VW Passat .... if you ever consider owning one ....

[Delphinus]

This is rediculous.

I had a 1991 Passat that I absolutely adored for several years until a little old lady driving on the highway decided to cross the double line and drive into me head-on. At highway speeds we were both lucky to live through that accident.

Anyways I adored that Passat and since it died in a spectacular fashion, I decided to get a new Passat. So two years ago I bought a 1995 Passat. I had been drooling over the VW VR6 engine ever since it's inception in the early 90's. A very peppy engine and a lot of fun to drive.

Well ... let me tell you something if you ever consider a Passat. WALK AWAY!!!! Don't let the "nice driving feeling" intoxicate you.

I have owned this car for 2 - 1/2 years and let me tell you. I HAVE SUNK ABOUT $8000 INTO MAINTAINING THIS CAR IN THAT TIME. That's rediculous!!! The maintenance this car needs is high, high end. I mean ... literally, this is the kind of maintenance I would be OK with if the car was a Porsche 911 (and I mean a high-end 911 not a 20 year old 911.)

$1000 last week for a new hydraulic clutch.

$600 today for miscellaneous steering components.

Just discovered today that the rack is toast. Ok, so much for the $600 now I'm looking at more like $1600 (because the rack is about $1000 and that's for REBUILT). After 4 VW's in the last ten years, I can tell you that VW doesn't have a clue when it comes to steering racks. This is a serious weakness with this maker. I went through 3 steering racks on my old 1991 GTI. That car just ate racks. When I got the word today that my steering problems of late are coming from the rack .... I just about lost it.

But .... I have bigger problems than just a mere $1000 steering rack.

MY TRANSMISSION JUST LOST A SYNCHRO GEAR. You can hear it banging around in there as you drive. Unbeleivable. This car must have been so abused in its previous life.

I mean ... what is this? Did my car suddenly turn into a Chrysler? I have to replace my tranny???!! Who ever heard of replacing a STANDARD transmission?! It's not an automatic for crying out loud!

BTW, I'm a decent driver. I don't pop my clutch, I don't ride my clutch. I don't drag race. I take my car in for oil changes and all the scheduled maintenances.

Well ... that's it. I'm through owning second-hand VW's. I might possibly be through with owning VW's altogether, and forever. Forget "Drivers Wanted." They should change their logo to "Parts Wanted." They USED to be good cars. Ten years ago. But now ... no, forget it. They are just low-end Audi's with high-end Porsche maintenance needs.

Do yourself a favour. Stay away from them.

To think of the reef setup I could have had by now. Man alive.

BTW, I'm now looking for a decent 1984 GTI. Best car I ever owned (too bad it was STOLEN and then WRECKED by some PUNK!! AAARRRGGGGHHH!!!!)