How about the Volkswagen Touareg?

[beowulf777]

Okay so it is a "luxury" SUV, but it has to compete somewhat for Pilot buyers attention. I saw a new commercial for it today claiming a 7700# towing capacity.

[banningjr]

It's not too bad looking but for the $45k-$50+K range I can't do it. Well, heck my Pilot is my BMW!

[ramirami]

Originally posted by beowulf777
Okay so it is a "luxury" SUV, but it has to compete somewhat for Pilot buyers attention. I saw a new commercial for it today claiming a 7700# towing capacity.

I know VW calls it "luxury" but since when is VW a luxury brand.... (from the folks who make the luxury VW golf)

[kemosabe]

The stock wheels on that Touareg look eerily similar to the EX wheels on the Pilot...

[dandbtucker]

I saw one on the lot today and like the way it looks. It sure looks small for the price and I still question VW's quality.

But I do like it....

Don

[Qbrozen]

i only like the power and towing capacity (not that I tow, but it tells me something about the strength of the car).

price is way out there, IMO.

[jay]

Interesting advertising for this thing, with a picture of a "Pass it" stuck in a creek in one panel, and a "Torn Rag" fjording a creek in the next. Who names these things for the North American market?

[beowulf777]

Originally posted by ramirami -
I know VW calls it "luxury" but since when is VW a luxury brand.... (from the folks who make the luxury VW golf)

Point taken. But...

VW seems to be trying to upgrade its image and compete in the luxury market. With the Touareg and the Phaeton.

Although based on the look of the Phaeton, is it just a bigger than Passat big Jetta?

[DaCarMan]

I went and saw the V6 model (On a Sunday) with the nav and price was $40.5K Thats right there with the MDX and let me tell you the interior of this SUV is like the one out of an Audi A8, very luxurious and sharp with real wood. I really like it, one thing that I don't like is MPG ratings 14-18mpg thats really low. BTW the V8 model starts @ 40K even, thats not bad either.

[fnj]

Having driven a Taureg and sat in a Phaeton, I can assure you that VW knows what it is doing when it comes to building these two cars. In my brief test drive, I came away impressed with the feeling of quality and seat of the pants performance. According to reviews I have read, it also has the stones for offroading, a rare commodity in and SUV these days.

While I didn't drive the Phaeton, it seemed as luxurious and solid as any BMW or Merc and certainly much more substantial than a Lexus or Infinity.

Of course, what VW will have trouble dealing with is the image thing. Most American luxury car buyers make purchases based on status, regardless of how good the car is. Look at how people slam Jag for being owned by Ford, despite the fact that Jag quality and reliability have improved ten fold with their new ownership. Ever had an electrical problem in a pre-Ford Jag? Not a good thing.

Of course, I don't have 40 to 50 k to blow on an SUV and wouldn't do it if I did, which is why my local Honda dealer is holding my deposit on a silver Pilot EX

[timchen]

Originally posted by ramirami


I know VW calls it "luxury" but since when is VW a luxury brand.... (from the folks who make the luxury VW golf)

Honda split into Honda and Acura in North American. But rest of world still seeing just one Honda. MDX is an Honda at places else than here. If you call MDX luxury(from folks who make luxury Civic), you shouldn't have problem see how luxury a VW can be.

[shutrbug]

Originally posted by timchen


Honda split into Honda and Acura in North American. But rest of world still seeing just one Honda. MDX is an Honda at places else than here. If you call MDX luxury(from folks who make luxury Civic), you shouldn't have problem see how luxury a VW can be.

But Volkwagen already has Audi as its luxury brand. VW's branding strategy seems to be getting somewhat confused.

[beowulf777]

Originally posted by shutrbug -
But Volkwagen already has Audi as its luxury brand. VW's branding strategy seems to be getting somewhat confused.

This is a good point. Honda may be able to get away with not separating out its luxury vehicles in other markets, but for some reason they thought it would not work in USA. I believe they are right. If I remember correctly they were the first Japanese manufacturer to come out with a luxury brand.

The others quickly follow suite except Mazda. They came out with cars they claimed were luxury (929, millenia, etc.) and made an advertising campaign around how much you get when a manufacturer doesn't have to pay for a luxury division. Well today does anyone consider anything from Mazda luxury? In fact I don't think Mazda even tries anymore to compete on luxury. They went to the terribly annoying ZOOM ZOOM!

So is it just because Mazda screwed it up or will it fail for any that try it?

[Ziploc]

Originally posted by dandbtucker
I saw one on the lot today and like the way it looks. It sure looks small for the price and I still question VW's quality.

But I do like it....

Don

I kinda like it at first glance. But at $45-50 K, unless it's able to serve me coffee in bed every morning, it's out of the question.....

[shutrbug]

Originally posted by beowulf777

The others quickly follow suite except Mazda. They came out with cars they claimed were luxury (929, millenia, etc.) and made an advertising campaign around how much you get when a manufacturer doesn't have to pay for a luxury division. Well today does anyone consider anything from Mazda luxury? In fact I don't think Mazda even tries anymore to compete on luxury. They went to the terribly annoying ZOOM ZOOM!

So is it just because Mazda screwed it up or will it fail for any that try it?

I thought Mazda was going to come out with a luxury brand with the 929 or Millennia as the flagship, but their financial woes caused them to scrap those plans. I looked at the Millennia a couple of years ago, and thought it was pretty nice, but the lack of AWD made it impractical for me.