The advent of flight has made travel efficient and fast and with South Africa’s relatively small size, no flight should last more than a few hours. The comfort may not always be there, but the convenience of crossing the entire country in the same time it takes to watch a movie, pays for itself in spades. It’s become fairly cost effective too with numerous carriers offering discounted rates. But the journey is also a part of any adventure or trip, so why cut it down when you are just as easily able to drive to the destination? With the added benefit that you’re mobile when you reach your final port of call. The simple answer is fuel. Fuel prices have increased to the point where flight suddenly becomes more efficient, not only in time stakes. Diesel cars are known for their frugality and many will sing the praises of extended miles and single tank adventures, but is it possible in a large, V8, twin turbo SUV?
The VW Touareg range culminates in the range topping 4.2 V8 TDI Executive and as such, it comes with a smorgasbord of features and conveniences with a price tag to match. Expensive, luxury SUVs are nothing new and too often they’re regarded as ostentatious wastes of space, with owners using them to business meetings and nothing more. I’m pleased to say that the Touareg feels less so, and more apt for a long distance drive to the remote regions of Southern Africa. It certainly feels more rugged and purposeful than some of its counterparts, with a familiar dashboard layout and functional switchgear. The 4.3-litre, twin turbo V8 diesel motor develops 250kW and 800Nm of torque, making this one strong SUV. While it doesn’t lurch for the horizon like an X6 M, there is a sense of urgency in the drive. Overtaking becomes effortless and no doubt that towing would be a complete breeze - no matter how big your boat is. The revised look of the Touareg is not as radical a departure from the old model as some would lead you to believe.
Sharper angles on the head and taillights and the obligatory revisions to the bumpers merely neaten things up and do away with the soft visage of the large SUV. A new lighting arrangement with LED taillights and DRLs up front and a larger air dam in the front bumper give it a more sporty look, rather than a cumbersome wagon. The interior also sees some refreshing with brushed aluminium inserts and the usual expanses of faux wood finishes. While some may scoff at it, it suits the nature of the vehicle to a tee. The heated and air conditioned seats are electrically adjustable and offer enough range of motion to allow for a comfortable and safe drive over extended distances. The infotainment system is still the largest bugbear of the current VW range and while effective, it’s less than intuitive and takes a few hours on the road before you can use it to its full potential. The audio quality is not bad, but better can be found in smaller hatchbacks. The drive was comfortable and without drama for the most part. While many believed that we would comfortably make it on a single tank of fuel, it was not so. I won’t divulge the result of our experiment, you will have to watch it for yourself to see if we made it or not. All I can say is that in those final moments, I was dreading running the motor dry.
Arrange your own financing. When buying a auto, negotiate the lowest achievable cost just before financing is talked over. Should you come into the negotiation together with your financing already covered, then you've extra leverage. If you are paying cash for the vehicle, requirement an even higher discount. Go in equipped. Consumer Reports will sell to you a print out of exactly just how much a auto should sell for. Buy an investigation on the model you want to discover out what the trader likely obtained your car. The price you pay need to be a lot closer to that quantity than to the sticker cost. Buy through a vehicle club. Car clubs, such as those by means of warehouse clubs including BJ's, can be an alternative technique to buying a vehicle at a discounted rate without paying full cost. Each club has their own way operating, but in all situations you should be in a position to pay less and leave the haggling out of the equation. If your the kind of individual who enjoys haggling, of course your experience just isn't likely to be as bad. You know how to play the game and winning for you is simply securing the lowest achievable price. For everyone else, a little outside support can save you funds. Do not let your emotions inform you, "I must have this vehicle," or you're likely to pay significantly more than you should. Remember: trader sob stories are just that; if they can't figure out a way to make funds off of a sale, then they should not be in organization.
