| It's named after a nomadic, hearty
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| | controlled permanent four-wheel drive,
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| Saharan tribe with the unusual-
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| | electronically
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| sounding name, TOUR-egg. Literally
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| | regulated shock absorbers and double
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| translated, the word means "free
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| | wish-bone suspension
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| folk."So what better way to test drive
| |
| | enhanced the vehicle's nice road
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| the Touareg -- the first SUV offered by
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| | handling.The Touareg's most intriguing
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| Volkswagen -- than during an open-road,
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| | feature is its three varying locking
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| 400-mile round-trip journey to
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| | differentials that can offer up to 12
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| the famed Monterey Peninsula?Certainly,
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| | inches of ground clearance
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| my chosen route south on Interstate 5 has
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| | depending upon road or off-round terrain
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| long stretches
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| | surfaces.I had the standard differential
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| where anyone who enjoys the pleasures of
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| | engaged during my entire journey, and
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| driving can feel "free."But 30 miles into
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| | the Touareg didn't disappoint. It
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| my journey, a sensor warning appeared on
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| | accelerated well and handled lane
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| the
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| | maneuvering and cornering nicely.On some
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| console panel: "Defective tire on
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| | ascents, the vehicle was slightly
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| board."The same warning had also appeared
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| | underpowered and during
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| sporadically during my first two
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| | long straight highway stretches, a
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| days with the vehicle in short,
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| | windshield "whistle" interrupted an
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| around-town treks. A local Volkswagen
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| | otherwise quiet, smooth ride.My test
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| dealer representative said many Touaregs
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| | Touareg also featured a nearly $6,500
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| have suffered through the
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| | options package,
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| same "growing pains."In short, owners
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| | including a navigation system ($2,650),
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| noticing the same warning have brought
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| | an 11-speaker, 325-watt, 12-
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| their new
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| | channel audio system and a single CD
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| vehicles to dealers with concern. But
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| | changer ($2,200). Add leather
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| they've largely discovered nothing
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| | and 12-way power seats, upgraded
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| is wrong with the exception of an overly
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| | headlamps and a rear differential
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| sensitive computer system.In my instance,
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| | lock and the Touareg's price increased
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| the warning quickly changed to a danger
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| | to a hefty $41,815.The audio system,
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| light: "Flat
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| | while powerful, included a complicated
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| Tire." I stopped at freeway exit service
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| | channel and
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| station and examined what
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| | mode selection formula that can easily
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| appeared to be four properly inflated
| |
| | distract a driver with varying
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| tires. Nonetheless, I increased tire
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| | musical tastes. Volume and channel
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| pressure slightly in all of the tires,
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| | controls are also available on the
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| noted that the warning and danger
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| | steering wheel, near the controls for
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| lights disappeared and continued with my
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| | the easy-to-use cruise
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| trip.Through three more days mixed with
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| | control.Considering its new position in
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| city and freeway miles, the
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| | the luxury SUV market, purchasers of the
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| warnings appeared and disappeared
| |
| | Touareg are likely not in the market for
|
| several times, and I subsequently
| |
| | fuel efficiency. Still, the
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| read about the Touareg's first recall
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| | manufacturer's estimates of 15 mpg
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| for a related problem with its Tire
| |
| | (city) and 20 (mpg) highway didn't
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| Pressure Monitoring System
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| | hold true during my test week.After
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| (TPMS).Nonetheless, the local dealer had
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| | several days of driving primarily highway
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| assured me there wouldn't be a
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| | miles, I refilled the tank
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| problem. And with that in mind, I began
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| | and calculated the mileage at
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| a steady, if slow, study of a
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| | disappointing 14.1 mpg.2004 Volkswagen
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| powerful vehicle that includes a
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| | TouaregSafety features -- Driver and
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| multitude of innovation, a spacious
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| | front passenger (front, side and curtain)
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| interior, a comfortable ride and a
| |
| |
|
| sensory overload of features.The Touareg
| |
| | airbags and supplemental restraint
|
| I drove was equipped with a 3.2-liter,
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| | system, three-point seatbelts (all
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| 24-valve, 220-
| |
| | seating positions), child safety rear
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| horsepower V6 engine and had a base
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| | door locks, tire pressure monitoring
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| price of $34,900. The blue-silver
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| | system.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 15
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| exterior was nicely complemented with an
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| | mpg (city), 20 mpg (highway)Warranty --
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| anthracite-colored interior.The standard
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| | Warranty -- New car limited four years
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| features list was long and included such
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| | 50,000 miles;
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| unique offerings
| |
| | Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles;
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| as five 12-volt power outlets, dual zone
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| | Corrosion, 12 years/unlimited miles.Price
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| climate with rear vents, a
| |
| | range -- $35,000 to $46,000.James Raia is
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| multifunction trip computer and compass,
| |
| | a syndicated journalist in Sacramento,
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| a recharging mini-flashlight
| |
| | Calif., who writes
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| and power heatable exterior
| |
| | about sports, fitness and business
|
| mirrors.Additional special features
| |
| | topics as well as the free electronic
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| included heatable driver and passenger
| |
| | newsletters Endurance Sports News and
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| seats, a powerglass sunroof and 17-inch
| |
| | Tour de France Times and The
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| alloy wheels.The electronically
| |
| | Weekly Driver, a car review column.
|
