VW Passat Wagons (GL, GLS, GLX & W8)

vwguild · April 2001

I responded to another Pittsburgh poster here last week...not
you, I guess...The only Dealer in the Western Pa. area around
Pittsburgh that even lists an Internet contact is Day/Apollo in Moon,
which I think is near Coraopolis...The name at the site is John Softy
if memory serves...All of the other stores have sites as well, but have
not done anything to improve or enhance them...I guess I take this
a little more seriously than they do back in Steel Town...maybe it
is just a California thing...

Anyway...Give them a try...

wired1 · April 2001

Thanks...

Cool...Day/Apollo IS my local dealer (not the dealer where the Autobytel rep is) and my preferred place to buy as I live and work nearby...I'll send Mr. Softy a note...thanks!!

vwguild · April 2001

My pleasure, Sir... Sorry to hear about Willie Stargell...

vwguild · April 2001

All the *variant* speak over at Vortex really gets on my nerves...What you are looking
for is news about Your Passat Wagon...I do not have one document on my desk from VWAG
or VWOA that uses the word *Variant*. It is a colloquial expression that the Germans, and
everyone else for that matter, use for something that varies slightly from the Standard Form.

Your Passat Wagon does not vary from any Standard Form of Station wagon with
the exception of being better...That said...

Once your car has been built it gets a VIN; status is now "Produced at Factory". The cars
are then inspected & staged for transport to the US. Next status is *In Transit From Factory*.

Port of Entry can be Delaware, Houston, or San Diego...It generally takes 3-3.5 weeks
for an Emden built car to get to San Diego thru the Panama Canal...Obviously quicker to
Houston and Delaware. Once at the Port of Entry, the process to get a car thru is about
10-12 days baring any problems...cars can go down for a *Parts Hold*, for example.

If the car is *Sold*; a "Sold/Rush Request" order can be submitted by the dealer, and that car
will move the car through on an expidited basis.

Click on the *vwguild* in Blue and you will find out who I am, and any one else who posts
here...

Hope this answers your questions...

spellbound · April 2001

I just purchased a 2001.5 GLS V6 wagon. I got the black leather interior just because of the easier to keep clean factor. I also have an adult male german shepherd. I purchased a weathertech cargo divider and cargo mat for the rear and that's where my dog rides. The only thing I do not like and it's pretty much true with most wagons these days is that none of the rear windows can be opened and my dog is used to sticking his head out:) But it's much safer this way.

My opinion is definiatly get the leather. German shepherds shed hair all over the place and the cloth interior attracts it like a magnet. The leather is much easier to clean.

The car has been great thus far. I've only had it for 10 days and 530 miles or so but so far it's been flawless with no troubles.

wired1 · April 2001

Thanks for your post. Mine are golden retriever-shepherd mixes and the older one sheds a lot. There tends to be black fur on the fabric seats of my wife's Taurus...

BTW, how does the shepherd fit in the "wayback"? Are the cargo divider and the mat VW equipment?

Thanks again.

mauislick · April 2001

I have been in the waiting for a VW passat wagon (variant) That's for you VW guild,
for almost a year, I tried to get this combo:
candy white/gls/1.8t/tip/grey leather/monsoon/
there were no 2000's no 2001's . The regional rep took the order! IN july of 2000. for a 2001.5
it has now been assigned an order # as of Arpil 6, 2001.
It you really want something you can get it, It is true that they match the leather with the luxury pack most of the time.
To VWGUILD: so what point in the preceedings is a car with an Order #? pre-prod, prod., built, waiting for shipment.?

spellbound · April 2001

No the mat and cargo divider I bought are made by Weathertech. I bought them from Mcneil Automotive, http://www.mcneilauto.com/store/

VW does offer a divider but there is no picture of it on their website and it costs $360. I beleive it is a net type. I also understand some folks have been able to use Audi or Mercedes net type dividers.

My shepherd fits in back ok, it's not what he's used to though as he used to ride up front in a p/u with his head hanging out the window:) I think the back area would be too tight for two dogs though. Originally I was just going to fold down the rear seat and put up some kind of divider as this way he has much more room and can stick his head out the window and sniff all he wants:) But I was too worried about his nails scratching or tearing the material on the armrest of each door. Also, at least with the leather interior, the rear seats do not fold down entirely flat and that makes it difficult to fit the Weathertech type divider.

One thing I did not like so much about the divider is that it has round plastic pieces that clamp to the floor and roof. I was worried that clamping these to the headliner could tear or permanantly mark it so I put a folded up piece of cloth between the plastic and the headliner.

Hope this helps...

vwguild · April 2001

What is the Request or Commission # and what state do you live in?

mauislick · April 2001

state of hawaii
order # as given to me by the dealer 773259
dealer is tony vw in Aiea, hi.

wired1 · April 2001

Thanks for the info...it does help...I'll have to fit the hounds in the back of a demo wagon to check. I'll also have to see how the back seats flip forward with the leather interior.

Thanks again....I'll be in touch with how it goes

daoto · April 2001

I have a 2000 Pas sat Wagon V6 5spd and have 3 kids. I was wondering if anybody in wagon land has installed a third seat in the cargo area. Like the kind you see in Audio A6's? Also, I have the cloth seats and wondered if anyone has found good seat covers that work with the sideairbags? Thanks. Dan

kcc3 · April 2001

Does anyone know the differences yet for the 2001.5 and 2002 VW Passat Wagons? I read some information on vwvortex.com but it did not mention the Passat but the Golf and Jetta. Will the new 6 cylinder be available? What will the price increases be for 2002 models? I am considering a 2001.5 Passat Wagon but understand the availability is limited and the 2002 may be available in August. I am trying to decide if it is worth waiting until then to purchase a 2002.

thank you.

tstuhrm · April 2001

"I posted this earlier, but it's gone now!"

Due to recent problems with our Town Hall software, you may notice that a number of posts made recently (including my own) are missing. Rest assured, every effort is being made to rectify this matter..., and we sincerely apologize for the difficulties this situation poses. Thank you for your patience.

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dennett · April 2001

I posted this earlier, but it's gone now! Is premium required in the new 01.5 Passats? The 4 and or the 6, thanks in advance!

pocahontas · April 2001

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vwguild · April 2001

1.8T must have 92...V6 runs just fine on 89, but not lower...

vwguild · April 2001

My prior response to your request about information regarding
AfterMarket Rear Facing Third Row Seats got lost somewhere in the
Edmund's Server...But it is important enough to repeat...

A few years ago I had a Passat customer who was replacing his
very badly damaged MBZ Wagon with a GLX Passat Wagon...Reason...

He was stopped at a light and got rear-ended by a Suburban doing around
35-40MPH...His son and his buddies normally sat in that Third Row so they
could flip people off, etc. But this day, it was just Father & Son sitting up
front...End of story, the Wagon was an accordian to the back of the SECOND
ROW!!!

Which one of your kids were you planning to have sit back there?

dudleyr · April 2001

What if he got t-boned in the passenger side door? Then he would be glad his kids were in back. The middle of the second row is the only seat in a vehicle where you are not close to a collision of some sort.

vwguild · April 2001

Structural Integrity better, and there are Full Curtain Side AirBags...

daoto · April 2001

VW Guild and T-Bones - thank you for your reply. I had thought of those scenarios. My kids age from 9yrs to 4 yr. I always thought that the cars that you could order from the dealer with a third seat would be safer ie Volvo, MBZ, Audi. Since the A6 and the Passat are built on the same platform I thought it would be possible. But the rearend scenario did cross my mind. Thank you

kcc3 · April 2001

Does anyone know what the differences will be for the 2002 Passats? Will the new 6-cylinder be available? I also was under the impression that for 2002 an in dash CD player would finally be available. I am seriously considering purchasing a 2001.5 Passat GLS wagon but do not need a new vehicle immediately. I am just wondering if waiting until the 2002 models will be worth the wait. Will the 2002 models be available in August or September like other auto makers?
Thank you.

vwguild · April 2001

Until they put AirBags in the TailGate door I wouldn't put any
kid in the back, and even then, I would want to see what Mr. O'Neill
at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said after having something
slam into the rear at 40MPH and weighing in at 2.5 tons...

doodley_doo · April 2001

We just ordered a 2001.5 1.8T wagon. While they search for a car with our options I have to decide on the VW extended warranty (7 years total) for $1100-1200. Any thoughts from owners/vwguild? Two years/24,000 seems a bit short, although the 10 year powertrain coverage is great.

vwguild · April 2001

Kevin, with the 2001.5 being a major *Facelift*...do not expect anything
very significant to change...You are correct that the 2002s are going to
refitted with an AM/FM/CD but, the information that I have is that this change
over is running a little behind schedule.

Your decision to buy now or later on this year should probably have some
finance considerations involved. Despite this little bit of *BearMarket Rally*
the markets are basically pretty soft, and this is a real good time to avail
yourself of some fairly aggressive pricing...If I could predict where things
will be in Q4, and knowing that I was right; my *** would not be sitting here...
the Kialhua/Kona coast on a 110' Schooner would be more like it...

However; if you do not need to replace your existing ride immediately, and
if you are planning on Leasing, then I would wait...Particularly if you own your
car and are not making any payments. I would milk that concept for as long
as I could...no payments are a *good thing*!!!

The other consideration is that the *Passat Plus* will be introduced late this year...
W8 Engine, 280HP, 4Motion...all standard. Think about that one...

vwguild · April 2001

I do not believe that the VW Masterguard comes with an 84 Month
configuration...Unless I am mistaken...always possible; rarely probable!
Six Years/100,000 Miles is the end of the road for the Masterguard...

Let me know if we are on the same page here...you are talking about and
have received a VW Masterguard Brochure?

I have mentioned this before, and always with some embarrassment, that
some Dealers actually sell Extended Warranties that are little more than
Vapor...they are valid nowhere on this earth. Your VW Masterguard is honored
at every VW Dealership in No. America, and that includes Canada...with a
$50 deductible. The only negative being, that includes recurring problems.

Let me know if you have any more questions...happy to help!

kelf · April 2001

Any special dealers or way to purchase new 2001.5 Passat Wagon at discount from MSRP?

rpfundst · April 2001

My wife and I are looking to replace her 10 year old Honda and have decided that we need a wagon - since our other car is a 7 year old Caravan and while reliable enough I feel something ewer is desirable for those long family vacations drives. Safety, reliability and some fun while driving lead me to the WV Pas sat Wagon. But there is my problem -- finding one to test drive much less buy!! Why all the emphasis by WV on Sedans?? My local dealers lots are overflowing with sedans!! It's not like WV has a market leading mini van so they can ignore those of us that need to load up wife, kids, dog and all the other things needed for the great American vacation. Besides I've got one of those -- been there- done that -- no fun driving. WV says "Drivers Wanted!!" I say PAS SAT GLX WAGON WANTED!! I hope VW isn't making the same mistake Chrysler made with the PT Crusier -- teasing us but not able to fill the promise!

Sorry for the rant -- but I'm tired of looking and I may have to look at a Volvo V70 soon! Anyone have any insight??

vwguild · April 2001

Richard, we are delivering a GLX Wagon tomorrow, and I have ordered specific
color combinations for customers...although the wagons certainly have not been
plentiful, you need to find a Dealer who is aggressive enough to work hard on
your behalf, and you have to be patient enough to wait for what you and your
family really want.

hiwaysanity · April 2001

Plenty of P wagons in Eastern Mass. May be a local thing, or the particular configuration you are looking for is rare.

doodley_doo · April 2001

Thanks vwguild,
In the negotiations yesterday our saleman said that VW offered an extended warranty that would cover bumber-to-bumper for 7 years. At least I think he said 7, but I may have misunderstood him. He said we would make that choice when we deal with the financials (after the car arrives). By the way, he is looking for a silverstone grey wagon (1.8t, 2001.5) with luxury only. Think he has a shot in Texas? Our backups are blue silver and regular silver.

doodley_doo · April 2001

vwguild,
Is the $50 deductible the only option available, or can you pay more for a 6yr/100,000 warranty with no deductible? Does the $1100-$1200 sound like the right ballpark? I think that my salesman may not have known many of the details as someone else will apparently fill us in on the details at the closing. I'm still on the fence. The peace of mind sounds nice, but as is always true when uncertainty is involved, it's hard to make an accurate economic assessment.

vwguild · April 2001

My hard cost on a 5year/100,000 B2B VW Masterguard is $1348.00....I do believe that
the $50 is the only product available, but this is an area outside of my general
scope of practice...It is also important to bear in mind that there are two(2) very
important components to an Extended Warranty...Not only are they normally
transferrable to a second owner, but they are also cancelable...with a *Charge Back*
to the selling Dealer, and refundable to the buyer on a prorata basis....

6year/100,000 is also available, but I do not know the cost of that...probably pretty
close to the above...remember this is cost...and not the Retail Selling Price.

zeen · April 2001

I noticed on the VW website that premium fuel is specified for both engines.
Also, has anyone recently priced a 3-yr. lease on the Passat GLS V6 wagon assuming $2000 down?

doodley_doo · April 2001

Has anybody had any experience with a dealer locating a Passat that isn't on the lot? My dealer found a match approximately 800 miles away, but claims that I will have to pay $500 for delivery (on a truck, due to the distance). A somewhat closer model (not our first color choice) will be $250. Evidently our other option is to order one and wait 2-3 months.

kcc3 · April 2001

vwguild.

Thank you for the information. Do you have any pricing and timing information on the vehicle you mentioned? "The other consideration is that the *Pas sat Plus* will be introduced late this year... W8 Engine, 280HP, 4Motion...all standard."

kcc3 · April 2001

doodley doo.

I had a dealership tell me if they could locate a car and get it at port they would not have to pay any additional delivery charges. They gave me the impression that it would not be that hard if I gave them a few color options. They did mention that this was how they got specific cars for people ordering via the internet. I do not know how valid this is. Good luck.

doodley_doo · April 2001

Thanks kcc3.
I also found a discussion about this on the "smart shopper" thread (with vwguild providing info). It seems that the excessive distance to the dealer with the car is the problem, which is one problem with living in Texas. I just wonder if it is really a 3 month wait for a match to come into port. Oh well, these cars are popular...

sundance_gold · April 2001

Let me preface this with the fact that I am buying a VW and I'm sure this question has been asked before but I'm curious as to the method for the madness....

Why when the majority of all imported cars come with much better warranties (even Audi) does VW feel compelled to only provide 2yrs/24K miles bumper to bumper?

I was reading about the pricing of the future big VW's (upwards of 70K) and was wondering why anyone would spend that much money for a car that has such a lousy bumper to bumper warranty.

I'm lucky in that my auto insurance has a terrific add-on that essentially covers all bumper-to-bumper costs/repairs...but Volkswagen seems to be lurking in "the land that time forgot" when it comes to their warranty.

ejz · April 2001

I was wondering if anyone out there knew what the dimensions of the cargo area in a 4Motion wagon with both seats up was? I asked this question on the vwvortex site and got the bigger than a bread box but smaller than a suburban answer. I know it is supposed to have 36 cubic feet but the dimensions (depth, width and height) become important when carrying camping equipment.

debbie35 · April 2001

I thought I really wanted a Passat GLX Wagon. I was a customer ready to buy. Then I tried to buy and that was the end of the story. I really don't want to wait 3-4 months, which is what I've been told I would have to wait to get a GLX Wagon in Silver with black leather. I think VW missed a golden opportunity. There were plenty of people primed to buy, and there were no cars to purchase. I believe that many others, like myself, will turn to other options. I was really excited to drive another VW after having a Jetta and Golf at different times. I'm personally going over to Saab now and getting just as good of a deal as I would by ordering a Passat. Sorry VW--I tried.

hiwaysanity · April 2001

all they can build. It doesn't sound like their mismanagement kept you from getting one, but more like bad luck. I wanted a GLS V6 with no LUX, fabric, Monsoon and cold weather - which I got - but I did not want black. Turns out that the late 1999 run in port was mostly black, and mostly with the luxury package. So I compromised, and am I ever glad!

raybear · April 2001

VW does seem to have trouble keeping up with demand. There's a reason the Saab was sitting on the lot and the Passat had a waiting list.

rpfundst · April 2001

Posts like debbie35's ring a bell with me -- there doesn't seem to be enough supply to meet the demand. Like Damlier-Chrysler and their PT Crusier another german company has a hit car they can't produce in large enough numbers to meet supply causing frustration with potential customers. I don't know if this is by design or if the Germans just don't understand the US market. I'd like to test drive a GLX wagon w/tip -- I think the extra weight in the rear would make it handle differently than the sedan I looked at. I'm going to try again this weekend but if this continues for too much longer I might head for Volvo again to retest the V70. We'll see...

spellbound · April 2001

It seems to me that VW has misread the demand for sedans vs wagons. Every VW dealer I pass has a number of sedans in stock but next to no wagons. I hope they can correct this in their 2002 model production and take advantage of the Passat's position vs the competition in the 20-30k wagon market.

vwguild · April 2001

a huge inventory...a big supply...something to offset the god awful demand!!
J.M. Keynes, I hope you are burning in hell...Maybe, instead of a chicken
in every pot...Dr. Peich can put a 2001.5 wagon in every garage...WE must
do something to ensure that we make as little money as possible. We need to
flood the market with product, make more wagons than there are customers, and
then we can drive the prices right into the ground...and offer 0.00% financing for
96 months...but only on SundaySundaySunday......

I am sorry, but I just could not resist...Is it any wonder that this is a crazy business?
Every customer grinds you to death, and when the supply dries up everyone complains.
And then the price goes to what is expected to begin with, and we become Crooks &
Thieves...ooops...I forgot Gypsies and tramps.

Welcome back to the real world of Supply Vs. Demand...the true Creator of the *Fair Price*.

hiwaysanity · April 2001

Neons and Cavaliers!

dennett · April 2001

I think you're missing something here, I do get your point we waited several months to get the Mercedes we ordered. But people in the US are not used to waiting for Volkswagons! Like one of the earlier posters mentioned, they'll just go buy something else. So VW is blowing it by not grabbing the customers while the new Passat is so hot. I know VW wants so badly to compete with Mercedes and BMW, and the Passat really is a great car, but in Americans' minds it's still a VW. The point you make has some validity, but the opposite of it has more in my mind, people will just go elsewhere and buy different brands, that new Benz wagon will be out this summer, BMWs, Audis, Volvos,Saabs, Suburus, even Saturns and Focuses. VW is blowing it right now. Good luck gaining market share making Americans wait months for V-dubs! LOL

vwguild · April 2001

I should have stuck my tongue further in my cheek...Product mix
will balance out as we get further in to the year...

Remember, we are only 90 days into the availability of this *new-skin*
Passat, and Sedans have *traditionally* always outsold Wagons...

And from the work I do every day, I do not agree with you about customers
fleeing to alternatives, and I am doing everything that I can to see that they
do not...

hiwaysanity · April 2001

how can it be said that they are blowing an opportunity? Sounds like they are doing all they can do. Flexible customers will scoop up the best of the litter as they come in-port. Those with rigid specs are destined to wait, and perhaps be dissapointed. Kinda they way the rest of the World works.

Just be glad there hasn't been (much) gouging over MSRP by dealers.

VW Passat Wagons (GL, GLS, GLX & W8)

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