The New Shape Passat - Opinions

_Kaiser_

Hey all,

As some of ye may remember from earlier threads, I've had a lot of bother with my 02 1.9 TDI Auto VW Passat. It's a great car when it's running well, but I've only had it 18 months and it's already cost me almost 5k in maintenance costs! At the same time, a mate has a similar one (only difference in fact is his is manual) and it runs fine so I think at this stage I got a proverbial lemon.

The last straw came last night when I finally got it back after 3 weeks of being in with the garage. Aside from the rather substantial cost, and the fact it was meant to be only in with them for 3 days, it's STILL not right - the red brake/warning symbol starts beeping and flashing when you start the car and move off and won't clear unless you turn the ignition off and on again, plus the brake pedal is "kicking back" a bit when say you turn into a parking space.

So I've decided there's no more point trying to get this fixed. I've spent too much time and money on it and it's time to move on. I've found a 2005 SE 2.0 TDi 140 DSG Auto Passat (new shape) on a UK site for 10 grand stg. Convert this to Euro and it works out at 13k. Add on VRT (7 grand according to the revenue site! :mad:) and that makes it about 20k.

My plan is to ask the garage to import it, VRT it and then we'll swap them (he seems agreeable to this), but naturally I'll have to fork out a bit in the difference (given all the hassle I've had with my current one, I plan this to be as little as possible) but does that seem a good price for the 05? What about issues with them? I've heard of problems with the electric handbrake etc..

Cheers!

pburns

You've spent €5k in 18 months on a 02 Passat:eek:...
...and now you're looking for advice about buying ANOTHER ONE!! :eek::eek:

Jaysus no wonder the VW dealers in this country are such an arrogant bunch when guys like you are brainwashed to such an extent...

I don't have first hand experience of the new-gen model but what I've heard (mainly here!:D) isn't good...

_Kaiser_

pburns wrote: »

You've spent €5k in 18 months on a 02 Passat:eek:...
...and now you're looking for advice about buying ANOTHER ONE!! :eek::eek:

Jaysus no wonder the VW dealers in this country are such an arrogant bunch when guys like you are brainwashed to such an extent...

I don't have first hand experience of the new-gen model but what I've heard (mainly here!:D) isn't good...

Well now I know they're nowhere as near as bulletproof from a reliability standpoint (my own experiences aside) as their rep would suggest, but as I mentioned I do have a mate (and know a few others) with one and they never have any probs.

But if you can suggest a similarly specced, sized (boot in particular), Automatic (must be automatic) diesel then by all means point me in the right direction

R.O.R

The 2.0Tdi 140bhp DSG version is very nice to drive. Great poke from that engine and the DSG changes seamlessly.

Have had some recalls for rear window de-misters not being earthed properly coming through recently, but I think that is on recent cars.

Handbrake is about the only thing I can think of on the new model. I know some early 1.9's did have some electrical problems. May have affected the 2.0Tdi's as well but there were never enough around to pinpoint an issue. I'd say any problems a 2005 had will have been rectified by now.

Biro

Before long you'll have a lot of people on here lambasting the Passat!
There are issues with the electronic hand brake alright, and a rattly dash. Other than that they're a good car, but the problems are common rather than exceptional.
The 2 litre TDi uses a bit of oil, so check often.

Guy:Incognito

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Well now I know they're nowhere as near as bulletproof from a reliability standpoint (my own experiences aside) as their rep would suggest, but as I mentioned I do have a mate (and know a few others) with one and they never have any probs.

But if you can suggest a similarly specced, sized (boot in particular), Automatic (must be automatic) diesel then by all means point me in the right direction

Well if boot size is a factor, surely the Octavia is the only choice ( it was always going to happen when you mentioned the B word)

_Kaiser_

Biro wrote: »

Before long you'll have a lot of people on here lambasting the Passat!
There are issues with the electronic hand brake alright, and a rattly dash. Other than that they're a good car, but the problems are common rather than exceptional.
The 2 litre TDi uses a bit of oil, so check often.

My 02 is a good car.. it's comfy, economical, huge boot and rear seat area, and it has all the toys (save for Cruise Control). Like I said, when it's running right it's perfect!

Unfortunately though I think I've just lost confidence in it. Given all I've spent so far, I think it's better to cut my losses, start over and try and pay as little as possible (while still getting a good car/deal - hey like everyone, right? ) in the process.

_Kaiser_

Stekelly wrote: »

Well if boot size is a factor, surely the Octavia is the only choice ( it was always going to happen when you mentioned the B word)

True, and I should've seen it coming I prefer saloons though to be honest. Of course there's always the Superb which is basically a slightly longer last-gen Passat from looking at it.

Ideally I'd like a new-style A6 but THAT'S not gonna happen!!

Zonda999

Yep the superb will be good value and the boot should be massive.Hers a lowdown of the engines - same as passat really.The boot should be ginormous altogether.ITs apparently the worlrs first saloon/hatch

http://new.skoda-auto.com/COM/about/info/news/News/Pages/2008_08_Geneva.aspx

Didnt realise you meant the old superb which is also a good car.

fabsoul

pburns wrote: »

You've spent €5k in 18 months on a 02 Passat:eek:...
...and now you're looking for advice about buying ANOTHER ONE!! :eek::eek:Jaysus no wonder the VW dealers in this country are such an arrogant bunch when guys like you are brainwashed to such an extent...

I don't have first hand experience of the new-gen model but what I've heard (mainly here!:D) isn't good...

lol they are arrogant bunch alright.

Biro

Stekelly wrote: »

Well if boot size is a factor, surely the Octavia is the only choice ( it was always going to happen when you mentioned the B word)

It's a little known fact, but the Passat boot is actually bigger than the Octavia boot! Imagine!

R.O.R

Biro wrote: »

It's a little known fact, but the Passat boot is actually bigger than the Octavia boot! Imagine!

Tosh! I've got 2 Passats and a Jetta currently in my boot - and there is still room for a LandCruiser :D

It probably is bigger in the Passat, but not as usuable due to it being a saloon. From memory the boot in the Superb is pretty vast as well.

Biro

R.O.R wrote: »

Tosh! I've got 2 Passats and a Jetta currently in my boot - and there is still room for a LandCruiser :D

It probably is bigger in the Passat, but not as usuable due to it being a saloon. From memory the boot in the Superb is pretty vast as well.

If the usability of a Passat boot is in question, then it's a Transporter you need!

JHMEG

pburns wrote: »

You've spent €5k in 18 months on a 02 Passat:eek:...
...and now you're looking for advice about buying ANOTHER ONE!! :eek::eek:

+1

Get yourself a nice Accord, Mazda 6, Avensis etc instead.

GERMAN ROCKS

the new passats imo look great. if i were you i would either get a passat or a peugeot 407 1.6 hdi

nurburgking

JHMEG wrote: »

+1

Get yourself a nice Accord, Mazda 6, Avensis etc instead.

Why, the new passat is rated better than them by the motoring press.

JHMEG

nurburgking wrote: »

Why, the new passat is rated better than them by the motoring press.

5 thousand reasons (in 18 months).

groupb

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Well now I know they're nowhere as near as bulletproof from a reliability standpoint (my own experiences aside) as their rep would suggest, but as I mentioned I do have a mate (and know a few others) with one and they never have any probs.

But if you can suggest a similarly specced, sized (boot in particular), Automatic (must be automatic) diesel then by all means point me in the right direction

I had one(07 2.0 tdi) as a company car. In my opinion they are rubbish , but then again I had a (03)mondeo before so I had been spoiled.

_Kaiser_

JHMEG wrote: »

+1

Get yourself a nice Accord, Mazda 6, Avensis etc instead.

None of which (based on a quick search on Carzone) come in automatic variants.

DonJose

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I've found a 2005 SE 2.0 TDi 140 DSG Auto Passat (new shape) on a UK site for 10 grand stg.

Check out this one, 2006, for just over £8k. They are not hiding the license plate which is a good thing.

http://tinyurl.com/38sxyv

_Kaiser_

DonJose wrote: »

Check out this one, 2006, for just over £8k. They are not hiding the license plate which is a good thing.

http://tinyurl.com/38sxyv

Looks ideal, but for that price/spec/year/mileage there must be a catch?
Is it one that was sitting in flood waters last summer maybe?

Will check it out anyway..

bazz26

My uncle had a 07 Passat that spend more time in the garage than my old car which I had for over 4 years. Numerous false engine management warnings telling him bring it back to the dealer straight away. He did bring it back only for them to clear the warnings and eventually upgrade the ECU software. As already mentioned the electronic hand brake is a disaster, will or won't engage depending on the mood it was in, spent a week in the garage before they got it sorted. Also had to have something done to the wiper motor as part of a recall afaik.

Nothing major you might say but these things were still tedious all the same and should be better from a company that spends so much time and money on telling people how reliable and superior their products are. But it just shows you the power of advertising as my uncle was brain washed into thinking he bought a lemon and traded it for a brand new one only last month.

The Passat is not a bad car but just like the Golf there are many other cars out there in the same class that do the job just as good if not better. It seems alot of people buy into this ethos that VW = Superior Quality, which imo simply isn't true.

I would also bet that if the words "VW Passat" were replaced with "Renault Laguna" or "Alfa Romeo 156" some of the posts about tolerable issues here would most likely be different.

DonJose

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Looks ideal, but for that price/spec/year/mileage there must be a catch?
Is it one that was sitting in flood waters last summer maybe?

Will check it out anyway..

Well its a private sale which will make it cheaper. Its a nice looking motor and you can always do a hpi check on it.

Green Hornet

Jeepers. I thought the Passat was bullet proof! In fairness, if I had trouble with a car I dont think I'd buy another car of the same model. I'd spend all my time looking for symptoms of the same issues I'd experienced before. Maybe you just got a lemon I suppose.

maidhc

Grandfather has an 06 passat. It is alright. Has had a few niggly problems, but by and large they have been more or less sorted. It still rattles a lot though, and the handbrake is silly.

I wouldn't be rushing out to buy one still.

Guy:Incognito

maidhc wrote: »

, and the handbrake is silly.
.

Silly how (havnt been in the current Passat. How does it work?

_Kaiser_

maidhc wrote: »

I wouldn't be rushing out to buy one still.

I can see the point. The problem is decent-sized diesel saloons with an auto gearbox seem to be in short supply in this country. Must be an automatic.

Out of interest, how much smaller is a 320D compared the B5/last gen Passat?

Green Hornet

maidhc wrote: »

Grandfather has an 06 passat. It is alright. Has had a few niggly problems, but by and large they have been more or less sorted. It still rattles a lot though,

I think most modern cars tend to rattle more than older cars. Seems to be a recurring issue with many manufacturers. I guess there are more gadgets and more plastic and that probably causes a lot of it. Even Toyota are supposed to have rattles in the newer models.

bazz26

Green Hornet wrote: »

I think most modern cars tend to rattle more than older cars. Seems to be a recurring issue with many manufacturers. I guess there are more gadgets and more plastic and that probably causes a lot of it. Even Toyota are supposed to have rattles in the newer models.

Every Toyota I owned had a rattle from the dashboard, I think they put it there intentionally. Anyway rattles you can fix by turning the volume up on the stereo, other issues are usually not so easy to cure though.

Creamy Goodness

Stekelly wrote: »

Silly how (havnt been in the current Passat. How does it work?

there's no handbrake lever, the handbrake is operated by a button near the controls to turn on your lights.

macrubicon

I have an 05 2.0tdi Passat ( had a 99 1.9tdi before that ).

There have been 2 recalls on my one, both came at the same time and covered a wiper motor check, a wiring loom check for the heated seats, a check of the fuel line ( diesel only ) and a software upgrade which did make a bit of a difference.

I have only had one occasion where the Handbrake gave me true hassle, but that was before the software upgrade and it sorted itsself out before needing a visit to the shop.

I know a few people who have moved over to the Passat and have had plenty of grief with it, but to be honest, a lot of it seems to be how people use it.

I have driven mates ones with "loads of problems" with their handbrakes and never had a problem, yet when they drive mine there the problems are apparently. (Not saying that there are not problems... )

All things being considered, I love my '05 Passat. The DSG is a fantastic gearbox and I'm sorry I did not get it in mine ( next time ! ). Make sure all the campaigns have been run on it ( I think I have the campaign numbers somewhere if you want them ) and you should be OK.

DonJose

Green Hornet wrote: »

I think most modern cars tend to rattle more than older cars.

I think the opposite. I owned a 2004 VW Sharan, it rattled like a, like a rattler. I own an 08 Galaxy and its as stable as a, as a stable I owned a 02 Golf, it was a piece of s***e, I own a 06 Golf and haven't had one problem.

WHITE_P

Have an 06 1.9 tdi Highline with 24000km on it and desipte a few minor problems, all sorted under warranty, I would highly recommend them.

The handbrake switch had to be replaced, and the airbag warning light did come on twice, first time after I fitted a parrot carkit into it, I would say the electronic warnings are a bit over sensetive thats all.

The most worrying problem was a front wheel bearing that needed to be replaced, I was told by the garage that they had done a few on the new shape Passat.

Overall it's a very comfortable motor to drive either on main roads or back roads where it feels really planted to the road.

Currently selling mine as I now need an MPV, although I'm sticking with the brand.

My father has had VW's now since 1983 and only had problems with one a 93 Golf, he's now on his 10th Golf.

maidhc

Green Hornet wrote: »

I think most modern cars tend to rattle more than older cars.

My 2003 focus doesn't rattle and never has to my knowledge, despite the dash being criticised for being "plasticy"

Incidentally my 1974 Capri may or may not rattle, i'm not sure, because you can't hear much above the din from the engine!

Jonny303

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Hey all,

the red brake/warning symbol starts beeping and flashing when you start the car and move off and won't clear unless you turn the ignition off and on again,
Cheers!

No your looking to get rid of it, but as far as i remeber, and this was all of 18 months ago that is solved by a pipe....god dont evan ask me where, possibly off the master cylinder. We had the same probelm for ages with one, back in every couple of weeks until i finally gave in and rang my uncle (hate to give in) in VW n told me straigh away.

monster1

my parents have a 07 2.0 tdi passat highline, their a great car, no problems at all with it, lovely for overtaking! ive put up about 50000 miles on it myself, the only thing i hate about it is the handbrake!

_Kaiser_

Thanks for all the feedback guys - so far I'd say it's about 70-30 in favour.

What's so bad about this electronic handbrake, aside from the fact it can be tempermental? Surely that would mean a recall as the car could roll away no? (Although in an auto - like I want to get - I know the transmission is locked when in Park)

I've had a Merc C200 for the past few weeks while my own was in, and it had a footbrake rather than the traditional handbrake. Annoying at first till I got used to it, but once I did it wasn't too bad actually. Is this button not just something you'd get used to as well?

Jonny303: Thanks for the tip. It's very possible it could be something like that as they put a new turbo into it, a power steering pump, front fogs, and a tensioner. I also got a "check brake pads" warning last night. It just seems like there's always SOMETHING with it at this stage

Biro

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback guys - so far I'd say it's about 70-30 in favour.

What's so bad about this electronic handbrake, aside from the fact it can be tempermental? Surely that would mean a recall as the car could roll away no? (Although in an auto - like I want to get - I know the transmission is locked when in Park)

I've had a Merc C200 for the past few weeks while my own was in, and it had a footbrake rather than the traditional handbrake. Annoying at first till I got used to it, but once I did it wasn't too bad actually. Is this button not just something you'd get used to as well?

Jonny303: Thanks for the tip. It's very possible it could be something like that as they put a new turbo into it, a power steering pump, front fogs, and a tensioner. I also got a "check brake pads" warning last night. It just seems like there's always SOMETHING with it at this stage

Ah, VW tend to believe that nothing should get recalled, cause people keep buying them anyway. Suspension on the B5 model should have been a recall, as it nearly cost a few people I know's lives. Known issue, but swept under the big VW carpet.
Handbrake is alright, I don't like it, but you do get used to it. Don't get me started on the Merc system... nothing ever will sway me to thinking that's good!

leincar

Oh dear god please stop telling me bad news about the Passat I'm waiting on my new 2.0Tdi DSG. My heads already in my hands.:eek:

Biro

leincar wrote: »

Oh dear god please stop telling me bad news about the Passat I'm waiting on my new 2.0Tdi DSG. My heads already in my hands.:eek:

You'll be fine. They've updated the handbrake and it seems reliable now. There is still a slight rattle from the dash, but that's not a deal breaker. Keep an eye on your oil level. All VW's always did use oil in the running in period, but that 2 litre TDi likes a bit all through it's life. No harm, just be aware of it.
Anyway, you have a warranty, nothing to worry about.

JHMEG

Biro wrote: »

Suspension on the B5 model should have been a recall

Was chewing the fat with a mechanic about that only this morning. Suspension has been an issue for over 10 years now, on the Passat and the A4.

Timmaay

What goes wrong with the b5 suspension? is it just the usual bushings and rod ends?

WHITE_P

Handbrake on the new Passat is fine once its working properly, I quite like it and it makes hill starts a piece of p!ss.

The extra space on the centre console is very useful.

_Kaiser_

WHITE_P wrote: »

Handbrake on the new Passat is fine once its working properly, I quite like it and it makes hill starts a piece of p!ss.

The extra space on the centre console is very useful.

Yea the interior looks very nice on the ones I've been looking at. Hill starts arent a problem anyway in an automatic

The suspension on my current 02/B5 seems ok. Little bit of roll when cornering at high(ish) speeds but I find the steering generally fairly responsive and the ride comfort is maybe a little hard but not by much. Compare that to C200 I had which seemed to float rather than drive around corners and felt a lot bigger at low speeds than it was.

Biro

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Yea the interior looks very nice on the ones I've been looking at. Hill starts arent a problem anyway in an automatic

The suspension on my current 02/B5 seems ok. Little bit of roll when cornering at high(ish) speeds but I find the steering generally fairly responsive and the ride comfort is maybe a little hard but not by much. Compare that to C200 I had which seemed to float rather than drive around corners and felt a lot bigger at low speeds than it was.

I don't like the B5 at all to drive. The B6 is a different ball game completely. Leagues ahead of the B5.

_Kaiser_

Biro wrote: »

I don't like the B5 at all to drive. The B6 is a different ball game completely. Leagues ahead of the B5.

I'll just have to take one out for a spin in the next few days then

WHITE_P

What was the problem with the suspension on the B5 Passat / previous A4, and did it affect any other VAG cars.

maidhc

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'll just have to take one out for a spin in the next few days then

In fairness it does handle very well.