Comments: 1-15, 16-25
Nothing really, but the rear door seems to require a good slam to shut properly.
We were looking for a car with 7 genuine 3-point seat belts, and it appeared that we had to go for a new or almost new car to get such a spec. Given that constraint the choice came down to a Zafira or a Touran. The Touran won because of the way in which VW have capitalised on experience of previous designs like the Zafira, and because of concerns about the Zafira's oil consumption.
The Touran appears to have benefited from extraordinary attention to detail. Things like the wipers slowing down while the car is stationary, or the clear and intuitive way in which the air conditioning controls function.
There are four trim levels for French Tourans - basic, Confort, Sport and Carat. Ours is in Carat trim, the top of the range. This means leather seats, alloy wheels, air conditioning with driver and passenger controls, tinted windows, heated seats etc. All the toys, in fact, except a CD changer which would have been nice. But in general the equipment levels are OK for a German car maker.
The 2.0 TDI engine is a cracker. It has plenty of torque for safe overtaking, and this also makes it pleasant to drive on the mountainous roads where we live. I would not recommend the 1.6 petrol engine for a seven seater like this, but the 2.0 TDI has no problem with a full car.
The flexibility of the seating was also an area where the Touran beat the Zafira. The individually fold-able middle row and the clever third row are simple to use and comfortable. We often need to transport additional children, and it is ideal to have seats there and ready for use when required, but able to be folded away.
The road holding is surprisingly good for what is a high-sided box. The body roll is very well controlled, and it really does not feel like a large car to drive.
My one criticism is with the Touran's appearance. I bought it because it promises to be very functional, not because it looks good. In fact I think nearly all the other cars in the class, like the new Scenic, the Zafira and the Picasso, are much better looking than the Touran. But luckily looks aren't everything, especially for a utilitarian vehicle like this.
A very understated vehicle. It deserves far more notice than it gets. Excellent quality with excellent performance and good road holding. I was most surprised when I drove the 2.0 litre diesel version. I highly recommend the Touran.
We hired a VW Touran 1.6 litre when having a week in Dublin lately.
The Touran looks like a compact purpose built MPV. I got used to the practical looks of the vehicle and studied the very clever well built interior. The Touran also holds the road remarkably well. The blue interior dashboard lighting is very much to my liking.
After the week, my wife and friends were greatly impressed with the Touran. It is a truly classy vehicle.
I plan to buy one very shortly.
I drove Touran 2.0 TDI on freeway
Agree! A great MPV, but... the front tyre wear on the 2.0 litre TDi Touran is rather excessive! The 8mm depth of tread when new is now down to under 5mm after only 4000 miles! Take away the safety tread level of 1.6mm and I've got another 3.4mm approx. left to achieve a miserable 8000 miles on the pair of reputable brand tyres!
Average speed has been 50mph... not fast!
Anyone else with a similar experience?
Still a good car and great drive!
Bawddwr.
Does anyone have problems with excessive front tyre wear on VW Touran 1.9TDI. I only got 12000 miles from 1st set of front tyres.
Has anyone had any problems with smoke coming from the front wheel of the 2.0 TDi Touran?
I have a Touran Sport (Highline) 2.0 TDi and am delighted with it. My other car is a MINI Cooper S and I find the Touran is almost as fun to drive. The Electronic Stability Program is enormously better than the MINI's - subtly helping you by directing power where it is needed rather than just cutting out all forward motion!
As an enthusiastic driver of a car with enormous torque, I was expected poor tyre wear, but so far I am up to 13,500 miles with about 2.5 to 3 mm of tread on my front Dunlop SP01As. I will replace the tyres soon, but feel satisfied that at £70 each they are reasonable.
My previous MPV was a Ford Galaxy 1.9 TDi which didn't get more than 11,000 miles from tyres. The Galaxy tyres were reinforced and cost £130 each at maximum discount. So, my Touran is working out less than half as expensive in rubber, which is a good saving.
The smoke coming from the wheel arch area of a VW Touran is something to do with a turbo heater! Had to call VW Assistance this week as the problem showed on two consecutive 'freezing cold' days! 'Nothing to worry about' apparently! Pity salespersons did not warn us of this phenomenon!!!
It's the auxillary heater that smokes under the o/s front wheel arch of the touran. it can be rectified free under warranty with new software update and mine also had a new heater exhaust and inlet pipe. no smoke now. this should be a standed recall don't you think!!!
The smoke problem is indeed known about, and only happens allegedly after short runs on cold days. It is due to over-zealous functioning of the diesel pre-heater, or something like that. There is a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) on this and the fix is done free by a VW dealer if you ask. I'm not sure if these things happen automatically during a scheduled service.
We had the fix done some time ago, but I have noticed smoke on one or two occasions since.
I have a Touran 2.0 TDi I have covered 6345 miles mostly motorway and have found my front tyres are wearing excessively on the inside three qaurters (tracking is fine)
My diesel pre-heater was so bad I disappeared in a cloud of smoke at a busy T junction. VW mechanic told me it was the exhaust!!My front tyres have just been replaced after 16,000 miles, with most of the wear on the inside edge, apparently due to speed humps.It's not a very humpy area round here though!
One issue to watch for with the Touran - there is no spare tyre due to the fold-away third row of seats. In the event of punctures there is a supplied rubber injection kit, which will put the tyre into a state where the car can be driven to a garage.
But it turns out to be more complicated than that. Using this method apparently renders the tyre unrepairable, resulting in a bill of up to £120 for a completely new part. Sure, it's just a tiny puncture, but the type is now a useless heap of expensive rubber.
In principle, it shouldn't matter, but the tyres are expensive so a simple event like a puncture turns into a major running cost.
My Touran 2 litre pdi has been vey good over these first 12,000 miles. I have no premature tyre wear and reckon they will go on for a further 8,000. I have had problems with smoke from under the vehicle in the garage on cold days after a run; and was told by the garage to set the AC at "economy" then this will not happen. (It failed) My main souce of complaint which the garage hs failed to rectify on 3 occasions now are the rattles from the trim, doors and seats which I reckon to be very poor as my Audi A4 had done 115,000 miles without a single squeak or rattle from trim. The engine is unburstable and has returned 51.3 mpg over 12,000 miles of mixed town and motor way, with a low of 29.2 over one tankful and a high on a motorway journey at 60 to 70 mph of 67.6! The road-holding and steering are excellent, but I have concerns about visiblity with its thick pillars. Would I buy another? Yes, but next time with the DSG box. Dr Peter.
I own a 2003 VW Touran 2.0 TDi Sport and am also experiencing excessive tyre wear on the inside.
First set lasted 10000 miles and the second set at 5000 miles look like they've got about 3000 miles left in them.
I don't think the problem is road humps, but more so the camber setting which from viewing the front of the car seems to toe out slightly, even when the tracking is fine.
Has anyone taken this up with their dealership?
Don't get me wrong, but I like the car, the engines great and it corners with ease it just seems to me to be an excessive cost of motoring when I can 40k to 50k miles out of a set of tyres on a 2.0 Vectra.