[s-cars] The Audi as a Fiat

Fri Jul 21 16:00:53 EDT 2006

My friend has one of these rare 1.8T 4motion 5sp B5 Passat Wagons.

It's a decent, if not wholly overwhelming ride. Great brakes, current VAG
feel
to the handling (slightly numb) and the 1.8T serves up adequate, at best,
performance. However, with all of the aftermarket ECU mods availible, I can
see it being a complete rocket, that is still serviceable, unlike the much
more powerful W8 model (which is slushy only).

Only downsides. Don't know what the cloth interior is like, but the
synthetic
leather, although good looking, is still synthetic, thus doesn't breathe.
It's good
for after kayaking though. And 1.8T's don't seem to come with climate
control,
so cabin environment is less stable, temp wise.

My mom has a 2.8 30V Tip 4motion Passat. A  bit more stylish interior wise,
with
climate control. A bit more torque (but essentially no tunability) from the
V6. Nice
car, but hardly a sport wagon. Decent leather, but all of the light colors
tend to show
dirt.

LL - NY

On 7/21/06, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> No, the Passat 1.8T is longitudinal orientation in the B5 chassis cars.
>
> '04 or '04.5 Passat 4Motions were available with a 5-speed manual and
> 1.8Tcombo, but it was a very rare combo in wagon form.
>
> Taka
>
>
> On 7/21/06, Pasqualoni, James E <james.pasqualoni at gs.com> wrote:
> >
> > The first and biggest issue IMO is that the 1.8t motor is horizontally
> > opposed in orientation and therefore utilizes the Haldex AWD system, not
> > Torsen.  Too much front bias unless you do the Haldex ecu mod.
> > Furthermore, I don't know that any 5-sp 4M Wagons were imported, just
> > sedans, and only for 1 model yr.  My wife drives an 03 B5.5 Pussat 4M V6
> > mit Torsen.  *BUT* it's a slush-box.  In 50k miles, all I've done
> > (besides oil changes/air filters, etc) are rear pads and rotors.  Rock
> > solid (knock on wood).  Car will literally drive sideways in winter for
> > as long as you want it to.  Actually quite tossable in the snow.
> >
> > Just my $.02
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
> > [mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf Of hoog23 at aol.com
> > Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 9:21 AM
> > To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> > Subject: Re: [s-cars] The Audi as a Fiat
> >
> > Sort of back on original topic.  (I'm just going to throw this out there
> > so not too many flames please.)
> >
> > Anyone ever consider a b5.5 Passat 4motion 5-spd?
> >
> > Yes underpowered compared to a stock UrS car but its about the same size
> > and its got quattro.
> >
> > Maybe with a chip, A8 brake upgrade and different suspension it would be
> > acceptible?  Mileage would be better.
> >
> > Did vw ever get the quality issues worked out with the later years?  My
> > wife had a '98 1.8t when it first came out and ended up being a
> > maintenance nightmare (nick named it the POSsat).  The warranty back
> > then was only like 2yrs/24k.  Control arms, water leaking into cabin
> > (sound familiar) and even the radiator went at less than 50k.  Best
> > thing about that car was the brakes were actually pretty good.  In the
> > end I couldn't give it away.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pkrasusky at ups.com
> > To: s-car-list at audifans.com
> > Cc: wmahoney at disk.com; stevevoit at comcast.net
> > Sent: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:48 AM
> > Subject: Re: [s-cars] The Audi as a Fiat
> >
> >
> >
> > Steve nailed it and Baloney 2nd'd:
> >
> > <<<Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:36:49 -0500
> > From: "Bill Mahoney" <wmahoney at disk.com>
> > Subject: [s-cars]  The Audi as a Fiat +danger Will Robinson
> > To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> >
> > SteVo,
> >
> > A very nice dribble of wordsmithing you have made here.  I couldn't have
> > said it better myself.  In fact I was thinking of writing something
> > similar, but let's just go with yours.  Yes.
> >
> > I must add that some of those new Alfa's, due here by the next decade,
> > remind us why we like curvy styling and things that go along with it.
> >
> > Also-
> >
> > There may never be another Sfest so don't miss the opportunity to attend
> > what could be the finale and put some faces with the banter.  "Sometimes
> > ya just gotta say, shoot; I'm goin'"
> >
> > Bill~bad gas mileage and tires that wear too quickly~M>>>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Steve-
> >
> > Couldn't have said any of it any better.  I esp. like your quote of
> > they're all turning left while you're going straight ahead.  Amazes me
> > the mfg's don't frickin LISTEN.  I've been beating this same drum pretty
> > hard here lately too.  Trying to think of UrS replacement options and it
> > ain't easy.  Nothing compares, esp. in feel - all new cars lack this
> > especially lately.
> >
> > And all the new crap is filled to the max with fart sensors and electro
> > doodads no one gives a flying F about.  You all might remember my quote
> > about sitting in der neu //S8 @ the Streets of Tomorrow RS4 event.  We
> > all sat in it and looked around in marvel / bewilderment of the sheer
> > GLUT of frickin 'things' they cram into that car.  And I started keenly
> > pointing out "that won't work in a year, that in two, this in three, and
> > heck this within weeks".  Answers to questions nobody friggin asked, I
> > say.  Our BMW flogs at the Tit Event further evidenced this fact,
> > they're near the worst offenders.  Coupled with Bangleisms they've lost
> > me for good unless they change course.  Benz is in same boat, I always
> > find humor in chatting with the Service Advisors about the 'issues'
> > they're seeing on the new ones.  SCARY - no thanks.
> >
> > And all those 'features' adds up to money, weight, crap reliability, and
> > over complexity that you cannot fix yourself, nor cheaply.  WTF?  Buy
> > one of these out of warranty in a few years?  HA!  Finance companies
> > better start writing 30 year notes on these things to afford the
> > maintenance.
> >
> > Craig Lebakken cracked me up yesterday off list.  He went ahead and did
> > the absurd.  Bought himself a near showroom perfect '72 GMC Jimmy from a
> > one owner little old lady who used it to tow horses.  Except the hood
> > that the horse literally bit, it its a complete unbelievable time
> > capsule.  I'd been saying that recently, instead of spending $8-20k on a
> > replacement car of recent vintage, I'm totally tempted to buy some sort
> > of time capsule or restoration from the glory days.  Kudos to Craig, I
> > say.  Trendsetter, and, what a score he found.
> >
> > Mfg's need to stop spending R&D $ on useless junk and spend R&D on
> > making a f'n window switch that works longer than 90 days or turbos that
> > blow every 40k or or or or or.  And I suggest taking this retrotrend of
> > recent a few steps further...  make a new car retro, in that it's
> > de-optioned.  We want less frills, less weight, less $, and less
> > complexity / things to go wrong.  John Q. Public does, too... they just
> > don't know it as they're fleeced by the marketeers who tell them the
> > latest they 'must have'.
> >
> > Wish some sort of 'movement' would be started toward this end.
> > Unfortunately I'm not delusional (well, OK I am but not in this regard)
> > and know it'll get far worse before slightly better - if at all.  I find
> > myself sounding like some old codger who shuns technology and is afraid
> > of change - and I'm only 33!  While I'm not afraid of it, I'm afraid of
> > the direction the mfg's have chosen to take it.
> >
> > And...  don't ask what I'll be replacing my car with.  You'll never
> > guess, won't believe, and won't accept it as unghey - but - I don't
> > care.  We'll see what happens, when the time comes.
> >
> > -Paul
> >
> >
> > ps.  Baloney does make a good //SFest point...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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