USED Volkswagen Touareg 4x4 (03 - 10)

My car

On the plus side the car is spacious and comfortable and on road handles extremely well although with the normal suspension the ride can be a bit hard on bumpy surfaces.

Despite its size, it is easy to drive, although the width can be a bit of a problem in all but the most generous parking spaces - optional parking sensors are recommended. The basic equipment spec is high and the car feels like a executive saloon.

Off road the car seems capable of taking most things that are thrown at it. I think most drivers will find the main limitations are the standard tyres are not suited to off-road work.

Overall I think the car is a brilliant design but it is let down with one big but - quality. Mine is a 2004 model. The car has been back to the dealer many times in 10 months for various squeaks, rattles, trim problems - nothing major but totally unacceptable in a car costing £30k+.

My car

The car is a delight to drive. I went for the 2.5 TDI and for around town and steady motorway driving it's fine. In hindsight, I would probably go for the larger diesel engine as it feels like it requires a little more power if you need acceleration quickly, but I'm not losing sleep.

The official mpg figures are little out for around town; the 2.5 diesel does about 22mpg and all the V6 models I looked at come at 10-12mpg.

You need to think seriously about the extras as these do make a difference. Automatic on the diesel, cricket leather upholstery with 12-way seat adjust, parking sensors, chrome and the convenience packs are essential. Satellite-navigation is not essential, but great fun and no more flicking through a ten-year-old A to Z!! Other extras I would consider next time would be the phone kit, automatic boot-lid closing, memory settings and continuous damping control.

My car

The power of this car is totally overwhelming. I previously owned a 3.2 Audi TT and clearly, the performance was superb. I can honestly say however that in real-world driving conditions, the Touareg can do just about anything.

The diesel engine has tremendous power and overtaking is a joy. The cabin is plush and there is little or no engine noise from the V6. I am not sure yet what the average fuel consumption will be, however I think it is likely to be much better than the V10.

My car

Very comfortable drive with great stability both on and off road. It's far smoother than the Lexus RX300 and much better all round visibility.

The automatic engine takes a second to kick in, but when it does you can feel the power at your disposal.

It makes a mockery of speed bumps and mincemeat of those unadopted delightful suburban roads many of us have to live with.

It sits well in its class but could do with more extras as standard to warrant the price tag.