[s-cars] VW Passat 2.8 Experience

Fri Sep 10 06:03:49 PDT 2010

Definitely no worse than that piece of crap rear-timing-chained 4.2 that you
have in the A6 4.2 and the S4.

I just saw an '05 S4 come out of the shop with a $9k job because the chain
tensioners fail on the 4.2, regularly, even with a well-maintained not
abused car.

Taka

On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 9:00 AM, Joshua Van Tol <josh at spiny.com> wrote:

> They have some durability issues with the cam chains on those engines.
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 7:45 AM, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> If you don't mind having a really weird engine, go look for a 2004 VW
>> Passat
>> W8 4Motion with a stick- they're out there. There was one at my mechanic's
>> shop yesterday. No more rare than a 200q20v Avant. :-)
>>
>> They're not slow- they have 280hp IIRC, so pretty nice in that regard.
>> They
>> also have the B5 S4tt's brakes, so they can stop.
>>
>> Taka
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 9, 2010 at 7:56 PM, JC <jc at j2c3.com> wrote:
>>
>> > 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.
>> >
>> > __________________________
>> > John Cunningham
>> >
>> > US Mobile +1 (617) 750-5025
>> > China +86(0)136 6080 9560
>> >
>> > Sent from iPad
>> >
>> > 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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>> > >>>
>> > >>>
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>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > --
>> > > http://208.53.138.125:8068/
>> > > [blinders off&earplugs out]
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