passat buying advice.

**fozzie** · 09-02-2007,10:32 AM

Hi all!
I am looking at buying a VW passat, but i am a little put off by the bad reviews i keep reading! I know alot out there will tell me how good they are, which is great but iam still concerned as i like a lot of people work hard for thier money and i dont want to buy a bad example.

I was wondering which is the more reliable model to buy. 96-01 or 00-05.
Other reviews have said that the engines use 1ltr of oil for every 600 miles which apparently is acceptable. £13/ltr ouch! (im looking at the 1.9tdi)

I have seen some 96-01 advertised which show its a 130bhp, is that right. Parkers and the like, dont show this power until the latter models.

If i am going to be getting roughly the same mpg wether its the 90,100,110 or 130 Bhp, its best to get the 130bhp, Right!?

reviews have highlighted gearbox replacements, driveshafts Etc.
please help!
the reason i ask about the models is because i have to jump up by about 2 grand for the latter version and i dont know wether its worth the extra amount, especially if its not the preferred model.

I wait for your reply and thanks!

Fozzie!
PS i apologise if you have answered similar q's before!

**Eshrules** · 09-02-2007,11:26 AM

hi, welcome to the forum

take a look at the following :

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ead.php?t=5061

brief, but lists a few typical faults. as for the reliability of the passat, one thing VW tend not to be is unreliable, it is all down to personal preference. no matter what used car you buy, you will always have some problems, its the nature of the car. main things to check on a used car are the typical wear and tear items, check all suspension bushes, brake discs and pads for wear, all tyres, check all doors open and close properly with not clicks or clunks that shouldnt be there. listen to the engine when started, from cold, not when the dealer has had chance to warm it up. check your air con/climate control and all electronic functions are working properly.

the other thing i did which proved invaluable in the long run was to hook up a code reader to the OBD port, sometimes a code can be logged without the EMS light showing, eg my turbo fault which i was aware of before i bought the car, the dealership had to rectify.

the car shouldnt smoke excessively, there will always be a little smoke from a diesel, especially when you boot it, but steer clear of any big clouds

as for the power. if i am right in my understanding, the 90 & 110 bhp are VE engines, these tend to be more economical engines, the 115, 130 & 150 are the later PD engines, these tend to have a little more grunt but tend to be less economical than the VE engines.

as for the power vs mpg argument. you will certainly find that you will not get the same mpg from a 150bhp as you would from a 90bhp. the power option you go for, depends on your driving style and what kind of roads you run. if you're doing mainly town work and short journeys, the 90 would be fine, but if you're doing mainly m.way work and want a little fun, then the closer to 150 you get, the happier you will be.

the one thing that is critical on these cars is that the service history is up to scratch. ensure the timing belt and tensioner has been changed in accordance with VW guidelines, as you may find yourself on the receiving end of a very large bill.....

**davegwynn** · 09-02-2007,11:46 AM

Hi there! Welcome to the forum.

I think that many of the bad reviews refer to the very latest model Passat, the B6. It is worth reading that repository of half formed opinions that is wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Passat to get an idea of why. It seems that the B5 and B5.5 (the facelifted model after 2001) passat had a higher build quality, certainly in regard to the interior trim. There have been a fair number of complaints about the new model.

Any engine that used one litre of fuel in 600 miles surely has problems, these aren't crazy wankel rotary engines! I've got a petrol B5 and it has used negligible amounts of oil in 7K miles over a year.

I think that the higher powered diesel units return less mpg - the 90bhp is meant to be exceptionally frugal. The major difference in the two versions of the passat, if you are getting a diesel, is that the B5.5 passats were provided with more modern PD engines, which offer better economy and power. From what I have gathered they may be less happy running biofuel (*coff* vegetable oil from tescos *coff*).

Have a flick through the forums, there are a number of things to look out for when getting a passat - mileage is generally not an issue as long as the car has been regularly serviced. My car has 170K on the clock and the mechanical bits and trim look great. (I had a hyundai before that which I nurtured to 100K and was constantly falling to pieces). Checking for water ingress is a big one, wet footwells and you should walk away. There are various electronic things under the footwells which react badly to water (the computer that controls the internal electronic bits for one).

I'm sure some more diesely people will be along shortly to tell you a bit more!

**fozzie** · 09-02-2007,05:53 PM

Thanks for the replies, please keep them coming!

I was swayed by the Passat when my friend brought a G reg one at 150,000 miles and it went onto do 250,000 miles before giving up with a gearbox problem.

fozzie!

What does the REDEYE denote.
thanks!

**Wormrider** · 11-02-2007,02:00 AM

Not many oil burners have made it across the pond but here are few things us yanks find in Passats. There UCAs do wear out early on a frequent basis but repair is a fairly easy DIY. For the 1.8T engine watch out for sludge and bad coil packs. 2.8 V6s are prone to bad oil seals.

**Turkster** · 11-02-2007,03:47 AM

fozzie,

where are you and how much cash you want to spend? 90 bhp models are slugish, 110 much better and better on fuel econ than the 90, the 115 is a great model to find but much sort after so the price is more, the 110 is a great all rounder if you ask me,

**fozzie** · 11-02-2007,09:26 AM

Hi Turkster i live in herts!
Thats the thing, i have the cash £2000-3500, to buy a 96-01 model now but if the later ones are that much better in reliability,equipment etc then i will get a small loan and go up to £5 and try and get a 01 or possible 02!

thats why i was asking about which is the better model to have. Could i justify spending 2 to 3 thousand pound more for a car that is not that much better.(if you catch my drift)

So many q's sorry!
How will i know what power the engine has, is it stamped somewhere or a sticker on the engine.
I asked about the RED I thing as anyone can stick a badge on the car and say it is one, i was wondering if there is any tell tale marks that give a way a model and engine power.

thanks again!
Fozzie.