'13 VW Passat TDI Opinions

[beck]

I'm in the market for a car and was talking about this at the office this week. Owner of the business heard I was in the market and said the '13 Passat TDI is coming off lease in a few weeks and asked if I'm interested. Car has around 31K miles.

Small office- pretty much the same three people have driven it since new, highway miles. We also have '14 Passat gas and a Jetta but these not off lease for another year.

I like this car but have concerns with long term ownership costs and I keep cars quite awhile. Of course it gets great mileage.

Some people swear by VW and it seems just as many swear at VW. I've never owned a VW. Anybody here with experience to share, thoughts, concerns, advice, whatever you have.

 

[maintenanceMan]

I have a '13 passat tdi se 6m. I really like the car. Some problems I have heard about are 1. the turbo. There is a warranty for up to 120k miles on the turbo because of this.
I enjoy mine so far. The only issue I have is a very slight wind noise from rear window, most of the time I don't notice it.
VW cars are often more thoughtfully built than domestics but have about the same reliability. Be prepared for some different maintenance requirements.
Also, I get a real 50mpg. I don't think there are other cars that legitimately get this kind of fuel economy. Maybe hybrids do, but only in town while on battery.

 

[Nick1994]

I can't wait til my TDI sells, it's been great until it hit 10 years old. All I can say is, my car is a major money pit. Maybe the new ones are better, my aunt has a 2013 Beetle TDI that came with junk tires from the factory, windows that fell off the track, a battery that died after 1 1/2 years, a bad A/C compressor, the center console was replaced because it rattled due to a bad latch, a gauge isn't working right (stopwatch on the dash), fuel gauge isn't accurate on the first half of the tank, and the power steering is growling. Has 31k miles.

 

[hansj3]

Hey, my insight got a real average of 54mpg. I got 65 mpg on the highway too.

Another known problem is with the intake runner tumbler. The linkage binds, and the servo gets stuck and a cel trips.

Turbos have issues as stated.

I'd have to look up tsbs for more

 

[Andrew1972]

Hit or miss with vw in my own experience with older ones and friends recent.

 

[gregk24]

My GF owns a 2014 Jetta (not the same I know) but its been pretty trouble free so far, it has just under 10K miles so thats how it should be. The door handles on the outside seem to stick sometimes, and the display on the gauge quit working one day...other than that its been good.

 

[RedOakRanch]

My parents bought one and its been great for a small car. I boil it down to a great motor in an average car. My new 2016 Outback makes it seem like a dinosaur though.

 

[Boomer]

I have a 203 Passat TDI and love it. (See signature). In over two years, no problems. I do use Diesel Kleen in it to keep injectors clean and being in PA, we always have 2% biodiesel in our fuel so there is good lubrication for the HPFP. On the highway we have achieved up to 57 mpg going to eastern IL from central PA and routinely get 55 on trips.

We love the size of the back seat, the comfortable cruising and the handling. However, I would say that if most f your driving is city, then a diesel will not be the best thing for mileage; you'd do better there with a hybrid.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: RedOakRanch
My parents bought one and its been great for a small car.

If Passat is a small car, then what is Golf?

 

[Boomer]

The Passat is hardly "small".

One other thing you need to know. AT 40,000 miles the auto trans needs a $400 service. This, coupled with oil change, fuel and air filters, cabin filter, etc, can set you back a pretty penny.

 

[maintenanceMan]

The six speed manual doesn't need this 400$ service. I'd stick with it. As for size, most comparison rate the passat as almost a large car. It's considerably bigger interior than comparable midsize cars.

 

[beck]

Appreciate all the feedback- this is what I'm looking for. Good, bad and everything in between.