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DS (new or nearly new) vs. new shape VW Tiguan?

16K views 26 replies 14 participants last post by  Barnsh  
#1 ·
OK, here is my dilemma...

My wife currently drives a 57 plate Freelander 2. Time has come to change it.

I have just ordered a new shape VW Tiguan. SEL 4WD 150 Auto plus a few extras, inc leather, heated steering wheel, keyless, electric tailgate, swivelling towbar etc. - very good spec, probably comparable to HSE (better in some ways, eg LED lights, very flashy dashboard) and tows 2500 kg!

List price with extras is ÂŁ36,300 - BUT, through a fleet contact, I can get a discount of just over ÂŁ4,400!! So cost to me ÂŁ31,900.

BUT it's a VW, not a Land Rover (I'm currently on my 3rd Disco).

Unfortunately, to get a decent tow capacity (wife tows horses), she'd need the DS 180 Auto. That bumps up the price. She wants sat nav, leather (to cope with all the horse cr*p / hay etc etc!) so minimum SE Tech spec and with metallic, plus heated steering wheel, on the road (before discount) comes to about ÂŁ37,850 - without a tow bar. Not quite sure what discount I can get, but hopefully somewhere between maybe 6 & 9% = ÂŁ35,600 to ÂŁ34,450. Plus say ÂŁ500 for an after market tow bar.

But still at least ÂŁ2,500 more than the brand new model Tiguan, and really ÂŁ2,400 more than I want to pay. :evil:

The alternative is a 'nearly new' DS. I've seen Muddy's - ideal spec / colour, but still just a bit too much money. There's also a high spec SE Tech in one of the dealers, at ÂŁ34,500 - tempted by that, if they'd knock a ÂŁ1000 off! But a) is there any chance of that on a second hand car & b) why is someone selling it at less than 5,000 miles? Might be demo. But if not, has it been a 'problem' car??!!

Agggghhhhhh!!! Thoughts / advice / suggestions on any of the above gratefully received!! With such a good spec, brand new Tiguan available, I'm really struggling to justify spending any more - and would much prefer not to!
 
#2 ·
I was determined to buy the new tiguan but after comparing it to the Discovery I realised that the Tiguan is just a glorified Golf. The Land Rover felt much more of a upscale car and in a addition it has a much better four wheel drive system.
 
#3 ·
I'll try and answer one question. If the new Discovery 5 is any good and has a more economical engine than the D4 then I'll sell my DS MY17 which would have about 4k on the clock.

The VW looks like a nice car, I didn't look at one but if it fits your needs go for it.
 
#4 ·
Its also a good bet the Tiguan will be properly screwed together without rattles and squeaks. I had a first gen Tiguan about 4 cars ago and will look seriously again when its time to change, BiTurbo looks interesting but agree 4WD system on LR is streets ahead if proper off roading is needed
 
#5 ·
After having so many issues with my DS it was agreed between me and dealer for them to buy back, and we ended up going for the new Tiguan

Really pleased with it, have done just over 1500 miles and no issues at all, there is some good tech in there for anyone that likes gadgets and economy with the 4 motion + auto is very impressive

Was gutted to give back the DS but was the right decision
 
#6 ·
I had the previous Tiguan Match with the 180 auto 4 motion setup. If I changed back from the DS the only thing I'd really miss is the bigger boot of the DS. Emissions apart (the reason I left AVG), the Tiguan has far better fuel economy and is screwed together properly. I had a Haldex pump replaced under warranty but that was the only issue I ever had with the car which had done about 45k miles and returned 40mpg regularly at higher motorway speeds. Its much more car like to drive than the DS and a really good alternative if you don't really need the full 4WD capacity and space of the bigger DS. I'm beginning to regret that I hadn't held on to mine for another year and then bought a DS that had hopefully had all the rattles fixed.
 
#7 ·
I currently own a DS HSE bought last November together with a 63 plate Tiguan with 35000 miles on the clock.
Neither has required a single item of warranty work.
I would agree with previous comments saying that the Tiguan is better screwed together and has superior fuel economy. My only regret in buying it is that I opted for the 140 bhp 4motion version and not the 180 bhp.
The DS is great for distance cruising. I drive a number of times in the year from NE England to SW France - around 800 miles and can get out of it without any back ache! The extra luggage space is useful too.
Not sure though that this helps the original poster in making their choice? I'm happy with both cars.
 
#8 ·
In my opinion the DS is the cool car, the Tiguan is the boring workhorse.
I´d say both are fit for purpose, so it depends on how much money you want to spend. No doubt the Tiguan is better screwed together but the DS is the far more exciting car.
 
#9 ·
Snake said:
I was determined to buy the new tiguan but after comparing it to the Discovery I realised that the Tiguan is just a glorified Golf. The Land Rover felt much more of a upscale car and in a addition it has a much better four wheel drive system.
This sums up my thoughts in many ways. The new Tiguan really is a big step up from the old one and a cracking car. Do we need the better 4WD? Well, probably the most real off road is when towing a horse box across a field. Certainly not very likely to go rock scrambling in it. Although we do have a ford at the end of our lane which my wife generally crosses several times a day. 600mm wading depth on the DS is good.

depicus said:
If the new Discovery 5 is any good and has a more economical engine than the D4 then I'll sell my DS MY17 .....
I've got my eye on one of those - but I'm concerned that the price will be too high. I've driven DIscos for nearly 20 years, but one of my thoughts if we went with a DS (inc 5+2 seats) is that I may then actually go for something a bit quicker / more fuel efficient for myself - currently half thinking about an A6 Allroad BiTurbo.

Moose said:
Tiguan is a very good car, it would be very high on my list if a was not such a Land Rover nut
It is so high on my list we ordered one. But I am a LR nut and now having second thoughts!

andycs said:
Its also a good bet the Tiguan will be properly screwed together without rattles and squeaks.
rduk said:
After having so many issues with my DS it was agreed between me and dealer for them to buy back
Yasmar said:
...the Tiguan has far better fuel economy and is screwed together properly.
Chrism100 said:
I would agree with previous comments saying that the Tiguan is better screwed together and has superior fuel economy.
Isn't it sad that we have to even consider quality and that when we do, almost universally, there is an acceptance / perception that Land Rover quality just isn't as good as it should be.

geonic said:
In my opinion the DS is the cool car, the Tiguan is the boring workhorse.
I´d say both are fit for purpose, so it depends on how much money you want to spend.
And again, another very good summary of where I'm at on this!!

Money no object: Easy decision. Buy the DS, probably in either SE Tech + bits, or standard HSE spec. Keep it 3 years and move on.

But we will probably keep this for maybe 5 or 6 years. At which point quality and repair costs become significant.

Head = Tiguan
Heart = DS

Still not decided. Busy weekend ahead, but will try and fit in time to at least look at the DS again!
 
#10 ·
Hi any decision?
I must admit that money was an issue for me but ultimately I settled for a low end disco instead of higher end Tiguan. Mainly due to the fact that the DS fitted me better. This was the first new car I have bought so it was kind of a big deal but when I tested the DS I found it a perfect fit. Although I had looked at it previously and was not very impressed. Maybe cause that at that time it was out of my price range.
 
#11 ·
Snake said:
Hi any decision?
Sort of...

We stuck with the Tiguan SEL order and in due course (actually quite quickly) got the call to say they were PDIing it. They emailed over the invoice - at which point I noticed it said 'silver' not 'grey'. Obviously a misprint...? Ummm, no. Dealer had ordered the wrong colour!!

They offered, very small further discount (couple of hundred pounds), OR re-order correct colour at original (very discounted) price and wait again (no additional discount / freebies, despite asking!) OR walk away (we hadn't even paid a deposit).

We eventually decided to walk away and are due to collect a 6 months old DS Auto 180 HSE this week... :)

Fingers crossed it's a good choice!
 
#12 ·
C@lculator, that's a good question and I think a lot of people are going to be in the same position. The top spec Tiguans and Kodiaqs are going to give the DS quite a bit of competition, more than the reviews of those cars seem to give credit for.

I haven't driven either of the VW group cars (or even seen a Kodaiq) but on a spec-for-cost basis I think they will pretty much always beat the DS, although discounts and residuals might make the sticker price less relevant - until the new ÂŁ40k barrier comes into play anyway. As you say the Tiguan can tow 2.5 tons out of the box, which will swing it for some. I also think there will be more bells and whistles available on it as VW don't have to worry about maintaining space above it for their other cars as much as LR seem to with the DS. On the other hand the DS will almost certainly be better off road, and I don't necessary mean mud-plugging, I mean wet grassy fields - the tyres alone see to that.

I like the comment about a Tiguan being a glorified Golf. I drove a mid-spec Golf for 10 days last year, and I reckon glorified Golf is quite a compliment - I'll have one! There were certainly quite a few bits of it that had a higher perceived quality than the DS. And the auto feels a lot smoother.

So I reckon go with the maths or pure personal preference unless you really need a unique feature. Either will be good cars and either will sometimes make you wish you had bought the other.
 
#13 ·
You will know the difference between a Tiguan and a DS when towing on wet grass which can be a severe test. The Discovery has genuine off road performance whereas the Tiguan is more a road biased car with all wheel drive.
 
#14 ·
J Will said:
You will know the difference between a Tiguan and a DS when towing on wet grass which can be a severe test. The Discovery has genuine off road performance whereas the Tiguan is more a road biased car with all wheel drive.
I quite agree with you JWill. We were on a campsite in the Provence last autumn and it had rained rather a lot. There were a couple of people with Tiguans there and they had really severe problems getting their vans off the grass onto the gravel tracks. When it came for us to pull ours off there were absolutely no problems at all.

Personally whilst the Tiguan certainly has its place in the market it would never be an alternative for me as a towing vehicle.
 
#15 ·
#16 ·
Also the new Seat Ateca is essentially a Tiguan at lower price to muddy the waters even more!
 
#17 ·
Kodiaq will be a great car by next year, but right now the dealers have limited allocation, are offering no discount (as they can know they can shift all their allocation anyway) and all the Skoda deals (ÂŁ500 fuel, 0% finance etc) do not apply.

I think it will lack the sense of "occasion" of the DS, especially inside where it will feel less premium and more functional, but once you start to see really good discounts on them they will be a no brainer for anyone looking at an SE or SE tech really in what you get. LED headlights are standard I believe from mid-range up, LR still want to charge extra for Xenon unless its HSE or above.

Right now decent spec Kodiaq is not far of an HSE... assuming your getting a decent discount on the HSE - which is why we just ordered a DS.

Also, consider the size I have not seen the Kodiaq but I am told its more Q7 than DS in size - could be too big for some. Also their "electric" towbar is a pop-out tow bar you lock and stow away again by hand - have a look at the videos of youtube for superb, its almost same price as DS fully electric though and its only towbar option I believe (didn't see bargain removable). Although it does come with spare wheel - pay attention LR!
 
#18 ·
There's also the new XC60 due out next year to add to the mix.

It will have all the xc90 toys and shadow led lights too , that's what I'll be heading for next I think. It knocks spots of the DS for build quality , especially of interior and also safety.

Best seats I've ever sat in too.

Most teething issues will be sorted from the faults on the xc90 and new xc40 ( which due out this year) .

DS will have to up its game in quality and toys if it is to compete.
 
#19 ·
Barnsh said:
There's also the new XC60 due out next year to add to the mix.

It will have all the xc90 toys and shadow led lights too , that's what I'll be heading for next I think. It knocks spots of the DS for build quality , especially of interior and also safety.

Best seats I've ever sat in too.

Most teething issues will be sorted from the faults on the xc90 and new xc40 ( which due out this year) .

DS will have to up its game in quality and toys if it is to compete.
To be fair the XC90 hasn't exactly been without it's quality problems serious in many cases.

And at the end of the day quality and reliability are far more important than a few often useless and in many cases downright dangerous toys.
 
#20 ·
Chippy said:
Barnsh said:
There's also the new XC60 due out next year to add to the mix.

It will have all the xc90 toys and shadow led lights too , that's what I'll be heading for next I think. It knocks spots of the DS for build quality , especially of interior and also safety.

Best seats I've ever sat in too.

Most teething issues will be sorted from the faults on the xc90 and new xc40 ( which due out this year) .

DS will have to up its game in quality and toys if it is to compete.
To be fair the XC90 hasn't exactly been without it's quality problems serious in many cases.

And at the end of the day quality and reliability are far more important than a few often useless and in many cases downright dangerous toys.
Agree but the xc90 is all but through the stages of faulty infotainment , the one burst water system and a few AEB brakes slamming in for no reason.
The engine infotainment and AEB etc will be same on XC60 , so unlike the DS will be well tested by time of release.
Agree no car Is perfect though it's a lottery with all makes
 
#21 ·
Barnsh said:
Chippy said:
Barnsh said:
There's also the new XC60 due out next year to add to the mix.

It will have all the xc90 toys and shadow led lights too , that's what I'll be heading for next I think. It knocks spots of the DS for build quality , especially of interior and also safety.

Best seats I've ever sat in too.

Most teething issues will be sorted from the faults on the xc90 and new xc40 ( which due out this year) .

DS will have to up its game in quality and toys if it is to compete.
To be fair the XC90 hasn't exactly been without it's quality problems serious in many cases.

And at the end of the day quality and reliability are far more important than a few often useless and in many cases downright dangerous toys.
Agree but the xc90 is all but through the stages of faulty infotainment , the one burst water system and a few AEB brakes slamming in for no reason.
The engine infotainment and AEB etc will be same on XC60 , so unlike the DS will be well tested by time of release.
Agree no car Is perfect though it's a lottery with all makes
There were actually three official recalls in Germany on 2015/2016 models two of them involving airbags and seat belts and that's what I call not good.

Maybe we'll just agree to differ on this one otherwise I'll have to throw all my toys out of my cot again ;)
 
#22 ·
Laugh only car to get 100% in NCAP though :)

Doesn't have a wheel falling off recall problem
A gear box that can't pull away or drops into neutral when it feels like it
Rusty brakes
A b pillar rattle
An out of date sat nav....
Etc etc

We can differ but it is better built :)

Love the DS but it's troublesome start and lack of fix of b pillar is just awful.
 
#23 ·
What would you buy if not a Landrover/ DS Chippy , just curious ?
 
#24 ·
Barnsh said:
What would you buy if not a Landrover/ DS Chippy , just curious ?
Since there is no other car I need to buy at this stage I can't really respond.

Who knows what will be on the market when the need does arise.
 
#25 ·
Chippy said:
Barnsh said:
What would you buy if not a Landrover/ DS Chippy , just curious ?
Since there is no other car I need to buy at this stage I can't really respond.

Who knows what will be on the market when the need does arise.
:lol:
 
#26 ·
Barnsh said:
Chippy said:
Barnsh said:
What would you buy if not a Landrover/ DS Chippy , just curious ?
Since there is no other car I need to buy at this stage I can't really respond.

Who knows what will be on the market when the need does arise.
:lol:
I don't understand what you're trying to say Barnsh - you asked a question and I gave a straightforward answer.