Volkswagen Passat 2005 and earlier

18687899192162

Comments

  • bjbird2bjbird2 Member Posts: 647
    The RX300 is nothing but a jacked up Camry with a high price tag. It's a sedan styled to look like a truck.
  • bjbird2bjbird2 Member Posts: 647
    Interesting, the VW website lists the following
    0-60mph speeds;

    1.8T 170hp Manual 7.9 Automatic 8.8

    1.8T 180hp Manual 7.7 Automatic 8.9

    2.8 V6 4-motion Manual N/A Automatic 8.4

    2.8 V6 Manual 7.5 Automatic 8.4

    Not a big difference, but there is a big difference in the gas mileage between the 1.8 and 2.8.
  • nike8nike8 Member Posts: 8
    I have a 2002 pass at gls 1.8t auto. I am interested in changing my head lamps to high intensity lamps. Any information would be appreciated.The VW dealer wants a $1000 each like
    the ones on the W8.I also had the dealer remove a
    relay which disconnects the daytime running lights.
  • clscflmclscflm Member Posts: 71
    Faraday -- congrats on your GLS; I'm also in SoCal and want a 5-spd which is on order because they just seem so hard to get here. Enjoy your new one; I can't wait to get mine (although I must). I wonder what the most difficult Passat combo is to find and where... Here it just seems 5-spd and color. Cheers, ClscFlm
  • pnokelaipnokelai Member Posts: 2
    I just test-drove 1.8T 2003 Passat with Tiptronic. Nice car but I got a big question: where are those 170 hp? I could not believe how serious the lag was. So I'd like to ask is there some sort of program that is being adjusted according to a driver like Volvo's automatic transmission does? Should I just learn to do kick down in right way? Actually, can you easily start off up hill like in San Francisco with that kind of "low power" car or are you in trouble?
    I don't want to do any chipping so I am wondering if it is right car for me. (No, I am not going to buy V6)
  • vwguildvwguild Member Posts: 1,620
    If you want to drag; just use the Tip in Manual...Put your foot into it, and develop a quick wrist...

    Just make sure there is no one in front of you...
  • trlykatrlyka Member Posts: 82
    Just curious......Who has a V6 auto and what MPG do you get? I have a '99 Passat GLS V6 auto and on a good tank (easy driving), I can get 310-330 miles. I usually buy 93 octane. Also, has anyone ever changed their own spark plugs and wires on the 6cyl? I've done it on a few different American cars, but never a German car. Is it difficult and or time consuming? I want to try and save some money and I know a job like new plugs and wires is more time then material. With mechanics getting $70 an hour, I want to do it myself if I can.

    Thanks
  • outrunoutrun Member Posts: 539
    Try driving the 5 speed manual with the 1.8T. It's very responsive, and I really can't believe that there's "only" 170hp in there. Feels like also 200hp at times.

    The Passat is a heavy car. And it performs very well with the 1.8T (and 5 speed manual).

    -Craig
  • outrunoutrun Member Posts: 539
    Also get the Tip Chip from GIAC. Much quicker, crisper shifts (or so I've heard).

    -Craig
  • outrunoutrun Member Posts: 539
    The RX300 is based on the ES300, which itself is based on the Camry.

    For my wife, that is perfect. She wanted (not necessarily in this order):
    1. Raised ride height (to see better)
    2. AWD
    3. Luxury
    4. Reliability
    5. Car-like ride
    6. Safety

    So there you have it. She loves her RX, and totes around our two kids (2 year old, and 7 month old) with ease.

    For me? It's too soft and plushy. I love my Passat which, by the way, she doesn't like. She likes the Accord better.

    -Craig
  • outrunoutrun Member Posts: 539
    If you're looking for HIDs for your Passat, check out these two sites:

    clubb5.com
    vwvortex.com

    Many people there have purchased and installed them. They'll be able to help you out.

    -Craig
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    Rhys Millen has piloted a RX300 in a rally to victory...it was something like the Las Vegas rally or something. It was something like stock except for critical race mods (roll cage, etc..)

    And what is a Audi All-Road? A jacked up A4 wagon and someone forgetting to paint the bumpers.
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    they'll tell you to check out http://www.autolamps-online.com
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I don't believe it takes the 180hp 1.8T 8.9 seconds to do 60mph, no way! I have not timed my car yet, but I am planning on it soon. I will post the numbers when I get them.

    I would personally get the 1.8T engine and chip it rather than getting a V6 in the Passat. The 6 uses too much gas (I averaged 19mpg on the loaner I had for a week), and feels flat when revved to me.
  • outrunoutrun Member Posts: 539
    Chipping will void your basic warranty pertaining to engine/transmission and anything associated to it, and then the powertrain warranty. If your dealership is mod-friendly, this may not apply.

    I plan on doing it myself (along with exhaust, upgraded brakes, etc), but not for a few years.

    -Craig
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    Passat times....looks like 5-speed Tiptronic in fully automatic mode. Time sounds right though.
  • philconardphilconard Member Posts: 3
    I'm in the market for a new car and really like everything about the Passat. I currently have a 2000 Honda Accord(boy is the 2003 ugly). I put a lot of miles on, as I commute approx 600 miles/week.

    The ownership of the Passat could get steep putting premium fuel in each time. Edmunds and VW sites state that premium is recommended.

    What happens if it is not used in the 1.8 Turbo?
    Loud knocking?
    Does gas milage get bad?

    Thanks ahead of time,

    Phil
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I use 89 octane in my 2002 Jetta 1.8T, which is pretty much the same engine as the Passat. I don't notice a difference between it and 93. With 87, however, I notice a good difference in mileage. So 89 should be ok, and it's only like $.10 more a gallon than regular is, usually.
  • altair4altair4 Member Posts: 1,469
    Phil,

    Let me preface this with, "I'm not trying to give you a hard time."

    But let's run the numbers...

    600 miles a week x 52 weeks = 31,200 miles/year (yeozaa!).

    Let's say premium costs $0.20 more a gallon and mid grade costs $0.10 more a gallon than 87 octane.

    Let's say you average 21 mpg, for the year, in the Passat.

    Premium would cost $297 more a year than regular, or $0.84 more per business day.

    Mid grade would cost $149 more a year than regular, or $0.60 per business day.

    So, for less than the cost of a cup of coffee at Mickey D's, you could give your car the fuel recommended by the engineers that designed the engine, as recommended in the owner's manual.

    Assuming that you are buying a new Passat, you are going to shell out something like $25,000 (or considerably more, if you are buying a GLX) for the car.

    I dunno, if the $0.84/per day is too much, maybe you really need to consider a different vehicle. But that's just my viewpoint.

    And it has probably never been used more accurately on this forum, but YMMV!
  • bjbird2bjbird2 Member Posts: 647
    My point with the jacked up Camry message was that the RX 300 doesn't do anything exceptionally well. It doesn't handle as well as a sport sedan or coupe, and its not a true offroad vehicle like the Jeep or Xterra. It's just a compromise vehicle that let's you sit above traffic in comfortable surroundings. I don't think the mileage is even very good.
  • feilofeilo Member Posts: 128
    I concur with altair4's analysis. Premium vs regular bugged me for a long time. Went thru similar exercise before I orderd my manual 1.8T Passat Variant (wagon). Reckon if I average in the high 20's on premium, I am probably no worse off than if I had a, say a 2.5L Legacy (what I considering) on regular. At times, you can get premium at only $0.15 delta over regular in my locality (Chicagoland).
  • altair4altair4 Member Posts: 1,469
    Actually, I made a mistake in my analysis...it should have read:

    Premium fuel costs $297 or $1.19 more per business day...

    This is based on 250 work days: 5 x 52 = 260 - 10 (means you don't get a vacation, but you do get ten holidays :-])

    The rest of the analysis stands as is. Still, the price difference is less than a good cup of coffee.

    This is not taking into account the apparent difference in mileage noted by some when running regular grade versus premium. So the difference may actually be less.
  • philconardphilconard Member Posts: 3
    Thanks for the input. I guess when you lay the numbers out in front of you, it does not appear to be as bad as it seems. Thanks for doing so.

    Phil
  • altair4altair4 Member Posts: 1,469
    No problem. Heh, heh, I had to go through the exercise with my wife to keep the Passat wagon in the running for our next car!

    In my view, fuel, oil and filters are cheap. but using the wrong product can really cost you in the long run. So I don't skimp on the cheap stuff.

    Here's an example...I do my own oil changes. People think I do it 'cause I'm frugal. That's only part of it. I use high quality filters and synthetic oil and I don't stretch out the changes much (4,500 to 5,000 miles, much of it highway). My overall cost is about the same, or maybe a little less, as what the quick-change places charge for regular oil and whatever filter they use. Cost-wise, I'm probably slightly ahead of the game. But the payoff is being under the car and spending a couple of minutes looking for leaks, checking the CV joints for tears, and seeing how the exhaust is holding up.

    PS: I remember when I used to do 30k a year, it was a killer. In my mind, the only truly non-renewal resource is "time."
  • plaaaaaneplaaaaane Member Posts: 32
    Yeah, maybe an RX300 can eventually go faster. But sporty is a feel, not a speed. Sporty is the Jetta TDI taking a cloverleaf at 65 without leaning where an RX would probably be rolling over on its fat butt. Sportiness is the Jetta accelerating from 80 to 95 going uphill on the Sunshine Skyway bridge with just a roll of the toes... kind of like easing in rudder on a Mooney 201.

    And yes, her RX could eventually beat my TDI. Given the advantage I have off the line, it would take the slug a few gears to catch up. And then theres that famous downshift in its attempt to do so... and the lurch while the RX300 body tries to catch up to the wheels.

    And the cockpit of the RX300 feels like driving a school bus. Maybe the Jetta TDI isnt the fastest.. probably could be beaten by a school bus eventually, just like by an RX300 eventually... although we both hope the infamous Toyota engine doesn't "gell up" as they put it, before it catches the TDI.

    Sportiness... my first new car at 19, a Brit racing green Fiat 850 Spider convertible was the look of sportiness. And the speed of a Beetle. But it felt good.

    Dave
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    if you don't change the oil, the soot in the oil will buildup and will thicken the oil and damage the engine.
  • arjay1arjay1 Member Posts: 172
    Can't we generally say that "if you don't change the oil" for any car there will be horrible results or does this only apply the the TDI?
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I would assume it applies to any car. One of my ex co-workers had a 1997 Camry 4-cyl she bought new. Didn't change the oil for 24K miles, and it eventually started leaking right out of the engine.
  • vwguildvwguild Member Posts: 1,620
    You are correct...Viscosity breaks down over time with all oils, but clean air filters AND clean oil are of particular importance with all
    diesel engines, Cummins, VW, doesn't matter...
  • meesrmeesr Member Posts: 20
    ....... I waited for 3 months on order for mine. Got it from Capistrano VW in South Orange County.

    Silverstone with black cloth interior. Those guys can find the cars. Check them out.
  • clscflmclscflm Member Posts: 71
    You wouldn't think so when it always appears that most of the Passat folks who post on these forums talk about their manual trannys... Aren't the stats like 15% of all Passats driven are stick? Guess automatic folks don't really care about driving or talking about it as much (!). Three months? Lord. I'm hoping I get mine *before* Christmas (2.5 months?)... I had to go through a NoCal dealer after getting shenanigans down here. Enjoy your driving meesr! ClscFlm
  • pikingpiking Member Posts: 3
    I was quoted today $23,516 for a 2003 Passat GLS 1.8 T automatic, with velour interior and monsoon sound. Is this a good price? Is the monsoon worth $300? Also they would do leather for another $1300. Is this worth it?
  • mulfomimulfomi Member Posts: 56
    Had my 2001.5 1.8t Passat in for service on Saturday and was mostly happy with everything. They had a new service person who was extremely friendly and that is always nice (of course she was a woman, as men are never extremely friendly). Anyways, the only complaint was that they forgot to rotate my tires. I have to take it back as my back passenger side window has a busted guide or something so when its all the way down it wont go back up. When the part comes in, I will have them rotate the tires. They did clean the black trim at the bottom of the car that had some kind of white paint like substance on it (thought it might be from road striping). I pointed it out to them and they got it off when I tried numerous products that would not take it off.

    Overall, another good experience at Ed Schmidt in Perrysburg Ohio. Very happy with the sales and service there.

    Now I have to start paying for my service as that was the last free service for me.

    Also, if you havent read "Getting the bugs out - The rise and fall and comback of VW in America" and you are a VW fan, you should. Its a good read.

    Lastly, I still LOVE my Passat!!
  • 8u6hfd8u6hfd Member Posts: 1,391
    Sludge happens (see the Toyota sludge threads)
  • scirocco22scirocco22 Member Posts: 721
    If or when you have the chance, could you drop by the Touareg forum for a second and set me straight on one of my recent posts. I was trying to act like I knew what I was talking about but have no idea if my information is factually straight or not. I was only going by what my Audi/VW salesperson was telling me a few weeks ago and he didn't seem like he knew too much.

    It has to do with VoA's plans for their dealership network pertaining to the distribuion of the Touareg (and Phaeton). I know it's a rehash of an old topic but maybe you could set a few of us straight again for I wasn't paying real close attention at the time it was being discussed and haven't had the time to go back and search for it.

    TIA

    --'rocco
  • clscflmclscflm Member Posts: 71
    Does anyone know if the ten day West coast port closures -- and the six to eight week period it will take to unload the backed up cargo -- has or will affect in-coming western area bound VWs? Just curious if any Passats out there floating around. ClscFlm
  • mliongmliong Member Posts: 231
    come in through the San Diego Ports (for Western Region)

    Some news organization said it may well take over ten weeks to clear up the backlog - but given the acrimonious negotiations between the Union Dock Workers and the Shipping companies, you can bet good money a work slowdown might drag it off even longer.

    This only applies to the Passat, which is made in Germany. All other cars (even the Jetta Wolfsburg edition, I beleive) are made in Puebla Mexico, which has it railed in through Texas.
  • kabadsvkabadsv Member Posts: 11
    The other day on the highway, the trip computer recorded a 33.2 mpg (an all time high) fuel consumption reading on my 2003 1.8T GL auto. Pretty good, I should say, for a car with less than a 1000 miles on it. The fuel consumption has improved over the last 200 miles or so. Initially, it was in the 28-30 mpg range on the highway. Within the city, I get around 20-25 mpg depending on the drive.
  • pkraddpkradd Member Posts: 358
    My 2001.5 1.8T GLS Tip. continued to have improved mileage well into the 2000 mile range. Now at 14,000 it has stabilized with about 22 MPG in the city (with air constantly on - I'm in South Florida) and around 30 on Highway. I use Premium 93 Octane.
  • clscflmclscflm Member Posts: 71
    ...back to the West Coast port closures -- and now (temporary) reopening -- apparently Nissan has 15,000 vehicles sitting off shore waiting to be unloaded, which will certainly mess up their October sales figures. And how many Passats are out there? Will this affect future VW shipments? Especially if all the ports close again in January. Ouch. ClscFlm
  • pkraddpkradd Member Posts: 358
    I don't think there are 15,000 Passats at any time in port. More like 4 to 5000. I'm sure vocus or somebody else in the know can respond.
  • mliongmliong Member Posts: 231
    that are shipped in. But, I'm sure that VW is probably forming up some contingency plans on re-routing some future shipments to the East coast ports.
  • pkraddpkradd Member Posts: 358
    I don't think there are 15,000 Passats at any time in port. More like 4 to 5000. I'm sure vocus or somebody else in the know can respond.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Sorry, no knowledge on this one. I have a couple of friends who are salesman, and will ask though. VWGuild should know though...
  • ajaymeajayme Member Posts: 74
    VW and Audi have a huge get ready facility down in Houston.
  • vwguildvwguild Member Posts: 1,620
    shipments never exceed 2000 units combined
  • clscflmclscflm Member Posts: 71
    I don't believe I said anything about 15,000 Passats. I mentioned that news reports had indicated that Nissan claimed that they had 15,000 vehicles waiting to be unloaded at West coast ports just re-opened. My concern is whether Passat deliveries to Western regions will be affected by the slow-down and possible post-holiday re-closure of all west coast ports. Houston is good news. Because, yes, I'm waiting for mine into San Diego, due all too uncomfortably close to the 80 day cut-off that is now apparently in effect. ClscFlm
  • preludexlpreludexl Member Posts: 33
    It's only been 2 years since VW ironed out the bugs in the passat and I'd certainly feel more at east with a longer warranty. So my question is what is a good warranty for the veedub....Honda sells Honda Care extended warranty through their dealers....what's the extended warranty dealer's sell you for the veedub called?
  • preludexlpreludexl Member Posts: 33
    Oh yes disregard the previous post..Warrantydirect and warranty gold arent what they are all cracked up to be according to what i've read so far.

    I was reading on some posts dating back to June. I'm a county health officer and inspect shops which includes automotive repair shops. Anyway, one day I inspected a Veedub shop called Wolf's...the guy is named Wolf and he was born and raised in Germany. Not to digress, just some background info, the man looks like Beethoven and speaks with a thick German accent still. Anyway, he was lamenting on what corporate VW did to his livelihood and passion (he rebuilds and sells customized Veedubs as well). Parts are no longer made in Germany but farmed out to Mexico, for every good part that he gets and places in a car, there are 10 bad parts he returns back to the factory (I'm sure he us exaggerating a little here...hopefully). He complained that he can't fix a customer's car as well as he wants because of faulty parts and poor build quaility from Mexico (I believe Passats have final assembly in Germany but some assembly done in Mexico? Or is it the other way around? Prelim assembly in Germany and final assembly in Mexico?). Anyway, the poor guy said he felt bad when customers would come back over and over again for the same problem, but there is nothing he can do about it. Add to that, he cant find any good mechanics anymore...high turnover rate, the best mechanics it turns out...are hispanic. Thought I share this info for the ones with problems in your VW's, FYI.
  • outrunoutrun Member Posts: 539
    I bought a Passat. If the Passat wasn't made in Germany, I'd be driving a Honda/Acura right now.

    -Craig
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