VW Passat - any good?

Dapos

Hey,

Thinking of getting a VW Passat around 2001/2002 1.6L Petrol. around the 3500/4500 price range.

Trying to figure out what car i want, and this catches my eye. Just wondering how are they as a car? Anyone have or had one?

Appreciate feedback.

kasper

the vws of that era give a lot of trouble with front suspension linkages expensive to buy and fit the skoda alternatives have a different layout much cheaper to buy and fit if they ever give trouble at all

bazz26

Also look out for dampness in the front passenger footwell, the pollen filter not correctly fitted can cause this.

1.6 litre engine is pretty old and not really that nippy but it is fairly reliable. Most common problems are oxygen sensors which can cause loss of power or poor performance, these include the trottle body sensor, (MAF) mass air flow sensor or lambda sensor.

magconn

ours used to drink petrol!!:(

boardswalker

From www.honestjohn.co.uk
I think honest john gives good reliable info.

Volkswagen Passat (2001 - 2005)

Good: A better drive and better equipped than the previous Passat. Comfortable and has more status than, say, a Ford Mondeo.

Bad: A Ford Mondeo outdrives it in every respect and is cheaper to buy. Not immune from leaks and reliability problems.

What's Good
Much more than merely facelifted Passat. Looks classy and hides very comprehensive improvements under the skin. Now with a 12 year body warranty. Steering gives slightly better road feel. Sloppy gearchange improved.

New engine range begins with 2.0 litre 8 valve 115bhp shared with Golf Mk IV GTi, but at a low price of £14,495 which includes ABS, climate control, Thatcham 1 alarm immobiliser and much more. TDI 130 S was an excellent car for company drivers because it combines a low CO2 output of 154 g/km with a low on the road price of £16,310. Has no less than 228 lb ft torque and goes like a steam train. Range also includes a 100bhp TDI PD, a 150bhp 1.8 petrol turbo, a 150bhp V6 TDI, a 170bhp V5 and a 193bhp V6 4Motion four wheel drive. 6 speed manual gearbox on TDI PD 130 Sport and TDI V6 Sport. Others have 5 speed manual, 5 speed Tiptronic auto or 4 speed auto.

Rare
280bhp W8 4Motion capable of 0-60 in 6 seconds and 150mph top speed for less than £30,000.

TDI PD 130 voted Diesel Car magazine Car of the Year.

150bhp petrol turbo S versions of saloon and estate introduced May 2001 with 5-speed Tiptronic auto option. Achieved 4-star Euro NCAP crash safety score.

In May 2002 115bhp 8 valve 2.0 litre engine replaced by by the 130bhp 20v 2.0 litre as used in the Audi A4 B6. 0-60 comes down from 10.9 seconds to 9.6 seconds, top speed goes up from 124mph to 130mph, fuel economy improves from 32.8 mpg to 34.9 mpg on the combined cycle, and CO2 emissions are down from 206g/km to 194g/km. Price for the S spec with standard a/c up by £155 to £14,850, but because CO2 emissions are down company car drivers actually paid less BIK tax than for the old car. Passat S Estate with the 2.0 130bhp engine is priced at £15,800.

Three 3-point rear seatbelts standard spec from mid 2002. Massive discounts on petrol Passats at end of 2002 in order to meet targets (2.0S 130bhp saloons advertised for £11,500 by VW dealers).

TDI 130 4-Motion introduced at end of 2002 with six speed box and 228lb ft torque (18 lb ft up on 5-speed TDI 130). This is huge fun, with plenty of grip and steering feel. The best Passat of all to drive. 0 - 60 10.1 secs. Top speed 127mph. Mpg: 43.5 combined for saloon; 42.8 for estate. CO2: 176g/km for saloon and 178g/km for estate. Prices: £18,815 SE saloon; £19,775 Sport saloon; £19,765 SE estate; £20,725 Sport estate.

Improved 2.5V6 TDI from May 2003, now with 163PS and 258lb ft torque. Conforms to Euro IV emissions regs, bringing 3% saving in BIK liability. Prices: £21,875 saloon; £23,990 estate.

Fourth most reliable car in 2001 Fleet News Survey of 620,000 fleet cars mostly under 3 years old. VWs generally had below average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 76.83 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk 2001-2003 petrol models average for breakdowns, problems and faults in 2003 Which report.

Road Test www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=12

Link that explains how camshaft operated pumpe duse diesel injectors work: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=893832&an=0&page=0#893832

Last updated 13-11-08
What's Bad
Cable gearchange still not as good as cars like the Mondeo and a lot worse than the very precise cable shifter in the Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Excellent TDI 130 4-Motion unfortunately very rare on UK market.

2001-2003 diesels average for breakdowns and faults, poor for problems in 2003 Which report.

What to Watch Out For
Also see Passat 1997 - 2001.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Failing electric locks on tailgates of estates can lead to a discharge that flattens the battery.

1.8 20v engines are snapping their timing belts at 70,000 - 80,000 miles and the extensive damage this causes is not repairable. The car will need a replacement engine. Timing belt of 1.8 20v needs changing before 4 years or 60k miles (whichever comes first).

All 1.8 20V turbos built from around August 2001 to October 2002 can suffer from failure of one or more of the four ignition coils, which lead to a dispute between VAG and a supplier and a severe shortage of coils from November 2002 to January 2003.

'Creaking dash' might actually be the underbonnet plastic cover over the scuttle plenum chamber creaking. Cured by silicone grease on the tough points. Leaks into the car often the result of blocked plenun chamber drains which are hard to find under the battery.

Check rear number plate lamps and area around them for rust.

Complaint of repeated failure of cruise control, even after replacement of all relevant components.

Increasingly high failure rate of dual mass flywheels on diesels.
Recalls
Worldwide recall of all VW Passats from 1996 to July 2001 to replace faulty front lower wishbones. Recall announced in Auto Bild 25th/26th August 2001. The ball joint can fail and the the two other flex connections can fail. (These are the long arms that go from the bottom of the front hubs to the body.) 3-3-05 on LUPO,POLO,GOLF,BORA, TOURAN,NEW BEETLE,PASSAT AND SHARAN (WITH 2 PUMP INJECTOR ENGINE) built 1-3-04 to 31-8-04 bolts on tandem fuel pump may break.
2007 TSB 51B8: Remove grommet from drain under batter box to allow clear flow of rainwater out of ventilation plenum chamber.
USA Voluntary Recall from www.just-auto.com 6-4-08: VW is recalling the mid-size model for potential problems with 1999-2005 versions. The recall of gasoline-powered Passats is voluntary, the German automaker says. Affected Passats with an automatic transmission may have an underbody heat shield, which could become damaged. When damaged, if the shield were to come in contact with the vehicle exhaust system, there could be a risk of fire or damage. During the inspection, if your car’s shield is damaged, VW will install a new one. Also, some Passats with 1.8-litre turbo engines have a fuel line that requires inspection and possibly a replacement line. Some vehicles that operate with a 4Motion all-wheel drive will also be inspected for damage to a fuel tank ventilation valve. While no accidents or injuries have been recorded from these problems, there are 410,000 potentially flawed vehicles in the United States alone. Owner notification is scheduled to begin by May 30, 2008.

Pugsley2007

I have owned several VW/Seat cars over the years and all are pretty good. Some engine problems to watch out for on the 1.8 however are fuel consumptionm, which is quite high given weight of car and size of turbo, and problems with oil sludge. If buying used check that quality synthetic oil has been used and if high km's (80K or more) that timing/drive belt has been replaced. Mine weren't resulting in sludge build up, broken oil pump and a very hefty bill of €1,000 plus for new pump, new belts and service.

Tea drinker

boardswalker wrote: »

Also, some Passats with 1.8-litre turbo engines have a fuel line that requires inspection and possibly a replacement line.

I contacted VW when my fuel line started leaking. I gave the reg (03 "Irish" car) and they denied there was any warranty work required to fix fuel lines on this car.

They are a nice comfortable car, and more relaxing to drive than most I suppose, but they seem to cost a bit on basic maintenance.