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Thinking of buying a Passat 1.9 diesel (105PS), 12 months old (Sept 2006) only 5k on the clock from a non-franchised dealer. What should I look out for and are there any characteristic faults that I need to be wary of? I've heard mixed reports of VW's reliability recently.
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I have a clone of this car with the 130PS engine and had a careful look at this vehicle with a view to keeping it as a bangernomic.
Bad:
Dealers
Documentation leading to wrong oil and cambelt change
Water pumps self-destruct
Rainwater ingress - very expensive
Front suspension - seized bolts and lots of worn joints
Electrical problems with idiot features (locks, windows)
Good:
Galvanised body
Engine efficiency (best in the class)
Engine longevity if properly treated
Pattern spares availability
Pattern diagnostic software availability (VAGCOM)
Internet knowhow on problems (Try Passat water ingress)
Availability as cheaper clones (Skoda)
Safety (includes rust resistant structure)
Best of luck. The diesel is a cracker.
659.
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Best of luck. The diesel is a cracker.
But not in 105ps form. Far too small for this car and suited only for Polo's.
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The numbers game does not reveal the true picture. I have driven a 100PS Skoda Superb and as everyday A-B transport it's absolutely fine. I settled for the 130PS version because I tow a heavy trailer.
A diesel provides a much higher proportion of its available output at lower revs than a similarly sized petrol engine. This manifests itself as greater low speed torque. (Power = torque x revs). In everyday use, a 100/105PS diesel will provide as much available power at sensible engine revs as would a much bigger petrol engine.
Try it and see - I'd be perfectly happy with the lower power engine in this chassis unhitched.
659.
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I disagree. Takes more than 12 seconds to lumber itself to 60 and weighs more than my 5 Series!
Awful.
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It is not a boy racer car and more than adequate in normal circumstances. I hired one with the 105 engine, it went so well and had loads of torque that I was sure it was the 140 engine, as well as averaging 50MPG. BTW I was comparing it with my Pug 406 110. The VW was vastly superior.
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Dad had a Y-reg in 100PS form, certainly wasn't slow. I found it a hoot to drive, probably because my own car is a Rover 214 lol
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That's the engine I've got in my Golf and when pushed, I'd say it's underpowered, even with the update it had recently. That engine in a big heavy Passat isn't going to be much cop.
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The 105 is a good lump, it has loads of torque evenly available across the rev range. In 6th or 5th it has lovely mid range pull for overtaking. This is in a brick shaped heavy Touran.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Just bought a 3 year old Passat 1.9 100bhp auto off the company, 40K miles, nothing ever gone wrong from new , showing 44mpg over the last 88 hours and 3500 miles (computer). A bit lumpy and no lack of vibration at tickover (aren't they all a bit that way?) Drives well, cruises brilliantly, plenty of torque/mid range and importantly, cheap enough to have regularly serviced at independents who rate them capable of very high mileages (200K) with nothing other than possibly a new wiring loom (£150) into the cylinder head. Before I bought it I toyed with the idea of a higher mileage BMW 320D for a bit more money but the first two BMW independents I spoke with both said if I buy at around 80K miles, have a new turbo fitted (£1300) or check it already has had one fitted because it will definitely go.
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Sorry Michael you are wrong,
Maximum power output is irrelevant to all except idiots.
What matters is useful power under normal conditions.
0-60 in 12 seconds is fast - not comparatively so, but in absolute terms more than adequate. I can't remember when I last needed to reach 60mph in 12 seconds.
Amongst the most usable cars I have had was a Carlton estate with 115bhp - 8 valves, and much more responsive in the normal range than the 130bhp Omega that replaced it.
Try a good diesel, and ditch the baseball cap.
typo edited for you - PU
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0-60 times don't mean anything, particularly with a diesel.
The PD engines have excellent bottom end and midrange grunt, which shrugs off the car's weight surprisingly well. Of course it won't win any traffic light grands prix, but it will feel lively enough in day to day use, and return somewhere around 50 mpg. Refinement and smoothness are from a previous diesel era, but there's no faulting the economy, accelerator response, torque and overall reliability (if correctly serviced) of the PD design.
Passats themselves can be problematic though, and this isn't helped by daft parts pricing. Check front suspension for knocks and clonks over bumps, check the carpets both front and rear very carefully for signs of damp or water marks, check the windows wind up and down smoothly and stay aligned as they do so, lock the car for a while and make sure the alarm doesn't go off, and slip the clutch in 1st and reverse and feel for any judder or "grab" in the clutch action. Also make sure the air-con works properly.
These are all common faults, and none are cheap to put right. The Passat is a relaxing and comfortable car to drive though, and the interior feels like that of a car costing twice as much.
Cheers
DP
--
04 Grand Scenic 1.9 dCi Dynamique
00 Mondeo 1.8TD LX
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Try a good diesel and ditch the baseball cap.
I've tried a good diesel. It was excellent. The Passat 1.9 TDI 105 is not, however, a good diesel. I stand by this. I've not driven one with the 105 engine but I have a Golf with the same engine and that was awful, so quite how it is in an even heavier Passat I shudder to think.
If you wish to buy a Passat diesel, you should do so using the 2.0 TDi 140.
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My Passat PD130 (6-speed) is going after nearly 60K miles in 4.5 years.
It's been fantastic, no electrical or mechanical issues ... apart from the well-known front suspension knuckle joint bolts which caused a £500 bill at its second MOT.
Some cars suffer with this -- and mine did / does get driven hard -- while others have no problems.
Never had a problem with water ingress from the bulkhead, but I am the only person I know who uses warm water from the hot tap and a squeegee blade to defrost the car in winter .... perhaps all the water running through the drain keeps it clear?
Just make sure all the oil services have been done by a VW dealer, this lessens the chance of the wrong oil being used ...
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Thanks for all the tips guys - I've now got my checklist to use before I part with my hard-earned!
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The new Passat (2006 and 1 year old it states in the OPs first post) in question does'nt have the suspension set up mentioned does it?
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Having driven an Audi 80 (90bhp) and Passat (110hp) for about 100,000 total, I can only echo what DP and Manatee have said. In proper tune, ample "go" especially on M-way. but also really easy to pootle along in traffic. Its not a GTI by any means, but then it never set out to be a thrash-mobile. If PoloGirls Golf doesn't at least feel strong and lively, there might be something amiss.....
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I was assuming (maybe incorrectly) that as it was '06 registered it was probably a B5.5 runout rather than a B6, especially as it is for sale in a non VW dealership. The new B6 Passat has a transverse engine - a quick look will confirm.
The B6 transverse engine cars don't have the lunatic front suspension (I'm sure VAG will never do that again). They do have interior rattles galore and electric auto handbrake which could politely be described as an acquired taste.
659.
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