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It has quite mild climate but they do have Alps and winter lasts 12 months in higher parts, if I am not mistaken.
Wehrmacht was not ready for Russian winter in 1941.
Krzys
anyhow,Please tell me, does the 2.0t come with a VW umbrella in the holder or is it another option? Mine did not have one.
When cold air comes from east or north it might get really, really cold.
But it never lasts 6 months. Gulfstream works hard to heat Europe.
Krzys
they replied back saying everything is working fine according to specs.They don;t even admit that it is not heating quickly.The manual for this car says that the heating system won;t work properly till the temp reaches 200deg F.There should be something volkwagen can do about this.Has any one thought of sending written complaints or something?
Can anyone please tell me how the car handles in poor weather conditions and if it's worth getting the $-motion. I was told yesterday that you coldn't get the 4motion anymore and that the ESP was good enough?
However, I saw the 4Motion on the website still so..I'm confused.
Looked at another way, your Jetta, with the addition of a winter tire package from TireRack.com will allow your Jetta to out perform a stock FWD Passat, and even out perform the 4Motion (AWD) Passat in stopping and turning (the AWD will still allow that version of the Passat to out accelerate a winter tire equipped Jetta). FWIW, you can buy a set of Michelin 205/55 QR16 X-Ice tires mounted on a set of 16x6.5 TRMotorsports BR5 wheels from TireRack for $884 plus shipping.
Regarding your comment of "My 2000 Jetta just did not like the snow and as a team, we slid down hills.", I assume that you mean that you were decending the hills and had very little steering and braking control. If that is so, no AWD setup, regardless of whether it's from Subaru, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep or even VW is going to help you much without a proper set of tires.
FWIW, I've driven many VW products in the snow and ice, and as a general comment, they are some of the finest winter vehicles I've ever driven. Said another way, your Jetta is a good winter driving vehicle, it just needs better rubber.
Best Regards,
Shipo
It doesn't say the Passat has Bluetooth or Adaptive Cruise Control. It does say that the steering wheel has Tiptronic controls on packages for the 3.6 models.
I may nede to look into those tires. They told me that ESP would help BUT my car doesn't have that..I guess I bought it the year before it came out?
My problem with the hill was...we were going up the hill and the anti-lock brakes kicked in and locked up so...backwards sliding we went. I never took my foot off the gas, just slow even pressure but it still didn't work.
Someone told me to try the ASR button tnext time so I'll need to do that also.
I'm sorry for sounding like such a dolt, I just havenever dealt with snow and am SO clueless.I heard it was better to have a manua in the snow so I kept with it instead of buying an automatic. Well, that and hte fact that there are too many hills around here and I detest waiting for the gar to kick in when you are in an automatic car.
Regarding those tires that you recommended...are those good all tyear tires? The reason I ask is, we get snow about 1.5 months of the year, depeindg on the year..
Thanx again
kattykyt
Best Regards,
Shipo
First, the leather steering wheel is loudly annoying when I move my hands about it. I've never experienced such a 'wooshing' sound with any other wheel. I noticed it right away and I can't imagine ever getting used to it.
Second, the 'A'(?) pillar, the one next to the driver..seems to angle low as it tapers to the rear. I found visibility to be difficult because of it.
Third, the interior lighting scheme is among the best I've seen. The red glow from the overhead controls onto the shifter area is supreme. However, while driving, even when the lowest setting is dialed in...the abundance of lights seems distracting and again...annoying. You are surrounded by lights on three sides of you, that you can't really minimize much, and I felt that it affected your ability to concentrate on the road.
Any input or verification of these findings...or even solutions...would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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Not more prone to mechanical failure, eh bud?
Tell it to this poor 2006 2.0T buyer:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2361731
What a load of crap!
FWIW, you might want to watch your language, posts like yours are prone to being removed by the hosts.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I thinks heaters of all cars and of all models don't heat up until the car engine heats up. I have driven many, new and used cars, of different brands, and they all are the same. New car engines heat up faster than old ones, but at the end, the engine needs to heat up before the heater starts heating the interior.
Unless you're the poor individual who has experienced the failure, in which case the incidence of occurrence is 100%.
FWIW, you might want to watch your language, posts like yours are prone to being removed by the hosts.
If the posting does not dovetail with your rationale, remove it, right?
As I said earlier, a load of crap. The party line or else, right bub? The logic of more moving parts being more reliable is ridiculous.
0 degrees C is 32 degrees F.
Turbosupercharger technology was originally concieved around the time of World War One and has been actively developed ever since. As such this is not a new technology and has been refined to the point where the turbocharger itself should last the life of the engine, assuming proper care and maintenance. If I was to take your approach, then I would have to say that second gear syncros on all 5-Speed manual transmissions are unreliable simply because one of my nine cars with a 5-Speed suffered such a failure 2,000 miles after it came out of the factory.
As for there being more moving parts, hmmm, I beg to differ. If the option is a normally aspirated engine with six half liter cylinders (three liter engine) or a blown engine with four half liter cylinders (two liter engine) putting out the same power, I'd say that the smaller engine with the turbocharger has fewer moving parts.
As for your language, don't shoot the messenger. The rules of conduct are what they are, and our hosts have every right to remove posts that don't comply regardless of the accuracy (or lack thereof) of the content.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I don't believe the comment had anything to do with rationale (yours or anyone's.)
And, after reading shipo's posts for a long time, I am not certain at all that he was spouting any party line.
On the issue of Audi/VW turbo engines and reliability -- as if this will prove anything (it won't) -- I have had Audi (aka VW) turbo engines in 4, 5 & 6 cylinder varieties -- I have never had an issue even with the chipped 1.8T I had in 2000. In fact, I wish my 3.2FSI engine WAS turbo charged which would certainly pump its power up significantly.
And, I believe the 2.0FSI turbo engine does have fewer moving parts than the 6.
You can make your own definitions of profanities and you'll probably hit the nail on the head in almost all cases. "Crap", while not something that is particularly pleasant to read nor conducive to swaying anyone to your particular point of view, is not an offense worthy of a deletion.
Now we need to move on and if anyone has questions or comments about policies, they need to be addressed to me in email - pat AT edmunds.com.
Thank you so much!!
- Move the seat back; further than the pillar where the seat belt is.
- Keep the back fairly straight and get rid of the lumbar support.
- Pull the steering wheel all the way out (telescope) so it's not too far to reach while driving.
The other odd thing is the brake & gas pedal. They are way too far to the right! My right leg brushes the center console constantly. And why oh why would they make the brake pedal 3-4 inches further out than the gas pedal!? I have to move my foot back and then back on the gas to go... rather than rock my heel left and right. Annoying.
I have a 2.0T Lux package 1&2. I found that the V6 I test drove, this is not a problem with the totally multifunctional seats.
It sounds that your traction control kicked in and since there was almost no traction available you went backwards down the hill. Am I mistaken?
The problem is with tires not the car.
Krzys
The Passat doesn't hold a candle to the TL.
and I am given a quote of about 26000+
does this sound too much to ya?
It holds a torch to it.
Since not much is happening on this board I’ll deviate.
If you compare an automatic 3.6 Passat (no manly transmissions out yet) to the manual TL you can see CD stats (not like I think they’re the best just using them)
TL is about an inch longer (wheel base as well), an inch wider, and an inch lower and weighs a couple pounds more (the auto TL weighs 100lbs more). They are both kind of nose heavy 59.8% for the TL (probably more with the auto) 58.5% for the Passat.
5-60 mph
TL = 6.3
Passat = 6.3
As of the last test they both have a 0-60 of 5.9, but that measurement is better suited when both are equipped with a manual (and a good probability of the Passat getting quicker results than 5.9).
Quarter mile
TL = 14.4 @ 99
Passat = 14.3 @ 101
300-ft-dia skid pad
TL = 0.81g
Passat = 0.86g
Braking 70-0
TL = 189 ft
Passat = 180 ft
Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Observed
TL = 19/28/20
Passat = 19/28/20
HP @rpm
TL = 258 @ 6200
Passat = 280@ 6200
Torque @ rpm
TL = 233 @ 5000
Passat = 265 @ 2750 ** big one here
Crash Tests
TL = Good
Passat = Good (Top Safety Pick)
Interior sound: Idle/WOT/70-mph cruising
TL = 40/73/70
Passat = 41/74/68
In addition to all the stats the Passat looks better too; plus all that low end torque compared to the TL’s results in a more enjoyable ride.
Exterior:
Interior:
Let us know how it goes.
I had a 2004 Passat, and was having it serviced (oil change) at the VW dealership. The dealer informed me that a new V6 2006 Passat came in, with the sport pkg. 2.
I test drove the car, and had to have it. It is the best car I have ever owned.
I did have a TL pull up next to me last week, but I was not interested in racing. I also enjoy having a car you don't see often. I did drive to Southern California and got 29 mpg, averaging 75-80 miles an hour, not bad.
Jick
I was getting the oil changed in my 2004.5 Passat yesterday and was just walking thru the lot looking at the new Passat's. A salesman comes up to me and asks me my name. I immediately tell him I am getting my car serviced and am just wasting time. He asks if I am interested in a new Passat and I tell him I have about 2 more years on my lease and he says this is the perfect time to get out of the lease.
He said I am at a break even point to get out of the lease. I kept telling him I wasn't interested and I finally had to walk away.
Did you get a good deal or did you want the new Passat no matter what?
I’ve only had my current vehicle for7 months and was walking through a dealer lot waiting for my service temptation – yes I’m weak. :shades:
I got 24K for my trade in (2004 Passat wagon GLX V6).
I then paid 34K for the new Passat. The only idem's I did not get on the new Passat is Nav. and 18" rim' s. I love the seats which come with the Sport Pkg. II.
One other idem, no one is talking about the "S" drive on the transmission. "S" for sport, boy does this car get-up and go!
This car is like day & night.
Silver is a great color!
With respect to the former, the TL is the clear winner by thousands of dollars comparing similarly equipped cars.
As regards reliability, what really is there to say? VW is on the bottom, the Japanese manufacturers including Acura are at the top:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1400331,00.html
And as for safety ratings, the TL actually significantly outranks the new Passat when the two are analyzed for safety beyond the usual cursory comparison:
http://www.informedforlife.org/
Look under "2006 Vehicle Scores" and click on:
"Listing of 2006 Vehicles in RISK Order"
The TL is ranked higher with 62 points compared to the Passat's 78. Notice further that the TL is in the "lowest risk category" while the Passat is not.
32-35K for a FWD vehicle are within a couple percent of each other.
Obviously the Passat should cost a little more since it is the superior vehicle.
Hard to tell reliability on a brand new vehicle with brand new engine; CR shows the “previous” Passat with a black dot for electrical and a black dot (up to 03) for the TL transmission. In that case I’ll take the burnt out tail light over the dropped transmission.
Personally I have had better reliability of my pervious German cars than I had with my Honda’s btw I have two Japanese cars now
The article did not say that the German vehicles were getting LESS reliable, it said the Japanese were getting more reliable; which I do no subscribe to based on personal experience from my self and all of the people I know. Plus that article was written in November 2004 (does not include the new Passat) and just because the new MB S class had reliability problems does not mean the “new” Passat will.
Crash test I’ll just go by IIHS.
The “article” you linked to is created by “a Connecticut nonprofit organization” which I read as “some guy making stuff up in his basement”; it also makes many assumptions.
Adding in fatality numbers doesn’t really reflect a vehicle’s safety imo. A Camero may have more deaths, but that does not mean the vehicle is less safe. It may just mean a different demographic let’s say young college frat guys are driving versus the geriatric Acura club (ok that was a shot, I supposed the geriatric club would have just as bad rating as the frat guys).
It also makes assumptions that all ABS and ESC systems are equal. I recall reading recently how the Acura ESC system (think it was updated now for 06) was so primitive it could barely be considered an ESC system whereas most German systems (think Bosch) are much more advanced.
It also adds all the gov’t “Stars” as well as adding in the IIHS value. So if the gov’t tested a vehicle and had 4 Stars I would think “Hey 4 Stars”. That document would say a 4 star vehicle is good for 16 points (4 Starts X 4 different measurements) and a 5 Star vehicle is worth 20 points (5 Stars X 4 different measurements)
Anyway Passat > TL
Exterior is a closer call, IMO. Interior, the VW is in another class (higher.)
That's the way I see it.
The cars, comparably equipped, are most certainly not similar in price. A visit to the respective manufacturers' websites using the online price configurator will show you a MSRP for the TL, including delivery and federal and provincial (BC) taxes, of CDN$52,702.20 and for the Passat 3.6 CDN$59,085.00, a difference of over $6,000, hardly "within a couple of % of each other." And the de-contented Passat comes only with the base audio system (Dynaudio not even available in Canada) while the TL comes standard with the high-end ELS 5.1 surround-sound DTS system.
Further, it is not at all "obvious" that the Passat should cost more, which you in effect concede.
As far as reliability goes, a brand new model of anyone's car is generally considered to have new car "bugs" which take time to manifest themselves and more time to correct. In the case of VW, so much the more, as despite your contention to the contrary and attempt to minimize the significance of comments pertaining to German car reliability, or rather lack thereof, as posted with a link in my previous post, VW is quite literally at the bottom of the rankings. "In it’s latest survey released in August, the UK-based consumer magazine Which? gave VW bad marks, putting it in the lowest “poor” category, a position it has now held for two years."
If you have had no problems personally with your German cars, considerate yourself fortunate, not typical of owners as a whole. Conversely, any car including the Japanese cars can have individual reliability issues but as a whole they are statistically far more reliable than their German counterparts.
If you wish to try to defend the reputation of a manufacturer in the 'lowest "poor" category,' have at it.
Incidentally, the '03 TL was not even the same car as the '04 and subsequent years as the car was totally redone for '04 and so comments about the '03 are not relevant. Of course, the '06 model of the TL, being now in its third year, is the most reliable and trouble-free of all.
As far as the safety ratings are concerned, the problem of "just going by IIHS" is precisely why informedforlife.org was formed! Just "going by IIHS" (or NHTSA) is simply not good enough and does not give an accurate assessment of the true safety ratings of cars. The credentials of the organization are beyond reproach so please do not try to impugn them as you have done. Their evaluative methodology and the superiority of their approach are amply described on their website. "Their RISK scores use a calculated composite of NHTSA and IIHS crash ratings, rated according to actual fatality risk in accidents, along with known factors which raise the fatality risk in vehicles . . ."
But why pay attention to superior compiled research and the conclusions based thereon when one can simply take a few random points based on more limited data and base your conclusion on that, right?
Until the German car makers, and in particular VW with its history of squandering capital on such market blunders as the W8 and Phaeton, can get a handle on their astronomical labor costs and pay more attention to critical manufacturing facets like parts subcontracting, dealer quality, and customer wants, needs and satisfaction quotients, the already gaping divide between them and their Asian competitors is likely to continue to widen.
Reliability, I’m no automotive prophet, so I can’t say the 3.6L Passat will be more reliable than the TL. I’m just saying I wouldn’t feel any more confident with the reliability of the TL over the 3.6L Passat. Strangely enough, the people I work with that have had the fewest vehicle problems are the people with American made cars did you see that new Milan very nice way off topic here
I was just using the old 03 TL in the example because I was comparing the reliability to the Pre-06 Passat – since there is no data out for it yet. I didn’t think it would be accurate to compare an old Passat to a new TL...
The “a Connecticut nonprofit organization”, I just don’t buy. It would be analogous to adding a point for all the Passat performance wins over the TL and saying it’s 20 points higher in performance when in reality it’s just a little quicker/better in each.
The IIHS choose the Passat over the TL as the “TOP SAFETY PICK 2006” not me, perhaps a phone call is in order explaining your new findings from their own data?!@? .
My fatality risk is lower anyway I don’t smoke or play with a fancy ELS 5.1 DTS stereo while I drive, and I don’t go cruising at 3:00am on Friday nights. Let’s just say they are both pretty good in crash tests
I’m not trying to defend VW or German brands, I just think the Passat 3.6L is superior to the TL (although I almost pulled the trigger on one of those fancy Phaetons amazing lease offers).
Just to rebut myself if I had to choose between the FWD 3.6L Passat or the TL I would go with the TL just because of the 6 speed manual option; although I’d go the G35 route over the TL or an ED 330i, or the 3.6L Passat AWD (more $’s though).