I am considering a vw passat diesel and just wondered if they are fully galvanised also whether to consider a skoda and same question applies
also which skoda compares with a passat size wise?
any other like sized diesels I should look at ?
all advice welcome thank you
|
Most VAG cars from the mid 90s are fully galvanised. The exceptions seem to be some Polos which can rust profusely. These could be a product of some factory in a far flung corner of the VAG empire.
The Passat is fully galvanised and the Skoda equivalent is the Superb (equivalent to the "old" B5.5 Passat). The Superb has the advantage of an extra 4" in the wheelbase which translates to a surprisingly useful amount of extra legroom. It too is fully galvanised as stated in the sales literature.
If you are seriously considering a Superb there are a few snags. There is no estate and models before MY '05 (10th digit in VIN) do not have folding rear seats. Diesels after '06 have a particulate filter which has a high maintenance cost overhead and gets blocked if your driving regimen doesn't suit it. Assuming you want the 4 cyl 1.9 PD engine (the Chancellor may by now have convinced you) there is only about a 6 to 9 month production window of cars which have the folding seats and no DPF. I managed to find one.
Car fine. VAG UK representation unspeakable to the point of suspected dishonesty.
659.
|
659 thanks for that reply .there are a few A6 audi avants around but seem very over priced so will leave them alone ,a few passat 1.9 diesel estates at what might be reasonable money (why are they all silver)and I might have found an 05 which will suit my beloved and be a bit easier on fuel than her volvo .
I will have another look at skodas now that I know a bit more about similar models ,again my thanks
|
If you get a Passat / Superb PD, expect to get mid-40s mpg on average over a year (mixed driving).
They are a very, very good car, their qualities really do grow on you.
The one thing to listen out for is a clonking noise from the front suspension over small bumps, signalling a failed upper ball-joint. If you hear this, cut your offer by £1000 or walk away.
It's at least £400 each side parts & labour to replace in order to pass the MOT, it's a notorious Achilles heel of the Passat, Superb and Audi A6 caused by penny-pinching.
Some cars suffer, others don't, but you don't want to get stuck with the bill!
|
Fair comments above. I don't think the front suspension problems were actually caused by penny pinching - it's all well made. The design is bonkers.
With high torque diesels in the engine bay, torque steer was obviously an issue and the complex 4 link suspension was their "solution". It does work (there is virtually no torque steer with these cars) but at the cost of insane geometry giving rise to high level of stress in the joints. Just to ice the cake, the bolts fixing these joints to the knuckle are unplated and exposed to road spray - they rust in solidly. I take mine out and grease them each year; it only takes 10 minutes and can be done with the wheel on and the car on the ground.
The later cars were fitted with larger ball joints but this does not help a flawed design. I think jacking the front wheels with the steering when stationary will knock these joints out very quickly. There are plenty of pattern spares available...
659.
|
Agreed, apart from they could / should have used a zinc-plated (or stainless) pinch bolt to hold it all together .... then it might not rust in solidly!
They must save at least 2 cents per car by using unplated bolts ....
|
|
If you can hang on I believe that there is a new Superb out this year? And an estate to come......
|
And the new Superb is both a saloon and hatchback - i.e. the same car can open up with a boot or hatchback. They are not different models. Quite clever if you ask me.
Some pictures on this Autoexpress webpage.
tinyurl.com/yor55p
|
|
|
|
also which skoda compares with a passat size wise
The Superb is built on the same floor pan s as the Passat but is a larger car. The Octavia, whilst built on the Golf floor pan is not actually much smaller than the Passat
|
"The Superb is built on the same floor pan s as the Passat "
The current Superb is built on a stretched version of the previous Passat (B3?). It is quite a bit longer. In fact it's based on the platform meant for the stretched Passat that never made it anywhere apart from China. There is way more legroom in the rear of the Superb.
|
There is way more legroom in the rear of the Superb.
Agree but the originall question was "which Skoda compares size wise with a Passat". The Octavia is probably closer in size to the Passat than is the Superb.
|
Are you sure they're 'fully galvanised'? I thought they were made from galvanised sheet, rather than galvanised after the production of the body. There's a big difference.
The dipped body will not rust. The sheet can still rust around the edges, seams and welds.
|
some good points here and as it is a range I dont know about all info welcome
thought I had found a good deal but dont know if I can live with cream leather and carpets
thanks again
|
Dave, galvanising is not like paint. Pressing car panels from zinc coated steel is perfectly valid and the edges will not rust appreciably because the zinc offers sacrificial anodic protection. It's a good process which works as long as you know how to weld it and paint it. Some manufacturers (Rover) never got there, others (largely American based) don't always use coated steel in all areas.
Your dustbin is now one of the last refuges of the hot dip process - try painting it to car standards!
Defender, what did you find with cream leather and carpets? My Superb has black cloth and black carpets with really nicely detailed removable carpet mats with locking turnbuckles. As it's my towcar, it's just as well.
659.
|
and if it's the previous model Passat that you like make sure that it has had the pollen filter modification. If it hasn't, chances are that you'll have a car full of water if the bulkhead drains get blocked.
My last car was a Passat. I loved it but the dealers never really did enough to persuade me to buy the latest model.
|
|
|
|
Asking which Skoda compares in size to a Passat needs to also say which Passat. The new Passat is a lot bigger than the previous Passat and therefore the current/old Superb closer in size. The new Superb is based on the current platform.
Indeed the current VW Passat, VW Golf, Audi A3, Skoda Octavia and various SEATs are now all based on the same platform. Obviously the current Passat platform is stretched. The old Passat/Superb shared many parts and engine layout with the Audi A4/A6 of the time./
If we're comparing current Skoda Octavia to previous Passat then similar size.
|
659 it was a passat highline model on a 54 plate ,if it had been grey I would have bought it. I have been looking but no reasonable milage skodas within 100 miles to be found at a keen price
rtj70,looking at 54/05 passat or skoda up to £10k but being a true scotsman want to spend a bit less and thought maybe something with around 60k miles which has just had a new timing belt service ,is that when it would be done ?
Edited by defender on 17/03/2008 at 22:15
|
|
|
|
|
|
