Bloomfield Track - VW Touareg & Kedron June 2010

G'day Dom

Thanks for your quick response.

It's actually my Touareg & Kedron 22' Top Ender & yes we made it down the Bloomfield. If the road works which blocked half the road width weren't there we would have had no difficulty.

We actually made it all the way to The Tip (Punsand Bay) & enjoyed Loyalty Beach etc. We also went into Kingfisher Camp.

As to the towing ability of the Touareg it was & still is just perfect. The back of the Touareg is not that low when it's connected, the bikes & boat on the roof make it sit a little lower though. We will look into stronger rear springs if we continue with these on the roof.

BTW the Touareg has same towing ability, higher ground clearance, more torque etc etc than a 100/200 Landcruiser & it gives better fuel economy. It also has low range, just great for hard work. :) I would rate the Touareg as a more serious off road vehicle than a Landcruiser 100/200 any day. But that's just my person view! :)

We think it's a great combination. But we do get a lot of comments as the Touareg just looks small in front of the Kedron.

Cheers
Alan

You sure are going to get a few replies from your last post !!!!!!

You may be thinking its a better off road TOWING vehicle than a 200 series, but I'm sure you didn't mean a better vehicle in off road ability when NOT towing ??????

Well the Toureg is a good vehicle and, on paper, it stacks up well with a 200. But there are virtually no after-market parts available for a Toureg, unlike a 200, which has virtually every concievable item readily available. Almost no vehicle, and especially a Toureg or a 200, is ready for long distance outback touring in stock form. And that IMHO is why next to no-one else uses a Toureg for outback touring.

Cheers

Captain

Same as Gronk.

You must be joking. I would love to see it up on some of those rocky tracks in the vic high mountains. No way. Albeit a good one its still a soft roader. We have had well prepared Prados and Pajs turn back. VW Tourage - No way.

Surely you mean towing on something as simple as the Bloomfield. Not serious off road stuff. If its so good why didn't you go along the OTT and the CREB.

Phil

This is the usual - I drive a Toyota and it is better than anything else type of argument. Usually the toyota is decked out in heaps of aftermarket gear to make it perform offroad where the other vehicle is usually standard.

On the showroom floor I doubt there would be much difference between a Tourag and the various Yotas - but bring in a V10 Tourag and I know which would be better.

Garry

Garry,

Nobody is saying the Toureg isn't a good vehicle, it is, but it's horses for courses and you are missing the point.

Off the showroom floor the Toyota 200 is a better off road and tow vehicle than the Toureg, either in V6 or V10 TDI form.

On road, yes, both versions of the Toureg are no doubt a better driving vehicle and have a very nice, luxury car like interior.

Also Alan, sorry to labour this point, the Toureg in V6TDI form, has quite a bit less power (176kw vs 196kw) and torque (550Nm vs 650Nm) than the 200 series and in both cases, developed at higher revs.

I guess the beauty of the forum is that everyone has their view.

I see you have a Toyota and may be a bit biased - I have neither a VW or a Toyota but have driven both offroad and I know which in standard form I would have to travel offroad.

Garry

Love your views and pleased you are so happy with your vehicle...good on you I say! Just in case however make sure you carry your own snatch strap cos I don't pull mine out for others. LOL. Cheers mate.

Horses for Courses,

I followed a mate to the cape in a new 200 series and he could not get to the same places as my 16 year old 80 series .

However for 99% of the time he was travelling in luxury, I just wish someone would bring out something like the 80 series with all the power and luxury of the 200.

I might have to look at a Touareg.

Regards
Geoff

Well Geoff, maybe its the driver :) I had an 80 series and now a 200 and there is simply no comparison between the two, especially in stock form. A stock 200 runs rings around a stock 80, the traction control alone is about 90% equivalent to twin difflocks - but if you had the factory 80 series diff locks then thats another story. Perhaps your mate was more scared of damage to his 200 series than you were to your 16 year old 80 series?

Cheers

Captain

Yes it's a much nicer vehicle than the 80, his front end was the problem, I have 2 live axles and can walk over rough terrain where the 200 would bottom out.

It's also much easier to have some fun in a $10,000 vehicle than a $100,000 one.

He also had trouble with dust getting in through the tailgate, an engine management problem, and a loose seat, not sure if they make them like they used too.

I love Toyotas but I will have a good look around before I upgrade, just have to wait for the Super Payout.

Regards
Geoff

Will see in 18 years time whats still going. go the 80.

I had an 80 series for 5 years - awesome truck. Couldn't justify $100K on a stock 200 series so bought a 79 series and optioned it up.

Geoff you're right, there a big gap now between the farm trucks and the lux 200 series land cruiser.

Hi Alan,

I too didn't want this thread to degenerate into a "mines bigger than yours" thread. As I said earlier, the Toureg is a great vehicle and I am glad it suits your purpose. My 200 couldn't do what I want it to do in stock form so aftermarket parts is a big issue for me and wipes out the Toureg for what I want/do, but doesn't mean it isn't suitable for others.

As for what is better in stock form, I think that boils down to who is prepared to push a ~$100K vehicle harder. I am sure both vehicles would go further than any sensible OWNER would dare take them - I know how many scratches and sidestep dents I already have and thats without getting it stuck!

Old Girl - I am sure an 18 year old 200 will go further than a 36 year old 80 ;)

Cheers

Captain

i would personally like to have the V6 or V10 toureg motor in the 200 in preferance to the tojo V8 ,they may be a bit more reliable and use fewer injectors , use less oil (un explainably) and less likely to slow down and have to be driven in limp home mode.