Tiguan approach angle - Track & Field

**DieselTig** · 13-07-2009, 08:43 AM

I recently put my order for a tiguan diesel with offroad package but I had long arguments with sales people why VW could not just bolt on the bumper that provides 28 degree approach angle with skid plates for gear box and engine. They have this as an alternative in all other countries including NZ and I am at a loss why they cant have this here in AU.

How can these people (VW) make decisions on what Australians can and cant drive. How do they know how much off road work we do.

I got rid of my hilux and before that a cruiser to go into something more comfy but still want to have a bit of fun offroad.

I then decided to send a letter to VW HQ expressing my concerns and how they can help their valued clients.

I will keep you posted of the outcome, hopefully I can get VW's attention.

**team_v** · 13-07-2009, 09:10 AM

The tiguan is a designated soft-roader.
If you wanted to tackle anything more serious than soft-roading, you should buy a serious off-roader or a soft-roader with better off-roading capabilities (X-Trail, Prado etc etc).
VWA probably want the toureg to be the designated off-road VW and hence wil not bring the off-road front end for the tig here.

Good luck with the quest though.
If all else fails, you could order it from overseas.

**NZTiguan** · 13-07-2009, 09:33 AM

Personally I wouldn't agree that the X-Trail is a better off-roader than a Tiguan, I've seen several videos now proving the reverse BUT that was with Track and Field Tiguans utilising the off-road package. A lot of tests have just had the standard Tig without the off-road package and in that trim it certainly isn't as good as an X-Trail. That aside I personally wouldn't own a Tig without A: the full track and field package and B: a diesel engine and auto box. Unfortunately it's not as simple as a bumper change or lots of people would be doing it. My only real suggestion is that you attempt to buy through a New Zealand dealer with delivery into Ausi. It seems VERY strange to me that an Ausi dealer wouldn't be able to arrange a special purchase that way themselves but maybe there are some govt rules and regulations that preclude that.

**team_v** · 13-07-2009, 10:15 AM

I only gave the x-trail as an example as most of the reviews have stated it as an off-road capable car.
In the end, you are better off getting a real off-roader if you want to do something more serious than soft-roading.

Delta 4x4 have done some work on a tig so you could have a look at their products.

You could look at the NZ dealer option however i don't know if it is possible to do or how expensive it will be.

**NZTiguan** · 13-07-2009, 10:50 AM

I completely agree that if you want to do "serious" off-road work the Tig is NOT the machine for it in ANY form (Track and Field or otherwise) but the Tig is certainly remarkably capable in the "farm track" or mud and snow type conditions. If you want serious off-road there's very few (if any) vehicles that are "really" capable AND are still OK for normal highway use and I'd be wanting a separate (preferably old and battered and very basic) type machine for that sort of work.

Cheers

**DieselTig** · 13-07-2009, 11:59 AM

Guys, I have been doing serious offroading for the last 20 years with toyotas(Hilux and landcruiser and for a short time a Landrover Defender), but they are not fun to drive around the city roads.
So I had my fun and now migrated to softroaders. I also own and use x-trail and have to say it is very capable offroad, taking it places where other softroaders would think twice but with absence of good ground clearance and low range transfer case it limits climbing and descending etc.
Having the better approach angle on the Tiguan can expand on the possibilities.

So, I didnt buy the Tiguan for its offroad abilities but for comfort, refinement, some offroad flexibility and to some extent the fuel economy of diesel, having a better approach angle would have been a bonus.

I guess I need to adopt my driving habits as I did with the X-Trail.

**NZTiguan** · 13-07-2009, 12:05 PM

I think you're right on the button DieselTig. Must say I was surprised when I saw Ausi wasn't having the track and field model, would have thought it would be at least as popular there as it is here in NZ.

Cheers

**DieselTig** · 13-07-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by NZTiguan

I think you're right on the button DieselTig. Must say I was surprised when I saw Ausi wasn't having the track and field model, would have thought it would be at least as popular there as it is here in NZ.

Cheers

Who knows what market politics are played in Germany. I guess when they own a stack of companies including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and Scania, they can make the decisions and not us.
Despite all that I cant wait for delivery and hand over in October because I had a few test drives of the diesel and it is fantastic.

Check out some of the videos on youtube in Greece, some spectacular descent with the Tiguan. Short but steep hill, I would only get my old hilux to do that.

**gerhard** · 13-07-2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by DieselTig

Who knows what market politics are played in Germany. I guess when they own a stack of companies including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and Scania, they can make the decisions and not us.
Despite all that I cant wait for delivery and hand over in October because I had a few test drives of the diesel and it is fantastic.

Check out some of the videos on youtube in Greece, some spectacular descent with the Tiguan. Short but steep hill, I would only get my old hilux to do that.

The "market policies" are played here in AU by VW Aust, not in Germany. It is them who decides that we don't need the Track Tig, the Scirocco, and who knows what else we don't get.

Complaining to the decision makers is futile, as in any autocracy.

I was hoping with the departure of the last MD that things might improve, but no evidence yet that the new incumbent is any different.