Vw passat

[evil_si]

Anyone had any experience with vw passats?
2002, 1.8 turbo tiptronic model in particular,

They seem to go pretty bloody well,
Curious to know what they are like on fuel
Common issues

Cheers
Si

[sergei]

Anyone had any experience with vw passats?
2002, 1.8 turbo tiptronic model in particular,

They seem to go pretty bloody well,
Curious to know what they are like on fuel
Common issues

Cheers
Si

Had lots of experience with ~1998 era passats (previous shape).

Little bit better than golf counterparts, basically is a cheaper Audi A4. Same problems still apply:
1) Weak gearboxes (although do not blow as frequently as golf ones)
2) plastic everywhere it should not be
3) Electrics!
4) expensive parts
5) so-so fuel economy (expect 12-14L/100km in City).
6) Autobahn gearing (long)
7) MAF
Coils
9) ABS
10) Engine mount leaking
11) Engine prone to sludge up
12) Rattly water pump
Not sure about 2002 shape but previous shape were outfitted with asthmatic turbo (power would sharply drop after 6000rpm, felt diesel like).

If you must buy one check the following (as well as usual bits):

Electrics (check every single switch)
Windows regulators
Door locks (if they can be opened manually by the key)
Dash - check if all sectors are present on the info display (the orange LED matrix).
Check coolant elbows for cracks
Dipstick if in one piece
Service history is a must on those cars (neglect and you bound to have problems)

[Nuty|Mike]

its b.s that the parts are expensive.


in saying that everything else sergei said is correct might also add that watch for water leaks into the cabin via the pollen filter hole(leaves clog up the drain holes) and VW thought it wise to put the trans ecu on the floor where water will destroy it.

Other then that get a good one and look after it well as Im sure you would.

also good idea to take the turbo oil feed off and clean it out as the sludge usually blocks these and poopoos the turbo ,then you will have to fit a bigger one .

[CelicaGT8]

Dont do it. buy new, sell 3 - 5 years later

[Vertigo]

yea, ive had experience with them, one took up a park at the TS meet this month, i hate them

[fuel]

Dont do it. buy new, sell 3 - 5 years later

And stand to lose tens of thousands in depreciation? No thanks.

[crispy'86]

Definitely give it the good once over and make sure it's been regularly serviced and looked after, hoist check to look out for any oil seal leakage. . Check all electrics and transmission shifting, have had couple come through work that didn't seem too reassuring doing a road test for other stuff.

[AE86less]

Mate had a 1.8T wagon, horrific fuel economy when you try and drive it a bit.

He never had any other issues with it though.

[THA SHZ]

Anyone had any experience with vw passats?
2002, 1.8 turbo tiptronic model in particular,

They seem to go pretty bloody well,
Curious to know what they are like on fuel
Common issues

Cheers
Si

hey bro , mate had one of these , did a couple of mods and it drank gas like no tomorrow , i know you bro , you will mod it , you cant help yourself

[rollaholic]

yes the oil feed for the turbo is one to watch for - just another reason why solid service history is a must. there are so many bends that once its blocked its throw away.

the oil coolers have coolant running through them, they are known to let go as well for instant milkshake

water temp sensor o rings

all the suspension arms flog out on a regular basis, heaps of cheap bits around these days but at four arms a side it still adds up

the water pooling in the battery box area is vital to get right, there are two drains to keep clear. the side impact crash sensors get rooted by the water too. (they are under the front seats) dont park it under a tree (like every second audi and vw i see seems to be)

can only stress what sergei said, there is cheap plastic everywhere (not just the engine bay) and at ten years old most of it is reaching its use by date.

to be honest i think if it wasnt for VAG the boss would have been out of business years ago

PS i like how mike jumped to the defence of parts cost before anyone even said anything

some parts are reasonable, some other stuff not so much. in my experience they just have more shit going wrong earlier, and as a result cost more to maintain - not so much to do with the price of parts, just the regularity of things needing doing.

[FST4RD]

Mates mum had the exact one your looking at. Turbo went on it and so did the gearbox . Car only had just over 100k on the clock. Gearbox was not cheap to fix, think they sourced a second hand one.

[Bling]

Just slap a VW badge on a camry. Best of both worlds, it will be reliable and it will have European flair. Well the badge will anyways

[Mr Revhead]

all the suspension arms flog out on a regular basis, heaps of cheap bits around these days but at four arms a side it still adds up

Yeah Autolign do those. And used to sell HEAPS of them too
Seems to be a very common Audi/VW thing to wear.

[Nuty|Mike]

PS i like how mike jumped to the defence of parts cost before anyone even said anything

4) expensive parts

I say it cos its true .

coils for my skyline = $350 each
coils for the coil over style vw motor = $60-80 each

Window switch for my 2005 Fielder $1400.00 (i was super shocked at this )
equivilent year golf wagon $195.00

Also half the plastic bits that fail in these cars cost peanuts .

dipstick tubes cost $14, water fittings/housings $25-35,dipsticks $25.

Afms fail cost $250
Waterpumps fail cost $105

so not actually that bad ........

but please let this be another "other" brand bashing post thread lol......put it in a pile with the 20 others this year

[evil_si]

Cheers guys,
Bought one today, most of it is pretty good, one dicky door that intermittantly wont unlock / open, and a rattly window reg in the rear,

Cambelt waterpump and afm replaced at 100k, and its just ticked over 103k

Knew it was lowered slightly, still drove nicely, pop the boot to check spare and spotted cert tag for coilovers, bonus

[rollaholic]

but please let this be another "other" brand bashing post thread lol......put it in a pile with the 20 others this year

guess i skimmed over sergeis post, my bad.

when i talk about cars in this light its from extensive personal experience, not from any dislike for the badge - or the lack of toyota-ness. hell i havent owned a toyota for years, and theres every chance i never will again. the newer ones certainly dont seem to be the kinds of cars the brand was built on.

and as for parts prices - like i said, some of its ok. some of it is not so ok.

same goes for toyota, as you have discovered.

[CelicaGT8]

Dont do it. buy new, sell 3 - 5 years later

And stand to lose tens of thousands in depreciation? No thanks.

If you dont like depreciation then dont buy a new car

[sergei]

PS i like how mike jumped to the defence of parts cost before anyone even said anything

4) expensive parts

I say it cos its true .

coils for my skyline = $350 each
coils for the coil over style vw motor = $60-80 each

Window switch for my 2005 Fielder $1400.00 (i was super shocked at this )
equivilent year golf wagon $195.00

Also half the plastic bits that fail in these cars cost peanuts .

dipstick tubes cost $14, water fittings/housings $25-35,dipsticks $25.

Afms fail cost $250
Waterpumps fail cost $105

so not actually that bad ........

but please let this be another "other" brand bashing post thread lol......put it in a pile with the 20 others this year

How much is second hand gearbox for one of those Passats vs Fielder?
How often do you have to replace gearbox on a Fielder vs Passat?
As for coils, yes skyline is somewhat prone to eat them, but say for a Fielder, how often do you have to replace the coils?
Toyota Waterpump is about same price.
As for the switch, it is an anomaly (or perhaps ex-Japan "retail" price). And since you are part specialist perhaps the prices are not that I would get if I would come up to the counter (ie retail customer)?
I know a lot of small parts from qualitat were cheap as chips, but why do you have to spend $$$ on them in first place? How many times do you have to replace a dip stick tube on a Fielder?

[Nuty|Mike]

I didnt compare gearbox prices because ive never priced a 6spd fielder box .

I was just stating a fact that parts for vw's arent as stupidly priced as everyone thinks ,all cars are known for their problems arent 3s's known for failing in some way?

I dont work for qualitat anymore and now work at a genuine dealership all prices I stated were retail ,but if anyone comes to me from here Ill hook them up .

A dipstick tube or anything plastic for that matter should only need to be replaced one in the life that you own the car and most of the ones i sell are for 10-12 year old cars.

I have to say regarding the window switch on my fielder ,the guy did say that he had never seen that type before and revised his price once he called head office .

These like any cars (other then aybe toyota) dont like not being serviced and in japan I doubt most of these get any form of servicing.

Ive only ever owned one Vw in my life and sold it to get my MR-S cant say Im standing up for thier reliability im glad they have problems it how I pay the rent.

[loudstealthGT-Four]

all cars are known for their problems arent 3s's known for failing in some way?

whaaat, no think you must be mistaken, 3S's are bulletproof