Since there's a few VW posts in the vehicle section I figured I would post a follow-up for the Tiguan I purchased back in June.
Below is my original thread with impressions of the car. Lets see if anything has changed over the last few months...
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...445#Post2658445
I bought the "S" version of the Tiguan which is a nice name for the base model. Tiguan's can get unbelievably pricey if you upgrade the trim. Throw in the AWD, panoramic sunroof, navigation, and leather seats, and we're looking at a $37,000 car. That's just stupid expensive.
I got most of the goodies that I wanted in the base trim, including a manual trans, cloth seats, and all of the well-built interior craftsmanship found in any version for $20,600 out the door. It worked for me. These things are pretty hard to find in a manual so this, coupled with the 2013's arriving at the dealership soon, knocked $3,000 off the MSRP.
Exterior:
The Tiguan looks good. I know this is all in the eye of the beholder, but I am never afraid to admit that I own an ugly car (I've owned many) but for a CUV I think the Tiguan is pretty handsome.
The Candy White paint is classy on this vehicle and grew with me over time. I was not thrilled about getting a white car but I think the black plastics and dark colors on the front grill work well with the white.
Speaking of the black plastics on the car, I learned to love the plastic molding around the bottom of the vehicle. Scuffs and scrapes on the paint would bother me much more than on some plastic parts.
Interior:
My interior is always a wreck in the winter, so excuse the messiness.
The interior's design is simple and very german. The materials are all of very good quality, the fit is tight, everything is rattle-free, but it lacks personality.
German interiors usually age well because they keep it classy, simple, and never do anything too drastic. I am okay with this. I have always been more into a simple styled interior. The original thread I posted has more interior shots if interested.
Seats are really nice. I like good cloth seats, and everything in the Tiguan is adjustable enough and comfortable for long trips. Lumbar support and overall quality is not quite there compared to the new Golf or GTI but I'd say that's to be expected.
Headroom and legroom is great no matter where you sit. I have a friend who is 6'6" and he did fine in the backseat.
Cargo space in the back is a con, but I knew this getting into this vehicle. The competition has it beat in this area. You can slide the back seats forward to expand cargo room but I have been in Rav4's and CRV's and they definitely have the Tiguan beat.
Performance/Drive:
The Tiguan shines in the performance department. It's not a powerhouse by any means. The 2.0T in this vehicle is tuned very conservatively but the power it delivers is addictive and fun to row the gears with. It's rated to do 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds according to VW. I would say that "feels" about right. The FWD, manual trans weighs right under 3400lbs. So it's not light, but it's also not as much of as boat as some might expect.
The fuel economy ratings aren't great for this car with the 6-speed. 18/26 is how this car is rated. I found that if you keep highway speeds at around 55-65mph you can get about 30-32mpg but once you start cruising at 70-80mph 27mpg is the magic number.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/jeekree/tiguan
I track all my fill ups. I do 0% hwy driving but my roads are suburban streets of philadelphia, so take that for what it is. I'm averaging 23mpg so far.
Handling is good for the class. It feels like a car and it doesn't feel fat and overweight.
-------------------
That's all I have for now.
Below is my original thread with impressions of the car. Lets see if anything has changed over the last few months...
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...445#Post2658445
I bought the "S" version of the Tiguan which is a nice name for the base model. Tiguan's can get unbelievably pricey if you upgrade the trim. Throw in the AWD, panoramic sunroof, navigation, and leather seats, and we're looking at a $37,000 car. That's just stupid expensive.
I got most of the goodies that I wanted in the base trim, including a manual trans, cloth seats, and all of the well-built interior craftsmanship found in any version for $20,600 out the door. It worked for me. These things are pretty hard to find in a manual so this, coupled with the 2013's arriving at the dealership soon, knocked $3,000 off the MSRP.
Exterior:
The Tiguan looks good. I know this is all in the eye of the beholder, but I am never afraid to admit that I own an ugly car (I've owned many) but for a CUV I think the Tiguan is pretty handsome.
The Candy White paint is classy on this vehicle and grew with me over time. I was not thrilled about getting a white car but I think the black plastics and dark colors on the front grill work well with the white.
Speaking of the black plastics on the car, I learned to love the plastic molding around the bottom of the vehicle. Scuffs and scrapes on the paint would bother me much more than on some plastic parts.
Interior:
My interior is always a wreck in the winter, so excuse the messiness.
The interior's design is simple and very german. The materials are all of very good quality, the fit is tight, everything is rattle-free, but it lacks personality.
German interiors usually age well because they keep it classy, simple, and never do anything too drastic. I am okay with this. I have always been more into a simple styled interior. The original thread I posted has more interior shots if interested.
Seats are really nice. I like good cloth seats, and everything in the Tiguan is adjustable enough and comfortable for long trips. Lumbar support and overall quality is not quite there compared to the new Golf or GTI but I'd say that's to be expected.
Headroom and legroom is great no matter where you sit. I have a friend who is 6'6" and he did fine in the backseat.
Cargo space in the back is a con, but I knew this getting into this vehicle. The competition has it beat in this area. You can slide the back seats forward to expand cargo room but I have been in Rav4's and CRV's and they definitely have the Tiguan beat.
Performance/Drive:
The Tiguan shines in the performance department. It's not a powerhouse by any means. The 2.0T in this vehicle is tuned very conservatively but the power it delivers is addictive and fun to row the gears with. It's rated to do 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds according to VW. I would say that "feels" about right. The FWD, manual trans weighs right under 3400lbs. So it's not light, but it's also not as much of as boat as some might expect.
The fuel economy ratings aren't great for this car with the 6-speed. 18/26 is how this car is rated. I found that if you keep highway speeds at around 55-65mph you can get about 30-32mpg but once you start cruising at 70-80mph 27mpg is the magic number.
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/jeekree/tiguan
I track all my fill ups. I do 0% hwy driving but my roads are suburban streets of philadelphia, so take that for what it is. I'm averaging 23mpg so far.
Handling is good for the class. It feels like a car and it doesn't feel fat and overweight.
-------------------
That's all I have for now.
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