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

[canadawest]

Wow, great topic and one I can participate in with knowledge and experience!

I own a '99 VW Jetta which we bought new and the lease is up in less than three months. NEVER had a single problem with it in the four years we've had it, just regularly scheduled maintenance. Guess what the vehicle I'm getting in the next month or two is? Yup you guessed it another VW, an '03 Passat Wagon.

Delph, I'm not making excuses, but keep in mind that you bought a USED car and have no idea how the previous owner treated (or more importanly MIStreated the car). The issues you have had could be the result of many years of abuse that finally culminated into breakdowns during your ownership. This could have nothing to do with VW in general as this happens to any vehicle.

As for Ford, well I'm a Ford man too. Have owned two Mustangs and currently own a '96 Explorer which I've had since new. Yes Ford does have problems with their transmissions (had to have mine rebuilt at 105K kms) but considering that is the only major repair I've done in the almost six years of ownership, I'd say that is a small price to pay for a piece of machineary. I look at the total cost of unscheduled repairs on my Explorer over six years and it's been less than $3000. That's about $500 a year and to me is completely acceptable for an object with so many moving (and bound to fail) parts.

I have no hesitation in buying a new VW or a new Ford. I think vehicles get better and better made each year, and with the average warranties being 4 years/80K kms there is little reason to buy a used vehicle who's history you don't know. Sure you save a little on the purchase price, but I prefer to have the piece of mind of a new vehicle with full warranty and hopefully some improved engineering over the previous years models.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[reefburnaby]

Delphinus,

Now I can see your point. Your best bet to find cars that have cheap after-market parts or known to last. VW and Audi are not one of them. Sad but its true. If we lived in Germany, I don't think we would be having this discussion. VW parts are much cheaper there...

Hmm...well I have a newish Passat. I like every bit of the car except its reliability history (and maybe the price). It still bugs me to this day, but I am young and single. If my car dies...no problem...take the bus or walk to work. If it takes 6 months to service or wait for a part to arrive...fine, I am not in a big hurry. But once I get married...things change. I am not going to be fine if my VW broke down on the main bridge with my wife and kids on it. The wife isn't going to care about styling or handling or how the windows open with your key...if it doesn't start or leaks coolant all over the place. Even extended waranty is not going to save me.

So, what are you planning to do ?


- Victor.

[titus]

Hello,

The wife isn't going to care about styling or handling or how the windows open with your key...if it doesn't start or leaks coolant all over the place.

Haha, all of the times when the a married person comes in he has to
"consult" with the wife before purchasing. Only once had it been a wife needing to talk to the husband.

No marriage all the flexibility! 8)

Titus

[FishGeek]

Wanna hear of a POS. Never ever ever never........ never buy a GM car with the 3.4 liter engin from the 90's. This is by far the worst engine ever made. So bad that even GM mechanics don't want to touch it. I unfortunatly have a car with this engine. A 93 chev lumina Z34. This is what I have fixed in it so far. Alternator ($800) Timing belt ($1500) timing chain + timing belt($2500) complete frond end brake system($800) complete exhaust replacement w/ dual mufflers ($800)alternator($700) starter celinoid and starter thingys (800) front end brakes ($300) door handles ($60 X 4) and various small repairs. I don't drive my car hard and after all these repairs my car leaks oil, over heats, guzzles gas, and gets me to point A but barely gets me back to point B. Most of the repairs were done initially at GM mechanics but their incompitance made me go to smaller garages. This is by far the worst engineered car ever made. Let me explain how they have to replace my alternator. First the car's motor mounts must be unbolted, then the engine rocked forward, jack the car up, remove front wheels, remove front fender, drive shaft comes out, then the alternator is barely reachable. total labour is 5-7h depending on garage. Also the door handles are soo stupid. The handles on the car are vertical and attached to the side of the window. (Same as the beretta, OLDS cutless, pontiac grand prix) These handles are cast metal and become very very brittle past -15C. Meanning they snap. At one time, both my door handles were broken so I had to go through the trunk to get in.

Oh well, I'm getting a new car as soon as I'm done school so I don't have to worry about this for much longer. And atleast the heater works very well. I should only have to replace the timing belt once more before then

Hey anybody wanna buy a used car? :twisted:

Simon

[Delphinus]

At one time, both my door handles were broken so I had to go through the trunk to get in. Ouch. Ok, I suddenly feel a little better ....


If we lived in Germany, I don't think we would be having this discussion. Very true. That's basically where this is at.


I own a '99 VW Jetta which we bought new and the lease is up in less than three months. NEVER had a single problem with it in the four years we've had it ...

Andrew, I don't want to rain on your parade, a new Passat is going to be one hell of a fun car. But .... just let me tell you ... there is NO comparison between maintaining a Jetta and maintaining a Passat. Having owned both and my parents still have theirs ... there is just no comparison in terms of supply of parts and cost of parts. Plus the Jetta is much less overengineered. You have a hope of doing some of the work yourself. The Passat ... forget it. If I own another VW it will be a Jetta.

keep in mind that you bought a USED car Yes I know. I went with a Passat because I was betting on the flagship VW to not have the same reliability issues that had been plaguing me in the past. But I made a bad bet in my case. I wish I could have $35k lying around so I could get into a new vehicle ... but I don't.



about $500 a year and to me is completely acceptable

Yes I agree that is a perfectly acceptable amount. $4000 per year isn't acceptable. Unless we're talking about a Ferrari or a very high end Porsche.

What is VW's warrantee up to these days? Didn't they just "double" it to a whopping two years? When just about every other manufacturer is more like 4 years or up, forgive my cynicism, but doesn't that say something? Maybe I'm just soured right now.

...

As for options right now, I'm looking at a tranny out of a G60 for about $1300. I can get a tranny out of another Passat (from ICBC) for about $2300. The G60 tranny will fit, but it's geared differently. More torque on the lower end, so basically a faster acceleration and a lower top end. Since I don't ever drive 200kph anyways, I find myself considering the G60 tranny. It has the added bonus that if it's a little more torquey then I'm actually better off because I sometimes pull my Hobie behind me. Am I crazy to think about this??? What are the downsides? What I'm particularly afraid of, is if I spend $2k (once labour and GST and all are taken into account), what guarantees do I have that the new tranny is any better than my old tranny?

After making a few calls yesterday it sounds like these tranny's are not rebuildable at all. So my choice so far, replace, or live with it. I can't sell the car as it is, so living with it is not really an option.

Am I nuts to consider the G60 tranny?

[reefburnaby]

Delp,

Personally, I would try to sell it as is. $2000 + labour for a new trany that may not fix all of your car troubles is not a good investment. If the trany is in bad shape...the chances of your engine having possible bearing failure or valve problems is very high. Its probably cheaper to buy a Civic or Corolla then to keep your existing car.

I am not sure about the recent Jettas, but I heard the new Mexican VW plant isn't very good and they also make the Jettas now.

- Victor.

[Delphinus]

Time for a S2000 eh.

Oh wow, no kidding, Titus!! What cool cars. Problem is, then I need a truck too, just for hauling around all my JUNK that I seem to accumulate. Boat stuff, aquarium stuff, the aquariums themselves ...

[canadawest]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

What is VW's warrantee up to these days? Didn't they just "double" it to a whopping two years? When just about every other manufacturer is more like 4 years or up, forgive my cynicism, but doesn't that say something? Maybe I'm just soured right now.

All VW's now (2002+) come with a standard 4 Years/80,000kms bumper to bumper warranty (wear and tear items and adjustments excluded after the first 12 months/20,000kms) + 5 years/100,000kms Powertrain warranty + 12 year/unlimited kms corrosion warranty (nobody else offers this) They have dropped the 2 years/40,000kms "no pay scheduled maintenance warranty".

Seems like a pretty comprehensive warranty that meets or exceeds every other manufacturer. And sure is a far cry from the 2 year/40,000km warranty that our '99 Jetta came with, even if it did include all the regularily scheduled maintenance during that period.

Hell, Ford and GM still only offer 3 years/60,000kms warranties on their vehicles, which is the same as when I bought my '96 Explorer in '96. I don't know why the domestics just don't get with the program? In addition Honda, Toyota and Mazda also only offer a 3 year/60,000kms basic warranty on their vehicles, so VW has raised the benchmark to match the other German automakers like BMW, Audi and Mercedes and their better warranties.

I still much prefer to make a lease payment every month and know that I have a new, reliable, fun, technologically advanced vehicle that I will have no breakdown costs with for the next 4 years! When you calculate the total cost of ownership over 4 years when compared to a vehicle of lesser value but high maintenance costs, it is a no-brainer.

Only other choice is to buy a used vehicle that has good fuel economy, cheap parts, and a good service record, and they are hard to find.

[Canadian Man]

85 Crown Vic, Baby!!
The car of all Champion Reefers

Had it since 97 and put no more then $800.00 into it. That figure is including oilchanges and such.
I suppose the only downfall is city driving empties service station gas tanks very fast.
I practicaly need my own gas station :P

[Dale D]

I have no experience with Passats, but, I wouldn't mind a Platinum Gray one with the W8 in it. I can only imagine what repair costs on one of those would be like. :shock:

As for other VW"s .

I've owned a 92 GTI 16V since new (11 years this month ) and I have put about $500 into it in repairs in that time (replaced the fuel pump a couple years ago).

About 4 months ago I bought a 2002 Golf TDI (50-60MPG, 1200km/tank ). The GTI is going into semi retirement. I plan on keeping the TDI for at least as long as the GTI unless VW comes up with something new that I like more.

I've owned alot of different makes of vehicle (Ford, GM, Mazda, VW etc) and luckily never had a problem with any of them. But for now I can't see myself buying anything but VW's from now on.

JMHO