[s-cars] VW Passat 2.8 Experience

Fri Sep 10 07:14:43 PDT 2010

I had a run with one in my MRC Stage 2 UrS once at highway (+ ..!) speeds.
We were pretty even.

On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 8:45 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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