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VW Passat Wagons (GL, GLS, GLX & W8)
Karen_S
Member Posts: 5,092
Please continue discussing the Passat wagon here.
Past discussion:
Passat Wagon
Thanks!
KarenS
Wagons host
Past discussion:
Passat Wagon
Thanks!
KarenS
Wagons host
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Thanks.
Try http://www.clubb5.com or http://vwvortex.com for fellow Passat freaks.
RS
Finally, since you are considering the 4motion, I would carefully assess your needs (ie do you live in a snow belt,etc) before spending the extra $1600 and dealing with the very few drawbacks of 4Motion.
FWIW, my wife and I have no regrets in our purchase and would do it all over again, except could VW come up with more functional rear cupholders ?!?
George
Related Question:
The dealers I have spoken with say they have no control over the cars (color, features) they get from the regional rep. Can dealers impact this random allotment?
I live in northern New Jersey. Any info. would be appreciated.
I think I answered this elsewhere, but based on info from the VW vortex forums, the '01 MY Passats will be out later this fall (Aug or Sept).
AFAIK, VW dealers don't have much say on allotment. Larger VW dealerships seem to have the in on the largest selection. Its possible that some dealerships have reached their allotment for the year - but my local dealership is still receiving a steady supply of wagons. Your local dealers could always try and do a swap to get a wagon for you. The other option is to contact dealerships outside of your area, such as in Md or DC. Fitzgerald VWin that area seems to have a reasonable supply of wagons according to their online inventory.
Tuan,
Congrats on your new wagon. I'm sure you'll love it as much as we have so far!! Make sure you also check out VW vortex forums for more resources on the Passat.
George
Its VW's fancy name for a balloon loan. We considered it briefly, but ended up going with traditional loan thru our credit union. Our credit union also offered this option, but some things you need to consider:
1) remember, this option is essentially a different type of loan, but the interest rate typically is higher than the conventional loans (at least 2% point higher for us)
2) The end of term value of the car is usually determined by some kind of firm that establishes the residual values on leases. Cars (and wagons for that matter) have 3-4 year values that are significantly lower than SUV's
3) Even though you don't have to pay leasing charges, termination fees, or security deposits, you do have to pay for slaes tax on the full purchase price of the vehicle. I suspect that in most cases, that would be equivalent to all of those lease charges added up.
After considering the different options, for us the 3 year baloon loan route would have been about $100 less per month compared to a 4 year conventional loan. Since we new we would be keeping the car for long term, we ended up going the traditional route.
George
Would you recommend to secure the Weathertech soft cargo carrier to the wagon's side bars, without the crossbars? I might just buy the crossbars anyway, which would come in handy later on.
VW also sells its own crossbars, which are cheaper than those from Yakima and Thule, I think.
Thanks for advices
I would not put a carrier directly on the roof - you might get scratches and dents. You would be much better off with a rigid carrier (from thule or yakima)that is designed to go on top of the cross bars.
Sorry to hear about your problem. Hopefully that's the worst that you will experience. I can't help you out personally, but if you haven't done so yet you should check out the VW Vortex Forums. Run a search for "rattle" and see what others have described, or post the question directly. Hope you can find an answer.
George
The 4 motion was a concession to myself for sporty driving. I to do not like FWD cars. The quattro i drove a few years ago was very impressive. Just returned from Italy and rented a Ford Focus diesel which was the same as a Passat. The diesel performed very well but gas is just too cheap in US to have any demand for diesels. VW is making a big light diesel push for cars and boats. Maybe we will see them soon.
Did any '01 buyers happen to notice or ask about the new child seat safety latches under the back seats? Our car did not come with them and the dealer was unsure what it should have or how to get them because the system is so new.
Thanks
In late July I bought a 2000 Passat GLS wagon; 1.8T, AT, lux pkg, Monsoon upgrade, and dealer installed rubber mats, 6 CD changer and dog net cargo partition. The negotiated price works out to $232 over "dealer invoice". I could have ordered an '01 for $600 or $700 over "invoice" but needed the car more or less immediately.
I am happy with the car thus far (except for a jammed sunroof, repaired under the warranty), and believe that I paid a fair price considering that they had to transfer the car from another dealer about 120 miles away. On the other hand, I can't really believe that "dealer invoice" is anything other than a marketing ploy, a fictitious number.
If we take the alleged dealer cost (invoice minus HB and incentives) for any car, as provided by Edmunds and others, how can a dealer possibly make any profit by selling cars anywhere near that price?
In my case, $232 is less than 1% over "invoice". My checking account earns more than that.
How can dealers possibly pay salaries, commissions, interest on inventory, rent/mortgage, utilities, insurance and other overhead, and stay in business?
It's simple - they can't, ergo "dealer invoice" cannot possibly be what they actually pay for a car.
A friend who was in the car business many years ago says that the actual cost to produce a car typically is one third of "sticker price", and that dealers actually pay the manufacturer or importer (net after all accounting trickery) about two thirds of "sticker". This leaves a third for the dealer's expenses and profit.
This scenario strikes me as much more believable, however comforting it might be for me to think that I bought a car for $232 more than the dealer paid for it.
Anyone have any knowledge or comments that might shed light on this?
a CD changer. It is a Panasonic 8-disk changer
for $189 and I had to buy an adapter for
another $80. It works, sort of, but CD numbers
and tracks are not displayed correctly. Also,
it tends to scroll through the tracks until I
press the round scan button. I have already
packed it back and about to return to the store.
Any suggestions what to buy instead?
My VW dealer is asking $475 for a 6-disk changer, installed. The saleman in the car audio store warned me that it is not yet clear which 3d party changers will work in 2001 models.
Try Russel as George suggested. They are located close to me and they do have a good reputation for parts sales. Another alternative is to use the web site price as leverage for pricing at a local dealer. Simple request they match the web price and to get your business.
BB
I was wondering if anyone in the group had bought a cargo liner. I'd rather not tear up the carpet or have things sliding around in the back.
Thanks for any help!
Congrats on the new car !! What color combo did you end up with ??
A cargo liner is a must and most owners have ended up going with Weathertechs. You can get them thru Mac Neil Automotive. Another place where you can purchase the mats from is Auto Accessory. I actually got mine thru the later since they often run specials, and the mat ended up being $10 less than MacNeil. Whats more is that the mat was shipped from Mac Neil !!
While you're considering getting the cargo mats, you may want to consider getting a matching set of weathertech floor mats. The OEM mats are chinzy and most owners note that they wear out within 6 months. A better option would be the premium rubber floor mats by VW. Unfortunately they only come in black or grey. If you're insistent on getting carpeted floor mats, look for a Lloyd Mat Dealer -- top notch quality!
George
BTW, whats up with looking for a new Chevy in your profile ??
I finally updated my profile. I traded a '99 Malibu LS for my Passat. The Malibu was an okay car but I really got tired of taking it back to the dealer for squeaks and new brakes (3rd set at 28,000 miles).
Thanks again!
If anyone else has found a waterproof liner with raised edges to contain water and dirt, I too would like to hear about it.
see my post above (#30). Weathertechs have a 2 inch semi-flexible lip.
George
Thanks again....
Thanks. The one I looked at on a website appeared to be a one-size-fits-all design that did not cover the entire cargo area floor. Are they available custom-fitted for a Passat wagon?
The front mud flaps can be installed without removing the tires (just turn thenm to one side). You do apparently need a special wrench to do the install. The rear flaps , on the other hand, typically require removal of the rear tires. I personally don't have them, but this is what I recall from others who haave installed them. You should also check out this link in the VW Vortex Forums for some other opinions and tips.
Yes you can run both the V6 and 1.8 T on the cheap stuff. But the ECU will reduce the timing, hence the performance, in order to avoid engine knocking. IMHO, its not worth the couple of dollars you save at the pump.
No...VW does not use synthetic. You can, however, ask your service department to put it in (you supply them with your brand). The issue about early oil change for the Passat has been extensively discussed in the VW Vortex and Club B5 forums. The bottom line.... Don't change the oil any earlier than the recommended 5,000 miles.
I almost went with the black VW premium rubber floor mats. But at the time, there was a major delay, so I went with the WeatherTechs (tan).
George,
The Weathertech cargo mat is an exact fit. When you order it, the site should ask for the specific make, model, and year. The Weathertech floor mats on the other hand, are from a generic template, but does fit fairly well without any trimming.
George
I don't know any impoverished auto dealers, so there's obviously more to it. But to be fair, I did feel that we were treated well.
Drew
I didn't ask to see the dealer's invoice. My figures came from Edmunds and from a site linked to my credit union (it's no longer linked there and I can't remember the name)that had identical invoice prices, and also showed the port prep and "chassis reserve" fees that added another couple of hundred dollars to the invoice.
My salesman also said he was salaried and not on commission. Another salesperson there was vague about whether they received additional incentives that varied with the sales price of the cars.
All in all I was happy with the buying experience at my dealer, CVM VW/Subaru/BMW in Mechanicsburg, PA, but I still can't believe that dealers are willing to sell cars at a net loss in order to make it up on service and maintenance.
- George,
When I had the first oil change on my Passat I wanted to use full synthetic, or a blend, and pay the difference in cost. The service tech told me the VW USA advises against synthetic in Passats because they cause "pressure problems". This sounded bizarre to me.
When I tried to ask about this at VW's 1-800 customer service department I first was told that synthetic oil is OK. Then, that was retracted and I was advised to speak with the service manager at my local dealership. I have not yet done so.
Has anyone else encountered this claim about synthetic oil from a VW service department?
I have not heard anything about NOT using synthetic oil...only to avoid changing out the oil prior to the first scheduled maintanence at 5000mi. In fact, I have confimed with my local VW svc dept that they will add synthetic for the difference in the cost of the oil. I know other Passat owners are running on synthetics inclu Mobil 1 and the Castrol Synthethic too. If you haven't looked, you should check out the Passat Forum at VWvortex.com or Clubb5.com
Drew,
Yes I'm still around
Mainly a lurker here at Edmunds since the Passat threads are slow. I've been spending most of my time at the boards at VWvortex -- good group of people and at lot of useful info to be found there!
As for the '01.5/'02 facelifted Passat, I personally like the looks. It definitely gives it a more upscale look. My main concern with the redesign and the introduction of the larger engine is that the price is estimated to approach $40 K for the top of the line model !! That obviously puts it into the arena of some prominent luxury models. I'll be curious to see how VWOA handles this since it is obvious that VW's present level of customer service and basic warranty are not in the same league as the other luxury brands.
In regards to the new Sube H-6, I'm waiting to read some impresiions from current Sube owners. (I've been lurking in the Sube Owners forums for new models since its creation). The reviews in the car mags are certainly positive. I'm personally glad that I didn't try and hold out for the LL Bean or VDC Outbacks. My preference would be to see the technology dropped in to the Legacy GT wagon. I also prefer the cleaner look of the Legacy as opposed to the "SUV" styling of the Outback (which BTW is much better than previous model yr designs). While I understand SOA's marketing strategy to introduce the new engine in the Outback line, IMHO the VDC should have just been an option to the LL Bean instead of a separate model. Nevertheless, the H-6 should do well, and it will generate some good competition in the "entry-luxo" wagon market along with the Passat GLX 4 Motion.
George
I don't work for 'em by the way.
Come back here to post your comments!
KarenS
Wagons host
Thanks, Kim
Thanks.
Thanks,
JB
If you wish to discuss this further, please send me an email.
KarenS
Wagons host
I'm not sure whether you figured out the problem since you have last posted, but just in case you did not, I'll give you my best guess.
There have been a few postings on this site and others that have reported defective fuel gauge sensors. This was especially problematic on the 4-Motions several months ago and I believe a certain number were recalled to replace the sensors. Quite possibly your in-law's Passat had this problem. Thinking that it was near empty, they simply overfilled it.
Otherwise, just keep a wary eye on the gallons pumped. The low fuel signal goes off when there is about 2.5 gallons left in the 16.4 gallon tank usually when the needle begins crossing over the red indicators on the gauge. Once that needle hits the extreme left indicator, that baby is empty, no secret reservoir to save you.
I hope this helps, or even better, that your question has since been answered.
I just got my GLS 1,8T few weeks ago, and
I already put on it 900 miles.
First impressions:
1.It is true, the car feels solid than a
japan made counterpart, but the driving manners
are a little bit unrefined.
The engine is load, at 3000 rpm and up.
It is a rewarding engine, is not slow at all but
a lot of effort is necessary to bring it up to speed.
2.The suspension is pretty "harsh", body roll
is present.
3. I'm more than 6' and with the seat all back I
still need some space. I noticed that the steering wheel is
to far from my hands and a kind of fatique is present. Also, the seats are rolling your body from a side to another in corners.
4. The car is narrow that a typical American one, and at high speeds on highway is more effort to keep
the car stright on his track that let's say a Ford Taurus.
5. If you come from a typical American mid-priced sedan you still will find Passat small and "spartan" lacking some convenience thinks(like real cup holders and a more heavy v6).
6. If you open the engine hood, a lot of cheap plastic items will show up.
7. I do not like the fancy blue + red night lights on board. Get you more tired than a conventional ones.
8.One the positive part:
Sporty feeling, realy great emergency stops and moves,
good on hilly/ serpent roads. The Tiptonic is fine on semi-manual mode, but a little harsh in automatic.
You must work with the car like in a competition one. The steering is medium heavy and give you confidence. Not like in Camry where is too light.
9. It is a special feeling that the car can do more all the time, at all speeds. that's cool.
10. Is a splendid car for enthusiasts.
11.The wagon is giving you the sensation that is a little more tall and the seats can be raised.
11. The visibility is ok, not outstanding.
12.The ABS, traction control, 6 airbags are serious thinks and you will find hard in a standard configuration all these at a different brand.
13. The gas consumption looks average, I didn't notice any kind of real savings from my previous 5 year car.
The bottom line: if you liked in the past a Buick
Park Avenue, check out the new Buick Lesabre 2001.
It is the most car for 24.000 so far I sow.
It is clear that the Passat will not deliver you
comfort in a american sense, and economy in the
Honda Civic sense.
But if you are young and like drive, also you like
a car with clear personality and soul, and I suspect - a lot of utility in the Wagon case - go for a Passat. Deliver a high class mechanics and engineering but in a european way.
The only think i would like to know is reliability.
If the car prove is reasonable reliable I think worst the money. So far, so good no one defect or problem on my Passat at 900 miles.
as well as tilts...I gather you do not...Check
your owner' manual. The plastic covers in the engine compartment are there to assist in keeping
the engine & components clean not to add to the
structural stablity of the car.
I would suspect that the miles that show on your
contract INCLUDE the miles for the trade, at least
that is what we do. They would know from the Dealer they traded with exactly how many miles are
on your new car. In addition, a straight shot from
Dealer *A* to your Dealer is not *breaking in* your New Passat. The miles, within 10-15 or so is
not a major issue.
ENJOY your New Passats...Found in the Edmunds.com
2001 MOST WANTED LIST.....