Which Passat

[jiffy176]

Hi all.
Looking to buy a Passat Estate as our new family car as it is one of the only cars we have found that can fit me driving and our daughters stage 1 rear facing car seat.
I have read lots about them, wife will use for pottering about during the week and then family trips when I am off.
My question is what engine to go for.
Performance is not an issue as I have a Volvo D5 that has been remapped so I can play in that.
However I am fairly desperate to avoid a dpf where possible as wife is unlikely to go far enough to regen and have read about injector problems on the 2.0 diesel.
I am left with the options of either the petrol engines or the 1.9 diesel. I think.

Diesel would be preferred but which is best, are they any good.
Do both petrol and derv suffer from DMF failure?

Your thoughts please

[johnloaderuk]

For reliability and economy go for a 1.9 TDI SE or later model Highline if finances allow. The 1.9 is easily the most reliable and also more economical.

The Bluemotion 1.9 TDI model has a DPF. The 1.9 TDI is obviously slower than the newer 2.0 TDI but perfectly adequate, but as you say this isn't an issue. I think all newer CR TDI's have a DPF.

Although DMF's can go I've had VW TDI's since 1999 and haven't had one go yet, all of the cars I've had have covered at least 100k each, one went to 215k before I got rid of it, with no problems from the DMF. Also the diesel will hold more value than the petrol models (1.6, 2.0) when it's time to sell, but you have to weigh that up against how many miles you think you'll cover in it against fuel costs etc, and how much it costs in the first place, as the petrols are cheaper but much rarer.

Happy car hunting.

[esse_esse]

For reliability and economy go for a 1.9 TDI SE or later model Highline if finances allow. The 1.9 is easily the most reliable and also more economical.

The Bluemotion 1.9 TDI model has a DPF. The 1.9 TDI is obviously slower than the newer 2.0 TDI but perfectly adequate, but as you say this isn't an issue. I think all newer CR TDI's have a DPF.

Although DMF's can go I've had VW TDI's since 1999 and haven't had one go yet, all of the cars I've had have covered at least 100k each, one went to 215k before I got rid of it, with no problems from the DMF. Also the diesel will hold more value than the petrol models (1.6, 2.0) when it's time to sell, but you have to weigh that up against how many miles you think you'll cover in it against fuel costs etc, and how much it costs in the first place, as the petrols are cheaper but much rarer.

Happy car hunting.

Basically yeah that it's all down to spec now, SE/HIGHLINE if I had the money Highline would be the one for me but hey I don't so me S model will do me nicely

[johnloaderuk]

Basically yeah that it's all down to spec now, SE/HIGHLINE if I had the money Highline would be the one for me but hey I don't so me S model will do me nicely

That's a very good point, as there may be some bargain (or cheaper) S models out there somewhere, which is still a very nice car.

[patomlin76]

re: petrol or diesel, as JLUK says, it depends on what your budget is now (petrol models are cheaper but rarer) and whether you want to take into account resale value. If you intend to keep the car for a few years until the value bottoms out, it won't matter so much. However if you're looking at changing it in 2 to 3 years diesel will hold value better (from what i've seen around £500-£1000 against a like-for-like petrol)... Running costs will all depend on the type of driving you do, how you like to drive, and obviously pump prices (pretty variable at the moment!)

I'm sure whichever model and trim level you go for you'll love the car. Two kids later I'm wishing I'd plumped for an estate, though it would have been more expensive than the saloon... I'm having to consider a roof-box now for holidays...

[esse_esse]

re: petrol or diesel, as JLUK says, it depends on what your budget is now (petrol models are cheaper but rarer) and whether you want to take into account resale value. If you intend to keep the car for a few years until the value bottoms out, it won't matter so much. However if you're looking at changing it in 2 to 3 years diesel will hold value better (from what i've seen around £500-£1000 against a like-for-like petrol)... Running costs will all depend on the type of driving you do, how you like to drive, and obviously pump prices (pretty variable at the moment!)

I'm sure whichever model and trim level you go for you'll love the car. Two kids later I'm wishing I'd plumped for an estate, though it would have been more expensive than the saloon... I'm having to consider a roof-box now for holidays...


The whole reason why I got a passat other than thinking they looked alright from very early on was that when I drove one on hire it was an estate and even though I would not need the space it was brilliant imho

[logiclee]

I think all newer CR TDI's have a DPF.


Yep they have. VAG have been on record saying Euro5 engines should not have DPF issues even with consistant town driving. From memory I believe the statement was made due to DPF equipped CR's now finding their way into superminis like the Polo and Fabia.
VW have yet to drop the "Inner City driving does not provide ideal conditions for the use of a DPF" from the Passat brochure though.

Cheers
Lee