My wife has an eye for aesthetics, while I’m drawn to the mechanically unique. She spotted a 2007 white V10 TDI Touareg the same day I finished replacing the front lower control arms on our silver V8 Touareg. An hour later, it was ours.
This V10 TDI is significantly more refined to drive—and exponentially more complex. I’ve encountered boost loss issues, clogged DPF filters, and a dashboard resembling a Christmas tree. My troubleshooting journey is documented in a Ross-Tech Forum Tdi thread titled “and so it begins” (https://forums.ross-tech.com/showthread.php?3320-07-V10-TDI-And-so-it-begins).
When running smoothly, this beast delivers 550 lb-ft of torque at a mere 1800 RPM. After experiencing its acceleration, my son aptly questioned, “Why would anyone build an SUV this fast?” This power comes at a price. Fuel economy reaches 27 MPG on highway trips but drops to 17-18 MPG around town. Our previous gasoline V8 Touareg averaged 15-18 MPG overall. The fuel cost savings don’t justify the premium paid for the diesel variant.
Compared to the V10 TDI, our Porsche Boxster feels underpowered. The Touareg’s complexity is evident under the hood. The right front wheel well houses more plumbing than a refinery. The left side boasts even more, along with a Webasto heater for fuel and coolant temperature regulation, plus transmission fluid cooling. It even has proximity sensors.
Driving this V10 TDI feels like piloting a Bentley disguised as a Volkswagen. The luxury and performance are undeniable, but the maintenance challenges and fuel costs are significant factors to consider for any prospective owner active on a forum TDI.
