Passat 4motion TDi?

[steve_earwig]

EML's up Why does it look like the seats are trimmed with bin liners?

[FarmerPug]

EML's up Why does it look like the seats are trimmed with bin liners?

the eml, but the engine isnt on in that picture, i dont remember any engine issues? The leather seats were quite slippy but they were leather just not as nice as peugeot leather.

[rwb]

Seems to compare favourably to a 406 HDi 110
http://www.superchips.co.uk/curves/vagpd130.pdf

But that's German isn't it: very good on paper but you just wouldn't have one.

[waue1978]

Not driven a Passat, but I will say this for VWs - every VW I've driven back to a Mk2 Golf has a really sweet gearshift. Short & precise.

[Bailes1992]

ANd to put another spanner in the works for me... My Focus is doing 100 miles a day at the moment and is going like a metranome. Hasen't missed a beat! Even doing 38mpg with a mix of motorway, contry roads and abit of town.

[406loon]

They are boring. I had a vRS with the same engine, very tractor like and so unrefined compared to the 406. Also Passats have a number of "build quality" issues. They are boring to look at, boring interiors and so mundane to drive. A mk3 Mondeo 130/155TDCI does a better job, handles better, better equipped, better performing smoother engine etc.

[FarmerPug]

although didnt i read on here someone has a passat with over 450k miles on it.

[Doggy]

Think that's the private hire car Supafrisk's driving.

Don't know if getting 450k+ from a Passat should be regarded as wonderful longevity - maybe it's more of a life sentence

[406loon]

Water ingress is a major problem on these cars and Audis/Skodas that share the Passat platform. Can end up very expensive and can lead to many woefull symptoms. Regular checking of the plenum chamber drains on these cars is vital. Not that I care, I will never own one or any VW for that matter.



1. Petrol and diesel engines can hydraulic for an extraordinary reason: water built up in the ventilation plenum chamber due to failure to clear the drains can perforate the seam of the two halves of the brake servo, rust the inside and make the brake pedal hard. That water can then get sucked into the engine if the servo diaphragm becomes perforated. Class action against VAG for this at www.volkswagen-classaction.com.

2. In 2007 VAG issued a dealer TSB 51B8 to check for blocked drain holes in the plenum chamber. Trouble is, they do not send recall notice letters to owners who have not used their franchised dealers for servicing. The first signs are a flooded vent well with water slopping about and emulsified oil under the oil cap. Apparently this water can be drawn into the brake servo and causes corrosion to the servo housing and brake master cylinder that can result in reduced brake force or failure altogether. Replacement of perforated brake servo, pipework and tandem pump be replaced can cost £980.

3. Due to the water ingress from the vent well the stepper motor for the air-con re-circulation flap can seize with the flap in the fully closed position, preventing fresh air from circulating the cabin and causing severe misting of the cabin windows. Replacing the motor is a nightmare dash-out job and can easily cost £600.

4. The original pollen filter holder in the vent well is inadequate; the water ingress seal breaks down with age and allows water to leak into the front passenger foot well. There is a modified filter holder available from VW which it seems is only fitted once the leaks happen - too late! Replacement is less than £100 including labour.

5. Check very carefully for signs of water leaks (feel footwell carpets for damp). May be a structural leak, may be a blocked ventilation plenum chamber drain, or may be because the a/c condenser drain pipe is blocked leading to water being dumped into the footwell. Very important to clear plenum chamber drains of leaves, particularly the one under the battery, as water damage to the ECU can wreck the engine. Many owners remove the plastic plugs from the plenum chamber drains to aid draining. This can also infiltrate the brake servo causing it to fail. Class action about this at http://www.volkswagen-classaction.com/


...So much for the so called Kings of "build quality" - Considering they bang on about German build quality this and that to justify thier over inflated price tag. Yes, I know Peugeots have thier faults aswell, but Peugeot dont over sell things like "build quality" and "French quality" - its a complete myth

The Ford Focus is a better car than the Golf, and the Mondeo is a better car than the Passat - but try explaining that to the die hard VW freaks or "Dubbers" as they are called.

[STALLED]

STALLED'S TOP TIP:

Don't buy one, they are fairly rubbish to drive - after owning a 406.

They have steering feel which is like an arcade game. Trim quality isn't much chop as well - with most of them looking fairly tired. This one is a V6 Variant - top of the range, but it still doesn't ride with the panache of the 406!

Seriously - there are better ways to spend 4.5k on a car!

[406loon]

I can concur with above. The Passat isnt even the best car in its platform - The Skoda Superb which was basically a chinese market Passat that was rebadged Skoda for the Euro market is a better car. £4.5k on one of those will get you an 04-05 Elegance - which will blow the passat away spec wise - they have everything you can possibly want as standard. The rear legroom is unrivalled - near limo class. and the boot is huge aswell. I would say the Superb has a better interior quality aswell.

[STALLED]

Yeah, but a Skoda Superb has as much sex appeal as a brick.

[FarmerPug]

and superbs here in ni are never owned by private buyers they are all taxis or politicians cars.

about the title of this thread is it not TDI vag cars dont do a lower case i, sorry for being picky but i dont quite understand the reason injection gets a bad deal in some acronoms.

though i dont think the passat was as awful as is said my dad let me drive his a few times it was addictivley fast and it handled great, steering was nicely wheighted but this was a sport one so it wasnt comfy on long journeys. its still the best generation of passat vw have made and you could buy worse.

[STALLED]

Dude - the Passat's steering is awful. Totally lacking the natural weighting of the 406!

Oh and the V6 will drink almost double what the 2.0 XU10 returns in the city....

[OdinEidolon]

Here was the old passat, although it had problems its still way better than a primera.


a nice car but i still prefer the 406.

Depends on what primera.
My friend has got a 1992 2.0eGT and it's the fastest and best handling car i've ever been on by far. It doesn't matter which speed I take a turn on my 406 he'll take it at 10mph more at least.
In 19 years they had (apart from normal service, cambelts etc.):
- 1 ruined wire that had something to do with AC
- one month ago the air con pipes broke tremendously and the gas took fire. It was a 3 seconds burst but nothing got damaged.

That's it, not bad for a 19 yo car with 150bhp. And it's pretty economical too, being careful you can have 40mpg average. Normal around 35mpg.