I know that it comes down to personal taste etc, but I have always felt that VW introduced their VAN as an mpv, just as all other companies, especially Renault, changed the shapes of their MPVs to be much more car like.
Compare Touran, Scenic, C Max etc and you will see what I mean.
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BobbyG
It looks like a van no doubt. Pretty and stylish it aint. However inside its far from van like. Its very very much car like to drive, in fact its every bit as good to drive as the scenic2 .....except
NO Renault diesel power plant. Oh its pokey enough, the torque is in all the right places, its not noisy per say, but it has an old fashioned diesel tingle.
It does have a kind of presence on the road tho. Its quite muscular in a brick poo house kind of way. Have you noticed how many Tourvan drivers drive like white van man bullying their way around? Since I started looking at them I have noticed it.
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
advertising the new handle does seem to imply that you have decided to stick with the van.
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No - not yet. I have to test the Mondeo, the megane estate and the Octavia.
The octavia estate may be a dark horse, as its cheap enough not to worry about the 3% Jan06 E4 hike
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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I had the Mondeo 130 tdci out for the w/e.
it was, err it was, hmmmmm let me see, its monday, I had it yesterday and I cant remmber where i left it zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Now what car did I drive over the w/e?
So
Herman the Tourvan, He is the new RF family primary panzerwagen - He has been given a visa to stay.
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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I am surprised!
Didn't you give the Octavia a chance to shine?
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Herman the Tourvan, He is the new RF family primary panzerwagen - He has been given a visa to stay.
So will Fifi get one of the rear seats?
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Hi RF. Someone may have asked this before but why is Nicole called Nicole? Have you been a Renault Family for longer than you care to remember?
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Damn. I will have to eat my slippers now. Well I could do with a new pair for Christmas as the dog has attacked them anyway.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=35...3
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>>I had the Mondeo 130 tdci out for the w/e.
it was, err it was, hmmmmm let me see, its monday, I had it yesterday and I cant remmber where i left it zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>>
Well RF on the understanding that you liked the Laguna and as a Laguna fan myself I cannot fathom that kind of responce to the Mondeo, IMO the Mondeo does everything that the Laguna hatch does though in many ways better, better handling/road holding, much quicker (comparing 2.0 130 with 1.9 120), just as economical, comparable CO2, comparable ride, comparable space etc. The Laguna has that gallic flair, a nice cabin with typically neat Renault touches and is model for model well equipped, I particulary like the Sport Tourer which is more practical than a Mondeo or Laguna hatch though is not lard ar$sed like the Mondeo estate.
I chose my current Mondeo three years ago as a company car before buying it off the company, my choice had narrowed to a Laguna 2.2 DCi Dynamique Tourer, Laguna 1.9 DCi Privelege Tourer or the Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Ghia X hatch, the Mondeo won on driving pleasure and having the economy/CO2 of the 1.9 and better performance than the 2.2. I still quite fancy a Sport Tourer though, great family car, perhaps a 2.0 turbo petrol at a good price.
Have you ruled out the Megane estate then?
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Just dont like it. I tried (again) and it a fine car, but it leaves me utterly cold. It has no charm or character of any kind. And by adding chrome strips and tinkering with the rear lights Ford have made it look like an old hooker slapping on the makeup still trying to drum up trade.
The RF family have decide thay still prefer the "sit up " style of motoring, and as punishment for not getting another scenic last time have insisted I keep the Tourvan.
Thats fine by me, its a comfortable cruiser, and a has a reasuring number of "airbag" logos about the place.
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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Mondeo's are technically very good cars... but only in the same way that my fridge is a very good fridge, my washing machine is a very good washing machine, etc. They are functional, but there's not a lot to get excited about.
I wouldn't touch a Renault, having known far too many people who have had problems with them. My mothers scenic was appalling. In the 3 years she owned it (from new), the steering rack failed twice (once dangerously), the ignition coils failed 3 times, the dash rattled and squeaked, the engine consumed oil like no-one's business..... it was junk.
My mates Megane (1 year old) has also suffered with rattling exhausts, immobiliser keeps failing (preventing the car from starting), the gearchange is just plain crude...
My other mate had a Laguna. He bought it new, kept it 3 months and was so unimpressed with it he couldn't wait to get rid of it, despite that meaning him loosing a fortune! so in summary I would rule the Renault well and truly out.
I'm not sure I'd go for the Touran either. I like VW's, especially TDi's (having owned 6 VAG TDI cars). But I don't like the design of the Touran. It's ugly. It implies the driver has very little style.
I would look at : Subaru Forester (different), Honda CR-V (great cars), Audi A3 sportback (or whatever it's called), etc...
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RF, I've the 2zone climate fitted to my car. I find it stunningly easy to use. Possibly (arguably) the easiest climate on the market?
What do you think?
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Re the 2zone
Its certainly simple, and seems to work well. Temperature seems to momentairly dip and send shivers down your spine but soon recovers.
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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Moneymart - Am I bothered?
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RF - Da DAA. < changes in phone box > Its TOURVAN man
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I was upgraded to a Touran when I had a rental car in Germany yesterday. Did 185 fast km on 16 litres of fuel which seems good. It was 2.0 tdi with a 6 speed auto and a sort of Tiptronic change which I didn't really have time to get used to! The kickdown seemed very sensitive but again practice would have improved that. No cover for the rear load space but otherwise impressed with the machine. Don't know how much it costs and I wasn't briefed about the lack of a spare wheel which might have beem awkward at night on the way back to catch a flight!
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tvm -
just looked at the www.vw.co.uk/new_cars/touran
and its "Find out why Touran is part of the family" -
lovely presentation by your family there.
(mind you they don't seem to update their website diligently, as they refer to offers which ended september 2005)
ps. - why the "v" in tvm ?
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tvm - just looked at the www.vw.co.uk/new_cars/touran and its "Find out why Touran is part of the family" - lovely presentation by your family there.
I notice the young lad is standing as far away from it as he can get! ;-)
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I notice the young lad is standing as far away from it as he can get! ;-)
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only the granny and tvm are next to the van, the rest of teh family seem to keep their distance.
what will tvm call them now: ex junior-rf, ex-nicole, ?
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Well nicole is still nicole as she is still a Clio driver, tho is making mutterings about getting a golf next year - shouldnt have taken her to VW dealers recently :( .
I cant afford to make her my ex!
Junior RF is so badly behaved at the moment he has no name.
And Fifi has been renamed. For some reason she wont come when called now?
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TourVanMan < yes its RF reborn >
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TVM,
Yes the Kids get used to high seating position, and moan in lower cars. They also get used to being able to get all their mates in the extra two seats :-(
As for the styling, it does not help fuel consumption (what does you 2.0 do? My 1.9 does 45mpg), but makes for plenty of interior room.
Enjoy the 'ran, and have a look at the owners group at the bottom of HJ's review. Bunch of self confessed nutters(me included), but interesting never the less.
Joe
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