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

ivan_99 · January 2002

Did you take your car back to the same dealer to get the work done. From my experiences and many people I know, it seems as soon as a mechanic gets his hands on your car the more problems you have.

This has occurred to me in the past with a Honda. I took it in to get 1 item fixed, and they end up messing something else uprequiring another tripthen something else...etc.

Ive had my A6 in a few times for the same item because they just couldnt get it right. 3 times for a sunroof switchthen finally they replaced the sunroof motor (the cause of all the blown switches). Ive had it in 4 times for the in-dash CD player (one time they replaced the one in the trunk and said it was all fixed)Finally had to wait 3 months for a new one to come in.

A relative of mine has had parts (Mitsubishi) installed the wrong way (radiator fan), parts fall off (upper inter-cooler pipe).

It gets difficult when you have a car under warranty; since you usually take it to the dealer you purchased the car.

Your #2 doesnt seems to be a design flaw, if it was I would assume there would be a recall for that problemI suspect a mechanic flaw

Maybe try another dealer (if you have that option) to get your service work done at. Maybe the car will all of a sudden get more reliable, its been almost 2 years strait and no further problems on the A6.

grisoue · January 2002

Can you fit 3 baby seats in the back of the Passat Wagon?

Thanks

vwguild · January 2002

makes three. The answer is yes.

pissat · January 2002

Had recurring electrical problems with my car (see #650) which is top rated by Consumer reports and edmunds. However past electrical complaints on past years report below par electrical systems. Buyer beware!

debted · January 2002

Looks like we're finally going to take the plunge on buying our Passat wagon. my husband and I are stuck on whether to go for the V6 over the 1.8T auto, but we're agreed on GLS blue-silver, leather and luxury. it seems that the incentives this month are different for 1.8T vs. V6 (better for the turbo), but Edmunds doesn't have that info. does anyone know the accurate info on each for a 60-month loan?
also, i have a salesman picked out who months ago agreed to give me $500 over invoice. at the time, it seemed fair since the 2002s were just coming out. is this still a fair price? ( i don't want to haggle over $100 or $200). anything else i should look out for??

thanks!

raybear · January 2002

I'm not aware of any incentives other than financing specials. The price quoted relative to invoice is fair. I'd stick to the same salesman and be happy.

debted · January 2002

Raybear,
thanks for responding. and yes, the VW incentives are really just financing specials, but that's what my question goes to. on Edmunds they have 6.75% listed as the "incentives" but i've seen elsewhere as low as 2.9% for this month, but no real specifics. the loan rate, if less for the 1.8T, could tip the balance for us which is why i'd like to know. i get the runaround when i call up dealers (e.g. "well it depends on your credit rating what the rate is..."). plus, even when i see this 2.9% i figure that's not for a 60-month loan?

raybear · January 2002

I haven't seen 2.9%, CarDeals shows 3.9% on 24 months, going to 5.7% on 60.

I'm sure VWGuild knows the current programs by heart.

vwguild · January 2002

*A*Tier Paper...1.8T
2.9%=24Months
4.5%=36Months
4.9%=48Months
5.5%=60Months

30Valve V6:
3.9%
4.9%
5.5%
5.7%

mattrees3 · January 2002

Does anybody know about a dog cage that exits for the Passat wagon?

georgek44 · January 2002

Your VW dealer's parts dept. can order one from the regional parts warehouse. It's a steel tubular frame with an attached net, imported from Germany, expensive (around $300)and it works well. An alternative is to look at the same thing from Subaru, designed for the Legacy and Outback wagons. It costs less (about $100-150) and possibly could be made to fit the Passat by cutting or extending the tubular steel arms that brace against the pillars. Both the VW and subaru models are held in place by hooks that fit over the latch posts for the rear seat backs.

These barriers are a little bothersome to install and remove, but there really is no alternative if you want to contain animals, or prevent cargo from flying around the car's interior in case of a crash. I looked at a couple of aftermarket "one size fits all" barriers, but neither inspired confidence. They probably would work OK to contain animals, but I would not trust them to protect me from flying cargo in a crash.

You might also be able to specisl-order the combination cargo cover and barrier that Passats come with in Europe. My 2000's instruction book shows this type, and you also can see it in use on BMW wagons here in the United States. One of those might fit the Passat, but you'd have to obyaon and install the connection pieces to hold the net in place. In addition to the opaque shade that covers the cargo area, there is a net that rises vertically and latches onto hooks in the roof or at the top of the pillars. It is more conveniant than the steel frame type, but probably not as secure.

Karen_S · January 2002

The current VW Jetta Owners has been changed to simply Volkswagen Owners. This way all VW models (and owners) are now included in the Town Hall clubs.

Please drop by and introduce yourself in Meet the Members.

Thanks!

KarenS
Host
Owner's Clubs

stevej5 · January 2002

I've decided the vehicle I want is a 2002 Passat wagon GLS w/tiptronic/ preferably silver blue. My dealer is telling me after searching that a basic GLS without sunroof/luxury is almost impossible. Maybe if I want manual tranny it can be found, according to him. Have others wanting a basic GLS had this problem? I'm I being fed a line? I'm located in the mid-south (Memphis) and I'm ready to buy. Help!

revka · January 2002

Have you had a chance to check out Edmunds' Power Shopper? Good luck with your purchase. ;-)

Revka
Host
Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards

vwguild · January 2002

What you need to do is go to www.vw.com and click
the *Dealer Locator* tab...put in a comfortable
radius that you would travel to get your Passat
Wagon...If the folks at Gossett are not willing to
order this Variant for you; maybe another Dealer
will...

I custom order Passats like this everyday; so I know it can be done with ease...

You just need to be patient; it will take 60-75 days, but you will get EXACTLY what you want...

dannyle · January 2002

does VW make 1.8T 4motion ??? i can't see it on edmunds .. they seem to have only the V6 4motion

vwguild · January 2002

debted · January 2002

I was recently told it would be very difficult to find a GLS 6-cylinder w/o the luxury package, and that it's pretty easy to find a 1.8T auto with all the options. But a dealer in my area (South Carolina) recently did have a "basic GLS" (1.8T auto w/o other options). of course you can special order one as VWguild says, but then there's that wait...

jknuckey · January 2002

VWGuild,

You posted the A tier rates for the Passat Wagon. Could you post the B tier rates as well (for both 1.8T and V6)? Also, when is this incentive expiring?

thanks,
John

stevej5 · January 2002

Thanks to all for the input. I idid sign up at carsdirect.com, they've located a GLS 1.8T automatic (beige) but with homelink and monsoon. Carsdirect is indicating a price of 23,700 with this package. To make matters more confusing the local dealer has called me back and said they can get me one in the color (silver/blue) & package I want in a week to 10 days. So I'm unsure if the call to the dealer by carsdirect made the dealer realize (since it was such car specific request) that I was a serious buyer and they're getting on board. Decisions, decisions. I'll keep you posted.

dedi1 · January 2002

Ref post #659: We have a 2002 wagon and use a side entrance dog crate to haul our German Short Hair Pntr. and English
Springer. They were both crate trained as pups so travel is a delight using the crate. Might also add that we purchased a "carbox" liner and use the open weave carpet padding beneath the dog crate so it does not slide around. Check out PetSmart or go online to RCSteele.com. Oh yes, they do miss putting their nose on the rear windows!

stevej5 · February 2002

Folks, wanted to follow up my post about finding a basic GLS. After hounding the dealer for a couple of weeks I was told they could get one in week-10 days. I did wind up with monsoon & homelink, but got pretty much what I wanted otherwise in Silverstone Grey, no sunroof or lux. We got the price right at TMV for the 1.8T auto tip, which I felt good about. Only had it a day and love it so far, has what sounds like some "tire noise" which is pretty noticeable, we'll see if it keeps up and I'll have it looked at. Hadn't bought a new car in more than 15 years, so its a treat. I have to say though the experience with the dealer was still too familiar, possible bait and switch on pricing, long waits in the cubicles and all the other BS. I'm not the "grinder" type and I know the life of a car salesman is not easy, but will this stuff ever change? Thanks Edmunds and everyone who responded in making this a tolerable experience.

stevej5 · February 2002

I was told on by the service dept. mgr. that break-in driving on this car (02 GLS 1.8T auto) wasn't that big of deal, which I think contradicts the manual. It was a dealer locate and had about 200 miles on it, I'll put another 150-200 over the weekend, but my question is I've got a 240 mile (round trip) road run to make early in the week. I've still got my old wagon I could take but the service mgr said the trip wouldn't be a problem. Its interstate, although with all the construction I doubt I could go highway speed for long anyway. Any thoughts?

dudleyr · February 2002

Vary you speed (dont use the cruise control) and you will be fine.

bengelking · February 2002

We took delivery of our 2001.5 Passat Wagon with 1.8T and the horn went off 2 blocks from the dealership. They said it was a loose connection in the horn switch under the steering wheel. Easy to fix and the car has been flawless since (10k).

tomsr · February 2002

For a PASSAT GLS with monsoon sound luxury package
and sunroof in San Diego

lonegunman · February 2002

Has anyone had trouble with a gasoline vapor coming from their fuel door when the car is off. I have been having this problem for 6 months. My dealer has run 2 different checks on the system and cannot find the leak, yet they do say that they smell gasoline. My wife is the primary driver - with my 2 small kids - and I am not happy with the response of the dealer. I have been told not to worry about it. Should my wife get in an bad rear end collision, will I be the owner of a VW dealership? What gives? Anyone else have this problem and most importantly a solution?

revka · February 2002

To Stevej5- Thanks for the follow up, and congratulations on your new GLS! We look forward to hearing about your ownership experience. Btw, have you had a chance to check out our Volkswagen Owners Club? While you're there, perhaps take a moment to say hello in our Volkswagen Owners - Meet the Members discussion. Thanks for your participation.

To Tomsr - Have you tried using Edmunds' True Market Value New Vehicle Pricing Calculator? This will give you the average cost of what people in your region having been paying. Good luck.

Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards

tomsr · February 2002

I have been a Honda fan for 20 years and now am
considering a Passat Wagon 1.8t.Is maintenance
more than normal?Is it as much fun as I read?
How is passing power?How quiet is it?I have been driving a 2.3 liter coupe for four years but now
I want more hauling room and still have the
fun factor.The spec sheet says it produces max
torque at only 1920 rpm,if it is true it should be
quicker than my coupe.How is the triptronic?Is
there a lag between shifts?

vzin · February 2002

I was seriously looking at VW pasat wagon as my next "family car".
I liked the reviews, liked the test drive but couldn't find any info on some linear dimensions. In particular, there is no "official" rear hip room figure, just check specs on any web site, e.g. edmunds, it says"N/A".
Last weekend I actually went to a dealership and measured the rear seat width and it came out to around 51.5 in.
This is significantly less than the hip room of honda accord and toyota camry. And it makes me drop out passat from my list of candidates for purchase.

If Vw place passat to the mid-size category they got to make the size of the car "midsize", not compact. The rear seat must be really uncomportable for 3 people, even one person with a car seat in the middle.
Too bad, wil have to look at suv'e my my next purchase.

robr2 · February 2002

...is determined by the EPA based on overall interior volume. Check out the Ford Focus and Taurus wagons - last time I checked, they are both considered mid-size wagons by the EPA.

allhorizon · February 2002

The Accord's rear shoulder room is 3/4" more on each side vs. the Passat, i.e., it is

% wider. That may be a huge difference for you, but I doubt most people would call the Passat "tiny" because of this relatively small difference.

We have often driven several hours with 2 adults and a child in a car seat in the back. I found it comfortable, but for heavier-set people (over 200 pounds or so) it probably will get tight to fit three in the back.

- D.

vzin · February 2002

robr2, thanks for clarification. I did not know that EPA sets its definition for mid-size class.
Maybe because English is not my first language I considered generic meaning of a term midsize car, a car which would fit (comfortably) five "midsize" passengers. And I don't think passat would pass this test.

allhorizon, maybe for 80% of potential buyers the dimensions of passat are fine but I think there is 20%, and I'm among them, who wouldn't buy passat just because of this single drawback. Especiallyamong those who shop for wagon. And wouldn't you wish that, everything else being the same, this car were 2-3 inches wider. Or maybe that's a tradeoff between the size and performance, I don't know.

And my 1995 honda accord feels much roomier in the back seat even though the difference is less than two inches.

nisckdad · February 2002

I ordered a 2002 GLS 1.8T wagon without Lux in September, understanding that there would be a wait. The car came in Tuesday (4.5 months later), but when I went to pick it up it was THE WRONG COLOR. I asked for silver/blue and they delivered anthracite blue.

I had agreed to pay $500 over invoice, and the dealer offered to knock off $100 due to their error, and that at that price they would make no money. I was insulted, to put it mildly.

My question is "what is reasonable" for me to expect from the dealer? Also, is it possible that they never ordered the car and this was the first wagon they could get that was close to my order? They kept telling me the car was "on a vessel", and when I gave them a week to get the car this one appeared very quickly.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

vwguild · February 2002

answered your own question in Paragragh #3, in
my opinion.

First of all, the time frame is a bit extreme,
and there is a Status Report published every
Friday night that shows all orders and who the
customer is...They would/should have seen this error weeks ago...

I have no suggestions for you...what to do is really only a call that you can make...

raybear · February 2002

It's a lousy situation, but it's up to you what to do. I'd do a quick sweep of the VW dealers in the area to see if anything is around in the right combination.

mixwell51 · February 2002

I heard that the 99 passat had some brake and recall problems. I am considering buying one because for some reason compared to a 2000, they are very affordable (not to say that a 2000+ model isnt affordable). Could the above listed flaws be a reason for this price drop? Ive seen 99 Passat Wagons 1.8t nicely equipped for about +-$16,500 w/ only 26k miles (from a dealer) then i ve seen the same car w/ same options at the same dealer in a 2000 w/ even more miles to be way more expensive. What gives?

pgevanthor · February 2002

I've been sitting on the sidelines for several months and now plan to purchase a new wagon (GLS 4 speed with leather and luxury). Local dealers in the San Diego, California area didn't have one at last check so will plan on ordering one. My questions are: up until what date is a factory order possible before the line is closed for re-tooling for the 2003 model? what are the planned changes for the 2003 year? when will an order be possible for the 2003 model if there are some features on that model which would be worth the wait. Thanks to the group for any information that is available. Peter Gevanthor

vwguild · February 2002

Build out begins next month...No significant
changes for 2003 except that ESP(Electronic
Stability Program) becomes a $280 Option...

You can order a 2003 now...I will email you Wednesday on the proper procedure...

darien60561 · February 2002

Has anyone purchased a cargo liner for their Passat wagon? I looked at VW's but it is not made of rubber. If anyone has purchased VW's or some other aftermarket cargo liner I'd like to here from you.

In case anyone is interested I did purchase VW's Monster floor mats (set of four) for $90 after trying a few generics that did not fit right. The Monster floor mats are very nice. I wish VW made a matching the cargo liner.

nerd · February 2002

I am ready to give my 2000 GMC pickup the deep-six due to reliabiity problems. I have narrowed my search to the Mazda Tribute and the Passat GLS wagon with the 1.8T engine, manual trans, and no other options. I like the Tribute, but I am concerned about reliability. Getting a base model Passat could take awhile, however. A dealer in Dallas said anywhere from 4 weeks to 4 months if I ordered one. Here is my question...

Can anyone tell me if the Passat wagon is rated for any kind of trailer towing, and, if so, how heavy a trailer? Is an aftermarket hitch available for it?

mauislick · February 2002

I have the weathertech cargo liner which i am happy with: fit-b duarablitly-a
there is another one called carbox that is nice also....
available a macneil automotive or mats.com
or something like that

fredjs · February 2002

I've been really impressed with the Passat wagon, especially after a test drive last week with 1.8T and manual. My local dealer is offering a 99 wagon with that combination, 25000 miles and with leather, sunroof, etc for $18975, certified with 2-year warranty. But when I look at a 2002 GLS 1.8T with manual transmission and sunroof(lux package)(which is the only option I really want) at TMV of about $22800 I wonder about the value of the used vehicle. The dealer will accept less than $18975 but the 2002 has so many improvements and the 4 year warranty, the value for the new car seems so much greater. Has anyone else had this situation or have any thoughts on these relative values? BTW, Mixwell, it sounds like you found a better deal on the 99. Maybe that's why it seems so much cheaper than the 2000.

bswansea · February 2002

I bought a new 99 Passat Wagon 1.8T in April of 1999. I now have just over 38000 miles on it and so far it's been a great car. I've had no reliability issues. The only recall that I was notified about for the 99 model was something (I can't quite remember the details) about a part associated with the steering tie rod assembly failing that could lead to diminished steering. I took my car into the dealer for the recall and they replaced the part under warranty. That's the only recall that my 99 Passat has ever had and I've never heard about any brake problems. You hear horror stories on these message boards about problems people have had with their new cars, but my 99 Passat has certainly been a trouble-free car and I know other Passat owners who've never had any problems either.

jlkerber · February 2002

Mac Neil does custom cargo liners here is thier site http://www.macneil.com/main.asp The ad in Motor Trend says cargo liners "from 69$"

vwguild · February 2002

simply, http://mats.com

moparbad · February 2002

No more Candy White, Ink Blue, Blue Silver, Pine Green and Colorado Red
Colors for W8: Black, Fresco Green, Mojave Beige, Silvertone Grey, Indigo Blue, Reflex Silver, Pacific Blue and Blue Spirit
Homelink navigation in luxury package
Standard cold-weather package for all Passats
Standard side-curtain airbag protection for GLX
V6 4MOTION for GLX only, no longer for GLS
No more Monsoon stereo upgrade as stand-alone option
No more grey interiors (includes cloth, leather)

vwguild · February 2002

What is your source here?

dedi1 · February 2002

darien60561, I purchased a CARBOX from MATS4LESS.COM. Have been pleased so far. It is a hard-shell with no gripping floor surface so I place a carpet underlay (gripping shelf liner might also work) on it which works fine. A bit pricey! (see entry #671)

darien60561 · February 2002

Thanks mauislick, jlkerber, and dedi1. The choices appear to be between WeatherTech and Carbox II. I think that I am going to go with the Carbox II. Carbox's manufacturing plant is in Germany so it may fit the VW better. However, the main reason is that with all things being equal, the WeatherTech liner is $89 plus $10 shipping where as the Carbox liner is $70 and free shipping via MATS4LESS.com. Thanks again!

Next on the shopping list (for Spring) is a bike carrier. Hmmmm, Wagon top or hitch mount?

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

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