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I'm averaging about 35-40 MPG over the road, 60% interstate and 40% city. The car is far nicer than I imagined. I've read alot of bad comments about VW and there quality, but from what I've seen It's really good.
I ordered the TDI with GLS package, Reflex Silver, ESP, Cold Weather Package. The dealer received another 2005 with all the a fore mentioned items along with the 17" wheels, and Leather package. I wasn't too happy at first with the additional items but upon seeing the car and driving it, I'm glad It came like that.
I also have a friend who bought a 2004 Passat TDI and is trying to sell it because they don't like the color. It's a GLS with Leatherette, 1500 miles on engine and 2-3 months old. They will be letting it go for a steal I think about $24,000. Email me If your interested in there contact information (go to my profile for address). I thought that someone else would like to have a crack at a good deal.
You mean like they did back in 1997? LOL!!
VW does view N. America as an important market! Unfortunately their view is not consistent with their past and current efforts here. In fact VW is losing market share in China(VW wants to sell more cars there than in Germany) and they are having a tough time with sales in Europe.
TDI Passats are among the very few hot sellers in the VW family. Now the theory they will discontinue the car next year! That sounds crazy! Even Mercedes Benz views the diesel potential positively(E320)
VW mismanagement is a global phenomena and not a N. American phenomena. VW stock market valuation has dropped the most among car makers this past year. For the first time ever Hyundai's car division has a stock market value equal to VW(this valuation definitely reflects VW mismanagement)
Audi is more problematic - there are interlocking connections between supervisory board members, stock ownership, and marketing strategies, and of course shared engineering and manufacturing and suppliers.
There are still members of the Porsche extended families [including most famously, the Piech branch] who have connections and own pieces of both VW and Porsche. But these two entities are managed completely independently - that is not true with Audi and VW, which are still joined at the hip in most important respects.
Will not confirm the date, what is the port of entry? Thanks for any Info. Rick
Audi is a part of VW and is doing quite well. After Phaeton, I can only hope that VW will discontinue making premium priced VWs that cater to the Audi market.
That is one crazy strategy---Invest billions in order to design premium VW vehicles that are similar to Vw's most profitable division(Audi) .
This is the most intentional Cannibalization strategy I have ever seen.
Anyway despite my complaints, I am still dreaming of buying the new version of a Passat Wagon TDI with manual sometime in 06. I guess I will have to immigrate to Germany in order to accomplish that.(I believe there would be future warranty problems if I bought a model in Germany that does not exist in N. America)
We picked up our '05 GLS wagon yesterday that was ordered as an '04 in March. We got 1800 below MSRP which was supposed to be 500 over invoice. Lots of folks are paying sticker, or more, and are spoiling it for the rest of us. I've never paid sticker for a vehicle and wouldn't have owned this one if I had to pay it.
Sure glad I was able to make a deal as this is a SWEET vehicle.
I'm 6'5" so head-room counts, and the stock rims will have snow tires for the winter, with Ultra-performance summer tires on 17" (or 18") alloys for the summer.
The problem is that it needs a glow-plug and there are almost no parts for the PD-TDI engine in North America. So we can look at it, sit in it, but can't drive it yet. But after waiting several months another week won't matter.
ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT THE BEST-LOOKING AFTERMARKET WHEELS ARE?
After looking at many styles (and price is a factor, so no O.Z. super-legarras or whatever) but one of the ones we like most are the stock wheels from the Passat W8 (the 9- or 11-spoke ones).
But very interested in other suggestions.
It was >50% a year ago.
They claim about 80% of all vehicles sold (at this dealership) are TDIs.
Note that they are located ~30 miles from Vancouver, and much of the local population commutes into the city (and mass-transit doesn't extend that far)
The lot is full of Jetta TDIs, with smaller numbers of Golfs and Beetles, and a few Passats (a 1.8t 4-Motion Wagon looked very tempting ... too bad we can't get the TDI in AWD here)
Indeed, I am sure the a VW TDI 4motion wagon would be a hit on both sides of the US/Canadian border.
I just hope the Passat TDI discontinuation rumors are false. Discontinuing one of their most successful models would be like Toyata discontinuing the Prius!
I live in Toronto and I noticel a lot of Jetta/Passat TDIs. I think the marketing people in Wolfsburg cannot comprehend the concept of success and will kill off any product before it becomes too successful(Ok, I know I am exaggerating a bit, but I think there is a grain of truth in what I am saying)
I'm having difficulty justifying the $3K to $5K price differential between V6 & TDI. Yes the TDI is a better car than the V6. Is it worth the price increase ?
I'm also looking at the Prius and Honda Accord hybrid. Don't know which I'll end up with, probably will the the first one to give me a deal or drop a decent amount under sticker.
I didn't know that the V-6 Passat was only $21,000, but even still the TDI would be my choice. TDI has more torque than the V-6 and much better mileage. Resale will also be better. It goes without saying that mileage will be much better.
Everyday in the paper, VW Dealers are advertising a 2004 Passat GL for $17,995. Some other ads were offering a 2004 GLS for $20-21 K.
My point is that it seems hard to swallow the diesel costing $4-$5000 over the cost of a comparable GLS (4 cylinder).
Indeed, I am sure the a VW TDI 4motion wagon would be a hit on both sides of the US/Canadian border.<<
TDI 4motion Tiptronic wagon might do 0-60 in about 15 secords ...you'll a have tough time keeping up with those toy scooters they sell at Target:)
Anyone remember the Passat W8 commericials?
Looks like the Brit's get the 4Motion with TDI. And it does 0-62 in 10.4 seconds. I wonder when the 2.5 diesel will make it to the USA?
http://www.carpages.co.uk/guide/volkswagen/volkswagen-passat-1.9-- se-tdi-130-4motion-4dr.asp
- Do you need to be told you a million times not to exaggerate? : ^ )
Would it take 15 seconds? Also who needs Tiptronic, I would rather have a manual(better mileage and performance)
If the Brits can do 10.2 seconds, I think we should have the same priviledge on this side of the Ocean.
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IS A LOT NICER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, I PICKED THE GLS LEATHER WITH WOOD,There is no major changes in the 05 , 16 Inch wheels instead of 15 Inch, side turn signal has moved up to the bottom of outside mirror's I have the beige Interior so it came with oak wood colored dash and trim instead of black.
I fueled up today and it is getting 31MPG town and urban.
Sounds real nice. What was the price for that car in TX?
guards (Charleston SC).
But, my question to you is this....will that 4Cyl Gasser go 300K miles or more like the diesel? (add that on top of the fuel savings and higher resale)
My dad & I had a 1982 Jetta Diesel that I sold in 1994 with 180,000 to 200,000 miles. It was very ratty the last 5 years of its life. I doubt I'd keep a car that long unless I had to live in it.
A more realistic scenario would be 8 years & 120,000 miles. Based upon the fuel calculators I've seen, it would be a close call as to whether I would make $5000 back especially based upon the recent spike in diesel prices.
Frankly, I'm sitting squarely on the fence about getting one. Part of me says buy a 4 cylinder gas Camry/Accord/Passat and save the money. The other half says that the Passat TDI is the wave of the future a la Europe.
I, OTOH, do look at that 300K mark realistically. I purchased a Jetta GLS TDI in April...5 months and 14 days ago, I took it in Wednesday to have my 20,000 mile service done (but then again, I live 80 miles east of Chicago and my family is in ATL an my wife's in IA). This is a personal use car, not a business use.
(BTW, the car has performed exceptionally and I now average 46MPG in mixed driving and AVERAGE 51MPG on the hwy...that is 5 MPG above the EPA estimate.)
I think that if you kept the car for 100K-120K miles and (with the added higher resale) you would see your investment returned.
Here is a sample from Autotrader
1996 Passat TDI 116K $8000
1996 Passat GLX VR6 117K $5900
1996 Passat GLS 4CYL $110 $5495
Unfortunately I am huge proponent of diesel vehicles therefore I cannot give you an unbiased opinion.
This car is like an energizer battery that counts time in decades not in years.
We hope to pass the car on to our daughter in 10 years when she hits 16.
I've generally ignored trade-in values b/c I traditionally get so little in trade in that I tend to just give away my car to my kid brother or babysitter. I sold the Jetta for $300. The next car I had got $1500 in trade in. The dealer refused to take the Buick so I gave that to my brother. I think I got $3000 on the last car.
My other concern I have about keeping the Passat TDI for the long haul is engine noise. Yes the car is very quiet now when it is new. So was my Volvo. At 10 years old, the Volvo is uncomfortably loud at 75 MPH. If the TDI gets anywhere close to being that loud in 5 years, it is gone.
About my tradeins, it's not that I give away a car for less than its worth. If a dealership is offering me $1500 (or less) for a car in good running condition, I'd rather give the car to my kid brother or my retired mom.
However, they did not take into account the cost of diesel fuel vs. premium (which the gasser requires) or the re-sale value.
Love the car.