt in laughter or running for cover!

My previous message was deleted accidentally so here is a quick summary of my original thread: I have been investigating the track and field option and found out that VWA are considering bringing it to Australia next year. For those who are keen on this can wait a few months.

[Transporter]

My previous message was deleted accidentally so here is a quick summary of my original thread: I have been investigating the track and field option and found out that VWA are considering bringing it to Australia next year. For those who are keen on this can wait a few months.

Sorry mate that was me, I do apologize for it once again. It was by accident.

Did they mention the first or the second half of the year?

[DieselTig]

Sorry mate that was me, I do apologize for it once again. It was by accident.

Did they mention the first or the second half of the year?

Transporter accidents happen, not to worry. On the subject of T&F they were a bit kryptic about it but I suspect it will be second half.

[DieselTig]

In addition to that, the only difference is the front bumper and skid plates and offcourse the offroad electronics option. If anyone else is aware of any other differences I am curious to know.

[NZTiguan]

In addition to that, the only difference is the front bumper and skid plates and offcourse the offroad electronics option. If anyone else is aware of any other differences I am curious to know.

The main difference is the nose, it's a bit more than the bumper but that's generally it, the "track and field" has an approach angle of 28º versus the normal 18º. The only thing you haven't mentioned that may be considered to be an "extra" in Ausi (standard here in NZ on all models) is the tyre pressure monitoring system which is nice to have on board, Oh and there's a "compass" in the top of the MFD which isn't really much value but I think it's only on Track and Field models ? I believe that the RNS510 with Nav allows you to keep a "track" of where you go off-road as well ( a bit like the breadcrumb trail in a hand-held gps) which could be handy in some desert areas etc but I guess that's on all the models with Nav.

Cheers

[Arctra]

...The only thing you haven't mentioned that may be considered to be an "extra" in Ausi (standard here in NZ on all models) is the tyre pressure monitoring system which is nice to have on board, Oh and there's a "compass" in the top of the MFD which isn't really much value but I think it's only on Track and Field models ?...

In Aus the $300 "Off-road pack" comes with the TPMS and compass. As I understand it, the T&F comes with the Off-road Pack as standard so it's nothing new really.