High spec Passat estate. Should I run away?

Chavways

Hi All,

I've been asking here over the last few weeks and months about advice on a new car for myself. I've been looking at estates and after a lot of browsing and googling, I've settled on a Passat estate. There's a couple of these for sale around the place but I would like the 2L TDI because of the extra power and 6 speed gearboox (I read that the 1.9L TDI is an old engine and sluggish).

I found this car on Done Deal a few days ago and its exactly what I want. I haven't spoken to the seller yet but I did a cartell check on it and it came back as a UK import from a number of years ago. I don't mind that but the report also said that the car should be Bronze (pictures are black) and that it was only bought 2 weeks ago and is now being sold again. There's nothing in the ad to say that this is a dealer so it was then that the alarm bells started going off.

Should I walk away from this or am I being too wary? As I said, I haven't spoken to the seller yet but it feels a little too good to be true, for a car with that spec to be so cheap...

The report came up clean otherwise

tedpan

The 1.9 is a more reliable engine than the 2.0. or so I was told. I wouldn't call it sluggish.

I had a 2007 Passat sport 170bhp 2.0. Really nice car and quick, although had issues with the electronic brakes(like most Passat owners), dpf, intake manifold and other minor things. Never had an issue with the engine in 3 years though.

Just keep in mind, if anything does go wrong, they are nearly the same cost to fix as an Audi or beemer.

Best of luck.

Chavways

tedpan wrote: »

The 1.9 is a more reliable engine than the 2.0. or so I was told. I wouldn't call it sluggish.

I had a 2007 Passat sport 170bhp 2.0. Really nice car and quick, although had issues with the electronic brakes(like most Passat owners), dpf, intake manifold and other minor things. Never had an issue with the engine in 3 years though.

Just keep in mind, if anything does go wrong, they are nearly the same cost to fix as an Audi or beemer.

Best of luck.

Thanks. Yeah ok, I just read online that the 103BHP 1.9L wasn't very powerful for the size of the car. But then again I'm upgrading from a 00 1.4L Polo so anything will feel more powerful than that.

Yeah I've been looking around at servicing costs and stuff and parts do seem pricey but thankfully my dad is a mechanic so there'll be no labour charge!

Jesus Shaves

Ask for a picture of the logbook to check what colour it says on it

tedpan

Chavways wrote:

Yeah I've been looking around at servicing costs and stuff and parts do seem pricey but thankfully my dad is a mechanic so there'll be no labour charge!

Nice one, get your dad to check it over. The parts are pretty common with all the Passats on the road so hopefully won't be costly if anything goes wrong

The colour would worry me a bit, the mileage is high too, but seems genuine.

Chavways

tedpan wrote: »

Nice one, get your dad to check it over. The parts are pretty common with all the Passats on the road so hopefully won't be costly if anything goes wrong

The colour would worry me a bit, the mileage is high too, but seems genuine.

Yeah the report said the mileage is genuine too but it is quite high. It seems fairly difficult to find a used Passat that doesn't have high mileage.

run_Forrest_run

Chavways wrote: »

my dad is a mechanic so there'll be no labour charge!

your poor dad

LollipopJimmy

Looks like a bronze car in the pics, it comes out much darker in photos

Chavways

LollipopJimmy wrote: »

Looks like a bronze car in the pics, it comes out much darker in photos

Yeah one of the photos makes it look sort of bronze but my bigger concern is that it was bought only 2 weeks ago and is now being sold again.

LollipopJimmy

Looks to be a home trader, he's also selling another car. Have the car thoroughly checked, verify mileage and service history, once all of this is clean then there's no issue. A lot of these home traders have contacts in the trade and pick up cars like this, a forecourt wouldn't retail that car with the mileage that's on it and tbh it's priced right for that kind of mileage

bazz26

The UK spec Highline back then was actually lower spec than an Irish Highline. That seller is also a wheeler dealer and has another car for sale also. Cheap examples of a particular year are usually cheap for a reason.

LollipopJimmy

bazz26 wrote: »

The UK spec Highline back then was actually lower spec than an Irish Highline. That seller is also a wheeler dealer and has another car for sale also. Cheap examples of a particular year are usually cheap for a reason.

More miles than the entire Apollo fleet looks to be the reason here

Noccy_Mondy

Front reg plate is missing the dealer lip at the bottom (the rear has it) Possibly damaged...

The_Honeybadger

OP I have practically the same car that I have had for about a year. I may have just been unlucky but I have experienced a long list of niggly and expensive issues with it including:

EGR valve
Door lock unit
Windscreen fluid reservoir cracked
Electric Window Motor
Remote key failure
Air intake manifold flap (common issue and very expensive fix)

That's just off the top of my head, there have been other issues too. It's a nice car to drive and good on fuel but it seems to be made of matchsticks. I'll be getting rid asap. Like I said maybe I have just been very unlucky but I'll never touch a Volkswagen again.

I had a Citroen before this that never really gave any bother and I thought I was upgrading!

Chavways

Looking at this as a possible option now instead: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/vw-passat-top-spec-vw-passat-2-0-tdi-se-140bhp/15271842

No registration on the ad so can't carry out any checks on it until I call unfortunately. Would definitely be looking to haggle a bit on price too.

mossy50

check out CARS IRELAND theres a few nice ones there too

Truckermal

bazz26 wrote: »

The UK spec Highline back then was actually lower spec than an Irish Highline. That seller is also a wheeler dealer and has another car for sale also. Cheap examples of a particular year are usually cheap for a reason.

Ya they are bloody awful especially the saggy seats.

Toyotafanboi

It's hard to justify one of those Passats in general. They are an expensive past time that no maintenance can avoid.

Truckermal

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It's hard to justify one of those Passats in general. They are an expensive past time that no maintenance can avoid.

I can't agree with you as I purchased a 08 Highline in 2010 with 50K on the clock and sold it in 2015 with 240K only replacing throttle body other than oil and filter! No DMF or DPF trouble I miss it actually over it's replacement.

Toyotafanboi

Yeah, they are flakey though. Fond of rear callipers at €350 a side, prone to handbrake switches at €100 a pop, an appetite for ESCL units @ €500 a go, keys known to fail at €250 each, front wishbone bushes at every second service @ €150 per side.

Then your like yeah, whatever, sure I'll spend €2000 and have the car mint and that's grand. But wait, it's a BXE and it's decided to spit a rod. I know the 2.0s weren't known for that but still, if you didn't have your wits about you.

The_Honeybadger

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Yeah, they are flakey though. Fond of rear callipers at €350 a side, prone to handbrake switches at €100 a pop, an appetite for ESCL units @ €500 a go, keys known to fail at €250 each, front wishbone bushes at every second service @ €150 per side.

Then your like yeah, whatever, sure I'll spend €2000 and have the car mint and that's grand. But wait, it's a BXE and it's decided to spit a rod. I know the 2.0s weren't known for that but still, if you didn't have your wits about you.

I've experienced the key failure and also the bushes but put it down to wear and tear. It's a costly car to maintain, no doubt about it. What has annoyed me more than the money is the time off the road as I depend heavily on my car for work.

What's the most reliable car in that class? Will be changing soon me thinks. I'm considering an avensis estate.

studdlymurphy

I have an 09 model of the passat and it's a work horse never any problems apart from front shocks which were original. Couldn't fault it and anybody who takes a lift always comments on how smooth she is. Oil and oil filter is all I ever give her back. Couldn't recommend enough.

Hilux2005

I have a 06 highline estate 2.0l diesel 140bhp for the past 2yrs it's an Irish car. I bought it with 84,000miles one owner and I now have 115,000 on it. It's my first VW and I'm surprisingly pleased with it and have had no problems with it. It's very comfortable and lively to drive. Hope this is helpful.