Lexus RX 330 vs. Acura MDX vs. Volkswagon Taureg??

I would check out the Taureg if i were to buy an SUV in this class. I generally dislike/hate SUV's but i had a chace to drive the cayenne, which is the big brother of the the VW, a few weeks ago. I found that it was really fun to drive for what it is and was very well designed. The only problem with it was the very high price tag. Everything i have heard is that the VW model is prettly close to the cayenne without the porsche logo. Basically everything the same except for some cosmetic changes and the engine.

bamaslammer,
Have people been having problems with the Tauregs?

 

I don't think they've been out long enough to find out, but from what I've heard about previous Vee-dubs (such as the Jetta), I would avoid them. My wife wanted a Jetta the last car we bought and we got a Volvo instead after what I heard about the Jettas here and on Edmunds.

 

Actually, Toyota does not make a car based on the RX. The Highlander's body is loosely based on that of the GX(That's pretty much where all similarity ends). The Pilot, on the other hand, is in essence the same car as the MDX(Actually a little bigger). I would say the Honda Pilot is the most underrated SUV on the market.

 

I can't defend *all* Volkswagens, but we've had a 2000 Jetta and a 2001 Golf the last few years, and all we've had to do was change the oil. Most reliable cars we've ever owned, in fact.

Where is the Touareg built? Our Golf and Jetta were built at German factories, but they're moving their work into Mexico. Maybe new factories are causing some of the problems?

 

The Highlander is the Toyota version of the RX, built on the same platform and using the same mechanicals. It has the same relationship to the RX as the Pilot has to the MDX. If those cheaper vehicles exist, why spend thousands more for the cachet of Lexus or Acura badges?

 

How many miles do you have on them? I ask because if a 2 year old car with maybe 24k on it is causing me problems, I'd park it in front of the dealer, pour gasoline on it, and set it on fire.

... ok, I'm just kidding

I'd be disappointed if any car I own gave me too many problems before 75k miles.

 

I don't follow Toyota too much since I'm a car-more-than-SUV kind of guy, and I think Toyota's cars are hideous, but I believe both the RX and Highlander are built on the Camry platform.

... I recall reading that in one of my car mags, I think

 

Where are you getting this? I am going on what the guy at a Lexus dealership told me...

 

Surprised to hear that. I had several Volkswagen cars in the past and never had any problems whatsoever. Heck, half of Mexico still drives the old beetles and they are happy!

 

Of course he lied to you. Do you really think that if a Lexus RX was nothing more than a gussied up Toyota riding on a modified Camry platform, he'd be honest and tell you? Here it is from Car and Driver:

Here is the link to the complete article:

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article_id=3088&page_number=1

 

I consider my Matrix Xrs a Suv heheheheh Toyota makes a good product.

(sellout)

 

Do you like it? I think they look all right, but I think the choice of the motor (a high revving 1.8 liter) is wrong. At least a torquey big four or better yet a small six would be perfect.

 

LOL

We have about 80K on the Jetta and 50K on the Golf.

 

Toldja.

It's a sweet vehicle to haul ass in and the interior is sweet as well. If you are a person that enjoys driving, the MDX and the RX can't compare.


... p.s. -- it's Touareg.

 

jayz, did you end up buying the touareg?

i heard 04 model year were pretty bad in terms of reliability but 05 is better.. what do y'all think?

 

Has anyone heard anything good or bad about the Acura RDX (the new, smaller SUV)? It doesn't come out until the summer, but is supposed to compete more with the BMW X3 than the X5.

 

The Pilot and Highlander are the ways to go, no question. Get the top of the line ones if you want. The fact the Highlander/rx330 (yes the are almost the same except for surface differences) are largely derived from the Camry and the Pilot/MDX (ditto) from the Accord via Odesey is a strength, it is why these cars drive and ride far superior to truck based SUVs. Unless you plan to pull major weight or go on jeep type roads (serious off roading) there is no reason to get truck based ones (worse mileage too).

The problem with the German SUVs is they fall apart worse than American SUVs, let alone compare with Asian made ones. I think the Mercedes SUV is one of the worst veheicles on the road for problems statistically.

 

You know, I hate VW's with a passion. They're built horribly and the engineers don't pay any attention to how their cool little features affect the rest of the car. But, in all honesty, VW's give some of the best test-drives. They have zip, they have features, they're almost as ergonomic as the new Hondas, the suspension is great, and the Touareg comes with the 4motion system.

Then the punch line:

All of these features and feelings will stop after 30,000 miles.


P.S. - Have fun paying a hundred dollars and losing your car for a day every 3,000 miles because nobody's gonna change your oil outside of the dealer. Don't forget to pick up a $50 air filter and a $100 cabin air filter while you're there. Oh, and see if they can fix whatever plastic thing is broken at that time.

P.P.S. - Volkswagen is the number one car driven by homosexuals. And everybody on the road knows it.

 

I heard the read the toureg and the cayenne are the least reliable main stream car right now. They've had lots of issues.