Volkswagen Touareg Problems

You need to persist with the dealer and VW, and perhaps consult an independent mechanic who specializes in VWs and can assess it for you, and perhaps back your claim. If that fails to nudge VW into action consider action through the consumer affairs people.

For maximum space and tow rating you should definitely be going for the Touareg V6 TDI. It will do both your jobs with a 3500kg tow rating and 280kg ball weight.

VW has earned a poor reputation for the way it deals with customers who complain, but it appears to have softened its stance in recent times after being subjected to intensive scrutiny in the media. In June the company ran full-page ads in newspapers all around the country, in which Managing Director, John White, stated that “If you are concerned about your Volkswagen vehicle due to this recent media coverage, for your peace of mind, Volkswagen Australia is offering a free inspection of your vehicle at any Volkswagen dealer throughout Australia.” I would take him up on his offer and have my vehicle inspected.

The reputation of the Touareg is pretty good, but it will be much costlier to run because of its size and weight, particularly things like tyres.

You could go for a Mercedes-Benz GLC with similar features and save money. My choice — perhaps surprisingly — is the Jeep. Just make sure you find a good dealer.

The guy from VW is correct, it is a big, heavy and powerful vehicle set up to handle like a sports car with big wheels and low-profile tyres, and aggressive wheel alignment. I have no doubt that the alignment has been checked and found to be within specification. You could perhaps go to an independent suspension specialist and have them attempt to adjust the alignment to give you better tyre life. You could buy smaller wheels and higher profile tyres, which are likely to improve your tyre life.

I would take the Touareg over the Discovery but the real outback towing champion is the Toyota LandCruiser — which gets a big tick from me — because of its bulletproof reliability and Toyota's service network. The badge is not as prestigious and it will cost more for a fully luxury package but the 200-Series 'Cruiser is still The King.

Were you given an explanation of what was causing the grinding noise? I can't believe it's normal for a car to have a grinding noise, so I would be pressing VW for an explanation that makes sense to you. It's also a good plan to get the car independently checked, as you are going to do.