Volkswagen Passat 2005 and earlier

riez

Sounds a little soon for any huge changes like that. The 2001.5 (really a 2002) was a huge revision. VW will dramatically change the Passat in '03 or '04? Maybe '05 or '06. Me, I'd take a 200 plus HP motor for '02 or '03! If the Jetta can have one, then so should the Passat.

grabber33

grabber33

signed off on my 2002 glx 4 motion lease tonight in the philadelphia area. got the car for 500 over invoice. invoice 29016 although there is a destination fee 0f 500 some and some BS port and doc fee that total approx. 200 therefore, the total came to low 30000. The cd player should run no more than 300 and 250 of it can be residualized in a lease. The lease residuals are 58% at 36 months, 56% at 39 months, and 55% at 42 months the money factor is favorable at .00245 which equates to mid 5's. Hope this helps. I did speak to multiple dealers and most would sell the car at anywhere from 300-1000 over invoice.

car_nut1

Wasn't on a web site. I think it was a magazine, European Car. The mention was about a system called "Haldex" a replacement for quattro system in VW. Point of article was separation of VW from Audi, thus new east-west engine. No longer a lot of parts sharing.

docarch

hey-
I'm thinking about buying a new 2002 passat gls v6 automatic transmission...with maybe a luxury package and a in dash single cd player, but i heard that the cd player is on backorder now, so i might just go with the changer....(how much is tghe changer?)
is it true that the later 2002 models will have a cd player as a standard feature? Should i buy the car now, cause later the price might be a bit higher and now i will probably have more choices for colors??
thanks

riez

Must be late availability in 2002 model year. I stopped by VW dealer this past week. They didn't have any '02s with in dash. Salesperson wasn't sure if the '02s would have one. We looked over the 2002 Passat brochure. It lists only AM/FM/Cassette, even with Monsoon upgrade, and shows an accessory multi-disc player as an option. Think that is trunk mounted. Told salesperson to call me if he gets final word on in dash CD.

hener

Stopped by the local stereo shop and they said I could put an alpine cd changer in for around $400.I was wondering if this is a good deal and if anyone else has done the alpine changer. Any help is appreciated. I have a 2002 GLS.

vwguild

equipped Passats are on the ground on the East Coast...Left Coasters will
have to wait until the end of September...

jji7363

The in-dash CD models are on shore already? That's great news!! Any idea at all of when they will hit the Pittsburgh area? Either the sales guys are just playing dumb at my local dealer or they really are dumb. They claim ignorance of availability of the in-dash CD and didn't know whether the wood trim in the GLX was real or not. I think I'll try a different deale this weekend.

The price is staying the same, right? BTW, your address sounds like you are a vw insider. Any tips on a good Pittsburgh area dealer would be much appreciated. If you want to do it off-line, my e-mail address is jinman@katz.pitt.edu.

car_nut1

On my window sticker, under heading comfort/convenience, 1st item: Genuine wood interior trim. I doubt if the ashtray cover is real wood, feels like some sort of printing process over metal. When I was a kid, foreign mfg. made fun of the American cars and their fake wood. Before I bought my GLX, I looked at Acura TL's, filled with ugly fake wood. They call it wood-tone plastic. Someone should clue them in.

vwguild

The first vessel, the ETERNAL ACE, that arrived with units with the
new HU pulled into Wilmington, Del. on Aug. 20th...Passats already
in Rochester, Michigan. Next arrival was the VERMILION HIGHWAY that
arrived in Boston, Mass. yesterday with 1400 on board...

The Wood... All of it is Wood...

Go PANTHERS...Great school, but you will have to seek out a competent
Dealer Internet Manager on your own...The Left Coast seems to be a bit more
advanced, but maybe you can seek out a good Fleet Manager...

Good Luck!

cojoneka

I saw one person who leased say they got the car for 500 over invoice - is that typical? I'm definitely buying. Looking at a 02 GLX (no 4motion). Sticker 30,375, invoice 27,737. Also, what price experience do you have with extended warranty up to 7yr/100K miles?
Appreciate your feedback.

kaketo

I purchased a 2001.5 Passat GLX, 5-speed for my wife in mid March of this year. Beautiful car, runs great, no complaints. I added the after-market CD changer (about $200 from an internet vendor) and the car was complete. Recently, I "curbed" the left front wheel exiting a parking garage. I didn't damage the the alignment or actual tire, I just scuffed up the alloy wheel. I am either looking to refurbish the wheel (if possible) or replace the actual wheel if the cost is not to high. Any recommendation in this regard?

minilink

Hey Passaters... I wish to join the gang! I'm hung on the beautttiful looks Passat has (I think I have a crush on the car!) now I am undecided 2001.5 are coming in for some REALLLL discounts (but without the warranty :-( .. how important it is, the difference in the warranty? this would be my first car, so I dont want to blow it), dealer insists there NO difference in 2002 and 2001.5, is this right? I'm looking for a fully equipped GLS AT... I would appreciate if I could some inputs to help me decide and WELL, thanks and loooking forward to be a part of the club ;-)

docarch

if i wanted the dealer to install the 6disc cd changer, what would be a reasonable price??

kaketo

Docarch, unless you are a purist and really want the dealer do to the install, you may want to check out the route of doing it yourself. I purchased a Panasonic CXDP610 (6 CD Changer) and the interface cable over the internet (from Audio Warehouse Express) for $250 (that included shipping) back in March of this year. The install took less than 5 minutes. I didn't even bolt the unit into the storage box, I just surrounded it with bubble wrap to cushion the ride and secured the storage cover. The dealer wanted almost $100 to "program" the factory installed unit. In talking to many people on the board here as well as audio shops, the difference between "programming" and not, isn't noticeable to most ears. I haven't had a complaint with mine nor any problems and I am more than satisfied with the couple of hundred dollars that I save over going the dealer install.

alatto

I bought a 2001.5 V6 GLS 5-speed a few months ago. Silverstone grey. I lurked on this site before I bought and learned quite a bit -- thanks, everyone.

I am very happy with the car, but have one observation/concern. When I shift out of first gear into second, the engine rev does not drop down very much. It is almost as if I still had my foot on the gas. This does not happen with shifts after the 1-to-2. I don't know enough about how cars work to know why this would happen. Is it the idle setting? Something I should have checked out?

If I think back to my test drives, I seem to recall this happening on other V6 5-speeds, so I don't think it is my particular car. I don't recall it happening on the turbo 4.

My only other comment on the car regards the floormats. After only a few weeks (and in the summer, even, up here in Minnesota where we salt the heck out of the roads in winter), they showed substantial wear. They seem quite flimsy. I bought some aftermarket mats to help preserve them, and I suggest that other consider doing so.

pkradd

The mats are indeed flimsy. On a recent trip to have the car washed and waxed they pulled the front mat off and tore it at the round snap.

VW sells some nice rubber mats specifically for the New Passat. $44.95 in the catalog I got from them. They come in tan, grey and black.

vwguild

of Much better Quality can be found at www.mats.com

riez

Just spent the past 8 hours with my wife comparing cars. Ended up looking at Passat, Jetta, A4, Millenia, 9-3, LS, 325i, new Altima 3.5 SE, '02 Maxima 3.5 SE, IS300, X-type, MB C Class, IS300, Infiniti I35, and Volvo S40 & S60. We were both quite impressed with the Passat. For the money, the loaded 5-speed automatic V-6, with or w/out 4wd, was the hands down winner oveall on basis of price, value, material quality, fit & finish, being well equipped, room, and practicality. You get a heck of a lot of car for the roughly $29,000 non-4wd. Too bad our local dealer has a lot filled with 2001.5 Passats and not a single 2002. We won't get one without the 4/50 warranty and in-dash CD. Wife did find a color combo she loves: blue exterior with dark leather interior. Told her all we have to do is wait to see the Cadillac CTS and Infinit G35 come out. But she has been bitten by the car bug badly now.

pkradd

Why not make a deal for a 2001.5 Passat. Get an extended warranty for about $800-$1000 (you'll have a better drivedrain one with the 2001.5). You'll also have 2 years of maint. (free oil changes every 5000 miles which is not available with the 2002 I believe) and 2 years of free roadside. If you want an in-dash CD player, again, try to make a deal. Or instead, get an aftermarket CD changer (see other posts on Panasonic model that easily fits in trunk) and save about $300 from what VW charges by doing it yourself - about 15 minutes to install.

jji7363

I'm with you! As a matter of fact, I've looked at the same cars as on your list and have come to the same conclusion. The objective factors like Consumer Reports ratings, etc. PLUS the "soft" factors like appearance and styling all point to the Passat. With the hills and weather here in Pittsburgh, I'm going with the GLX 4Motion.

Test drove a Maxima this weekend and it rode well but not as in touch with the road as the Passat. I had noticed the wide deflector that almost all Maximas have for the sunroof. Worried me that the Passat didn't have one. Checked into that and found that the Passat does have one that pops up when the sunroof is open. That sort of "nice" design is appealing to me.

grabber33....Congrats on your new Passat! Did you have to pay any ad fees?

vwguild... You even know the names of the boats that the Passats are arriving on? Amazing! BTW, could you look to see if there are any Silverstone Gray with Gray leather GLX 4Motions coming in? :-)

docarch

going to buy a new 2002 passat gls soon....i was wandering should i go with velour or leather seats??? any advantages/disadvantages??

riez

pakradd... Just can't see spending $29,000 and then having to spend more to get decent warranty and in-dash CD. I'm not desperate or in too much of a hurry. The selection of 2001.5s is declining. Car is already 1 year old in comparison to 2002, so you eat the depreciation come trade-in time. As for extended warranties, I would only get one thru manufacturer (attempting to ensure use of new original VW parts) without a deductible. Buying from some 3rd party provider is risky. Seen too many people burned when they needed work or just because the 3rd party went bankrupt or got out of business.

pkradd

Found an internet site that makes and sells licensed VW floor mats which include the holes for the floor pins. They make plush nylon ones for the Passat with or without the logo in various colors. They are here:

www.autoaccessorieszone.com

bitburg

I saw your post on 8/29 about 30,066 for a GLX 4-motion. I had the same deal back in June but I had to postpone my purchase. In December I'll be back in the market for the 2002 passat and will be looking to pay the same price. However, when I agreed to the price of 30,066 the dealer faxed me the quote and it had about $200 in extra charges like a "computer fee" and some other BS. I had told him that I would hold of before that but I would stick with 30,066 and don't let them nickle and dime you!! Let me know how it goes...I'm looking to get the GLX 4-motion in reflex silver in Dec.....I can't wait.....Also, get mud guards on your passat it makes the car look even better!!

cityscapex5

with the standard CD in dash player arriving soon does this negate the need for the Monsoon system? will the in dash CD player be offered as well as the Monsoon?

jji7363

Thanks for the info, Bitburg! I'm sold on the GLX 4Motion and we're heading over to the dealer this Friday. Now need to decide the color... :-)

How's this sound...GLX 4Motion, gray leather with ___ exterior, in-dash CD, Michelin tires (I don't like the Continentals), and mud guards (thanks, Bitburg!).... Can't decide on the exterior. I like the blue silver, reflex silver, silverstone gray, blue anthracite, and Co red. I do want metallic paint. What are the most popular colors, VWGUILD?

Like you, I get very irritated when the dealer tries to add backdoor charges. No way I'm paying a computer fee. What about ad fees?

Anyone on the fence should take a look at this month's Consumer Reports. Nice write-up on the Passat Wagon.

vwguild

Monsoon Sound is the Amplification & Speakers; not the Head Unit...

As to colors Reflex & Silverstone are the most popular, but who cares?
Get what you like...

Regional Ad Fees that appear on an Invoice with Port Prep and FloorPlan
Interest Reserve and Destination are a legitimate part of the Invoice...In
California from Monterey north these fees vary from $0 to $100...SF Bay
Area is $75 and Sacramento is $100...Here we have none...

play_2win

I lurked and took all the positive advise and purchased a 2001.5 Passat yesterday. I was told by the dealer to only use Premium Gas. Is this sound advice - obviously the $$$/gallon is driving my question. Any pro/cons of using premium vs regular?

s852

Look in the owners manual and use the gas grade recommended there.

rad211

Yes, use only premium gas for best performance and check out these websites for more Passat info:

http://www.vwvortex.com

http://www.clubb5.com

rad211

This is a 2 minute adjustment. The covers on the two plastic housings that hold the sunshade need to opened and the screw underneath loosened for the plastic holder to be adjusted. Your dealer can do this in under 5 minutes. Enjoy your car

teller

One thing missing from the option/feature list for the Passat (even GLX) is Xenon headlamps. Does anyone know about the availability/cost/advisability/durability/installability, etc. of any aftermarket Xenons for a new Passat?

minilink

How much is the NEW Passat 2002 GLS with all the stuff (leather, sunroof, monsoon etc) costing in Canada? Anybody has a better idea than me please jot down a few lines.. thanks!

rickrover

These are pricey - but they are genuine VW parts that are original equipment on Euro Passat's:

www.greedspeed.com

they used to have info on them on the website - maybe you can order a catalog. Last time I checked they were around $1,300

mod7

Does anyone know if there are any dealers that have Blue-Silver Passats or can get them in the NY/NJ area?

Thanks

jji7363

We're heading off to our friendly VW dealer tomorrow to test drive the GLX 4Motion. We really like the gray leather interior and everything is std on the GLX, so its pretty much down to the color (and waiting until the in-dash CD is included).

Does anyone know if blue anthractie is metallic or pearl? The darker color goes well against the gray interior and I prefer metallic paint. I'm pretty sure that silverstone gray is metallic.

Also, are Continental tires any good? Passats seem to come with either Michelins or Continentals.

skspgh

Just got a Black on Black GLS Passat 2001 in Pittsburgh, PA for $22000 including a dealer installed cd player (not six disc) and a 5 yr/60000 mile warranty. I think he sold me the warranty for $600 only! From calling around for warranty to other dealers, this seems like a good price. I love this car. The 1.8T engine is AMAZING. Brilliant power for 4 cy. Drives smooth and the tiptronic kicks serious [non-permissible content removed]. I like the features you get for the price. This car is great value for money.
Only a couple of questions - my velour black car seats catch lint and dirt soooo easily. Do others feel that? And the dash, practically have specs of white dirt in it. They just don't seem to go. Anyone else with similar complaints? And my last grumbling would be the doors. The seem to open in jerks. No smoothly at all. Very inconvenient. Do they eventually smoothen out?
But hey, it's one stylish cool car. Better than any other car at this price.

jji7363

Where did you buy your Passat? Did you like the salesperson? I'm in Pittsburgh too (North Hills).

skspgh

Day Imports at Monroeville. Speak with Lance. Great young guy. No pressure at ALL. Did the final deal with John. All great people. Loved the experience.
BTW the VW MasterGuard extended warranty gives you extended roadside assistance and trip routing etc and reimbursement for rental cars should your passat go in the shop. I got the 0 deductible 5yr/60000 for 600! I think they have a couple of GLX 4 motions still available from 2001.

path_ohone

You'll enjoy the car, and the grin on your face will be practically permanant!
Is this a 2001 or a 2001.5? I thought all 2001s were long gone.
The velour seats are certified lint catchers, and is a well known issue. Use a lint roller or periodically use a wide scotch tape to remove all the lint. You'll get used to the lint!
If you look at the door hinges(esp the ones in the trunk), you'd be amazed at the engineering - the front doors have a couple of notches, so that the door can be opened "wide, wider and widest". Prevents the door from banging on your shin when you get out with a package in your arms..windy days...etc.
Dont know about the white specks. Good luck

skspgh

That grin is widest at night. Man, the dash look so cewl at night with the red/indigo lights. I quite like the sound of the Monsoon sound system too. Mine is a 2001.5 passat. Keep forgetting abou their two models that year. The velour seat thing is horrible. Makes the car look so messy specially because I have black on black. Oh well...

pkradd

No matter what car one gets, Velour always has a lint problem. The black unfortunately over emphasizes it I'm afraid. I have a grey Velour interior on my GLS 2001.5 and the lint is not as noticeable. I also sprayed the seats with Scotchguard. Like the other poster said, those roller do hickey's work. The light show is terrific. Even all the icons around the car at the doors light up. Freaked out my brother when I picked him up after dark the other night.

On another subject, just read an article in the LA Times on the new Camry. Toyotas target car to imitate was the Audi A4, which just happens to also be the Passat.

passat14

I just purchased a 2002GLX. I paid $28,800. I probably could have gotten a few hundred dollars more off, but I wanted the vehicle.
The car so far is solid. I test drove the Audi A4, BMW 325xi and many others. The Passat matches these cars in many regards. The real test will be in about 6-7 years to see the repair history.
I really believe that Passat has put a lot of thought into what drivers want as far as accessories, looks, etc..
I think this car may be a sleeper among car enthusiasts. Probably due to the 190hp, but these car enthusiasts need to really give this car a closer look. It's SOLID!

teller

I appreciate the referral (although I couldn't pull up that website), but $1,300 for what is usually a $500 option?! I don't mind paying retail, but I don't relish the prospect of having to "squeal like a pig" (remember that movie scene?) for some headlamps. Any other thoughts out there?

jayjun

Can this be ordered on a 2002 Passat GLS?

silvercrown

Hello Everyone,

I last posted on this site quite a while ago, but I have continued to follow the discussions with great interest. I currently have a 2000 Toyota Camry LE V6 but I am verrrry intrigued by the Passat. I test drove one a couple of months ago and fell in love with the car. The attention to details is phenomenal, right down to the "hidden" trunk hinges to provide more trunk space instead of the ones that protrude and get in the way (like in my car). The compartment for the CD changer in the trunk was also impressive. It drove like a dream even though I test drove it in the rain (which allowed me to test the rain sensing wipers, though). I'll have to test drive it again in dry conditions and take it on the expressway too in order to get a real feel for the drive.

I had my heart set on trading up to a 2002 Camry next spring, but now I am definitely leaning heavily toward the Passat. My main concern was reliability. CR rates the Passat V6 (the one I would want) as average in reliability, whereas the Camry was rated with excellent reliability. However, I feel that the Passat has more safety features and did better in the crash ratings. Also, I have read some negative comments about owner problems and terrible VW dealer service experiences that disturbed me. The Camry is a reliable car and I have no complaints about it or the dealer service. However, it doesn't move me nor does it reflect my unique individuality. I bought it because it seemed like a practical, safe purchase. I liked it well enough at the time. But I now find myself wanting more, and feeling lost in a sea of a million Camrys everytime I drive somewhere.

I also have a longing for more features and a more luxurious interior and the Passat has that in spades. I was hard pressed to think of anything that I would want that it doesn't already have in the GLX model besides a more prestigious nameplate (which I don't care about). Plus, I haven't seen the 2002 Camry up close and personal just yet, but the latest pix I have seen still don't move me like the Passat does. The Passat is truly a stylish beaut of an automobile.

One thing I have noticed is that VW owners are passionate about their cars, especially the Passat. Everything I've read either describes a "madly in love" or "I hate this lemon" situation. No one seems to be neutral about this car. Even though the negative items are scary to contemplate, I think the glowing reports outweigh them in number and intensity. This gives me more confidence in seriously considering this car as my next vehicle next spring. Especially now that the B2B warranty has been extended and the in-dash CD player will be standard. I guess I've been bitten by the VW (Passat) "bug" because the enthusiasm about this car is contagious. I look forward to continuing my acquaintance with the Passat through this forum and others as well as "joining the club" someday with my own Passat. This forum will be the first to know when that happens.

Thanks for all of the sharing of info.

SilverCrown

samsvr6

Since I got my 2001.5 Passat in March, I have influenced 3 of my co-workers into buying one..... We now have 4 New Passats sitting in the parking lot.

pkradd

I was also a two time Camry owner, the '95 and '98. (Actually, I leased them). They were indeed reliable, but I actually thought the '95 was better looking and better made. The new model, which I had an opportunity to see this past weekend, is very nice. An article in the LA Times stated that Toyota looked at the Audi A4 as where they wanted the Camry to go. Since the 2001.5/2002 Passat is based on that platform, why not get the real thing. I believe that the new Passat will turn out to be more reliable than the previous incarnation, simply because VW reportedly addressed not only the mechanical problems but improved many fit and finish areas as well. As long as one doesn't beat the car to death (constant jack rabbit starts, riding the brakes, etc.) it should be reasonably reliable albeit probably not as much as the Camry. But what you get is a car that is fun to drive, has fit and finish comparable to some luxury cars and the cache of not being another gold Camry in a parking lot full of them. I have the GLS with 1.8T and tiptronic. Some reviews of the Passat have stated that the V6 is not as well engineered as the 4. Certainly the V6 is smoother and you get wood trim. Hope you do indeed join the club.