2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

"I really like this vehical for what it is, a CROSS OVER CUV/UTE. I compared the wretched 2013 Chevy Equinox & Terrain, the equally wretched Buick Encore, the grim Jeeps (pick one), the 2013 Mazda CX5, the 2013 Honda CRV, the ghastly 2013 Ford Escape (Appropriately named), the 2013 Toyota RAV4, the 2013 Nissan Rogue (which will go ROGUE on you), the HORRID BMW X3/X5, the equally bad MB GLA and even the 2013 Audi Q5---I went with the Volkswagen 2013 Tiguan S by default..YOU don't want the 2009-12 Tiguans. They were NOTHING but MONEY-PITS/LEMONS. The best years for the TIGUAN were 2013-2015. Approximately 2016, VW moved production from Germany to Mexico and the quality went downhill from there. THREE UPS: INTERIOR. I adore the interior (Panzer Grey, Lt Grey, Tan) which looks really classy (like it were an Audi Q5). I had excess Chrome accents & fake Wood trims---this car has a Bauhaus design to it. The car seats are PLUSH and the ride SMOOTH---she drives like a LazyBoy Recliner. PERFORMANCE: The little 2.L 4 Cylinder 200hp@5K RPM TURBO hauls ask and gets average 23mpg (not good but not bad). HIGH TECH: Even for 2013 (six year old car), the tech on this car is amazing. Once paired with an IPHONE, the car will tell you if your phone is not with you (I left mine at a Coffee Shop, at the Gym, at home & at the office and I was able to retrieve it before it was stolen. Amazing).THREE DOWNS: First, Its a TURBO. You can not launch a turbo before it is warmed up, You can not launch a Turbo coming out of a turn (they need high revs to function), You may only run VW SPEC 100% Synthetic Oil 502.00 (She purrs on MOTUL OIL Spec 502.00 or X8100 Spec with a K&N Oil Filter) and only drinks PREMIUM UNLEADED GAS!!! My Tiguan chugs Shell Premium and will run poorly on AM/PM Premium, Im just saying...Next, its a TURBO. Turbos are oil cooled, meaning you need to idle the car for 1-2 minutes after performing any freeway driving to cool it down [NOTE: THE COOL DOWN IS REQUIRED WITH ALL TURBO'D CARS, now just VWs. My dad ate his 1980 Regal Turbo Engine at 12,000 miles because he treated it like a normally aspirated engine]. Also,, the car hates it when you 'manhandle' her gas pedal. Just set the Cruise Control to 70mph and let her do her thing. FINALLY PRAY, NOTHING BREAKS. VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING PARTS WISE IS LOCATED IN New Jersey. It took two weeks to order two lousy latch torque screws. A rebuilt alternator will cost $1,600.00 at the dealer and used parts are rare, if not unavailable.My car was a twice returned from lease/former Certified PRE OWNED car 6yrs/45.1K miles and was mint when I picked her up for a ridiculous $9999.00 plus $1,400.00 in dealer perks (I paid Cash the day after New Years!!!). Do yer Homework and read Car Complaints.com. Insist on seeing documentation that the TSI tensioner was replaced on model years 2009-2013 else the Timing Chain will slip and you will eat an engine @ $7K each!!! Another heartache is the Dual Fuel Pumps which were also recalled. Finally, get yer Takata Airbag Clock Spring serviced ASAP. Then baby the car & have fun with her."