Volkswagen Passat 2005 and earlier

s852

It is nice that you believe that the new Passat is going to be reliable, but since that is yet to be seen, you should not buy one unless you are prepared to deal with a few more problems than you would have had with a Camry.
It MIGHT be reliable since not all VWs break down all the time, but it is much more likely to not be as reliable as the average Toyota or Honda.
The Passat definitely has a lot more style than the old Camry and a little more style than the new Camry and the style and looks can make it worth some extra unplanned trips to the dealership for some people.
For instance, many people buy 80's Jags knowing they will probably have problems because they like the looks, but you should not naively believe the reliability of the new Passat is suddenly going to be comparable to a Camry as long as you don't actively try to destroy it by riding the brakes and so on as you stated.

jrct9454

...buy the car for whatever reasons, but looking for Japanese reliability from VW is setting yourself up for disappointment. It is what it is...frankly, for the money a Passat V6, especially a GLX, commands, there are some very attractive alternatives out there. Base Acura TLs go in our neighborhood for $27-28k...just to take one example, never mind the new Camry.

Like all German cars, there are dynamic differences on the road that make VWs special, but holding your breath waiting for these guys to build them like Toyota or Honda [or Nissan, for that matter] will result in little else but a blue face. Get it knowing that you need a reserve of patience and a good dealer; if you have neither, pick something else.

pkradd

I know the Passat will not be as reliable as the Camry. I only suggested that it is improving and should hopefully be average rather then above average (as the Camry and Accord are). I did have problems with my '98 Camry during the time I owned it. Rattles started appearing behind the dash, the ingnition key assembly fell apart and I couldn't turn the key to start the car. The door locks wouldn't open when I first picked up the car and the dealer had to replace them, and the air conditioning would whine when the fan was on medium. So even a Camry can have problems (possilbly the "built on Friday syndrome"). I've only put 4500 miles on my Passat, but so far everything is ok. I have an extended warranty and a good dealership so I'm optimistic that I'll be ok. Of course, there are no guarantees.

hener

I also have both the Camry and my 2nd Passat in the drive. The Camry is old reliable it has rarely let us down. Having said that anytime and I mean anytime we drive anywhere beyond the grocery store the Passat gets the call its power, comfort, joy to drive make it the clear winner.

deerlake7

Silvercrown, I was in a similar situation, except I was trading in my 2000 Passat for a 2002 model. When I read that the 2002 Camry was suppose to be tuned toward a more aggressive driving dynamic I thought I could get the fun of the Passat with "legendary Toyota quality." Unfortunately, when I drove the 2002 Camry, I found it to be a "nice" car, but still blah. In addition, it looks too much like the Avalon (which I don't like) and the interior style was less than aesthetically pleasing. Also, the little things in the Passat are so much better. Real wood versus petrowood, dual note horns versus a single "beep beep" and a real strut to hold up the hood. What's more, the main reason I decided to trade my 2000 Passat was the terrific resale. I compared the trade in values from three different sources between my 2000 GLS V6, with cloth interior to a 2000 Camry XLE V6 with leather and then redid it comparing the 1999 versions. In both cases, even though the Camry had a higher new cost, the Passat's resale was $1500 to $2000 greater. Someone must think Passats are going to hold up. I also have a 2001 Toyota Highlander and the only thing I like better in that is its 220 HP, 3.0 vvti V6. It's sweet. Unfortunately, it's not available in the Camry. In terms of my 2000 Passat, in two years and 34000 miles, I had ZERO problems. Before that I had a 1998 Avalon that had to have the drivers seat repaired twice to fix the lumbar support, the door gaskets had to be replaced because of leaks, the left front end creaked and the transmission started whining. If I was going to keep a car for 10 years, I'd probably get a Honda, but for what I'm looking for, the Passat is tough to beat. I also considered an Acura TL, but other than being faster, it's not much different in driving than my daughter's Accord, plus it doesn't have the safety features of the Passat and it's crash test ratings are not as good either.

Slummyj, in an earlier post you mentioned the lousy Minneapolis area dealers. I live on the east side of the river and I've dealt with two dealers and both have been terrific. I bought my first one from Ralph Petersen at Clements Auto in Mankato (1-800-225-9754). Ralph's the sales manager and it was a straight $500 over invoice and no haggling. Ralph's a great guy who will work had for you. It was the best sales experience I've ever had. Because he could not get the car I wanted until November, I bought my 2002 from Countryside in Maplewood. Vicki, the salesperson was excellent, but it seems, at least in our Metro area, sales management at most dealers have little, or no trust in their sales staff. That slows things down a bit, but overall it was a good experience. I've also found their service to be excellent and they really seem to try to bend over backward to satisfy me. That's a tough order as I'm so picky that it's easy for me to drive a dealer crazy. Give either one a try when you're ready to trade your GLX. As a side note, the 2002 is great. The subtle changes VW made versus the 2000 make for even a more enjoyable driving experience. Although the 4 cylinder with a stick is probably fun to toss around, I think the V6 is great. Before buying mine I drove an Audi A6 and the V6 Passat is awfully close in it's driving experience.

silvercrown

Many thanks to everyone who responded to my post. Both the encouragement as well as the "buyer beware" warnings are appreciated. If I decide to take the "Passat plunge" next year, I definitely will research the dealers and service departments (if I can) before purchase. I can see that these two factors, in addition to the car itself, can make or break the whole experience. I live in the Detroit, Michigan area so if anyone has any recommended dealers to seek out (or avoid) please let me know. There aren't that many VW dealers in SE Michigan, definitely fewer than Toyota. And with this being the home of the Big 3, well, you can imagine the rest. I'm already considered to be a traitor by buying Japanese but oh well, part of what makes America great is freedom of choice. And I plan to buy the best car that I can afford for my money based on my research and not just on blind loyalty.

I plan to lease, so if I'm unlucky enough to get a problematic vehicle, I can cut my losses in due time. Of course, I hope that won't happen. I think that anytime you make a major purchase, especially a car, there's always some risk involved. Even the best makes have "lemons" and there's no guarantee that you won't get one when you buy, even with a Camry. There are people out there with trouble free Passats and problem Camrys. It's just like anything else.

Like most people, of course I want to hedge my bets by choosing wisely. I've been very lucky with my vehicles, I haven't had any major problems with any of the new cars that I've purchased. Hopefully, this trend will continue whether I buy a 2002 Passat or the 2002 Camry. I do realize that one tradeoff could be more minor annoyances with a Passat than I'm accustomed to with my Camry. But if I really like the car and feel good driving it, it would be worth it. And if I'm happier and safer in a Passat, then perhaps it's worth the risk. I'm still mulling this over. Thanks for the feedback. Keep it coming!

SilverCrown

birdboy1

I Would like to thank everyone for their support and direction while trying to decide between passat, 2002 altima, or camry. I am a proud 50 year old owner of a 2002 Passat GLS with leather. I feel like a kid driving this beautifuly designed car. I am overwhelmed with the tiptronic trans and love driving it in manual without the clutch pedal, what a treat. In my opinion, the auto write ups were correct, the 1.8 turbo is like a little rocket.

Would also like to thank you for steering me to logjam electronics, for $245.00 , I was able to order a panasonic changer with the correct interface for the monsoon. It is literally, plug and play. I prefer a changer in the trunk, as manually changing disks is quite a chore while driving, not to mention unsafe.

Anyhow in closing, did everyone find the little pocket shelf under the steering wheel to store the thick owners manual? If I could be of help to any potential buyers, drop me an E !

stgreen

Looking at either GLX or GLX 4Motion.
Question: Does having the 4Motion in the sedan prevent you from folding seats flat???

that is a key factor in choosing one or the other. Also, does anyone have experience with the NON 4Motion during a new england winter??

thanks in advance.
stg

pkradd

I don't have a 4motion Passat, just standard one, but other posters have said that the seats do not fold down.

steveiowa

After months of research and test driving, my wife and I finally found our car! It's a 2001 Passat GLX with 4Motion (NOT the 2001.5). It had never been titled and the wife of the owner of the dealership had put 7,000 miles on it. We paid $27K for it and bought the 10 year, 100K extended warranty.
I am NOT a car junkie...no way no how but we love this car! My wife loves it and my motto is "when she's happy, I'm happy."

jace1

I have a 99 1.8T 5 speed and have driven it through two Maine winters. I run 4 Nokia NRW's, an H rated performance winter tire that have been excellent in the snow. I believe they out-corner the stock MXV4's in the dry which admittedly is no big accomplishent. I am a convert to the Euro method of running dedicated winter and summer performance tires, thereby avoiding the compromises of all season tires.

I was able to buy 4 new OEM steel rims from tirerack.com for 100.00 plus 25.00 for shipping.

I am planning to replace the stock Michs with 205/60/15 V rated summer tires. Has anyone done this on the stock steel wheels. I think the roads up here, even for non-winter use, are rough on alloys.

Jace

silvercrown

stgreen brought up a question which I also share about the 4Motion. I did read that cars with 4Motion only had the pass-through and not the fold down seating (thanks, pkradd). But I also recall reading somewhere that the trunk space is smaller as well (14 cu ft instead of the usual 15 cu ft). I could be mistaken. Does anyone know whether or not this is the case? Do the 4Motion cars lose some trunk space as well as the fold down seating?

I live in SE Michigan where the winters can sometimes be pretty bad, but sometimes rather mild (depends on the day). Sorry, a little Michigander humor, but we do see extremes and you never know what to expect. No snow or more than a foot of snow in a single weekend. Given this situation, is the 4Motion option worthwhile for someone in this climate? Or would the non-4Motion (with the ASR traction control and FWD) work pretty well? If I were to purchase a Passat, I would be interested in the GLX, but would need to decide if it's worth the extra $$$ for the 4Motion. What's the buzz on this?

I am also wondering what price range the monthly lease payments would be for the GLX. I know this depends on many different factors, but I am curious to get some sense of what my payments might be if I lease a GLX. Any info on this is greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

SilverCrown

vwguild

If space is a primary issue; let me recommend the Variant, for it
will give you the 60/40 Split seat option, as well as plenty of room
for lots of stuff. It is available in both the GLX & GLS trim levels, and the
handling and performance are the same as the sedan...There are a couple
of 12V PowerPorts back there as well for an *Iceless* fridge or a laptop,
or phone...

For *rule of thumb* lease numbers...I think Edmund's has a link to do
that, as does www.vw.com...Just remember that Tax is computed by where
you live; so that will probably not be included, nor is your State DMV registration
Fees...

steveiowa

I apologize if this has already been addressed. The sun visors in my GLX are itty bitty...don't cover more than about half the side window when they're swung over to block the sun. Is there some remedy for this? Thanks in advance

pkradd

The driver side one does slide out a bit when you place it against the side window but that will leave some area not covered. I suppose you can buy an aftermarket item like one of those orange colored transparent clip-ons. Or perhaps a big floppy hat?

bocata

I am deciding on colors on a GLX w/ stick. I like the looks of M. Beige/Beige Leather, but will stay away from it because of 2 soccer-playing girls with cleats, etc. Of the GLX's my dealer found, I like the M. Beige/Black Leather and Blue Anthracite/Gray Leather combos. How does the gray leather and esp. gray carpet show dirt? Also, does black leather not have the lint problem of black velour?

Thanks for any help. I would also like hearing about $$ over invoice and if anyone has gotten a factory CD in the NJ (or tri-state) area.

silvercrown

Thanks vwguild. I'll check that out.

credit1

anybody have any experience of both? any preference? thx

vwguild

Black will be the most *forgiving* interior color...In addition, you
can check out www.mats.com for a great upgrade...

jrct9454

...when was the last time the wagon was badged "Variant"? Some time in the 70s? My recollection was the 411/412 [lord help us...], but maybe my recollection is as foggy as the summer in MRY...

silvercrown

Here's another question concerning colors. This may sound strange, but my black 99 Camry Solara (which was stolen 6 months after I got it, friggin' thieves!) had a very fragile paint finish in my opinion. Being a black car (my first), it was of course, nearly impossible to keep clean. However, within the 6 months that I had it, I could see fine scratches on it even though I was careful about it being hand washed and not dried with towels that can leave scratches. It was also beginning to lose some of its luster to me. The paint job quickly began to look older than the car and I was truly unhappy with it. I attributed this to it being black, and when I had to replace it, I bought a silver Camry sedan instead. I like the silver color because my car looks clean even when it's not, but everyone has silver these days. I also told myself, never again would I buy a black car no matter how cool it may look when it's clean. I also figured that any dark color would apply to this "rule" as well.

However, when looking at the new Passat, this seems to be a car that looks its best in darker colors, especially with the chrome trim. At least the pictures do it more justice in the darker colors. If I were to get a Passat, I would probably interested in the Indigo Blue or the Pine Green colors. The green seems to be a good compromise and it looks like a nice color for the car. I hardly ever hear anyone mention the Pine Green as a potential color, though, so maybe it doesn't look as impressive in actuality. The blue colors may be too dark (too much like black), but I'm not sure that I would want to get another silver car. Perhaps the Blue Silver, but again, I haven't seen this color on an actual Passat yet. Any thoughts out there?

I guess what I'm also wondering is how the paint finish of the Passat behaves over time. I'm thinking that my bad paint experience with my Solara was due to some defect in the paint used on my car or maybe it's a Toyota thing with the color black. What are some good recommended colors for someone like me (given my comments)? I'd like a nice color that does justice to the car (a rather subjective area, I know) but that is also not a bear to keep it looking good without washing it every day. Right now, I'm considering Pine Green, Indigo Blue (or maybe Ink Blue, I'm not sure of the difference between them) or perhaps Blue Silver. Any and all opinions are welcome.

Many thanks.

SilverCrown

markjenn

My opinion is that there are no dark finishes that hold up unless you spend inordinate amounts of time carefully washing and polishing. The darker the color, the worse it is. Certainly a dark blue or green is better than black, but if you want a finish that will look good long-term and not require a lot of maintenance, you need to go as light as you tastes can stand. I also think that a dark finish weathers much more easily due to the high temps it endures while sitting in the sun. The cabin is much harder to cool as well.

As you note, you really have to be ultra careful about how you wash and polish a dark color too. I think all the extra maintenance eventually takes its toll on the clear coat, so by keeping it clean, you really are deteroriating the finish more quickly. I have a 4-year-old silver Lexus that gets a wash about every three months and it looks absolutely brand new after every wash. It has never been waxed or polished.

Personally, washing a car every month or two is about all I care to do, and a month-since-washed silver or white car always looks so much better than a month-since-washed dark car, no matter how much you like the darker color. Add in the better resale of your better-looking and more popular silver car when you trade in a few years, and it becomes clear that you really have to like the black before it makes any sense.

The Passat comes in a blue silver which I find rather fetching - this gives you a hint of color and keeps you from looking like every other car on the road.

Good luck,

- Mark

jace1

My 99 GLS is windsor blue, which was available only that year and is a little deeper blue than indigo. It has not been easy to maintain, in part because the car lives in No. New England and partly because the paint on Passats seems soft and scratches easily. So if you are prepared to deal with visible scratches they look great in dark colors. I might go with one of the lighter shades though if appearance over the long term is a factor.

jace

silvercrown

Thank you for the feedback. So far the two of you have stated what I suspected to be true: if scratches and a clean appearance (most of the time) are important factors, then I'd probably be happier with the Blue Silver or the Reflex Silver than the green or dark blue colors. I admit that I have been spoiled by my silver Camry. There may be tons of them out there, but my car generally looks pretty clean, even when it truly needs a wash (like now).

Jace1, thanks for the feedback about soft paint on the Passat. I believe the same must hold true for the Camry (or at least the black Solara that I had).

Markjenn, I echo your sentiment about the Blue Silver color. It intrigued me because it looks just a bit different than the "run-of-the-mill" silver, but it would still have the same advantages. I can't wait to see it up close. I can see that I'll be making another trip (or more) to the dealership to check it out. Thanks for the other points as well. You gave me a lot to think about.

Any other opinions out there are still welcome!

Regards,
SilverCrown

klbell

I'm getting a '02, 4cyl, GLS, loaded and my State Farm rep. today quoted me $438 for a 6month policy ($73/mo.). Is this a good rate, if not, where can I shop for a better one?

jrct9454

Allowing for the gazillion variables that go into insurance quotes, that sounds pretty reasonable to me. But there are lots of sources online...do a Google search for car insurance, or go to Quotesmith.com, InsWeb, Geico, or...? You wind up having to spill out the same boring set of info multiple times to get multiple quotes, but such is the nature of the game...

mitchuks

I'm strongly considering a 2002 Passat GLS 1.8, but am hearing, from one person who's not prone to exaggeration, horror stories about outrageous maintenance costs on the Passat. I've seen all the posts here about VW vs. Toyota reliability, but can anyone give me hard numbers? Like, how much $$$ have people been spending on Passat maintenance at 25k, 50k, 75k miles, etc.? TIA,
- GM

pkradd

I recently purchased a 2001.5 Passat, so my first 4 oil changes will be free. That's good for the first 24,000. (I am currently at 4300). I received a letter reminding me of my upcoming service from VW which also offered a 25,000 or 30,000 service for $389. It also included a free one day rental loaner if needed on the offer. Of course one could always go to a good independent repair shop I guess. Most foreign made cars tend to have higher costs I believe.

car_nut1

VWGuild and others, I recently purchased some excellent, reasonably priced mats from autoseattle.com Great service and they have VW color codes. They also sent samples. Speaking of paint quality, it's one thing about VW's I could never complain about. The paint quality is far greater than either Camry or Accord. Many, many messages back, someone mentioned that the Passat has 27 coats, primer, paint, clearcoat. Is this true?

mulfomi

I purchased a 2001.5 Passat this summer and I live in Toledo, which isnt far from you. I looked at Thayer VW in Monroe MI and was not impressed. Small town dealer with unfriendly attitudes. I bought from Ed Schmidt in Perrysburg Ohio which is just south of Toledo. They were great and gave me a free 6 disk changer due to the grand opening of their new VW building. My salesmans name was Chad. Not pushy at all and I told him what I would pay over invoice and thats what I got. Good selection as well.

I also liked the blue silver alot. Wanted some color to accent the chrome trim which I like, but without having a car that was a pain to keep looking nice. They had one blue silver car but had black leather which I did not want. Ended up with the Mojave beige. I know that is not a flashy color, but it accents the chrome and the black trim at the bottom of the car and it is easy to keep clean.

I am up in Ann Arbor a couple times a month and their are alot of VWs there. Perhaps they have a good dealer. Not sure which side of Detroit you are on.

Good luck

georgek44

jrct9454 - you may be correct, the 412 may have been the last time the Variant label was used on cars sold in the United States. It has been used continuously in Europe for all the VW station wagons I can recall seeing.

silvercrown

Thanks for the input. I'm on the west side of Detroit, about 45 minutes from Ann Arbor and probably an hour or so from Toledo. For the right deal, I'd be willing to make either drive. I don't see many VWs here in the Detroit area and if I do, they are mostly Jettas, very few Passats. But I do see more of both in outlying suburban areas. It doesn't surprise me that there are a lot of VWs in Ann Arbor. It's totally different out there.

Sight unseen, I would be heavily leaning toward the blue silver if I decide to buy the car next year. I considered the darker colors for the same reasons you did, to offset the chrome and the style of the car seems more striking (in the pictures, at least) in the dark colors. However, I don't want to make a career of washing my car all the time or being frustrated at how it looks when I don't. Someone like me probably needs the blue silver or reflex silver color. I'll try to check out the Ann Arbor tip that you gave me. I still have plenty of time. Thanks so much!

SilverCrown

torid110

Yes it can be ordered. Go to clubb5.com and vwvortex.com for more info about it.

ryoon

Help!

I'm sorry if this has already been discussed....but can someone givr me a run-down on the differences?

Thanks

highrise_condo

After 6 months of ownership and 21 service visits I’m getting rid of my 2001.5 Passat GLX. This is my first and last VW. I’ve kept previous cars 8 to 12 years, but poor quality, service, and customer service have totally soured me on VW. When I pay nearly $32K (GLX, CD, TTL, Masterguard warranty) in cash, I expect to get what I’ve paid for. In this case I didn’t.

Although it may be a trivial issue to some, the fact that I cannot enjoy the radio is a big deal to me. My car loses reception every few seconds. A new radio and antenna have not corrected the problem. I want to listen to the radio; listening to CD’s is an alternative, not a solution. VW of America has been useless in resolving the problem. During one phone conversation with VWoA I was told that I should have tested the radio reception before buying the car and that it’s my problem now.

VWoA states that my radio reception is “within specs.” If this is so, it makes me wonder how many other components have such vast tolerances of acceptance.

The frequent presence of loaner cars or no car in my parking space at work has certainly been non-verbal negative publicity for VW among the 1100 people at my workplace. There’s even more negative publicity when passengers ask about the flickering reception and my response is “VW cannot fix it and says it’s within specs.” Does VW not even think about this sort of indirect publicity?

If VW expects to be successful in a more high-end market, they must improve quality and service. Perhaps they need to examine their parts suppliers more carefully.

“Never” and “always” are strong words that I rarely use. However, I can honestly say that I will never buy another VW product and that I will always dissuade others from doing so.

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my 2002 Mercedes Benz C240. I examined every detail of the car I test drove and will do the same for the one that I’ve ordered before I write out the check.

VWGUILD, I have always found your posts interesting, informative, and on the level. I admire your company loyalty and hope that your dealership appreciates you.

For anyone at VWoA, my case number is 10232412. If you want to call me and discuss my truly disappointing VW experience I’ll be glad to talk with you.

silvercrown

I have read some previous posts about the option to purchase an aftermarket Panasonic trunk-mounted CD changer that can work with the Monsoon system in the Passat. The model that is mentioned generally holds 6 CDs. Is that the largest model that will work with the system? Or just the largest that will fit in the compartment designed for the trunk CD changer? I would be interested in a 10- or 12-CD changer more than a 6. The changer I have now holds 10 and any future changers that I get, I would prefer that they hold at least that many. Is it possible to install a 10 or 12 disc changer in the trunk of the Passat?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
SilverCrown

silvercrown

I am interested in finding out more info on the Drivers Option and the College Graduate program.

Are your payments under Drivers Option more than under a traditional lease? I imagine that one would have to pay a little more for the privilege of having the car title & registration in your name. Also, wouldn't you have the same 3 options with a "regular" lease? What are the other advantages of the Drivers Option? The description on vw.com is very brief.

As for the College Graduate program, is there a discount or rebate from the price? If so, what is the range? Or do you just save on the initial payout for the car? Does this program apply to new grads from graduate school as well as undergrad? Again vw.com has a very brief blurb on the program and it doesn't appear that VW HQ has any brochures on these programs that they can send you. I hesitate to ask a dealer because I'm not ready to buy now and I haven't made up my mind for sure yet. Any and all feedback on these questions is welcome.

BTW, vwguild, I tried to find the money factor and residual info on vw.com and could not access it. However, I did get the info from the FWI site here on Edmunds from Car_Man, who is very knowledgeable about these numbers for different manufacturers and about leasing in general. It's a great source of information.

Many thanks to everyone in advance.

Regards,
SilverCrown

pkradd

Silvercrown. I believe that the display on a Monsoon system is set up only show 6 CD's. If you buy an 8 or 10 CD changer (and they are larger and may not fit into the shelf) you will not be able to display CD's 7 and above but may still be able to play them.

silvercrown

Thanks for the explanation, pkradd. I don't know enough about the Monsoon system to know how it all works. I didn't realize that it displayed the CDs in the changer. I'll have to check that out when I go back to the dealer for another test drive. I guess as long as I can play all 10, it's okay if they don't display. It would be a bummer if the unit didn't fit in that nifty trunk compartment though ....

Food for thought on a relatively small detail. (smile) Thanks again!

SilverCrown

blueguydotcom

Yeah you can hook them up, but you can not cycle to them instantly using the factory head unit. I had some bozo try to convince me to buy an 8 disc player. I mentioned I wouldn't be able to get to the 7th and 8th disc. He smiled and told me with all seriousness that he keeps a CD-R in slot 6 that has 1 5 second track and then he can listen to discs 7 and 8. Brilliant idea, save for the fact he's got a 7 disc player. Is it worth the trouble?

steveiowa

Just tonight I received the Panasonic CX-DP610EUC six CD changer I ordered on Saturday for $199.95 from Logjam Electronics. I had to get a harness to adapt it to the Passat plug, which cost me another $30 (it's available from Logjam too). Shipping was free.

This changer fits exactly into the slot in the trunk. For $15 I got the brackets and 8 screws from the VW dealer to bolt it in but the brackets that came with the unit probably could have worked.

Whoever said it only takes 5 minutes to install lied. It took me 7 minutes...but I spent part of that unhooking the negative terminal on the car battery. Plus I am old.

So, total cost to me was about $240. The VW parts guy wanted $400. I didn't bother to deal, since I knew how much the Panasonic would cost. So now I have $160 to spend on CDs.

In the Monsoon HU, there are six buttons you program for radio stations. Those are the buttons you use to select the CDs, which is why a six-disk changer works best.

But man oh man...it sounds sweeeeeeeeet. I can't wait to toss my Lawrence Welk disks in there, punch the cruise control on 50 and head out for a root beer!

birdboy1

With all the horrific events going on here in nyc, I was able to look to something sweet to ease my mind momentarily. Panasonic 6cd changer arrived today with the interface. Total cost as mentioned $245.00. It literally was plug and play into the 2002 Passat. It also sounds great and works with the monsoon. OOps, however, I did not disconnect the car battery and all was ok. Thanks to everyone who led me to Logjam electronics.com. Any questions ?

minilink

Hi all, Finally I have decided on my new car. a Passat GLS 1.8 T, test drove it and fell in love. Wonderful handling grrrrrreat amount of power (why would you want V6?) Its a pretty amazing package that little 1.8T, fassst and quick. The dealer was good too, didn't had to struggle much about the price gave me a deal I couldn't refuse.
Now am just waiting for them to deliver the car.. :-( Oh by the way I took the Indigo Blue and Beige leather interior.. was kinda sceptic in going for a dark color, but honestly believe ya'can't do justice to the chrome without a dark color.. maybe Ill spend my life cleaning the car, but, aaah what but. Its a great color.
Now that I am officially (or not yet?) in the club.. Passaters any suggestions how to live with my Passat? Oh by the way, dealer also agreed to put in CD player for me (FREE!) as VW gave him credit for 2002 without CD players (new ones are being rolled out without it)... ciao all ... will keep you all posted on further developments..

silvercrown

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about the pros/cons/differences between the 4 cylinder 1.8T engine and the V6 engine. My last 3 cars have had V6 engines, so I think I would prefer to stick with that engine since I'm used to the additional power and smoothness. However, I've read some really positive posts about the power of the turbo. I know nothing about the whole turbo concept and I guess that makes me nervous about getting a car with a turbo engine. It seems to me like it would require more careful treatment or "babying" than a V6. This may not true, but this is why I'm asking the forum for more info.

If I decide to get the Passat next year, I have my heart set on the GLX. The amount of features it offers is simply awesome. It's a luxury car without a "luxury nameplate." However, pricewise, it may be just out of my league, leaving me with the options to get either the GLS V6 or 1.8T. I would still be leaning toward the V6, but I don't want to overlook the turbo, due to lack of knowledge, if it may be a good alternative for me (and with a lower price). All thoughts and comments are welcome, please! Especially from those who have driven both. I've only driven the GLX with 4Motion on a very brief test drive. I plan to do another, longer test drive with a V6 w/o 4Mo and perhaps with the turbo as well so I can see for myself. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
SilverCrown

merckx

I couldn't stand all the wood inside with the 6,so I rejected it immediately.
With the manual trans,the 4 is very peppy-a lot of fun to drive.Off the line,it is ever so lacking "oomph",but above 10-15 mph it is very satisfying.
I did have a few concerns about the turbo,but I went with it.It gives the car a lighter, "spritely" feel.The 4 feels more nimble.
A turbo needs clean oil,and the 5000 mile interval should be adhered to.Some also feel it is quite heat sensative,and even suggest a cool-down timer for after shut down cooling.I think this is overkill,Some caution about really flogging it all the way to the driveway with no cool down,but should one terrorize their neighborhood anyway?
In short,the turbo Passat is a stout car.I wouldn't worry.

silvercrown

Thanks for the info, although I have a couple of questions. When you say off the line, it lacks "oomph", are you referring to the "turbo lag" that I have read about? Does this mean that the car is slower on takeoff, but then blasts off enough to make up for it later?

I am religious about changing my oil regularly, I actually change it more often than Toyota recommends it for my Camry. I have it changed every 3 months/3,000 miles (which works out the same for me, I don't drive a whole lot). But most of my driving is city driving, which is tougher on the car.

I guess I'm really extra careful because I have had some bad experiences with 4-cylinder engines in the past. Part of it was my fault because I wasn't as diligent with oil changes and maintenance as I should have been (but I learned my lesson, so I am a stickler about it now). Part of it was the condition that the cars were in when I bought them used. At any rate, it left me with the impression that 4 cylinder engines were more fragile and more likely to break down than 6 cylinder engines. Throwing the unknown turbo factor in there just made me even more nervous, which is why I never even considered it until recently.

Another question is about the cool-down time that you mentioned. What exactly does that mean? Are you supposed to let the car cool down before shutting off the engine with a turbo? If so, how long are you supposed to wait?

I'm sure that the turbo is probably a safer bet than I think. It does have higher reliability ratings in CR than the V6 and I've heard lots of positive feedback about it. I guess I would want to better understand how it works and how it is different from the V6 in order to be more comfortable in considering it. Is it the exact same engine as the Audi A4 1.8T?

P.S. - I like the wood trim in the Passat. It has a classy, elegant look that gives the car a luxury feel. And at least it's real wood, not "faux wood" that is plastic painted to look like wood that so many other cars use. So personally, this would not bother me in the V6. Just an aside. I guess it's a personal preference type of thing. (smile)

Thanks so much for your input. Keep it coming!

Regards,
SilverCrown

steveiowa

I drove both and finally bought a GLX with the V6...but mainly because I wanted 4Motion and it only comes with the V6. I was very very impressed with the turbo when I test drove it. I don't know that there's a huge amount of difference in acceleration (especially with the 4Motion, which adds significant weight -- over 300 pounds -- to the car.

The V6 is a little quieter at highway speeds but I probably wouldn't make my decision based on that. The turbo fuel mileage is better.

My V6 is a very slight hesitation when I punch it from a dead stop. It more than makes up for it as it gets into second and up.

I suppose the decision sorta comes down to fuel economy vs. engine noise. I commute about 300 miles a week and our winters are pretty crummy sometimes, so I was willing to trade the $ for the AWD and the luxury of the GLX. The base GLS is as much fun to drive as the GLX.

By the way, compared to the Camry (I own one of them as well) the Passat is FAST with either engine.

silvercrown

Thanks for your input, steveiowa. It is especially helpful that you also have a Camry and can make some direct comparisons between the two as well.

I also love the GLX and all the luxury features, but it may be a little bit out of my league pricewise. Hence the consideration of the GLS V6 and the 1.8 turbo as alternatives.

The quiet of the V6 is appealing because my V6 Camry is super quiet and I like that. Plus, I'm used to it now. Is the difference in fuel mileage with the turbo that much better? The numbers show a relatively small difference, but I guess that could add up over time, especially the way gas prices are going and the need for premium fuel in the Passat.

I was surprised to read that your V6 also has some sort of "lag" at takeoff. Maybe it's a "Passat thing" and not just a "turbo thing"? Perhaps, it's just a small item in the whole scheme of things. I definitely need another test drive so I can see for myself. I may not even notice a difference.

One comment you made did puzzle me. How can the Passat be faster than the Camry, when the V6 Camry has slightly higher HP and torque? I think it's also a bit lighter in weight as well. If the Passat feels quicker, then that's great because I have been very satisfied with the speed and acceleration of my V6 Camry. I've surprised quite a few people by passing them so easily, even when they try to catch up. I can leave them in the dust when I want to (when I'm in a mischievious mood). That's only up to a point, it depends on the other car, of course. But it feels good to be able to do that when I really need to. If the Passat can top that, then sign me up!

Thanks again for your input.

Regards,
SilverCrown

steveiowa

My Camry is a four cylinder. That explains the difference.

silvercrown

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up.

It sounds like the 1.8T may be a very viable option for potential buyers who are not looking to include 4Motion on the car (like me). With driveability being the same, the main difference would be more noise yet better fuel economy with the turbo than the V6. And more lag on takeoffs (less torque also) with the turbo. I guess it depends on what's most important to you and what you're willing to pay for it. Definitely something to think about ....

Thanks again.
SilverCrown