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Volkswagen Passat 2006+

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Comments

  • z_manz_man Member Posts: 15
    Yes, that one. That's the picture I found too and unless there is some switch or something I do not see either how it can be changed.

    Thanks!
  • car2mecar2me Member Posts: 3
    I test drove VW Passat 2.0T package2 recently ...

    In general I like it :D , but:

    1. Steering seems to be too light ( a matter of taste of coarse)
    2. Tiptronics upshifts are still felt and slow (compares to Acura TSX)
    3. Phone buttons on the steering wheel do not work...dealer was saying that if I pay ~$250 parts + ~$200 labor, bluetooth adapter can be installed. :(
    4. No direct ipod connection/AUX in, but dealer was saying that if I pay ~$200 parts + ~$200 labor some kind of adapter can be installed :(
    5. XM radio sound quality was not very good :(
    XM Demo channel issue? CD sound quite good :)

    To buy or not to buy?:confuse: I do not know...
  • deluxedeluxe Member Posts: 29
    You can change that in your Settings on the Passats multifuncional display. Metric, languages, lights delay time, beep (ATA)confirm when you lock the doors and a lot of other stuff...
  • deluxedeluxe Member Posts: 29
    I bought it and I love it. Steering is light, but it gets firm and tight at highway speeds, nice and light at slow speeds in city.

    We dont get DSG here in US on Passat, so we have to deal with Tiptronic, which is ok, but as great as DSG. Acura TSX shines with manual, and it loses a lot with auto ,IMO.
    Passats torque compesates that big time.

    Lack of Bluetooth is what bothers me on my Passat also, and even after instalation , your "telephone" button will not work. Ipod adapter is done better, you can leave Ipod in your glovebox and control it with steering wheel buttons.

    Satellite radio quality is issue with a lot of car manufacturers (or is it the XM/Sirius signal itself?). I drove couple of rentals from Avis and the quality of sat. radio was not any better that the one in my Passat.
    Sirius in my car is better them FM, but nowhere near the CD quality sound, I agree.

    All in all, I had the Passat 2.0T for 3 months now, and I am very happy. 2500 miles on od, averaging 22 city and 32 highway.Sticker with Pcg.2, retail $28.415- I got it for $26.000+tax.
  • z_manz_man Member Posts: 15
    Thanks!
  • jickjick Member Posts: 14
    What is the differance between a 4 door sedan and a 4 door coupe?
  • alman08alman08 Member Posts: 282
    a 4 door car that shaped like a coupe. check out the mecedes benz cls model.
  • ivan_99ivan_99 Member Posts: 1,681
    Rear seat room...I believe it’s this measurement that determines if it’s a coupe or sedan.

    So you could have a 4 door coup or 2 door sedan.

    In the Passat’s case it looks like rear seat room (and height) is reduced in order to gain style…looks like a good compromise to me.
  • markcincinnatimarkcincinnati Member Posts: 5,343
    The coupe, regardless of number of doors these days, has a more "swoopy" look and some of this happens by a change in the roofline and the viewer's sightline that makes the sedan's proportions less boxy more curvy.

    Although the Passat coupe's pictures are pretty much the picture worth a 1,000 words in further describing this style, perhaps the best and highest quantities of views of the 4 door coupe can be found if you google the Mercedes CLS.
  • fmayberryfmayberry Member Posts: 33
    I am considering the purchase of a 2007 Passat 3.6l 4-Motion wagon. I require a vehicle with a trailer hitch to tow no more than 1,000 pounds. A quick search of trailer hitch sites indicates no hitch for the Passat wagons (just sedan). VW does not offer a hitch option for the Passat. The salesman says hitches have been installed on earlier Passat models but does not know about the 2007 wagon. Has anyone installed a hitch on a 2007 Passat wagon?
  • cosmocosmo Member Posts: 203
    The Passat coupe looks like what we called hardtops back in the '50's and '60's. Webster defines a coupe as: "a 2-door automobile often seating only two persons; also : one with a tight-spaced rear seat." Webster defines a sedan as: "a 2- or 4-door automobile seating 4 or more persons and usually having a permanent top." Thus, a chicken house with two doors (one for people and one for chickens) is a chicken coup. A chicken house with four doors, however, is a chicken sedan. ;)

    The Passat "coupe" does indeed look as distinctive as some of those classic hardtops from the golden age of automobiles.
  • ykolettisykolettis Member Posts: 9
    On Edmunds.com, the "photo" section shows two separate 10-spoke alloy wheel details for the '06 Passat--one labeled for the "2.0T", the other for the "3.6". They are similar but the former has its ten spokes clustered in five pairs while the latter is equally spaced and, IMO, more elegant. The VW of American website doesn't have info. on the "3.6" alloy spoke pattern and my local dealer is unable to educate me either.

    Are both of these 10-spoke wheels available? Is the version that no one seems to know much about only on European models?
  • jefferygjefferyg Member Posts: 418
    Isn't that supposed to be a chicken "coop"?

    Anyway, when I hear "coupe" I always think of a two door car usually with a trunk and not a hatchback. VW and Mercedes can call them what they want, but I'll bet that when you go get a tag or purchase insurance for the car, if it has four doors and a trunk they'll list it as a sedan.

    If the "rounded" shape makes it a coupe, then all those Tauruses and Sables from the late 90's should qualify as coupes - NOT!
  • jefferygjefferyg Member Posts: 418
    Go back to the vw.com site and build and price a passat 3.6. You'll notice that the picture shows the evenly spaced 10-spoke wheel for the 3.6. It is apparently the standard wheel for the 3.6, with the 18 inch wheel being an option.
  • stonehengestonehenge Member Posts: 17
    VW is forcing me to pursue satisfaction via the Lemon Laws. They want to replace the engine in my 2006 Passat 3.6 with only 1,100 miles on the car. This only after they debated for 2 weeks as to whether or not to replace the crankshaft or the whole engine. I have already had service for 3 issues related to the electrical system and now the engine needs replaced - all by 1,100 miles. And they can't see fit to replace the vehicle? This was the first VW that I ever owned and the last! Their reputation for absolutely horrendous after sale customer service is very much well deserved. I wish you all the best of luck with your Passats.
  • ykolettisykolettis Member Posts: 9
    I did... the wheel which comes up is different than the evenly spaced one i'm referring to... if this link works you'll see what i mean... the one which comes up on the VW.COM website is right above it on the thumbnail view to the left...

    link title
  • markcincinnatimarkcincinnati Member Posts: 5,343
    I would assume that ALL costs, including the use of another car, will be covered by the VW warranty.

    This may not make a hill of beans worth of difference, but Audi/VW make well over 800,000 engines, perhaps by now over 900,000 or 1,000,000 engines per year.

    My belief [and my experience]is that these engines are 99.75% "perfect." You may be turned off forever -- and assuming you otherwise like your new Passat, well, that is too bad and too bad for VW since we are seeing your experience here on the WWW.

    Why you want another car is certainly your own business. Assuming the car is not able to be lemoned, I would at least consider allowing them to fix it, then if they fail, you will get a new one, and perhaps even a 2007.

    All cars break eventually in some way, rarely this major.

    Consider toughing it out -- I again checked out the new Passat, and I find it to be an interesting car, to say the least.

    If they fix it, other than a $ loss what is your recourse anyway?

    :confuse:
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,165
    My problem is when we buy an appliance and it blows up, we usually get a new one. Manufacturer would fix it or sell it to someone who would and then the thing goes on sale as a refurbished unit with full warranty. Why would nobody support such a system for some major failures like engine/transmission within say first year/12 months? They simply buy the thing back, make repairs on their own, could even turn the odometer back and sell it as a refurbished unit with full warrant but say 10-15% discount. Probably it would cost them more on short run, but considering gains on happier customers.

    I think with details worked out, it is doable and viable, but nobody seems to be really interested in putting it on paper.

    It is definitely something VW needs to work on - there are too many reports of people who feel they are getting screwed with their post-sale service for it to be just incidental. It looks like a pattern - sell and then make a lot of effort not to accept responsibility if things don't get as promised/predicted.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • jickjick Member Posts: 14
    "Back in the '50's and '60's".
    I did not know there are still some of us still around,
    I love it! I stand corrected, but I will always consider a coupe a 2 door. ha.

    jick
  • mrjettemrjette Member Posts: 122
    My grandfather, who passed away last year at the age of 85, always preceeded the word "coupe" with another, very important word - "sport". That's right, it is properly named a "sport coupe" (according to a man who started in the car body shop business soon after WWII). I think that says something about the difference between a coupe and a sedan (never heard of a "sport sedan", have you?). The number of doors may matter, but styling and accessories seem to also weigh in the naming game.

    Grandpa finally had to have his car taken away in his late 70's, but he would always tell us grandkids about his last car. "I can't drive anymore, but my last car was a great one - it was a sports coupe!!". For the record, it was a ford escort....
  • georgekgeorgek Member Posts: 50
    Wikapedia has a good short article on coupe's and how they differ from sedans.

    Back in the 1950s there was a style of car called the "hardtop convertible", which was a two or four door with no pillar between the front and rear side windows. The windows were framed in chrome and when they were down the side of the car was completely open.My father had a 1957 Plymouth Fury in this body style. Body shake and sqeaking were key features of this design.

    Also, back in the 1940's "business coupes" were produced. These were two door sedans with short wheel bases and token or no back seats. The rear seat area was made to carry samples and other small cargo.
  • krzysskrzyss Member Posts: 849
    sport sedan?

    Try these:
    BMW 330i
    BMW M5
    Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
    Subaru Impreza WRX STI

    Krzys
  • stonehengestonehenge Member Posts: 17
    First, to respond to markcincinnati, I do really like the Passat. It is the most exciting and fun car to drive that I have ever owned - except for maybe my very first. :blush: The main reason that I want it replaced is because I believe that there is an underlying electrical issue with the vehicle that will linger on creating future issues. Also, the service technician and service manager told me that for a car with only 1,100 miles on it they would prefer not to replace the engine and told that to VW. VW does not agree with the dealer.

    I agree with dino001 that VW needs to address their most glaring deficiency - lack of post-sale customer service and satisfaction. If this area was top rate, they could double their sales in the U.S. I wonder if they provide this lack of post-sale service to their European customers?

    My experience with the customer care advocates at VWoA has left me with the sourest of tastes in my mouth. If they would offer today to replace the car, I would decline. I will pursue a refund through the Lemon Laws and spend my money with a manufacturer who is willing to accept responsibility if they produce a clunker.
  • jickjick Member Posts: 14
    Thank you both "georgek & Mrjette.

    Aye yes, the infamous "Sport Coupe". My father had no back seat in his "business coupe", thank you for reminding me. But,I have never had a coupe.
    I feel (my opinion only) the 06, 3.6L Passat's are one of the best cars on the road. It is definetly the best handeling car's I have ever driven.
    (Remember when tire's were an "extra")ha!
  • zperson1zperson1 Member Posts: 9
    I need help locating the Polen Filter to see if it needs to be replaced but I couldn't find it, I would appreciate any help
    thanks
  • carfan3carfan3 Member Posts: 27
    Deluxe,

    You said: "Lack of Bluetooth is what bothers me on my Passat also, and even after instalation , your "telephone" button will not work. Ipod adapter is done better, you can leave Ipod in your glovebox and control it with steering wheel buttons."

    Did you try Passats with Bluetooth on them? How do u know a Bluetooth phone won't communicate with the Bluetooth in the Car?

    Also, did u install an IPOD adapter in ur car?

    Thanks.
  • betwo2001betwo2001 Member Posts: 3
    this question is for "stonehenge" can u please tell what is the problem with your passat. i have a lemon and VW would rather pay 35,000 to repair my passat that i bought for about 31,000 after taxes. thank you
  • kirklkirkl Member Posts: 8
    I am also looking for a hitch for my 07 wagon. A local hitch dealer has been shopping for me. He checked with 3 manufacturers. None has a model fitted for our car yet, but two said that they would eventually. The dealer told me to check back every few weeks.
  • deluxedeluxe Member Posts: 29
    Hi carfan3,

    I did not install the ipod in my vehicle, hovewer there is a ton of information on the vwvortex forums about several different ways to install the several different adapters.

    Bluetooth:
    I did drive the euro-spec Passat last December in Europe, and Bluetooth was working great(I think it is done by Nokia). My friend owns a Passat and I liked it during my stay that I decided that I will get one for our next family car(which I did in February).

    US spec Passat does not have integrated Bluetooth adapter, and the only way to do it is with aftermarket adapter, Motorola beeing the best choice,IMO. I think VWoA is aware that people are pissed off about not beeing able to get the Bluetooth atleast as an option on US spec models, and it is a high possibility that it will be available for 07 models, along with some other goodies( Sport packages available for 2.0T models, etc)
  • canaanmancanaanman Member Posts: 21
    I was about to purchase the 2006 Passat 2.0 but I test drove the Acura TSX and really enjoyed it. Has anyone also done this comparison? Please give me your opinoin.
  • ronny4269ronny4269 Member Posts: 1
    Anyone having issues with the RPMs fluctuating between gears? The RPMs are fluctuating between 5th, 4th, and 3rd. It starts after the car has shifted to 5th or past 5th. I have had 2 service managers, a regional field rep and some guy that works with the engineers in Germany look and drive the car. The agreed it was a problem and then one week later came back to say that the engineer in Germany says it is normal. How can someone that is thousands of miles away diagnose a car that they have not driven or seen??

    If anyone is having this issue, please let me know. Or if you think it is normal, then tell me that too!! I am open for suggestions here.
  • stonehengestonehenge Member Posts: 17
    betwo2001 - There have been several electrical system related problems leading to a question of a more severe underlying electrical system issue causing all of the defects. Also, the harmonic balancer fell off of the engine, causing damage to the crankshaft thus leading to other internal engine damage. The dealer has had my car for 3 weeks+ and counting to replace the engine. This plus the days down while repairing the electrical problems has meant over 30 days total that the car has been unusable to me. I asked VW customer care to replace my vehicle. They told me no - go ask your dealer to replace it. I called an attorney. Good luck with your car.

    I find it hard to rationalize some of the decisions that are made by VWoA. As the general manager at the VW dealership where I bought my Passat told me - "They just don't get it". :confuse:
  • stonehengestonehenge Member Posts: 17
    VWoA called me today. They offered me a new car.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    That's great! Tell us more - how did you get them to change their mind?
  • stonehengestonehenge Member Posts: 17
    Two significant things happened since I was told "No Replacement" by VWoA. First I had a face to face meeting with the general manager and service manager of the dealership regarding everything that had transpired since my purchase of the Passat. At the end they both agreed that VW should replace my car. They called the VW regional marketing director and VW tech support to explain why the car should be replaced. I also filed a Lemon Law complaint with an attorney, who faxed a letter of representation to VW. I did all of the above on the same day.

    Two days later I heard from VWoA offering to replace my car. You be the judge as to who or what had the most influence over VW's decision.

    I really enjoyed the short time that I was able to drive the original Passat - my first VW / Euro engineered vehicle. I'm happy that I will have another opportunity to judge a volkswagen product.

    Never give up the fight.
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    You be the judge as to who or what had the most influence over VW's decision.

    Heh! ;)

    It sounds like you handled things calmly and professionally, yet with an absolute, clear goal from which you never wavered. Good for you!

    Keep us posted about what goes on from here.
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    Congrats!! Glad to hear it worked out in your favor. I am sure your new Passat will be as troublefree as my 2004 has been.
  • xando05xando05 Member Posts: 42
    THE BEGINNING:
    I had a less than pleasant buying experience to say the least. The car arrived 10 weeks after the order was placed. The salesman never called me to give me updates during the 10 week wait period. I needed to follow up with the sales team to get information about my car. I requested price quotes on accessories for the new wagon via email but never received the correct information except when I finally contacted the dealer by phone.

    THE MIDDLE:
    The sales manager appraised my current vehicle but never called me with a quote! How rude! Once again I had to f/u with the dealer. The SM said he gave the quote to my salesman. My salesman never called me.

    The End:
    I told the SM that I didn't want to be represented by the original salesman and the sm agreed.

    I financed the car over three years. The dealer marked up the factory offer of 2.9% to 3.9%. A one percent mark up?
    The dealer also passed along advertising fees as part of the invoice price and a 25 dollar port fee.

    The dealer only apologized for all the poor communication along the way. The dealer didn't offer a complimentary first oil change. As for the accessories, I was given the number of the parts department for further assistance.

    On top of it all I have a nasty rattle coming from the driver's side door pillar and some squeaky sounding windows. The car has 25 miles on it!
  • doctorwdoctorw Member Posts: 18
    I'm sorry to hear about your problems. I can't comment on dealer service as that is a big variable in buying cars-some are obviously better than others.

    However on the interest rate, did you call the dealer on this when he marked up the interest rate? I believe the fine print in all those offers states "for well qualified buyers" which means they set an arbitrary minimum credit score. I don't know what your score is but you are entitled to ask the dealer about this to make sure he is not taking advantage of you. When I ordered my Passat I made sure to get the interest rate in writing from the dealer before I placed the order in case the rate changed or they had a lapse in ethics.

    Also, I don't know where or when you bought the car, but right now Edmunds.com says that VW is offering 3.9% for 36 months, not 2.9%. Was your dealer offering a special plan? If you are really that unhappy go back to the dealer and confront him on the interest rate issue. It is your only recourse, especially if you did qualify for the 2.9%. This can and should be rectifiable.

    Not to be rude, but you really should not have agreed to an interest rate that was higher than it should have been. I feel for you but complaining to us after the fact, especially when you don't even mention the dealer name to warn us, is really not that helpful.
  • markcincinnatimarkcincinnati Member Posts: 5,343
    Chance favors the prepared mind.

    Sadly even though much of what you have said is not of your own doing, some of it seems to be some lack of preparation on your part.

    I am in your corner, nevertheless.

    Calmly and fully prepped, return with the facts say, "I am not here to complain about the past, but I would like to know how "we" are going to address this and move forward."

    Perhaps, in one instance, 3.9% was / is the legit number, not 2.9%. Hate to ask, but where is the 2.9% proof?

    Don't cave in, but don't lash out (ever) especially if there are gray areas. The more gray, the better -- for them.

    Just a thought. :shades:
  • ormandormand Member Posts: 11
    VW.com lists 2.9% rate for Passat wagons on 36 months loan. :)
  • markcincinnatimarkcincinnati Member Posts: 5,343
    Capture that from VW.com, pdf it, date it and there is your proof.

    But, beware they may say -- "we believe the stuff here is correct but since it may not be we reserve the right, bla bla bla. . ."
  • carfan3carfan3 Member Posts: 27
    Where did you buy your car from?

    Dealer Name and Address please.
  • cap0481cap0481 Member Posts: 1
    :lemon: :lemon: :lemon: To markcincinnati and stonehenge. My husband and I just logged onto this website today, and laughed because we are experiencing some "lemon" problems with our '06 Passat as well. We bought the car in Oct. 2005, and totally fell in love with it, it was really a great car to drive! Around Thanksgiving the "check coolant" light came on, and much to our surprise, we had pink crystallized coolant ALL over the inside of our engine. We were told that the car was, "unsafe" to drive until they found out what the problem was. The dealership had our car for over a week, supposedly ordering a part from Germany. The part never came in, and we never did find out what happened, we never got a straight answer. After a dozen complaints to corporate VW, they couldn't give us an answer other than, "your car is fixed, aren't you content with that?" The coolant leak has happened 3 more times, (is a 6 month period), and VW keeps brushing us off. I believe that we are going to start the lemon law process. I feel that we have spent too much money and too much time to have a brand new broken automobile that is constantly in the shop. The latest today (because my car is in the shop again with a check engine light), all the car needed was a "software" update?!? Are you kidding me, and oh yeah, it is still leaking coolant.....
  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    Hi carfan3. Xando05 is welcome to share the name and general location (city, state) of the dealership where the car was purchased, but the address and any other specific contact information isn't allowed. See the Rules of the Road (linked on the left side of the page) for the details.
  • americanyonamericanyon Member Posts: 10
    Hello,

    Does anyone out there knows how to reset the service light on the 2006 Passat. I just got 10k miles and it's alerting. I've already did the oil & filter changed.

    Thanks.
  • xando05xando05 Member Posts: 42
    Thanks everyone for your input. The 2.9% rate is listed on vw.com for the '07 Passat Wagon as mentioned in an earlier post.

    Bob Baker VW in Carlsbad, CA is the dealer with issues. I talked to Herman Cook VW in Encinitas, CA and they don't mark up the interest rate.

    According to Herman Cook the extra invoice fees listed in my original post are charged to all San Diego area dealers by the manufacturer.

    I haven't even received a call by the dealer to see if I'm alive. The rattle in the driver's door is still alive and well. I never got a free first oil change voucher either, like most dealers give their new customers.
  • fish8fish8 Member Posts: 2,282
    You received some documentation with your car called an Owners manual. How to reset the service indicator should be in there.
  • stonehengestonehenge Member Posts: 17
    cap0481... If you have had your car into the service dep't. for 3 or more times for the coolant leak and it is still not repaired you may want to seriously consider talking with a lemon law attorney. The repair issues usually must pertain to a safety related issue and the attorney can tell you if this qualifies.

    From past experience, be resolute with VW but not threatening. They respond in a very defensive manner when threatened. You may also want to schedule a meeting with the dealership's service manager and general manager. Ask them why the problem keeps recurring. I have found that open and honest discussions with these folks tends to get them on your side. I was given information and coaching "off the record" by the managers that I spoke with during my ordeal with VWoA.

    Keep up the fight!
  • zperson1zperson1 Member Posts: 9
    I have the same problem that I also was unable to find how to reset the service call, I checked the owner's manual and couldn't find any thing
    :cry:
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