Volkswagen Passat 2005 and earlier

r2s2

Likely your Passat engine will loosen up as you pass break-in and get upwards of 1000 miles. Also, if you have auto, as you begin to drive a little more aggressively, your transmission will re-program itself to your driving habits and new shift points will help.

birdboy1

Just got a recall letter from vw. Upon opening it I thought it was regarding the coil issues alot of us had. Much to my suprise it seemed like a serious tire wheelhousing problem requiring a protective shield. The risk could be a fuel fire. How come our fellow board members have not been up with this latest issue, usually i get all my up to date info from here.

feilo

I got my letter too. This seems to be a sleeper and also caught folks from other Passat boards by surprise as well. Re-reading the letter, the risk of fire only arises if you have a tire blowout and the tires disintegrates. I'll probably get this done at my 20K service which is ~ 5K away (I'm doing the 15K oil change myself).

snia95

I will do the tests you suggested and let you know!

chrisboth

I drove in the christmas storm last winter from Philly to stratton mt. I left at the beg of the storm and made it 7 hrs later for a pretty great ski day..next time i'm going to sugarbush again.

I had the V6 fwd 01.5. Great car - VW buyback notwithstanding - let me know if you want to hear more on that. It was a blast driving in that car in snow..will miss it this winter if its like last one for sure. I was in up to a foot of snow later that night trying to get to NH for dinner. That was a challenge especially with white out moments with 0 visibility. The car plows through powder keeping its composure without a hitch. Good luck - and you are right - no need for 4wd

vocus

I would recommend chipping if you have a problem with power. It's about $500 or so, and will give your car about 50 more hp. You will be able to blow the doors off any 4-door family car then!

bjbird2

Carrie, the VW website has the following stats for 0-60mph:
Passat GLS 2.8L V-6
Manual 7.3
Automatic 8.2

GLS 1.8T Turbo 4
Manual 7.9
Automatic 8.9

W-8
Automatic 6.5

I don't think the average buyer would consider any of these "slow".

serge2

Me too , Christmas storm... only I was coming back FROM Killington to NYC.. That was fun...Snowplows, few locals riding snowmobiles
and me in the Pontiac Bonneville with 2 kids, wife and relative. They were singing songs, reciting poetry and telling jokes all the way to CT, so i wouldn't fall asleep.
 Anyway, what's the story with the VW buyback?

echan2

My wife and I are shopping for a Passat GLS 1.8T wagon. My wife is more interest in the exterior color of the car. She tends to pick the Mojave Beige. We went to couple of the local dealers and were unable to find any Wagon with the Mojave Beige color. Is there anyone have the pictures they could share?

Thanks.

outrun

I think 0-60 in 8.9 seconds is pretty slow for a modern vehicle considering an Accord or Altima would run circle around it.

Maybe that's why no one recommends the 1.8T with auto. It sucks the life out of it, especially off the line.

-Craig

chrisboth

The airbag light came on at 2500 mi and they fixed it and it happened 3 more times. Diff components of the system kept faulting out. Other electrical problems like not starting (may have been related but they found a ground wire in a pillare not attached????) and wierness with window controls once and horn losing one tone (sounds like civic).

 I was just worried that the 2/24 warranty was going to make me hate the car and didn't want to be exposed. Got an attorney that wouldn't charge even if i lost and, viola, two mos later i have buyback guy to meet for a repurchase. The car was outstanding as far as interior quality and no rattles or even sounds when you shut down like exhaust cooling pops...it was nice. I miss it and may buy the newer one with better warranty for GF unless she want 325xi..again slower with awd but she hates rwd.
The G35 i bought is very tight but not as tight finish wise as interior of passat. I dont have things like soft return handles and my interior light are in the altima, or worse, sentra maybe. IMO, Get a warrarnty that covers the duration of your intended hold period...best of luck

quan69

After a year of drooling, saving and trolling on this board, I’m finally a proud Passat owner! 2003 Reflex Silver Passat GLS 1.8T Automatic, black leather, Moonsoon & Homelink -- $24,059 selling price. Thanks to all the posters on this board for sharing their experience with the car (sale, features, problems, etc.). You guys helped tremendously.

<Begin plug> If you&#146;re in the South Orange County area of California, go to Capistrano Volkswagen in San Juan Capistrano and ask for Joey Robustelli. I got a lower quote ($200 lower) at Fladeboe Volkswagen but the fleet manager there never returned my e-mail (1) or voice messages (2) after the initial quote. I thought, heck, if customer service is crappy now when they want my business, how much worse would it get once I&#146;ve forked my money over? Joey at Capistrano Volkswagen called me twice, was never pushy, and promised to match Carsdirect.com's price. When I showed up at the dealership, the only haggling I did was over the choice of exterior/interior colors. No pushing of extra options that I didn't want (extended warranty, etc.) I was in and out in 1 hour! How sweet is that? On top of that, their Smileage package includes, among other things, 5 free car rentals with service appointments. I know that would definitely come in handy. <End plug> :-)

Right now, I&#146;m just enjoying the sweet ride and waiting for the odometer to hit 5000 before adding an ECU. BTW, can anyone recommend a good place to get my windows tinted in the Southern Calif area? Also, I've heard that Capistrano VW is mod-friendly. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks again for all the great info everyone!

snia95

The engine did look like it wanted to jump out of the car, so I guess I'll be purchasing motor mounts relatively soon! Thanks gatorsnap for the info, you should open up your own VW service shop. They didnt even show me how the engine was jumping, it would have helped me understand the whole motormount thing:-)

echan2

Would anyone help to explain to me why the big difference in price between TMV vs carsdirect?
For the GLS 1.8T wagon with auto, leather monsoo, ESP. TMV for these ZIP 91745(Hacienda Heights, CA) 95035(San Jose, CA) and 97233(Portland, OR) are about the same $25,420. Carsdirect are $24800, $26200, and $27200.
With the $2400 saved, may be I should buy the car in S. Cal. and drive back to Portland.
Any comment?

Chan

feilo

Congrats on your new Passat! Glad to see that you finally took the plunge. I hear Capistrano IS mod friendly - they are one of the sponsors of an on-line Club of B5 Passat enthusiasts. And 5K is a good point to get your ECU chipped - once you do that, its like getting the "new car feel" all over again - enjoy the ride!

pat

You might want to look for a relevant discussion on our Smart Shopper board to ask that question, but for the moment I can suggest to you that TMV is reflective of the market in your area as a WHOLE. Carsdirect is just one aspect of the market.

But as I say, check on the Smart Shopper board - that's where you will find the folks who can help you sort this out.

echan2

Thanks, Pat. I've just left a message on the Smart Shopper's Passat pricing board. Hope I'll get some help there.

jlmoran

I've seen a few references to "chipping" in response to Carrie's post about the 1.8T performance. What is "chipping"? How does it boost your horsepower? Would doing this void the manufacturer warranty or an extended warranty (if I had one, which I may at a future date)?

outrun

It's a replacement for the VW ECU that controls turbo boost (increases the boost the turbo gives the engine), spark timings, fuel/air mixture, etc. It gives the 1.8T engine about a 40hp and 80lb/ft torque increase. It truely transforms the engine into a beast.

It's the best bang for the buck upgrade one can do to a turbo engine.

And yes, it will void engine and electrical related warranty items, especially 3rd party extended warranties.

Some dealerships are "mod-friendly", meaning they don't care if you chip your car - they'll still put it under warranty. Others won't budge and won't put anything under warranty if they find out your chipped.

-Craig

jcat707

2004 Passat Sedan and Wagon GL, GLS, GLX and W8
New 2.0L TDI – 134 hp, 247 lb-ft of torque with advanced unit-injector technology available later in model year (preliminary figures; subject to change)
4MOTION also available as option on 1.8T GLS later in model year
New exterior colors later in model year:
Wheat Beige replacing Mojave Beige
Stonehenge Gray replacing Fresco Green
Samoa replacing Colorado Red
Shadow Blue replacing Indigo Blue
Blue Graphite replacing Blue Anthracite
Northern Green replacing Pine Green
New interior colors later in model year:
Pure Beige replacing Sonnenbeige
Anthracite replacing Black
Wood trim available as an option with Leather Package on GLS later in model year
New velour standard on GL and GLS later in model year
New leatherette (Black, Beige, Gray) optional on GL and GLS later in model year
New style 15” steel wheels standard on GL
New style 15” alloy wheels standard on GLS
New style 16” alloy wheels standard on GLX
New style 16” alloy wheels standard on W8
ESP now also standard on GLX
Telematics optional on GL and GLS, standard on GLX and W8
Homelink now also standard on GLS
Monsoon now also standard on GLS
New seatbelt reminder and fuel cap seal warning
Side mirrors with integrated blinker later in model year

bdj7

Last night I took ownership of my 2003 Passat 1.8T automatic, silverstone gray, with gray interior, monsoon stereo and cold weather package; all for $21,800 + tax and tag. This is the first car I have bought, and I feel that I got a good deal. (Let me put a plug in for Stohlman VW in Tysons Corner, VA. I had a great experience with their online staff, no hassle, no problems. Told them what I wanted and got a low price. It was a $1000 less then any other offer.) I cannot wait for the 1000 mile break-in period to end. This discussion board came in handy during my research and info gathering. Thanks for all the advice. I'll keep you informed as the miles add up.
Any suggestions on where to find an aftermarket CD changer? Also a reputable place in the DC area to get windows tinted? Thanks again for the help.

snia95

I took my car to a reputable foreign car shop and they told me my motor mounts d/n look that bad. They said the only one that was leaking was the right one. The dealership told me that the left and the right were bad and this was causing the vibrations in Drive and Reverse. In addition, I am having problems starting my car. Despite the fact that b/4 I bought the car I paid for a used car inspection at the dealership, I have had nothing but problems since I bought the car. The ignition d/n seem to want to kick over, it stalls sometimes after I have driven it for a while or after I've used the air. Any suggestions or comments?

quan69

Congrats on your new Passat. Mine's a first new car as well. Sounds like you got a really great deal. That's like $1600 off invoice. Nice job.

samiam79

Just recently got my 03 Passat 1.8T 5 speed, Monsoon, Homelink, Leather Package ... and I LOVE IT!! My question is that I just passed the break in period (hit 1k miles last night). VW recommends to change the oil every 5 mo / 5k miles. I was told by some other sources to do the first oil change at 1k. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

chrisboth

First oil change s/b 5000 according to VW SPringfiled PA. Cant vouch but that's what i did. It shouldn't even matter that much as long as your oil is always changed regularly.

Anyone know how to make use of homelink - what kind of 'recveivers' do i need (homelink I assume) but have no idea where to get them????

altair4

From http://www.homelink.com/faq/faq.html

Where can I purchase HomeLink compatible products?
Security: Refer to your local ITI brand security dealer who can install the HomeLink compatible ITI security interface or call 1-800-777-1415 x4607 for complete details or the nearest dealer. Home/Office Lighting: Visit your local RadioShack or Sears retail outlet for compatible lighting products or Contact Us for additional information or to purchase a HomeLink Lighting Package. Appliances: Contact Us to get details on how you can activate small appliances using your HomeLink. Gates: Refer to the Yellow Pages of your local telephone directory under "Gates" or "Gate Operators."

Hope this helps.

chrisboth

Amigo

gatorsnap

I tend to suspect that your car was severely abused to break the mounts. I have tested the limits with my GLX manual with no ill effects. I have: put on the emergency brake, turned off the ASR, revved up to 4000 rpm and dumped the clutch - it just smokes the tires and then tries to crawl forward like a dog with no hind legs. I pull a 1500 lb camping trailer with absolutely no problem at all (over Monarch pass in Colorado), I have taken my 2500 lb boat to the lake once (won't do that again - I smelled clutch after I pulled the boat out of the water), and if you can tell from any of the above descriptions, I don't cut precious baby any slack when it comes to playing with the rice burners.
     I now have over 20K miles on my car, I do my own maintenance and I have had nothing go wrong until now.
     I went out to go to work the other day and the Monsoon did'nt work. I thought that was kinda bizzarre, but I had used the 12V power port in the trunk the day before (to blow up an inflatable boat toy) so I thought maybe I had blown a fuse. Anyway I tried to decipher the fuse card (which is very hard to figure out) and I ended up going to the dealer for help. Turns out the guy pulls the radio fuse out for 10 seconds, plugs it back in, and the radio now works. They tell me if it does it again they will replace the monsoon. That sorta thing is kinda scary to me.
     snia95 - maybe if you disconnect your battery and wait ten seconds everything will be better. Sorry, my sarcasm doesn't help. I can't give you any good advice for your situation. Basically you have 3 choices (1) learn to work on the car and fix it (2) Pay to have it fixed (3) get rid of it.
     I can tell you, I have had alot of cars in my life, and my Passat is a whole lot of car. My first experience with motormounts was on a '69 SS 396 Malibu.

Gator

alyssazmom

I too bought my 2003 Passat from Tom G. in their internet dept. as well! They got me out in an hour and a half I purchased a 2003 GLS 1.8T moonsoon, leather, coldweather, homelink, automatic in Candy White with tan leather interior.

Enjoy your Passat!

Carrie

outrun

Wait until 5,000. All those theories of "metal shavings" and "engine crud" during the manufacturing process are just those - theories. They don't exist.

The original oil helps the engine break in better. Just don't beat on it until you change the oil at 5k. Yea, it's tough, but it's worth it in the long run.

I just switched to synthetic at 20k (Valvoline SynPower 5w-40).

-Craig

dilemma

Can anybody help? I've been considering the Camry, Passat, and Accord for a new buy. I like the Passat but hate the automatic door locking at 8mph, which seems to be standard. Does anybody know if (and how) this feature could be disabled if I decide on the Passat (salesmen are notably ignorant)

Thanks

quan69

Automatic door locking at speed > 8mph can be disabled. The service people at the dealership can do that for you.

dilemma

thanks quan69, you are great--how about the running lights--I think the "Camry" has the option of turning them off??

Anybody have any comments about the Passat air conditioner??--It didn't seem up to the task when I test drove it here in the Rocky Montains at about 85 degrees outside

Thanks again

gacman99

While you can remove a fuse to disable your DRL, I'd have to say I don't think its a good idea to do so. I'm pretty sure the dealership will refuse to modify a safety feature.

I've been pretty happy with my AC the last week or so (its been in the low 90s here in Omaha). It blows cold quickly and keeps the car cool and comfortable. And I have black leather seats!

gatorsnap

I just got my recall notice to install the shield in the right rear wheel well. It doesn't sound like VWOA is taking any chances on this issue. The notice states this covers all '98-03 Passats, '97-99 Jettas and '98 Cabrios.
     
    On the Daytime Running Lights issue, I have pulled my relay #173 and have been running that way for over a year now. It works just Peachy - Thanks again Outrun !

Gator

vocus

The Camry I-4 does 0-60 in about 9 seconds, as does the Accord I-4. That sounds pretty comparable with 8.9 to me..

Plus you can chip the Passat and it will BURN circles around the Camry and Accord.

mbros2k

Why is everyone so worried about horsepower? The Passat 1.8 is quick, nimble, refined and beautifully designed. If 0-60 is so damn important buy a Mustang or a WRX. In my city, the traffic sucks and a balanced car that does everything well is required.

frapzoid

Good point...In my opinion the Mustang is not as refined as the Passat and like all Subarus the WRX is so darn ugly!!!

wantapassatnow

Hi, I am new to the board! I currently lease a Mitsubishi Galant, and the lease is up in January. My new car will be a Passat. When is the best time to get a good deal on a 2003? I want the GL, automatic, no options, in Blue Silver.

Also, if I plan to lease, does it matter when I get it? Can deals be made on leases? I would get the longest lease possible (4 years?).

My main goal is to get the monthly payment as low as possible (my Galant payment is $215/month). If I lease I would prefer not to put more than $1000 down.

Sorry if these are dumb questions. My Galant was my first lease and someone else made the deal for me, so I am clueless. Thanks!

optimist2

I have a dilemma and I am hoping to get some advice from this forum.

I am looking at two cars of almost identical price ($20,000 invoice plus tax, license and fees). this is within my budget.
1-Passat GL 5 manual with all front and side airbags for driver and passenger, curtain airbags, ABS, traction control and Electronic stability and 4-year warranty
2-Camry SE 5 manual with all airbags, ABS (NO antiskid or Electronic stability available) premium package with leather, and fog lights and 3-year warranty.
Now that my wife and I have had our first child I am looking for a car with
1) the most safety features (goal is to have the best chance of both surviving an accident and not suffering any major injuries) and
2) the highest reliability (for the first 5-7 years i'd like to go to the dealer to change oil and do scheduled maint. only)

crash tests from NHTSA are similar for both vehicles:
Passat: 5 stars frontal crash driver, 5 stars frontal crash passenger, 4 stars side crash front, 4 stars side crash rear
Camry: 5 stars frontal driver, 4 stars frontal passenger, 3 stars side crash front, 5 stars side crash rear
From Highway safety institute
Passat: GOOD (highest rating) in all except average in restraint/dummy movement
Camry: GOOD (highest rating) in all except average in foot/leg injury right front seat.

I love the passat but i really do not want to deal with maint. problems (I have only owned japanese cars: a Subaru GL10 '85, a mazda protege '98 and a rav4 '99-all extremely reliable). On the other hand, I wonder if it's not worth dealing with some limited (apparently) maint. hassles to get the most safety features. Do antiskid and electr. stability really add significant value to the safety package?

I know i cannot go wrong with either choice but I would still value your opinions so as not to leave it to the flip of a coin.

thank you

optimist2

vwguild

I don't believe your budget will handle a Passat...

That said...Best Lease residuals are always better early in a model year, Money factors are more aggressive late in the model year as residuals go down...mahor incentives are best late in model year as available inventories offer less selection...

vwguild

That would depend upon which you value more...your time, or your family...

outrun

The Camry I-4 does 0-60 in about 9 seconds, as does the Accord I-4. That sounds pretty comparable with 8.9 to me..

Comparable, yes, but still slow.

I don't need 5.5 0-60 runs. But the 7 range, to me, is considered acceptable. Nothing like having to jam into taffic with a big rig on your [non-permissible content removed].

-Craig

snia95

Despite my many inquiries into recalls, the dealership finally told me that the ignition problem I was having happens to be the ignition coil recall problem. Im seriously thinking about purchasing an extended warranty!

outrun

All vehicles have recalls. My wife's former '96 Accord had a few, one of which was a wire that connected to the A/C would prematurely shred insulation, resulting in possible engine fires. Nice, huh?

The coil pack recall was botched by VW. There is another recall on the passenger side rear wheel well liner. At least VW notified everyone of the latter recall before anyone even knew about it.

Live and learn.

-Craig

dilemma

Can anybody tell me if all 2003 Passat models incorporate a rear window defroster? Ive seen the wires on the wagon window but I've been unable to ascertain whether they are on the GL, GLS, ETC sedans. The sales brochure and Consumer Reports "features" do not indicate their existence, either as standard or as an option. Thanks

outrun

As far as I know, all models have it. They also have side mirror defrosters, which can't even be optioned on a top of the line Accord.

I have an '02 GLS Sedan with Leather and Luxury packages.

-Craig

danny2003

Hi folks:

My 2003 Passat GLX Indigo Blue, Black interior arrives at my door today! I got a great deal on a rep's car w/ 5800 miles and an awesome price for my trade in. (2001 Accord EX-V6L) I'm so happy!!!!

Two questions related to roof racks.
1) Does anyone have pics of a Yakima roof rack on their Passat?

2) Is the Angle Spacer sold in Japan available in America anywhere? Here is a URL, just scroll down to the bottom:
http://www.istargazer.ca/mods_exterior_vwoj.htm

I can't wait for my trip on Friday!
Danny

quan69

I was driving up to SF and back last weekend and passing speed with a GLS 1.8 was more than adequate. With AC on full blast, going from 80 to 105 MPH didn't even rev the engine past 4500 RPM and it was very smooth. The engine didn't make any weird noises.

BTW, the AC worked fine (it was 107 degrees outside)-- it does take a while to cool down the inside if it's been sitting in the sun for too long. I have black leather interior so that's partly to blame.

big_guy

One of the great things about the 1.8T engine is it is not affected by altitude. Compared to a normally aspirated engine of similar displacement (which can really bog down while climbing over a mountain pass) the 1.8T continues to pull as if it was at sea level. This makes the trips up and down the local canyon much more enjoyable