That noise is very common and I think I have found the solution. Pop off the end caps on both ends of your dash. Start at the bottom and three snaps will pop the suckers off. Look first at the drivers side. Up near the top of the opening is a place where black plastic of the dash meets a metal beam that holds the dash up. The metal beam is perpendicular to the dash. There will be a little piece of felt tape in between the plastic and metal and it should be stuck to the plastic. Now look at the passengers side. The tape will most likely be pushed inboard an inch or so. If you pry the joint apart with a screwdriver you can slide this tape back into place. This seems to me like a manufacturing defect and not the tape moving during driving. From what I've been told this joint is the cause of the tick. I just fixed mine the other day and I don't hear much of anything anymore. It also has gotten pretty cool so I wont be positive until the summer rolls around and the plastics expand again. Good luck.
Thanks for the thought on the Turbo...the dealer told me that the turbo is always spinning and he ruled that out in our test drive to find the noise. I'm going to increase then decrease the tire pressure to see if it makes a difference. Thanks...
I was involved in a rear ending accident (my car was hit) ...it was a week old and the hit caused minimal bumper damage. But the engine got damaged and had to be replaced. The adjuster and dealer tell they have never heard or seen of anything like this. I have a feeling that the engine was a lemon...even though this could not established conclusively. I have filed a complaint against VW with the Bureau of Better Business. If any of you have had similar experiences/ have any suggestion please write into my email address at utennati@manh.com. The engine is currently being replaced by the dealership paid for by the insurance of person who rear-ended my car !
I noticed two of you mentioned $750 rebate from VW. Is it for Passat? Do you guys know when the rebate program ends? I will appreciate it if someone can offer more info.
I guess I’m not sure why you filed a BBB complaint against VW. You were rear-ended and somehow your engine was damaged, this IS strange, but I really don’t get your complaint. what makes you think your engine was a lemon? Did it run poorly before the accident? Can you eloaborate on this atall or is it just assumptions. More info would be appreciated, thanks.
Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this question but maybe someone can help. I am in the market for a new Passat, and I am wondering exactly what people mean when they say that they bought the car for a certain amount (e.g., $700) over invoice? Does that refer to an amount over the base invoice price, plus paying the full MSRP amounts on any additions (e.g., moonroof, leather), or is that ($700) the total amount over the base invoice price, plus the separate invoice prices on the options? Thanks for any clarification.
Usually "over invoice" means the sum of all invoice prices (base car + options) plus $x.
If you don't want to add up the numbers by hand, go to www.carorder.com and their web site will do for you. And as a side benefit, you get a chance to purchase any '00 Passat for $500 over invoice ($1000 over for GLX, though).
I read your earlier post about the problem with your Passat at speeds of 60 mph. You were disgusted and wanted to take it back to the dealer. What happened? Did they fix it or are you still driving it?
Just for the record, I own a 98 Passat wagon that now has 10 000 completely trouble-free miles on it. Accurate assessment of a vehicle's reliability is obtained through large surveys, like those found in Consumer Reports. Thus far, the new (>=98) Passat has acquitted itself quite well in large surveys.
I am looking for advice, I am strongly considering buying a 00 Passat over just about all of the other similar cars out there and due to a 50 mile one-way commute that normally has some stop and go driving am considering an automatic.
Anyone have any thoughts on auto vs. standard?
Also, anyone know who where to find the best deal in New Hampshire?
and find the shift points to be too conservative, almost to the point of lugging the engine. This seems to be more of a problem at higher speeds, not stop and go traffic.
My solution is to drive in "auto" mode, then flip over to "manual" when better performance is required.
I got mine at Miller VW in Lebanon, NH, but I really don't recommend them. I just happen to have known the GM (now gone) so I got a good deal, I don't even go there for service now.
I heard there is a Dub Dealer on the seacoast (Portsmouth I think) that is really good.
I remember someone a while back saying the Portsmouth NH dealer was good at servicing your VW. One might imply they had a good sales staff too. They are Seacoast Volkswagen Mazda and their www is:
I have a 1999 Passat GLS V6 Tiptronic, overall I'm very happy with the car. Before I took delivery of the car (8 miles on the clock), it had a small "pin-sized" leak in the cooling system which the dealership said the entire cooling system had to be replaced(?). They gave me a rental while the car was being repaired and I was treated well. This was the only "major" problem. There have been some minor problems like the rattling that everyone has been talking about on the passenger side. Another one is a small rattle near the rear sunshade area. Other than that the car has been simply wonderful. So far it's been about two months and 3,500 miles and no problems, knock on wood. The folks at www.vwvortex.com and www.clubb5.com have been an exellent resource in my becoming more familiar with VW and it's products.
This is my first VW. I've owned 3 Honda/Acura cars in the last 10 years. My last car was a 1990 Acura Legend with 200,000 miles and it was fairly reliable. Granted, no car is without its faults. My Acura had a recall on the ignition coils and the brake master cylinder went out. Overall, Honda/Acura service has been good. I've heard different things about VW service ranging from good to disasterous. My experience with VW so far has been good. For those individuals considering a new Passat, I highly recommend it. You might have to deal with a few more quirks here and there but the driving experience is the best in its class. I think VW has worked out most of the bugs after three years in production.
I've owned my vw y2k GLS TDI now for about two months and I would just like to let people know some problems I'm having. First I had installed an aftermarket sound system which sounds great and I didn't puchace an aftermarket alarm because of the std. factory one. Well my car got broken into very easily and I'll tell you how they did it. All they simply had to do was pop the cover off of where a key lock should have been on the front passenger door latch and open seseame. They're in and my stereo is gone. Bummer.
Second My drivers side seat heater only worked for a couple of days when I first got it. I brought it into the dealer and they started replacing components of the seat heating system ruling out one component after another (elapsed time 2 days on the bus) then only to have the dealer tell me it was the element in the seat that was faulty. So they order the part while I continued driving the car. Finally their parts dept. calls me and tells me It's in so I made arangements with the service dept. to drop the car off for the day. They said it would be ready that day, Ya Right! A week and a half later after sending the seat away to be rebuilt by an upholstry shop I pick up my car again.(very Bitter by this point). I'm Driving away (this being a cool evening here in Canada) I try my Seat heater only to find out it still doesn't work. Rage Sets In!!!!
Any body else out there have problems? Let me Know!
I purchased a 1999 GLS Passat about one month ago. I also considered a Camry, Accord and Forester. The car has 2K miles on it and the only problem has been the right front speaker (door) cutting in and out intermittently. The car handles fabulously and is a tremendous value for the money. It is extremely well built, fast with the stick and very nicely appointed. With the handling, A4-6 parts,turbo-charged 4cyl. with great gas mileage, tons of storage space in the trunk, very comfortable seats and great paint job, this car is a steal when it comes to the price competition. I was convinced I would buy another Camry which unfortunately has turned into an American hybrid in order to secure its number 1 ranking. I recommend this car very highly to anyone who wants a fun car to drive that is solid as a rock.
I purchased my '99 Passat GLS 1.8T 5sp on July 7, 1999 and have driven 18,432 miles to date. Reading thru the posts I see that others have the right side dash noise problem - I decided to leave it because, as someone said, dealers can cause more problems than they fix. I did noticed that it goes away when the clutch is depressed. I'm going to try the tape location fix mentioned above. Other than that, I've experienced nothing but joy with this car. I'm in sales so I travel a lot of highways as well as country & city streets - what a comfortable car. The turbo lag is imperceptable to me; I drove it on Premium gas until the dealer (!) said 89 octane would be OK. Drove about 10,000 miles on the stuff, then put some Premium in again - big diff! I will try to mix in a way that I always have higher octane in the tank. Some have mentioned that the 100,000 mile warranty is not an answer to maintenance problems - huh? This car has brought me fun, peace of mind, and a sense that not all is wrong in this world.
I have had my 2000 Passat for a week now. I noticed during the test drive that the shifting wasn't as smooth as a 99 I drove a week earlier. Has anyone experienced not so smooth shifting, especially in first and second with their Passat? I also hear a loose sound from under the car when I shift. I think I'll have it looked at when I get my permanent tags from the dealer.
Hello Passat enthusiasts (at least I hope you're enthused),
Just purchased a 1999 Passat GLS V-6 5 speed a couple of days ago. Fun to drive. Just went to fill it with some gas for the first time, and oh oh, the thing says it needs Premium? I guess I didn't do the do diligence on this one. Do you really need the Premium? I was used to buying Regular Unleaded (87 octane) for my Honda Civic. Is 89 octane OK? Are there any additives you can get? Thank you very much.
I have a 99 passat gls w/the 1.8 turbo and the tiptronic tranmission. I am wondering if anyone has changed their own oil and if so, did you encounter any problems?
Since VW pays for the first 2 years of oil changes I assume you want to change it more frequently. Not really necessary, but if you do, go to the VW vortex site and check the tech note on changing oil. Requires the car to be warm and add the last 1/2 quart after you shut it down. Read the note.
I am disappointed to see that the Monsoon sound system is standard for the 2000 Passat in other parts of the country. I bought mine last month, but none of the 20 or so cars at 2 different dealerships had the Monsoon. I heard the Monsoon in a Jetta and was VERY impressed. I asked the dealer if they were getting any Passats in with the Monsoon, and he said no, and that they could not install one (factory only--bummer). As luck would have it, the only problem I have had with the car is that the radio went completely dead (no lights, indicators, nothing) on a trip to Hilton Head Island 2 weeks ago. Checked the fuse, which is fine, but the dealer says there is another fuse directly behind or within the radio itself. Take it in tomorrow to have them pull the radio and check it. I checked this townhall to see if anyone else had a radio problem, but haven't seen any mention of one. I did notice a lot of talk (postings) about rattles in the right front of the car, and it seemed that many folks with this problem made mention that they have a stick shift. I have the automatic, and have not noticed any rattles or noises at all, other than the slight whistle of the turbo at moderate throttle, which I do not consider a problem. Just thought I would point it out, that perhaps the rattle/noise is unique to the manual trans.
I have '99 passat V6. The radio went dead one day. Everything else was functioning. Went to the dealer who has a "special key" to take radio out to replace fuse. Radio has been working fine for months now. of course I have had a lot of other problems I posted mostly with the poor service of the vw dealerships. By the way the "special key" costs 40 bucks if you want to own one.
I put 1k on my '99 5spd 1.8T , average (trip computer) speed 55 ++ (cruise control set at 78mph with an occasionally run up to 100mph to compensate for the usual delays.) Full car (4 passengers, luggage, CDs and other goodies.
Gas mileage (actual gallons pumped per refill) 29mpg on 93/89 octane mix. MFA indicated 30+ before I hit the 0mph bottlenecks. Much more fun than my 4cyl Camry!
The car definitely seems to run better (quicker and more fuel efficiently) on the higher octane. I'll probably run 89 around town and spring for the expensive blends for road trips.
Any one else have a feel for octane/performance tradeoffs?
I put 1k on my '99 5spd 1.8T , average (trip computer) speed 55 ++ (cruise control set at 78mph with an occasionally run up to 100mph to compensate for the usual delays.) Full car (4 passengers, luggage, CDs and other goodies.
Gas mileage (actual gallons pumped per refill) 29mpg on 93/89 octane mix. MFA indicated 30+ before I hit the 0mph bottlenecks. Much more fun than my 4cyl Camry!
The car definitely seems to run better (quicker and more fuel efficiently) on the higher octane. I'll probably run 89 around town and spring for the expensive blends for road trips.
Any one else have a feel for octane/performance tradeoffs?
I put 1k on my '99 5spd 1.8T , average (trip computer) speed 55 ++ (cruise control set at 78mph with an occasionally run up to 100mph to compensate for the usual delays.) Full car (4 passengers, luggage, CDs and other goodies.
Gas mileage (actual gallons pumped per refill) 29mpg on 93/89 octane mix. MFA indicated 30+ before I hit the 0mph bottlenecks. Much more fun than my 4cyl Camry!
The car definitely seems to run better (quicker and more fuel efficiently) on the higher octane. I'll probably run 89 around town and spring for the expensive blends for road trips.
Any one else have a feel for octane/performance tradeoffs?
Has anybody purchased a 2000 GLX? I got a quote for one with Tiptronic and CD changer for $28,500. This price is $1500 over invoice. MSRP is 29,505. These prices include Dest. charge. Does this sound like a good price to pay? It is the new Blue Anthracite with Black interior.
I love my new 2000 Passat GLX...The V6 has plenty of power, it's fun to drive and had a nice set of luxury features for the money. BUT...when I hit 1K miles, a frequent and annoying "chime" started to sound..sometimes as frequently as every 5 seconds - both while driving and when stopped...it's driving us crazy...dealer is "perplexed". Anyone experienced this?
Your question will be better answered either in the Sedans or Smart Shopper conference. If you use the Search feature at left to look for topics on the Passat, you will find quite a few.
Why not join one of the discussions that are currently active?
Pat Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
I just read the message that you posted and that is the very reason why my car is in the shop right now. In fact I am going to pick it up in a matter of minutes. The dealer said they fixed it and it was caused by some metal dash board brackets just behind the glove box. They took my dashaboard off and insulated all the metal brackets with a foam so that it would stop the noise. I took one of the mechanics out personnally and he heard the noise himself so he knew what to fix right away. I hate to break it to you but you are going to have to suck it up and let them take the dash off if you want it fixed. I know it was driving me nuts.
Just picked up my new 2000 Passat V6, 5 speed. Yup the rt.side squeek is there and by taking a wrong turn on a washboard dirt road I created a rattle around the lock area on the driver's door.
I completed many hours of research, many test drives (with no rattles) before making this purchase - I still think the engine and 5 speed tranny are slick. I've yet to drive it a 100 miles - so I'll run up to 500 and get it all fixed at once. My car came with Monsoon - passenger midi/woofer can't handle anything below 50Hz, 1st CD I played uncovered this flaw - probably door shell too wimpy - buzzes at real low freqs. Has anyone had similar problems - any fixes available? It was organ music with a bass line 4 octaves below middle C.
Just some thoughts - this engine has 10.6:1 compression - Hi-test only way to go. Else knock sensor will cut back the spark advance to the point of no fun.
Anybody have thoughts on the Break-in period - it's a chore to keep the RPM's down once it comes on cam around 3400 rpm. I'm not that patient for 1000 miles.
I've had my 99 Nebio Blue GLS 1.8T for 10 months. I still love the car. No rattles. No shifting problems. No electrical problems. No paint chipping.
The only problem thus far was a broken regulator on the rear passenger-side window. Took two weeks for the dealership to get a new part, and two hours for them to break it! Finally got it right 4 days later. They rented me a deluxe Ford Explorer, so I won't complain too much.
Anyone have any additional data on windshield problems and replacements. I've got a '99 Passat with a large stress crack and was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same. If so, what was VW's reply.
Just wanted to let everyone know that I had my first FREE service on my 99 passat the other day and I got a good shock.The next day I went to put something in my trunk and there sat my dustguard.Needless to say I was pretty PO.So to make a long story short they told me that I must have ran over a parking block,Know I know what your saying I you ran over a parking block how would this piece end up in your trunk.Well thats what I asked them.Anyway,I was told that VW in general are very low to the ground and that this is a very common occurance.So common that the dealer told me that they have a deal with VW to get this part for free from them for the "first time parking block driver overer",give me a break do you actually think VW is going to shell out this kind of money everytime someone drives over a PB.Anyway just wanted to know if anyone else has had such an experience,and to let you know that I had mine at Chapmen VW in Scottsdale,AZ.
The price you quoted is very good (compare to prices here in Northern CA). Are you sure you want the 2000 GLX? You might want to consider 2000 GLS V6 (with all the options) which is very close to GLX at $1,600 discount. Check out my comments under Sedan - "VW Passat GLX, your best deal"
Hey all. Well completed the deal on a 99 GLS 1.8T. All options with TTL for So Cal came to 25360. It is black on black leather. Very happy with it. He wanted the car gone, so I took it. Anyways lets see what happens. - Nay
Discussions about pricing, options etc. are underway in our Sedans conference. Why don't you use the Search feature at left to find a topic on the Passat in that conference?
Pat Community Leader/Maitenance & Repair Conference
I LOVE my '99 Passat GLS V6. The only problem I've had in my 4+ months of ownership is when I've filled the gas tank. Recently, when I start the engine, the fuel indicator shows I'm only 3/4 tank full. Of course, this is an intermittent problem. I changed gas brands to see if that was the problem - nope. I also rocked the car after filling it, to see if there was a bubble or something, but nothing changed. I took it in for its 5K check and mentioned it to the service staff. They told me it would be another 90 minutes to check this problem. I declined, saying I'd bring it in after the New Year. The service person didn't seem surprised by the comment. Anyone else have this (intermittent) problem?
I've only heard of a couple problems with erratic fuel gauges on the Passat. The one thing I've heard was that many times the dealer will replace the dash instrument cluster, but the problem ends up being the sending unit in the gas tank.
I've had my '99 Passat GLS since July of 1998. It has approx. 32,000 miles on it now. Have had several annoying "minor" problems with it - namely: a high-pitched whistle noise at greater than 70 mph, an intermittent p-side dash "creak" (usually when I hit a bump or make a hard right turn), and a faulty wire leading from radio to antenna. The high pitched whistle has been fixed (after approx. 10 annoying trips to incompetent dealer service department), the radio problem has been fixed (after approx. 5 annoying trips to incompetent dealer service department), and the p-side dash "creak" has not been fixed (since I don't want the incompetent dealer service department to screw up anything else in their feeble attempts to fix the "creak"). The high pitched whistle was caused by the heater "recirculation" system. At first (two visits)the dealer said they were "unable to reproduce the noise". I now feel that this was an attempt to avoid having to deal with what they considered to be a minor issue. Eventually they "rewarded" my persistence by removing and replacing the windshield (getting sealer all over the outside of the front of my car and greasy fingerprints all over the inside of my car), then removing and reinstalling my dashboard in an attempt to determine the source of the problem. They didn't. After driving around a bunch more and noticing that the noise was worse with the recirculation button pushed, I finally had the bright idea (which turned out to be correct) that the recirculation flap (which closes off outside air from coming into the car when it's in recirculation mode) wasn't adjusted correctly or wasn't sealing properly. Bingo. I explained the concept to the idiots at the dealer service dept. and they finally fixed it. Of course it took a full week. They also didn't reinstall everything correctly and got grease marks all over my dash & tan upholstery, etc., which took several more trips to the dealer to get rectified. But still - it was fixed. The radio worked fine originally, but right about the time they took my dash apart and put it back together, the FM reception went to pot and the AM reception became non-existent. They replaced the antenna on the first visit, the radio on the second and then the cable that connects them on the third. That did the trick. Of course when they did that they got grease all over the tan headliner and door/window trim pieces, didn't completely re-install the headliner and incorrectly reinstalled the seatbelt adjusters so that they no longer worked. When I picked the car up I admitted defeat. I had them put the headliner all the way in place and went home, where I cleaned up after them, fixed the seatbelt adjusters myself, called VW of America to whine, gave them bad marks on their stupid service survey, and vowed to travel 50 miles to another dealer if I'm brave enough to chance another VW service department. The dealership from hell is Joe Holland VW in Charleston, West Virginia. Two people in my office have had similar bad experiences with their service department. Service Advisor - Herb, was a joke. When I complained about the grease on my tan interior he said "this isn't a white glove operation - it's a auto repair shop." His boss - Terry, and his boss - Lloyd, all talked a good talk but were powerless to force their minions to do the job right. I love the car and would buy another one w/out hesitation - I'd just buy it somewhere else. Maybe Joe Holland will get enough complaints like mine and clean up his VW shop's act.
Pay attention VW customer service. The tape player in my 1998 GLS doesn't work. For nearly 3 months now I have been receiving one line of doggy do after another from the dealer and VW customer service (I hope you clowns at VW read this !!!!) I really think that VW is waiting for the 24 month warranty to run out and then give me the shaft. The friendly guy in the dealer parts department tells me I am not the only unhappy Passat owner wit ha bad radio. My wait pales in comparison to other --- some have been waiting for a new radio since August of '99. Anybody out have any advice or a shoulder to cry on?
Before I bought this Passat I was a loyal Honda driver. Believe me, I really like the VW but I question whether or not I will give them any brand loyalty on my next purchase. Bad service on the tie rod recall, a very messy oil change and suspension noise they say is fixed but really not doesn't help matters.
I recently bought a 2000 GLS 1.8 w/manual. I immediately took it on a 3,000 trip to Florida through snow, sun, and rain. The car has had no squeaks, rattles, malfunctions, or other problems. I don't know how it can even be compared to a Nissan, Honda, or Toyota. Each of those cars is designed on a platform built for the specific model. The Passat is based on a luxury car platform (A4/A6), and it shows. How many Accords and Camry's have an air-conditioned glove box, a trunk where the hinges do not intrude on the storage space, or a full trip computer? Clearly the Passat stands out in features. The base models have as many features as Acura TLs or Infiniti I30s. And performance leaves the Asians in the dust. I drove my friends Accord EX after driving my car, and I wondered how anyone in there right mind could ever buy a Honda over a Passat. n Obviously, they haven't driven the Passat. I am a little biased, I owned a 95 Passat, a great car which is much inferior to the 2000. Also, if you are reading this thread, you must remember that people with no problems are much less likely to write in than people who do have problems. I have had no major problems with either my 95 or my 00.
Folks, we'd like to continue this conversation under a more generic topic name to cover more trim levels and model years of the Passat. Please join us here:
hello all, I'm in the process of getting a new car. I'm interested in the vw passat 2000 V6. I have test driven the 5 speed and the auto, and I like the auto due to my last 2 cars have been standard. I would like to know what the invoice price is on the auto/v6 passat, becouse edmunds has only the 5sp and how others like the interior w/ woodgrain and tiptronic.have driven the 2000 maxima and I am indecisive between the 2. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated. options im interesed in is sunroof,cd changer, cloth interior. help would be greatly appreciated. thank you greg
I too am considering the Passat and Maxima, as well as the smaller sibling in either case (Jetta and Altima) The VWs highly impressed me with the fit and finish both exterior and interior. But I can't forget the way the VWs drove. Simply awesome handling, more than adequate power, especially the Jetta, and features compared really well.
That said, I kept a Maxima over night from the dealer, and liked the car overall. The leather wasn't as nice, and the car felt a little big, though I do need a spacious car. The pricing and better deals can certainly be had on the Nissan, if that;s your incentive. I feel that VW won;t budge TOO much off sticker. Really if money were no object, and knowing how much I loked to drvie, the Passat would be my choice, but it IS expensive in loaded form. If you keep cars a while, VWs 10yr/100k powertrain bests Nissans impressive 5yr/60k powertrain, while I'm concerned about VWs short bumper to bumper, though I'm more familiar with Nissan's reliability, and I've heard that German cars are expensive to maintain. The powertrain warranty eases that, but how about pricing on other components for the car?
I hope I've helped, but let me summarize: Quality of materials int/ext: VW Driving fun: VW Price/value: Nissan Roominess, comfort: Nissan Warranty: VW Looks: VW Resale value: VW
My 1998 Passat is also leaking engine oil. It appears to be coming from the valve cover gasket. Although it is difficult to see there are indications of moist oily residue around the area where the valve cover sits on the engine head. Also there are indications of an oil leak around the main pully coming of the crank shaft. Even though it is hidden under a shroud there is a greasey mess in the vicinity. I hesitate to bring it into the dealer -- do't trust them one bit. Since it is fairly minor I think I should let it go. It should be covered under the power train warranty. Anybody have any ideas?
Comments
Thanks...
Thanks,
Jonathan
I guess I’m not sure why you filed a BBB complaint against VW. You were rear-ended and somehow your engine was damaged, this IS strange, but I really don’t get your complaint. what makes you think your engine was a lemon? Did it run poorly before the accident? Can you eloaborate on this atall or is it just assumptions. More info would be appreciated, thanks.
If you don't want to add up the numbers by hand, go to www.carorder.com and their web site will do for you. And as a side benefit, you get a chance to purchase any '00 Passat for $500 over invoice ($1000 over for GLX, though).
Anyone have any thoughts on auto vs. standard?
Also, anyone know who where to find the best deal in New Hampshire?
My solution is to drive in "auto" mode, then flip over to "manual" when better performance is required.
I heard there is a Dub Dealer on the seacoast (Portsmouth I think) that is really good.
Gus
Conference Host
http://www.seacoastcars.com/
--Mike
This is my first VW. I've owned 3 Honda/Acura cars in the last 10 years. My last car was a 1990 Acura Legend with 200,000 miles and it was fairly reliable. Granted, no car is without its faults. My Acura had a recall on the ignition coils and the brake master cylinder went out. Overall, Honda/Acura service has been good. I've heard different things about VW service ranging from good to disasterous. My experience with VW so far has been good. For those individuals considering a new Passat, I highly recommend it. You might have to deal with a few more quirks here and there but the driving experience is the best in its class. I think VW has worked out most of the bugs after three years in production.
months and I would just like to let people know
some problems I'm having. First I had installed an
aftermarket sound system which sounds great and I
didn't puchace an aftermarket alarm because of the
std. factory one. Well my car got broken into very
easily and I'll tell you how they did it. All they
simply had to do was pop the cover off of where a
key lock should have been on the front passenger
door latch and open seseame. They're in and my
stereo is gone. Bummer.
Second My drivers side seat heater only worked for
a couple of days when I first got it. I brought it
into the dealer and they started replacing
components of the seat heating system ruling out
one component after another (elapsed time 2 days
on
the bus) then only to have the dealer tell me it
was the element in the seat that was faulty. So
they order the part while I continued driving the
car. Finally their parts dept. calls me and tells
me It's in so I made arangements with the service
dept. to drop the car off for the day. They said
it
would be ready that day, Ya Right! A week and a
half later after sending the seat away to be
rebuilt by an upholstry shop I pick up my car
again.(very Bitter by this point). I'm Driving
away
(this being a cool evening here in Canada) I try
my Seat heater only to find out it still doesn't
work. Rage Sets In!!!!
Any body else out there have problems?
Let me Know!
--Bill
Just purchased a 1999 Passat GLS V-6 5 speed a couple of days ago. Fun to drive. Just went to fill it with some gas for the first time, and oh oh, the thing says it needs Premium? I guess I didn't do the do diligence on this one. Do you really need the Premium? I was used to buying Regular Unleaded (87 octane) for my Honda Civic. Is 89 octane OK? Are there any additives you can get? Thank you very much.
I did notice a lot of talk (postings) about rattles in the right front of the car, and it seemed that many folks with this problem made mention that they have a stick shift. I have the automatic, and have not noticed any rattles or noises at all, other than the slight whistle of the turbo at moderate throttle, which I do not consider a problem. Just thought I would point it out, that perhaps the rattle/noise is unique to the manual trans.
Gas mileage (actual gallons pumped per refill) 29mpg on 93/89 octane mix. MFA indicated 30+ before I hit the 0mph bottlenecks. Much more fun than my 4cyl Camry!
The car definitely seems to run better (quicker and more fuel efficiently) on the higher octane.
I'll probably run 89 around town and spring for the expensive blends for road trips.
Any one else have a feel for octane/performance tradeoffs?
Gas mileage (actual gallons pumped per refill) 29mpg on 93/89 octane mix. MFA indicated 30+ before I hit the 0mph bottlenecks. Much more fun than my 4cyl Camry!
The car definitely seems to run better (quicker and more fuel efficiently) on the higher octane.
I'll probably run 89 around town and spring for the expensive blends for road trips.
Any one else have a feel for octane/performance tradeoffs?
Gas mileage (actual gallons pumped per refill) 29mpg on 93/89 octane mix. MFA indicated 30+ before I hit the 0mph bottlenecks. Much more fun than my 4cyl Camry!
The car definitely seems to run better (quicker and more fuel efficiently) on the higher octane.
I'll probably run 89 around town and spring for the expensive blends for road trips.
Any one else have a feel for octane/performance tradeoffs?
Why not join one of the discussions that are currently active?
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
The dealer said they fixed it and it was caused by some metal dash board brackets just behind the glove box. They took my dashaboard off and insulated all the metal brackets with a foam so that it would stop the noise.
I took one of the mechanics out personnally and he heard the noise himself so he knew what to fix right away. I hate to break it to you but you are going to have to suck it up and let them take the dash off if you want it fixed. I know it was driving me nuts.
I completed many hours of research, many test drives (with no rattles) before making this purchase - I still think the engine and 5 speed tranny are slick. I've yet to drive it a 100 miles - so I'll run up to 500 and get it all fixed at once. My car came with Monsoon -
passenger midi/woofer can't handle anything below 50Hz,
1st CD I played uncovered this flaw - probably door shell too wimpy - buzzes at real low freqs. Has anyone had similar problems - any fixes available? It was organ music with a bass line 4 octaves below middle C.
Just some thoughts - this engine has 10.6:1 compression - Hi-test only way to go. Else knock sensor will cut back the spark advance to the point of no fun.
Anybody have thoughts on the Break-in period - it's a chore to keep the RPM's down once it comes on cam around 3400 rpm. I'm not that patient for 1000 miles.
The only problem thus far was a broken regulator on the rear passenger-side window. Took two weeks for the dealership to get a new part, and two hours for them to break it! Finally got it right 4 days later. They rented me a deluxe Ford Explorer, so I won't complain too much.
- Nay
Discussions about pricing, options etc. are underway in our Sedans conference. Why don't you use the Search feature at left to find a topic on the Passat in that conference?
Pat
Community Leader/Maitenance & Repair Conference
--Mike
Before I bought this Passat I was a loyal Honda driver. Believe me, I really like the VW but I question whether or not I will give them any brand loyalty on my next purchase. Bad service on the tie rod recall, a very messy oil change and suspension noise they say is fixed but really not doesn't help matters.
VW Passat troubles (Topic #929)
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
Have you checked out the Passat topics in our Sedans conference? That's where folks are discussing purchasing this vehicle, manual or five speed.
Just key in Passat to the Search feature at left to find all of the topics on the Passat and take a look at the conversations that are underway.
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
That said, I kept a Maxima over night from the dealer, and liked the car overall. The leather wasn't as nice, and the car felt a little big, though I do need a spacious car. The pricing and better deals can certainly be had on the Nissan, if that;s your incentive. I feel that VW won;t budge TOO much off sticker. Really if money were no object, and knowing how much I loked to drvie, the Passat would be my choice, but it IS expensive in loaded form. If you keep cars a while, VWs 10yr/100k powertrain bests Nissans impressive 5yr/60k powertrain, while I'm concerned about VWs short bumper to bumper, though I'm more familiar with Nissan's reliability, and I've heard that German cars are expensive to maintain. The powertrain warranty eases that, but how about pricing on other components for the car?
I hope I've helped, but let me summarize:
Quality of materials int/ext: VW
Driving fun: VW
Price/value: Nissan
Roominess, comfort: Nissan
Warranty: VW
Looks: VW
Resale value: VW
Lee