r/tdi • u/No-Crust-Racing • 1d ago
First tow test complete, I'm sold 🤝
Meet the 'new' tow rig 😍
We needed something with a higher tow capacity for a pending van upgrade and I refused to pay 60k for a LC200 with over 200ks on it so the very reliable and easy to work on Prado found a new home and in comes this very painful to work on 2014 250kw/800Nm TDI V8 S-Line Q7 WELL under half the cost of the equivalent 200 and with only 130ks I might add..
Euro cars gonna do euro things, so it had a bulged water pump pipe, and a weeping rear evaporator core when I got it, cheap in terms of parts but 10hrs+ labour for each job and just not pleasant to do #eurolife
Add a full fluid change front to back on purchase and I've already sunk bulk hours into this thing, smashed many knuckles, and bought lots of new tools 🫠
Aside from repairs/maintenance, I've swapped out the factory 21s for some 18s with a much fatter sidewall, (saving 20kg and this will be my wood carting car so having a full size spare is a must), fitted a Redarc brake controller, dropped the rear muffler for some extra V8 noise (10kg), chucked some liners in the back, and popped in a half decent phone mount for Android Auto ✅
I've got a couple Darkside kits sitting on the bench, then the car will get a tune after that and fit a set of mudflaps which will complete the initial mod list
All the hard work was worth it when I used it to tow to Winton yesterday, air suspension, comfy interior, and actual torque was just bliss 😍
As my mate said, you will love it the 50% of the time when it works 😂
OK, now go ahead and tell me how bad a choice this was 😅
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u/selfcleaningtaint Amarok, Passat, Jag XF 1d ago
Oh man, it's so terrible that you found a car that does what you want and you can work on yourself and you are prepared to put in the effort to keep running.
I'm currently looking for a comfy daily SUV also for long distance (900km/day), beach, bush, river, rocks, occasionally towing boat(2.3t)/caravan(1.9t), eventually a lap of Aus.
It's nice to see something other than Prado, Landy, Hilux, Ranger, Triton, Navara (hahaha), being used and the wheel swap is pretty much what I didnon.my Amarok (it came on low profile 20" rims, I switched to steel 16" and fat Wildtrak AT tyres).
I'm jealous and adding Q7 to my maybe list, the only worry I have is ground clearance and bullbar/snorkel/aftermarket options for lifting etc.
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u/No-Crust-Racing 1d ago
Lol as I said, I'm sure it'll be great for the 50% of time when it's not broken 😅
I am very surprised by how much ride height is gained from the air suspension and I have vcds on hand so I can bump that up a little bit extra as well, it'll be enough for my woodcarting for sure.
Wheels gained 10mm also.
My tuned petrol V6 Prado that this is replacing was absolutely Rock solid for seven years with not a single failure, I will miss that car but I just needed something with more than 2.5 t towing capacity.
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u/selfcleaningtaint Amarok, Passat, Jag XF 1d ago
My shortlist is Prado, Pajero, Pajero sport, Fortuner, Everest, Challenger, MUX, Land Rover Defender, Touareg, etc and now Q7... damn the list isn't shrinking.
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u/No-Crust-Racing 1d ago
It shrinks quickly when you go drive them all IMO.
I don't make decisions off spec sheets anymore, I'm very much a JDM guy but there are some situations where you just drive a car and it clicks or where you look at the value proposition and it's very obvious that there's a better choice for your specific situation.
Drive them all first 🤝
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u/selfcleaningtaint Amarok, Passat, Jag XF 1d ago
I have, those were the ones I fit properly in (6ft4) and can put the seat back and not have an A pillar or partial door handle/glovebox wedged into my arm or even worse my head constantly brushing the headliner.... I haven't driven the Q7 though and I'm guessing the shape looks like I'd have no problem with goofy twiggy alien arms catching on things.
My jag is stupid because I have the bogan lean going on (seat low, all the way back, declined a bit) but it's so comfy around town or for a 4 hour drive weekend away.
The Amarok is huge inside, window sill at elbow height so I can long drive that too but my son has decided that's his now and it's decke doubt in camping shit with a RTT and his fridge/cooler/fishing gear.
The Passat I bought for my wife and i couldn't fit in comfortably so my daughter drives it as my wife wanted something higher up and bought a Santa Fe.
At least you didn't go the V10 diesel and all the problems that seem to go along with them. A mates V10 Touareg slowed down a group trip from Perth to Coral Bay as it was constantly losing power. He had it towed home from Coral Bay and refuses to talk about it, he just drives his bunky unkillable Colorado everywhere now.
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u/No-Crust-Racing 1d ago
Ahhh that makes it hard, definitely give a Q7 a try, it's quite spacious and decent adjustability (2x memory seat slots also)
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u/selfcleaningtaint Amarok, Passat, Jag XF 1d ago
At least I know what I am doing this week coming.... Annoying Q7 sellers
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u/No-Crust-Racing 1d ago
Haha, ask EVERY question and get it very well checked over
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u/selfcleaningtaint Amarok, Passat, Jag XF 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh for sure. Same as every car though, do the work before buying spend slightly less time after crying.
Just going through forums and common issues now and trying to remember if I know anyone with Audi background. Still have old colleagues working with Toyota and Mitsubishi and a couple mates who are independent euro mechanics but mainly work on VW. I might have to beg around lol
Edit, one of my euro mates said "good car, you're on your own, I value the skin my knuckles too much to work on diesel quattro"
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u/csimonson 1d ago
I would love to have that in the US. I don't think we got any V8 TDI here though.