[s-cars] VW Passat 2.8 Experience

Thu Sep 9 16:56:55 PDT 2010

Not having had a Passat I did have a C5 A6 with the 2.8 30v and also had a close friend with a 2002ish Passat 4Mo from new to 90k or something like that.  Both engine and car extremely boring compared to the UrS. Recognizing wives priorities can be different (my wife equally hates the Battlewagen especially since it left me stranded a few weeks ago) that might be fine.  

But factually common issues I and my friend both had with the 30v: coils, O2 sensors and/or cats, instrument cluster, and some mix of the variety of leaky sealy stuff Brian mentioned. Then he had some other fussy interior or comfort related bits go wrong which I fail to remember all the details of.

In that vein I'd go 1.8T/2.0T A4 Avant 10 times out of 10. Despite being "same platform" as A6 and Passat, the A4 somehow has a ton more soul and the little turbo 4 is much more rewarding than the dull 6. Better mileage too. And with a mild chip will be just as fast if not more than the mind numbingly boring 30v, yet is still highly reliable.    

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On Sep 10, 2010, at 2:25, brian hoeft <qweblog at gmail.com> wrote:

> The ATQ has a timing BELT.
> 
> From 75-150k expect more than nickles and dimes.
> 
> Coolant and oil leaks have plenty of places to arise from and more likely
> than not, will happen. Cam plugs, seals, valve cover(s), coolant lines,
> metal line o-ring headaches, valley pan gasket, transmission problems, ABS
> pump failures (typically the electronic half, not hydraulic). Instrument
> cluster issues. EPC faults. I could go on.
> 
> My opinion of them is very low due to first hand experience.
> 
> Your S6 sounds like it needs a good chunk of change to be brought up to
> snuff, and would then be a keeper compared to the 2.8 Passat.
> 
> Of course, you could appease her current dislike for the S and then once
> acquired the Passat that is a never ending money pit,  and once it too late,
> reminisce on just how dependable and servicable the S6 was.
> 
> I service these particular cars a lot and everyone that has one is either
> looking to get rid of it or already has.
> 
> Caveat emptor! Aaron
> 
> -Brian
> 
> 
> On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 11:58 AM, AaronT <atay101 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Thanks everyone for your insight
>> I should have mentioned - My interest in the passat is to replace my Avant
>> which has essentially ended up in my wifes hands and she is tired of the
>> "nickles and dimes".
>> With my job ive been taking the bus or riding my bike and the only time I
>> drive seems to be when we are out of town on the weekend camping / riding
>> etc and for that we use the camper van. (Ford diesel - 160Kmi NOTHIING
>> needed except brakes for the duration)
>> So...performace concerns with the passat are understood coming from this
>> crowd but she could basically care less.
>> My concerns are with longevity and maintenance costs.
>> I  understand the V6's run a timing chain so 60k mi timing belt changes are
>> a thing of the past.
>> Anything else significant to look forward to on the path from 75k to 150k+
>> mi?
>> Cheers
>> Aaron
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 9:09 AM, LL - NY <larrycleung at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Maybe it's just Passats, since my buddie's Passat seems to be just as
>>> recalcitrant. New batteries and the subsequent reset is all.
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 11:03 AM, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I wonder if you have issues with your keys- my mom's beetle has been
>> fine
>>>> and the old a4 never had any issue with the key.
>>>> 
>>>> Did you try fresh batteries and resyncing the keys?
>>>> 
>>>> On Sep 9, 2010 8:30 AM, "LL - NY" <larrycleung at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> I can chime in on my experience with my Mom's 2001.5 GLX 4mo Wagon
>> (same
>>>>> car, for the most part as an '03 I think some features change,
>>>>> otherwise it's another post facelift (still B5) car. 2.8 V6 30V).
>>>>> 
>>>>> Beware, the car is of very low miles (Mom doesn't travel much, just
>>>> local
>>>>> driving) and it's been through a number of hits (one fairly severe) as
>>>> Mom
>>>>> also doesn't drive real well.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Overall, competent vehicle, pleasant enough of a drive. For spirited
>>>> driving
>>>>> if you're used to UrS thrust, well, it doesn't have it. It has
>> perfectly
>>>>> adequate pull, but the very act of spirited driving highlights it's
>> one
>>>>> biggest flaw, Tiptronic. In regular driving, it's fine, virtually
>>>>> transparent. In spirited driving, it's slow to kickdown (even with
>>>> manual
>>>>> selection) fast to shift up, will not hold at redline and it's got a
>> low
>>>> rev
>>>>> stall speed (for the weak low down torque, this works against getting
>> a
>>>> good
>>>>> launch, say, like trying to get into heavy fast traffic from a side
>>>> street).
>>>>> Due to the pedal interlock, you can't LFB.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Problems (car has less than 30K miles), running wise, essentially
>> none.
>>>> Only
>>>>> real problem is the stereo head unit, which has now the standard VAG
>>>> issues,
>>>>> (display winks out, first it was the backlight, now when the actual
>>>> display
>>>>> goes out) the only control that works is the power switch on the head
>>>> unit
>>>>> and the steering wheel controls. All other head unit controls go AWOL
>>>> when
>>>>> the display is out. You can sometimes restore the display (thus
>> control)
>>>> by
>>>>> pressing on the face of the unit, but this obviously is not going to
>>>> last
>>>>> forever. The unit is a Typhoon, but doesn't have the CD changer out
>>>> back.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Car has held up fairly well considering that Mom doesn't really care
>>>> about
>>>>> cars at all, and it's condition at any time kind of shows it. A good
>>>>> cleaning would bring everything back (i.e. the materials, inside and
>> out
>>>>> hold up well except the exterior brightwork, which is getting the VAG
>>>>> "milky" patina) except for the dents that have nothing to do with the
>>>> car.
>>>>> As a DD, it's nicer (I think) and a much better drive than say a
>> similar
>>>>> vintage Camry. Still, it doesn't have quite the same verve as the UrS
>>>> when
>>>>> the roads get interesting. I guess the best word I can think of for it
>>>> was
>>>>> the first one I used...competent. And perhaps more reliable than a C4
>>>> car.
>>>>> It IS much more dependent on diagnostics and system changes on
>> VAG-COM.
>>>>> 
>>>>> My local friend has a 2003 1.8T 5sp 4mo Wagon (rare!) and the only
>> real
>>>>> issues he has had (car has well over 100K miles on it now) has been
>> the
>>>> door
>>>>> locks, and brakes (although he has a dirt driveway. Mom's car is
>>>> garaged).
>>>>> BOTH cars suffer from the most irritating remote key controls on the
>>>> planet.
>>>>> It's like Forrest Gump's box of choclates. You press a button and ya
>>>> never
>>>>> know if it's gonna work. If it were me, and nothing of value was in
>> the
>>>> car,
>>>>> I'd leave the damn thing unlocked...oh, you can't. The stupid hatch
>> will
>>>>> lock anyway. It's like the car's remote and locking functions were
>>>> designed
>>>>> by and for...Americans.
>>>>> 
>>>>> HTH,
>>>>> On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 12:16 AM, AaronT <atay101 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sorry folks but another non scar question -
>>>>>> Anybody have any direct experience with a 2003 VW passat 4Mo wagon
>>>> (2.8v6)?
>>>>>> Still looking for a reasonable replacement for my 95S6Avant....
>>>>>> Which by the way has been rather trouble free lately - famous last
>>>> words.
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>> Aaron
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> 
> 
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