what a great car !!

[crunchynutter]

Hi

I normally look on this forum at least twice a week just to see if anyone has had the(few) problems I have had, my car a 2001 1.9tdi 130 sport estate has given me little reason to complain in the five years I’ve owned it, some small problems with alarm going off , injector loom, door microswitch and cloudy headlights.Looking at other sections of the forum the B5.5 seems to be a lot less problematic than other models (the early B6 with the well documented injectors)sure it has its faults, wet carpets and all the related problems seem to be the most common but once you are aware of this it’s an easy fix. I had an Audi before the Passat a brilliant car so was happy to stay with the marque and will almost certainly buy another, you can browse the web for other manufacturer forums which like this one are full of people complaining about the problem car they wish they had never bought, I must have been lucky with mine, recommend VW to a friend? Yes, but with some reservations.

Just a positive post about a very good car

[caldirun]

Hi

I normally look on this forum at least twice a week just to see if anyone has had the(few) problems I have had, my car a 2001 1.9tdi 130 sport estate has given me little reason to complain in the five years I’ve owned it, some small problems with alarm going off , injector loom, door microswitch and cloudy headlights.Looking at other sections of the forum the B5.5 seems to be a lot less problematic than other models (the early B6 with the well documented injectors)sure it has its faults, wet carpets and all the related problems seem to be the most common but once you are aware of this it’s an easy fix. I had an Audi before the Passat a brilliant car so was happy to stay with the marque and will almost certainly buy another, you can browse the web for other manufacturer forums which like this one are full of people complaining about the problem car they wish they had never bought, I must have been lucky with mine, recommend VW to a friend? Yes, but with some reservations.

Just a positive post about a very good car

You forgot to mention your driveshaft gaiters, V71 air-recirc flap, alternator pulley/belt tensioner, window lift/lower cable snapping, must have slipped your mind or have you not done many miles?
All in all I must agree, a good car and a pleasure to drive, that is why I have 2.

[crunchynutter]

so far, touch wood, not had any of those problems and car just about to go to 140k.
like i said there is not a manufacture out there that is perfect just some that are less perfect than others.
VW are good, by no means the best but good just the same

[analyst]

Mine is 2004 with 167,000 on clock (but I know many in here will easily beat that) and it drives like it just came out of the showroom.
However, on those points mentioned:

• driveshaft gaiters - yes
• V71 air-recirc flap - no
• alternator pulley/belt tensioner - no
• window lift/lower cable snapping - no

In fact, it is still running on the original exhaust, not sure if that's normal but maybe someone will tell me. But 8 years/167K for an exhaust, and still going strong, quite impressed me.

One point on the driveshaft gaiters. I'd had them replaced by a (usually good) independent garage, didn't specifically check after though. Took it for an MOT to the local council depot - I don't trust any garage to do an honest MOT any more, but I have to say the council guys are really excellent.

He failed it and advised me as follows: "I see you've recently had the gaiters replaced but they used cable ties instead of the proper circlips, which are included in the standard kit anyway. These will slip off and let the grease be thrown out causing premature joint failure."

In that sense he was doing me a favour by failing it. I got them fixed right and taken for a retest, no charge. So just to advise any newbie reading this, if you get the gaiters done, don't let them get away with using cable ties. It's shoddy practice simply for their ease and convenience, but it could cost you dearly in the long run.

[zollaf]

8 year old exhaust eh, my 80 has its original one and its 17 years old and done 305k. so no, your 8 year old one does not impress me in the slightest

[Sam]

I've owned it since 2004, I'm just approaching 100k miles and I stopped babying it around 2007/8 when I realised it's just a car.

Work done that wasn't for vanity purposes or routine servicing

• Oil cooler
• Front pipe (manifold to flex joint)
• Two offside inner CV joints and one nearside inner CV joint
• Minor CCM repair (bonnet switch) due to water ingress
• Two passenger (replaced twice due to idiot ebay seller) and one driver window cable replacements.

and that's it.

It's returning a manually calculated 35 > 40mpg every run, without fail, it doesn't squeak or rattle and it still has enough balls to make me smile now and then.

No idea why I'm still here really

8 year old exhaust eh, my 80 has its original one and its 17 years old and done 305k. so no, your 8 year old one does not impress me in the slightest

I believe this is known as a 'Kiss of Death'

[analyst]

8 year old exhaust eh, my 80 has its original one and its 17 years old and done 305k. so no, your 8 year old one does not impress me in the slightest

I knew it . . . as soon as I posted that I just knew it, along comes a Shania Twain fan

[staceface]

My mum uses one of these as a taxi. 2004, '54 plate estate pd130 etc and she used it as her personal car too. This vehicle has been superb work horse, driven all around the UK and has now ventured well into the 200k+ mark. The only major repair that it has undergone is the turbo went about 4k ago. Still original exhaust too! I find it a very comfortable car to drive on long distance, and has some good pulling power. When this hits its ten year age limit as a taxi I will be very sad to see her go! So I indeed agree... What a great car!

[zollaf]

I believe this is known as a 'Kiss of Death'

funnily enough, i thought it was rotten at the back, so had a closer look. it had to come off anyway to fit my boy racer tailpipes. turns out the back box is double skinned. the outer skin was a mess so i peeled it off to reveal shiny stainless underneath

and as for being a shania twain fan, dont be stupid.

[zollaf]

anyway, gotta go, i feel like a woman.... back soon.