Are you happy with your Taos purchase?
1 - 20 of 65 Posts
we really like the SUV. yes, there are things about it that are not quite right. that happens with every product built by mankind, particularly with a new model. In our opinion, the good things far outweigh the difficulties. I bought the extended warranty with it because it is a new model and the amount of technology in the cars these days the repair costs rise quickly.
What would you consider the pros over cons? I have test driven a SEL AWD and I liked everything except the jerking when it shifted.
I'm confused about that initial thought and it deserves a bit of elaboration. The AWD comes with the DSG transmission whose hallmark is very smooth shifting because of the way it works. I'd bet the 'jerking when shifting' wasn't really shifting. Every transmission technology requires a little bit of using it differently, you can't drive a manual the same way you drive an automatic. they function differently. Transmission computers also need to time to learn shift patterns based on how you drive, a test drive doesn't allow this to happen. The 2WD has a traditional automatic transmission, drive one to compare.
anyway, we like the ride and handling. VW has great steering over other brands in similar price range, seems odd to focus on steering but its noticeable. some people don't like the firmer ride of german cars and thats ok for them. we also live at altitude and the turbo is a must. The audi (VW) AWD system is one of the best out there and I'm looking forward to that this winter. in my research, the SVU is unmatched by competition for engine responsiveness and MPG with AWD or 2WD. most competitors are 15-20% less MPG. This engine responsiveness might also lead to your jerking while shifting evaluation. it could be the turbo spooling up and creating a lunging sensation. the VW 2.0T engine has this also and it is common in turbos. if you want smooth, you need to press a bit less on the pedal at first until the turbo spools.
the sunroof is really cool, the seating room is way bigger than others and the infotainment is nice although a bit buggy. I bet other cars have similar issues with buggy technology in the infotainment area.
anyway, we like the ride and handling. VW has great steering over other brands in similar price range, seems odd to focus on steering but its noticeable. some people don't like the firmer ride of german cars and thats ok for them. we also live at altitude and the turbo is a must. The audi (VW) AWD system is one of the best out there and I'm looking forward to that this winter. in my research, the SVU is unmatched by competition for engine responsiveness and MPG with AWD or 2WD. most competitors are 15-20% less MPG. This engine responsiveness might also lead to your jerking while shifting evaluation. it could be the turbo spooling up and creating a lunging sensation. the VW 2.0T engine has this also and it is common in turbos. if you want smooth, you need to press a bit less on the pedal at first until the turbo spools.
the sunroof is really cool, the seating room is way bigger than others and the infotainment is nice although a bit buggy. I bet other cars have similar issues with buggy technology in the infotainment area.
The turbo in the FWD takes a bit of time to get used to the acceleration, or lack thereof. And there are a few things w/ the infotainment screen/features that take some time to figure out. We like it for the most part, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars. And yeah, that Panoramic Sunroof is SWEET! And the black wheel pkg too!
both AWD and 2wd have the same engine, the difference in experience is the tranny between the two. The turbo kicks in quickly but humans tend to push on the pedal more while its not spooled up because its not going as fast as we expect. then it kicks in and goes much faster.
I get confused when the reviews and other users say "lack of acceleration". This isn't a sports car but the acceleration is quite good and I have no issues getting above 70MPH for highway merging or passing people. it is a 30+ MPG 1.5L SUV and its power is acceptable for that situation. I thought about getting a SQ5 but I didn't like the 20MPG fuel economy, sure it was a much faster accelerating SUV!
the black wheels do look great! we couldn't get those unless we got the grey model. oh well. The heated and cooled seats are very nice also!
I get confused when the reviews and other users say "lack of acceleration". This isn't a sports car but the acceleration is quite good and I have no issues getting above 70MPH for highway merging or passing people. it is a 30+ MPG 1.5L SUV and its power is acceptable for that situation. I thought about getting a SQ5 but I didn't like the 20MPG fuel economy, sure it was a much faster accelerating SUV!
the black wheels do look great! we couldn't get those unless we got the grey model. oh well. The heated and cooled seats are very nice also!
Aside from a few quirks with the infotainment system and a few of the features, we absolutely love our Taos, especially mpg, ride and handling characteristics. I've gotta say though, that if the Car Net App was not free, i would never pay for it in its current state. IMHO, the app is just plain garbage.
Lack of acceleration wasn't really what I was implying, it's just a bit of a learning curve to get steady and smooth acceleration from a stand still. I think I've got it pretty good now lol.
that is a good description that is similar to what I described also. the turbo engaging can be unexpected to manage if you're not used to a turbo like this. it adds quite a bit of power all at once, it is a very german trait. other cars don't have a turbo that is appropriately sized vs engine and it doesn't add as much power.
Still, the reviews indicate Taos lacks power. I disagree with those reviews.
Still, the reviews indicate Taos lacks power. I disagree with those reviews.
After the break in period (1000 miles) the shifting on the AWD gets way smoother, and the turbo lag becomes less noticeable. The tranny takes time to learn your driving style. It took me a week or so to learn all the functions of the digital cockpit and infotainment systems. All in all I am very satisfied with the car. Mine is an "S" so no fancy sunroof or navigation system or driver assistance. My only upgrade is the 4 motion. The only thing I do not like is the engine stop/start system but you get used to pressing the deactivate button each time you start the car.
I've put about 600 miles on my SE 4Motion and the shifting has totally changed. It's so much more "normal".
Pros: love the seating space in the rear, black wheels are nice, infotainment has just been replaced by CarPlay which I am fine with, LED lighting is been an upgrade and really illuminates the road, seats have more bolstering than the Tiguan (not so flat) love the styling.
Cons: not the fuel economy I was expecting, don't like some of the hard plastics in the interior, wish the digital display had a few more options for settings.
Pros: love the seating space in the rear, black wheels are nice, infotainment has just been replaced by CarPlay which I am fine with, LED lighting is been an upgrade and really illuminates the road, seats have more bolstering than the Tiguan (not so flat) love the styling.
Cons: not the fuel economy I was expecting, don't like some of the hard plastics in the interior, wish the digital display had a few more options for settings.
I think I’m weary of the lunging sensation because I drove a 2014 automatic Ford Focus and it bucked and jerked ALL THE TIME. It was consistently being recalled for transmission issues.
When I was on a hill and stopped, the car would roll backwards as soon as I took my foot off the brake - I read that another Taos owner experienced the same thing. This issue is really scary and concerns me more than just the jerking while shifting in low speeds
I have owned 3 Beetles so I do completely understand that VWs just drive differently (in such a magical way) and I felt that when I was in the Taos. You just feel connected to the car.
One other question I have - how is the audio in the SE? I consider myself an audiophile and thought the SEL Beats sounded pretty decent so I don’t want to drop down a level from SEL to SE if the sound is vastly different.
When I was on a hill and stopped, the car would roll backwards as soon as I took my foot off the brake - I read that another Taos owner experienced the same thing. This issue is really scary and concerns me more than just the jerking while shifting in low speeds
I have owned 3 Beetles so I do completely understand that VWs just drive differently (in such a magical way) and I felt that when I was in the Taos. You just feel connected to the car.
One other question I have - how is the audio in the SE? I consider myself an audiophile and thought the SEL Beats sounded pretty decent so I don’t want to drop down a level from SEL to SE if the sound is vastly different.
How is the audio sound? I know the SE doesn’t include Beats but I am curious how it measures up otherwise.
I really like mine overall! And so do other people that ride in it/borrow it, they're always impressed. Perfect size and proportions, feels spacious for people and things while still easy to fit in parking spaces, great upright driving position and visibility, comfy seats, reasonable MPG, digital cockpit is great, suspension is sporty, steering is effortless, modern tech conveniences, etc. It's an easy and satisfying vehicle to drive. I personally like the understated German styling.
Is it perfect? No... the turbo lag takes getting used to, iq.drive isn't as "smart" as some more advanced ADAS systems (and it's irritating that the safety features are optional), and some interior trim pieces are chintzy. But overall I think it's a good value for the money and I don't regret getting one at all.
(SEL FWD)
Is it perfect? No... the turbo lag takes getting used to, iq.drive isn't as "smart" as some more advanced ADAS systems (and it's irritating that the safety features are optional), and some interior trim pieces are chintzy. But overall I think it's a good value for the money and I don't regret getting one at all.
(SEL FWD)
SEL w/4-Motion here. After I used the Carista OBD2 adapter/app to change the throttle response setting and the harness from B2BFAB to permanently disable the annoying start/stop , everything has been fantastic! I cannot stress enough how much better the driving experience is with the throttle response changed. If you've already trained yourself to feather the throttle when you first accelerate, you'll have to retrain your brain again if you make the throttle setting change. You still can't put your foot to the floor and expect it to move instantly, but the response you DO get makes it much easier to control smoothly, compared to the default setting. If you haven't done this on your Taos, then you REALLY should give it a try! I don't know if the change affects the MPG slightly, but for me the change is now absolutely essential! The Beats audio system is not quite as good as the Fender audio system in my last VW but it's good enough for my ears.
S fwd here and the wife loves it. I find it a bit too fun to drive on twisting mountain roads. The Taos handles better that a Nissan Pulsar I had in the 90's. Fuel economy is great, Averaged 36 mpg driving from Georgia to Michigan and home again for thanksgiving. I even fit in the back seat which is saying a lot as I am 6'6" and close to 300 lbs.
Joined
·
1 Posts
I have been pretty pleased with it through Apple Carplay. Bluetooth doesn't have the same quality. It is far better than the tinny sound I got in my Toyota. You can crank it without any significant degradation of quality. My husband is a musician, so much more finnicky about audio, and he was quite happy with it for a base system. It doesn't hurt that the Taos itself has such a quiet ride, makes for a better experience sound wise.
Joined
·
4 Posts
OmegaWave, would you mind expanding on adjusting the turbo settings for those of us who may be less knowledgeable on the topic? Is that option available to every model (I have the FWD SE)? Is it easy to adjust? I don’t have many complaints about this car, but the late sudden acceleration has definitely taken a while to get used to.
Thanks!
Joined
·
4 Posts
Hey Omegawave, you're liking the B2BFAB harness? I hadn't heard of it, but I just looked it up and I might have to order one. The start-stop drives me nuts.
1 - 20 of 65 Posts
