VW Passat

[DrDusty86]

The new Passat TDI 6spd manual is on my VERY VERY short list of next cars.
Are these cars known money pits?
What fluids can I use? (synthetics)
How is clutch engagement torque? Does it stall easy? I'm used to a PSD launching in 2nd.
What do these cars REALLY get for milage? I've heard mixed anywhere from 22mpg-65mpg. Lies????
Is the fuel pump the NON Bosh CP 4.2? I couldn't find anything on the net..seems odd. The Jetta has the CP 4.2, like the 6.7 PSD and the 6.6 LML Duramax. These pumps fail at a higher than normal rate resulting in big repair bills..claiming owner neglect on FORD's part.

I'm looking for a Manual trans hwy cruiser car that will get me well beyond 200K and not financially kill me

Dustin

 

[JHZR2]

Didn't know they were equipping this car with mt. What about in wagon form?

 

[DrDusty86]

Yes, it is one of the few sedans with a mt. I am not sure about the wagon as that is not a car I'm interested in.

 

[FowVay]

The oil for the TDI Passat is VW norm 507.00, a low SAPS oil that's been required since 2009 in North America with the introduction of the common-rail engine.

The Passat seems to get better fuel economy than the Jetta/Golf due to it's use of urea injection (AdBlue) as the SCR (selective catalytic reduction) method while the Jetta/Golf uses a regenerative burn cycle to clean the DPF. I'd expect economy numbers of mid 40's to low 50's with the Passat and low to mid 40's for the Jetta.

Differences between the Jetta and Passat include:

-NOx control is via SCR (requiring AdBlue solution) rather than the Golf/Jetta lean NOx storage catalyst (which requires periodic active regeneration).

-Intercooling is via air-to-coolant rather than air-to-air found
on the Jetta.

-Golf/Jetta uses piezo injectors with 1800 bar max pressure, whereas the Passat engine uses solenoid injectors with 1600 bar max pressure easing the load on the HPFP.

I foresee the Passat as being a better all-around vehicle than the Jetta/Golf for the simple reasons mentioned.

 

[Sunnyinhollister]

Originally Posted By: DrDusty86
These pumps fail at a higher than normal rate resulting in big repair bills..claiming owner neglect on FORD's part.
Dustin


Well after my last TDI, and owning several other VWs, I will never own another VW again. Buying a VW is like buying a new car with no warranty. When the DMF blew up, even though it was on recall every where else in the world, VW would not warranty it and blamed the customer. When there was a known timing issue with the engine that caused a check engine light, they blamed the customer. When the ignition lock cylinder fell apart, they blamed the customer. They said it was backfiring because I put it in nuetral before coming to a stop. When the rear brakes were completely toast in 25k of long highway commuting with no stop and go traffic, they blamed the customer. Camshaft failures in the PD engine? Customers fault even though the recommended oil was used and the maintenance schedule was followed. See the pattern here?

Was this a single dealership experience? No - this is a pattern of behavior by VWoA. Nice car, fun to drive, mine got great fuel economy, and looked great on the back of a tow truck.

 

[DrDusty86]

OH shoot, that scares the bejesus out of me.

 

[DrDusty86]

Does the Passat have the JUNKY Bosch CP 4.2?? I went over to a vw forum and the jetta forums were littered with IP failures. This is why I crossed the Jetta off my list. I want a car to get to at least 200k with ZERO repairs, if that's to much to ask of a VW then I will probably stay with Ford. My Escort did THAT easily..and continues to impress me with it's reliability.

 

[bruckus]

Much of the same experiences that sunnyinhollister has stated. Any VW would be on my very short list of cars i would absolutely not buy again. They got me for 2 new beatle diesels and like the song says - We wont be fooled again.

 

[DrDusty86]

The other car on my list is a Ford Focus ST 252hp Turbo 6spd. YES, it is at the opposite end of the spectrum, but it is a 4 door, mt ford..

 

[JimPghPA]

So what is in that size with a mt that people in the know would get?

 

[pbm]

Dusty: I'd buy a Ford Focus with the M/T. The S and SE model can be purchased very reasonably and the MPGs should be close to the VW diesel. VW's are generally 'money pits', IMO.
I rented a 2012 Focus last fall when I was in your neck of the woods (visited Texas State w/ my daughter) and it achieved close to 40 mpg highway with the A/T.
I think they are a great car.

 

[DrDusty86]

I Would buy the ST performance version. Is it a decent car?
S, SE MMMEEHHH those are slow boring rides with no character

 

[cos]

Speaking of new VW TDIs - Do they have a timing belt or a chain? If it is a belt how often does VW recommend it be changed?

 

[HyundaiGuy]

I worked for a VW dealership for 8 years, and have owned quite a few, although none in the last 10 years or so when I gave up on them.

You can get a great one, you can get a stinking pile of [censored] that spends more time in the shop that your driveway. There is no way to tell what you have until it is too late.

My niece just bought a new car. I told her to avoid VW like the plague. She didn't listen. Her new car is in the shop.

 

[supton]

I believe VW is sticking with timing belts. Expensive to change, but unlike chains they won't stretch. But they do need to be changed properly, which is always a roll of the dice.

I won't buy another VW new again. I love the ride, love the diesel torque. It's the shady dealers that keep me away. And the lousy stupid mistakes (soft cams, DMF's, a few other things) that are made year after year.

But I will have to admit, after 8 years of ownership, the only rust on my car is from rock damage. Nothing underneath. And I only wash it about once/year. Well, save for the aftermarket struts, which are getting due for replacement anyhow. Repair free it is not, but it's been structurally stout; and that's something I haven't seen much in other cars. NH road salt is not kind; and my 25k/year means it sees lots of that. And, it's never required towing, only one bout of repairs required an overnight visit at the shop.

And they have a rabid following online, which means finding info for common repairs is pretty easy to find.

But IIRC Passat's usually have "funky" front ends, and don't sell in high quantity, so they tend to just be more expensive. Tempting for the size, but I wouldn't go for it.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Didn't know they were equipping this car with mt. What about in wagon form?


Wagon is dead in the redesign.