Volkswagen Passat 2006+

markcincinnati

You are paying more. If that is the meaning of "no problem" then you are correct.

The salesperson at the dealership one can only hope, was misinformed, untrained, ignorant or mis-stated the reality of the situation.

I suspect you mean problems that would be in the area of engine pre-ignition (ping) or knock or whatever term that applies to to using below requirement fuel.

Within limits, the engine management system simply retards the spark. Shipo can do a better job than I, but essentially what this means is that in order to prevent compression ignition, the spark fires earlier in the compression cycle. The spark causes the explosion of the fuel air mixture earlier than the engine has been designed to run optimally.

We have, then, lower power produced from the amount of fuel burned. We tend to make up for the lower power by using more fuel -- "we" meaning either "we the drivers" or the combination of the engine management system and our right foot (feet).

What would possess a salesperson to misrepresent the fuel requirements? -- other than an attempt to tell you the car can be operated on less expensive fuel in some bizzaro world of rationalization to make the hapless buyer "feel better?"

If you can afford to buy less than the required fuel for your car, fine -- waste your money. Too bad you are also wasting our fuel and in some ways actually polluting more.

Now that I think of it, that salesman should be called out, educated or terminated. :surprise:

markcincinnati

I have TDI envy.

This from Audi (and similar info on VW) websites:

A6 3.2 FSI quattro 6spd tiptronic est MPG hiway 26, 0 - 100KPH 7.1 seconds;

A6 3.0 TDI quattro 6spd tiptronic est MPG hiway 43, 0 - 100KPH 7.0 seconds (40% improvement in mileage, minor improvement in acceleration)

And today Mobil Super+ $2.75.9/10ths, Diesel at same station $2.64.9/10ths.
 
Gallons GAS to go 75,000 miles = 2,885 ($7,960).
 
Gallons DIESEL to 75,000 miles = 1,744 ($4,620).
 
$3,340 less expense for fuel for the diesel version

shipo

Geez, this topic has barely cooled off and someone is already starting it up again! :confuse:

Come on gang, the fact remains that the engineers that designed the car are a FAR better judge of what type of fuel to use in "their" car than some "Know-it-all" at the dealership.

If you buy a car that specifies "Premium Fuel" then please, please, do yourself a favor and use the fuel specified, no more, no less.

Best Regards,
Shipo

georgek

You and canoura may not like my post about why I did not buy another Passat, but at least it had the virtue of being about Passats.

Perhaps it is not me who needs to find a GM board on which to vent.

ivan_99

He said that the people in Germany who drive very fast and need high performance but Premium gas. We in the US don't need to use premium.

heh...I'd like to meet this guy

moemoe

I meant to say "put or use" not but premium. I you can't figure that out, I DON'T want to meet you. These boards exsits to help each other and share information and experiences. They are not here for people like you who have nothing better to do.
By the way, My salesperson has owned VW's and Audi's for as long as he remembers. He has always used regular gas and not had any problems. You put what you want in the car and I will put mid grade. I have the car for 24 months and I plan to enjoy it.
Best Regards
Moe

shipo

I think you are missing the point. Whether you or anyone else "hasn't had any problems" is irrelevant. That you are wasting both money and fuel IS the point that we are trying to make.

FWIW #1, many VWs and Audis of yore did in fact specify Regular fuel. Apparently your salesman hasn't changed with the times.

FWIW #2, the only Audi engine in recent memory that I can think of that might have been able to deliver better economy (but not power) in very low power steady state driving environments, and with less than Premium fuel in the tank, was the old 1.8T mill which sported a (relatively) lower mechanical compression ratio.

Best Regards,
Shipo

dino001

People shell out 30-50 or more grand on their dream machines and then go out their ways to "save" on manufacturer's recommendations/requirements. Of course the car won't fall apart, but if one is so concerned about paying a UNIT price per fuel, they should get a Chevy with its low-compression OHV engine. Not a gas sipper, yet goes on regular. Or a Camry.

This subject has been beaten to death and we talk in circles here for quite a while, already - just when Shipo or others make all those exhaustive discussions of compression ratio, turbocharging, retarding the spark, gas mileage drop vs unit price saving, etc. and the subject seems to be closed, there springs up someone who did not read last three pages of the board and posts "my cousin/dealer/mechanic/father/father in law/The Pope told me they used regular and things are just fine - is the whole premium one big conspiracy with Exxon?" - and the whole thing starts over. And since Shipo cares to not to disseminate false info, he will respond again and again, and again.

By the way at times when fuel was $1/gallon, one could actually save something at cost of performance, as a few percent drop in mileage would not be enough to offset 20% higher price. The savings would be smaller than thought, but real. Today we are talking 5-8 percent in unit price, depending on the part of the country - that would be about what the possible drop in the mileage. So, we get a wash, but a guy who just struggled to make a lease payment is convinced he was smart and "saved" on gas .

krzyss

If you got this numbers from UK site then remember that Imperial galon is bigger than US galon.

Krzys

ivan_99

My reference to “meet this guy” was in jest to meet the sales person; I found the sales person’s remarks regarding premium fuel for the 2.0T incredulous.

I probably make the most typing/grammatical errors here

No hard feelings :shades:

clarkwgriswold

Can you provide the part number or name for the bluetooth kit, as my dealer in Washington State, says that it does not exist.

markcincinnati

It simply costs more to use below grade fuel in these engines. Over a long period of time, there MAY be issues with the engine, but the ECU/EMS will do all in its power to retard the spark to prevent pre-ignition detonation which would cause a problem eventually.

Use grape juice or Wesson Oil if you can afford it.

No one here wants to tell someone what to do (well, practically no one), we just want to pass along information and hope that said information can be used to make decisions and take action -- or as my lawyer wife says, "be guided accordingly."

If you can afford mid grade, go for it.

As has been said, to each his/her own.

Thanks Shipo for having the patience of Job. :sick:

bjbird2

After many test drives of the 06' Passat, I'm in agreement with the New York Times article.
The Fahrvergnügen is gone, and it couldn't come at a worse time for VW.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/26/automobiles/26auto.html?_r=1&8dt&emc=dt&oref=s- login

I think I'll keep my 2002 Passat for a while, until I find something else that's as fun to drive, gets good mileage, and has a distinctive look. Or I'll drive my wife's Continental GT, a VW that still has lots of Fahrvergnügen!

ivan_99

If you already have one 150K+ automobile in the stables why not add another?

An Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Maserati GranSport, 911 Turbo immediately come to mind…probably as fun as your Passat.

Heck…for a little more than the Continental GT you’re into Gallardo territory…my definition of fun

moemoe

2006' Passat 2.0T Automatic
3000 miles
30% city 70% freeway
26-27 miles a gallon

I don't have a lead food but sometimes gun it just for fun.

Thanks everybody for some great input..

bjbird2

I hear you...

markcincinnati

VW is again going through an identity crisis.

I am one (as in "you're the one!") of the folks who sort of drank the VW kool-aid pertaining to both the W8 and the Phaeton.

Both cars were neglected by VW in terms of marketing.

Of course so many VW dealers frankly are shoddy -- and I mean shoddy looking darn near American Car dealerships they are so bad.

The term Lot Lizard should not apply EVER to any VW dealership. Pull into a dealership on a Saturday afternoon and -- if I'm lyin', I'm dyin' -- the lot lizards come out and with their giant suction cup hands and feet, sprawl across the hood of your car until you either buy something or leave vowing never to return.

Contrast that with the Audi store which, locally, is like going into a fine clothing store (men's or women's, it makes no never mind) and an MBA (acting or toting) "consultant" approaches you and you then become the "client."

Sometimes at the Audi store, I have to wake these nearly horizontal sales reps up by saying "I am now ready to buy."

Generally, these high zoot dealerships seem to act as if they have all the time in the world to spend with you and seem "this close" to disinterested in any sales dialog unless initiated by "the client."

I took a Touareg out for a test drive and the sales person rode along, never shut up and was constantly "this close" to making another run at closing escrow.

Whew!

My experiences make me want to sell cars for a living after I retire from my current career -- then I pull into a Chrysler dealer or VW dealer and think, "no way, will I become a lot lizard!"

VW needs to figure out what it wants to be -- the new Passat coulda, shoulda, oughta been a big step forward.

It seems to have missed the mark, less than by a mile, but more than "jus' a lill'e bit."

More's the pity. :sick:

fish8

I hear what your saying, but my 24 hour experience with a 2.0t Passat that I had as a loaner was great. I loved the way the car drove and handled. The light blue color left allot to be desired, but the overall experience was very pleasing. In a way I hope they don't sell too well, which will help me get into one when my lease expires in 2 years. Maybe VWoA will run another "terminate your lease early" special. Time will tell I guess.

jimd4

Well as an Audi owner I can say I have visited two VW dealer and been treated very well. No pressure. In fact I looked a cars in the lot for quite a while with no one coming out to "help". Even after I was inside there was no pressure other than "may we help you.? Not as smooth as the Audi dealers but certainly ok.

dino001

I think VW dealerships are one of the most inconsistent in the country. It usually depends to what type of franchise they are part of. Here in Tampa there is one VW dealer that is part of multi-upscale combo (BMW, Audi, Maserati, Porsche, Hummer, Subaru) and they are known for very good customer service (both sales and post-sales), yet not necessarily best prices. There is another one - combined with a Honda - not so hot. There are very few stand-alone VW dealerships, so I can't say. One may generalize that the customer treatment can be derived straight from the general culture of the particular network/place, it is a part of. So, Chevy/Kia/Toyota/VW superstore - don't expect red carpet, prepare for lizards (I really like that term, Mark ), BMW/Volvo/VW - see more "consultant" style. Although I also heard somewhere that BMW guys can also be very obnoxious, so there is no hard proof to my theory - yet I stick to it .

birdboy

Bought two round stick on blind spot mirrors for my passat.. I am unsure if they should be put in the lower corner of the mirror closest to the window or farthest away towards the outside edge of the mirror. My feeling is in the corners closest to the window. there were no pics or instructions. Any info is well appreciated.
as a side note , I have reached 4500very happy miles with my 06 passat 2.0t auto. No problems as of yet. milage is a constant 30-31 on 2 hour highway trips at speeds around 70-75mph. I enjoy the drive and do not feel disconnected from the road as the times article stated. I had an 02 1.8t for 41/2 years and prefer the drive of 06 much more thanks to a more refin3ed engine and more power. I do however regret that VW could not give me a night dimming mirror, fog lights or courtesy lights on the mirror or door bottoms despite that I paid for the 2.0 premium package.

beal06

I am in the market for the new Passat. Does anyone know when they are supposed to come out with the 07's?

jimd4

well not sure but if you go to www.fitzmall.com site, you can see 2007 models listed for sale. I know the wagon that just came out is called 07

chatham

I read in Edmunds that the seats (in leather) for the new Passat were not comfortable. I do alot of long distance driving so this is important to me. Is it better to buy the leatherette instead?

chatham

Winter is finally over and I wonder if anyone who took the new Passat 2.0 through this last winter can comment on handling, cold starts etc.

mrjette

I have an '05 passat, and the side mirros are 6" long at the base. I always install blind spot mirrors on my vehicles, and placed one on the OUTSIDE (away from the car) lower corner of both mirrors. The curvature of the blind spot mirror allows me to see cars on my side. The 6" difference is pretty large when it comes to seeing in the gap.

Take a test. In your garage or driveway, hold the BS mirror in place along the Inner and Outer base of the mirror. Spot a tree or something in the mirror. You should get a wider range on the outer side.

Good luck. Once you learn to drive with the mirrors, you will never live without them again.

xtec

I have a new Passat 06 3.6 --the seats are more comfortable than my 2002 GLX

xtec

I have an 06 3.6 I get 29 mpg on 95 from NC to NJ consistently

birdboy

when I got my 06 six months ago I was quite uncomfortable with the leather seats, constant leg and lower back issues. I test drove it only for 10-15 min at a clip. When I bought it I began driving for hours. I tried different pillows but they were no help. I bought it in and the service tech examined the seat and said it was fine. I called VWA to complain , they were very sympathetic. The technician understood my inability to get a comfortable drive position. He said he had a Jetta awhile back and when he switched to GTI it took home a while to adjust. well , much to my suprise , either my body has adjusted or the seat has molded, but I find it more comfortable now. I did not find any difference between leather and leatherete in terms of comfort.I prefer the 02 style seats over these. I also test drove the volv0 and the saab and those seats are the absolute best that I have ever sat in ,but I was buying a car for the drive and the Passat won..

jpi2

There is way to tell or see the difference the two types of oils? Any and all suggestions would be appreciated!

jpi2

As a owner of a '06 Passat 3.6 w/ the Lux pkg #2, I just noticed that the car does NOT have a third brake light. Is this the norm with others? I thought it was a mandatory law to have the third brake light on cars these days (unlike the days of my '88 Jetta GL). Am I blind or is this another one of those VW overlookings?

jimd4

Ok what the heck is a third brake light?

rayainsw

"I just noticed that the car does NOT have a third brake light. Is this the norm with others? "

Though I do not have 1 in my driveway, a check of a couple of pictures indicates it is above the rear window.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsID/2050304.006/pageview/photo/photo/Min- i10/page/1/country/gcf/volkswagen/new-vw-passat-in-depth

How did you check?

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Center+high-mounted+stop+light

- Ray
Currently Passat-less . . .

shipo

I assume that you mean besides looking at the container. ;-)

Best Regards,
Shipo

jpi2

yes. i do mean when the oils are out of their respective container. for example, when you have the two different oils types in a clear glass container, how can one tell which one is syn and the other conventional? color, weight, density, other quality?

shipo

Given that there are many different makers of both types of oil and different formulations for each, there are many different colorations, weights and the like. As such those metrics are probably worthless as a determinant.

The only thing that I can suggest short of a chemical analysis would be to take two oils of the same weight, one synthetic, and one conventional, and put them in your freezer for several hours. Upon removal, pour them out and see which one flows faster, that one will be your synthetic.

So, now that you've tweaked my curiosity, why are you asking?

Best Regards,
Shipo

jpi2

Since I will be going to the dealer in the near future for my 5k miles service, I thought it would be a good and practical idea to double check the oil that they replace in the engine.

shipo

From what I've both heard and experienced first hand, there is no way to be absolutely sure unless you buy the oil yourself and personally watch it being poured into your engine.

This isn't to say that most dealerships aren't trustworthy, they are, it's just that how do you really know until you've put them to the test.

Best Regards,
Shipo

jefferyg

I have an 06 3.6 I get 29 mpg on 95 from NC to NJ consistently

O.K. I can't help myself - is that I-95 or are you driving that fast?

Seriously though, we also get great mileage in our Passat 2.0T. We average 31-32 on the highway and have gotten as much as 34 on several trips. Overall we're getting around 27 mpg per tankful. I've owned cars that got better, but all were considerably smaller than the Passat.

fish8

To answer your question.....YES you are blind.

The 3rd break light is at the base of the roof in the rear window.

markcincinnati

I beleive it is called the Center high-mount brake light.

I believe you can thank Elizabeth Dole for it, too.

Thanks, Liddy. Probably saved a lot of lives.

pier

I have narrowed down a list of dealers that I am considering for servicing and warranty issues. I have performed my own research (1.8T.org) but I require this forum's opinion:

Joe Heidt VW (Ramsey, NJ)
Palisades VW (West Nyack, NY)
Jack Daniels VW (Fair Lawn, NJ)
East Coast Auto Mall VW (Englewood Cliffs, NJ)
Crestmont VW (Pompton Plains, NJ)
Gensinger VW (Clifton, NJ)
Trend Motors VW (Rockaway, NJ)
Three County VW (Lyndhurst, NJ)

shipo

This is going back a bit, however, I received great service from Douglas VW in Summit, NJ, so much so that when I moved to Woodcliff Lake, and found out just how bad (arrogant to the point of implying that you should feel privileged to allow them to work on your car, sell you parts you don't need and then overcharge you for the entire job) the service was at Joe Heidt, I took my 1995 Passat GLX back to Douglas.

FWIW, at lease end I turned my car in to Jack Daniels, and they seemed to have a fairly professional operation.

Best Regards,
Shipo

birdboy

I appologize for bringing this subject back again but I promised those of you that were good enough to answer my questions and concerns and explain to me why I should use Premium fuel over midgrade I would post what my findings would be. I have had my 2.0t for five months and have used mid grade gas. I was happy with the performance and got 30-32 mpg on long trips exceeding the speed limit of 65mph. I was unaware of the technical reasons for using premium. After four succesive tankfuls of premium I find the acceleration to be improved to excellent instead of very good, I find the engine to be more responsive and run more smoothly, I find my gas miles per gallon unaffected, but of course you told me that. So I will continue to use premium, and thanks again.

krzyss

better milage but since you were testing acceleration...
;-)

Krzys

markcincinnati

The temptation to use the new smoothness and new urge may, temporarily, offset the improvement in mileage I am confident will eventually be borne out.

I will also add, that in my personal experience with these engines, improvements in both fuel and urge performance happen first at 5,000 miles and again at 10,000 miles.

It is important to note that with these cars, regardless of the fuel you use you will "enjoy" several benefits from the following (in relative terms, please) tire pressures:

Front (yes FRONT) = 38psi (cold)

Rear (I am not getting this backwards) = 35psi (cold)

Handling will improve (turn in)

Understeer will be mitigated somewhat

Mileage will improve (both gas and tire mileage)

Braking will improve

Ride and road feel will "improve" -- but my meaning and yours may not coincide. I mean ride will be slightly more connected since the tires are harder and road feel is also slightly enhanced due to the fronts' (which bear the bulk of the weight) hardness which will have the effect of making the car seem to feel "more in balance" with the rears (of course the weight distribution doesn't really change, mearly the way the car responds improves.)

Try the inflation thing for a couple of tankfuls of premium and if you are at +5000 miles or soon to be, you will notice that you "just got a new car!"

No foolin' :shades: !

cbar34

Has anyone heard anymore about VW making a 6spd manual tranny available for next year's Passat 3.6. I know there had been some discussions on this in earlier posts. This would appear to be an awesome combo!

jimd4

Ok now I get it. Thanks

birdboy

thanks Mark, I will check the tire pressures this weekend.I am unclear as to what the term urge refers to, kindly clarify this for me.

markcincinnati

I am hardly a paid writer, but. . .I do read a lot of books, magazines and newspapers (many of the items I read actually pertain to "things automotive," a.k.a., cars.)

So as I read (and now write) lots and lots of words, sentences and paragraphs, I find certain writing seems to "keep one's attention."

We are, hopefully, not writing stereo instruction manuals here, we are writing "opinion pieces" often laced with facts and certainly from our own experiences.

So, when I refer to a car's accelerative behavior and capabilities, I want to write something I would want to read. Using the word or words "[more] urge" in the context of discussing a car's "feelings or sensations" of accelerative behavior is meant to imply the perception of increased [available] torque.

As I was describing the behavior of the Passat's engine at some 5,000+ miles, I was meaning that the Passat will accelerate more quickly than when it was new.

It will have more "urge" to get from 0 to 60, for instance.

The engine will, by some measures, give the driver the sensation of a sense of urgency to gain speed.

Sometimes phrases like "low end grunt" will be used (not just by me) to suggest relatively high torque at relatively low engine RPM's.

I have used terms like "industrial strength" torque (or grunt or urge, etc.) to suggest something more than "normal strength."

When we write "this new Chrysler SRT-8 has weapon's grade torque," that too is descriptive of "substantial urge." Urge so great that it can be compared with the force that most of us would associate with a weapon (often a "powered weapon.")

I do not know if these things generally convey meaning more effectively or even if they are more descriptive than saying "395 pound feet of motivation from 2,000 to 5,500 RPM." But I think they do.

I know that what keeps my attention are the things written here and by the paid writer that use metaphors, similes and analogies, and sometimes even colorful epithets keep me glued to the "page" (so to speak.)

Typically, you ask me what time it is and I tell you how to build a watch.

"Urge" = accelerative power (more or less, based on the context.)