VW Passat - Petrol or diesel?

mouseybrown

Hi I'm hoping to change to a 2005 passat in the near future, just wondering on people's opinions as to what passat they would go for!

It would be mainly used For short enough runs with the occasional motorway/ long distance run..

All comments appreciated!Oh and am currently driving a 5 series 2.5 so would love something with a bit of poke also!! Cheers

Moneymaker

Why not keep the 525?

Passat is a big step down imo.

Petrol or diesel depends on how many miles you do? Over 20k i'd say diesel.

mouseybrown

I love the 525 but it's so costly to tax and run I just can't justify hanging onto it anymore, was thinking the vw would give me better mpg and tax would be cheaper too!!

Moneymaker

mouseybrown wrote: »

I love the 525 but it's so costly to tax and run I just can't justify hanging onto it anymore, was thinking the vw would give me better mpg and tax would be cheaper too!!

You'll save around 400 a year on tax. 1080 for the 525, from 636 for a 1.8 petrol, or 710 for a TDI.

Thats six quid a week. So basically it shouldn't be a major issue. Don't forget the cost of the new car too. And buying a second hand car always has an element of risk.

You still haven't said how many miles a year you do. That's the big tipping point I think. If you do 20,000+ and definitely need a diesel, then I suppose it's probably worth it.

But my honest opinion is keep the 525, I own one myself and adore it. The Passat is a big, big step down in comfort, refinement, basically everything.

mouseybrown

I'd say I would prob do around the 15,000 or maybe even less mileage. Just out of curiosity what kind of mpg are you getting out of your 5 series? I'm only getting around 25-29 in mine and this was one Of the reasons behind me wanting to go for the tdi! Better mpg I would imagine..

Also just wondering could you even get the BMW remapped (if that's what you call it) to increase the mpg..

Don't really know anything too much about cars just that I'd love something comfortable, nice size not to expensive to tax and best mpg really!! Oh and a nice bit of poke too !!

Moneymaker

mouseybrown wrote: »

I'd say I would prob do around the 15,000 or maybe even less mileage. Just out of curiosity what kind of mpg are you getting out of your 5 series? I'm only getting around 25-29 in mine and this was one Of the reasons behind me wanting to go for the tdi! Better mpg I would imagine..

Also just wondering could you even get the BMW remapped (if that's what you call it) to increase the mpg..

Don't really know anything too much about cars just that I'd love something comfortable, nice size not to expensive to tax and best mpg really!! Oh and a nice bit of poke too !!

I get about 25 ish around the city and about 40 on the motorways.

Unfortunately what you're looking for(size, comfortable and speed) doesn't really come in cheap tax. Unless you go for something after 2008, which will cost a lot more money just for a few hundred in tax. Don't get hung up on tax so much, ours is up soon and 1080 a year is pretty gross to stomach, but I think it's worth paying personally. Give me a 525 over a basic spec Golf or whatever any day.


Maybe something like these:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-s40-diesel-nct-05-14/7139373

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-accord-2-0-litre-petrol/7151570

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/honda-accord-summer-sale-sport-i-vtec/6387376

mouseybrown

Definitely food for thought there!! What would your opinion be on the remapping to getter mpg on the BMW? Waste of money or worth it?

Moneymaker

I don't know anything about it to be honest. Better off waiting for someone else to reply or do some research elsewhere.

bazz26

Remapping really only works on engines with forced induction i.e. turbo or supercharged.

Truckermal

A 05 Passat are troublesome enough with calipers seizing, steering column issues etc plus a big step down from what you have..

mouseybrown

Thanks guys

very informative as always!!

billbond4

I would steer clear of them,had to get calipers done on mine,900e for a manufacturing fault

mouseybrown

Actually is it a particular year or just stay away in general?

Leonard Hofstadter

mouseybrown wrote: »

Actually is it a particular year or just stay away in general?

If it were me, I wouldn't be looking at any Passats from 2005-2007. They sorted out the main problems by 2007, so really it's only the 05 and 06 models that are trouble, but at that stage you might as well go up another year to get the lower tax models, they will cost a lot more to buy though for that reason and if you're planning to hold onto the car for a long time, the tax savings of an 08 won't wipe out the difference in purchase price. On the other hand, if you plan on changing again in 2-3 years time the greater cost of buying a 2008 model will pay for itself when the time comes to sell it on.

As the others have said, though, there really is no comparison between an E39 5 series BMW and a Passat.

mouseybrown

Ok so let's say we forget about the passats then.. And that I am going to get rid Of the BMW. (really don't want to believe me) what would Yas recommend to be the best economical/ not mental tax car for me to change too but still a decent enough drive? Oh and the poke dont forget the poke !!

Moneymaker

mouseybrown wrote: »

Ok so let's say we forget about the passats then.. And that I am going to get rid Of the BMW. (really don't want to believe me) what would Yas recommend to be the best economical/ not mental tax car for me to change too but still a decent enough drive? Oh and the poke dont forget the poke !!

Dude, cars like that don't exist with cheap tax. Not pre 2008. They just don't.

Leonard Hofstadter

mouseybrown wrote: »

Ok so let's say we forget about the passats then.. And that I am going to get rid Of the BMW. (really don't want to believe me) what would Yas recommend to be the best economical/ not mental tax car for me to change too but still a decent enough drive? Oh and the poke dont forget the poke !!

You could look a 520d, they won't disgrace themselves performance wise and the tax would be lower. That would give you all the good things about your current car (other than that wonderful six cylinder engine), but it would do a lot more mpg and save a bit on tax. Be warned, though, despite what the diesel fanbois say, there is absolutely no comparison between a four cylinder diesel and BMW's glorious six cylinder petrol engine. Diesel engines are still as rough as a badger's arse, they still clatter and rattle and vibrate through the pedals, they still take their time to respond to movements on the accelerator pedal, and there's a lot more to go very expensively wrong.

Even very mundane and boring family cars like the Avensis, Mondeo are infinitely nicer with a petrol engine (in my opinion), and a hell of a lot more reliable, too (depending on the type of driving).

BMW's track record with their 2.0 diesels is pretty poor, and that's being kind about it. Google BMW N47 timing chain failure and you'll see what I mean. In saying that, 520ds built before September 2007 are pretty good, as they have an older engine that does not have any (major) reliability issues. Alternatively, the six cylinder diesels (525d/530d/535d) do not have the timing chain problem (until the current car was introduced in 2010), will still be considerably better on mpg than your current car and won't be as rough and unrefined as a 520d. They're a lot quieter and sound more cultured than a 520d, as well as more reliable.

Tax will unfortunately be the same (at best) as what you're paying at the moment until 2008, but 525d/530d/535d from 2008 onwards are about the same to tax as a 2.0 diesel on the engine size system so if you can afford one of those, you will still save a nice bit of money every year.

Moneymaker

captainspeed wrote: »

Tax will unfortunately be the same (at best) as what you're paying at the moment until 2008, but 525d/530d/535d from 2008 onwards are about the same to tax as a 2.0 diesel on the engine size system so if you can afford one of those, you will still save a nice bit of money every year.

A 2008 520d will cost about 16000-17000, all to save a few quid on tax?

Keep what you have, or downgrade and accept the fact you got rid of a wonderful car for a dull 1.4-1.6 to save a few quid on tax. :rolleyes:

Leonard Hofstadter

Moneymaker wrote: »

A 2008 520d will cost about 16000-17000, all to save a few quid on tax?

Keep what you have, or downgrade and accept the fact you got rid of a wonderful car for a dull 1.4-1.6 to save a few quid on tax. :rolleyes:

OP could get a 2005 or 2006 520d for a lot less than that price, plus get a much better car than any of the more tax and fuel efficient cars mentioned this far. Plus, a 2008 520d would have the disastrous N47 engine with the timing chain problem, so all the more reason not to buy one.

Overall, I agree, the E39 is probably the best car BMW ever made and any 1.4 or 1.6 car is going to be a s***box besides one, especially one with that glorious straight six petrol engine!

mouseybrown

Thanks guys... Never thought of going down the 5 series diesel route to be honest!! Will definitely look into them :-)