27 replies to this topic

[Mangham54]

Hey, With the possibility of same significant business mileage coming my way I am wondering whether a change to a diesel saloon is going to be a wise move. For a small amount I can swap the MG ZR I have for a '52 VW Passat S 1.9 TDi (100 bhp). Now my guess would be to tickle the 50mpg mark easily on the motorway to and from Lomdon, Newcastle and the SouthWest. Whereas the MG scrapes 40MPG if I am driving carefully. So I wondered if anyone has had any experience of the Passat especially the 1.9 PDI engined vehicles and whether there is a non-chav owners forum to do a bit more research. Many thanks, Mangham54

[robin]

got a golf 1.9 tdi (100bhp) and that returns 54-56 mpg easily around island so on a motorway your get better than that also is a nice engine with enough pull when needed, only got it as a cheap run around with it being lower bhp engine. im sure you could chip it for some more bhp but fine as is for cheap motoring

[slindborg]

I have (well ok SWMBO) a PD130 1.9 B5.5 wagon. Shes a high miler but a damn fine lady. I was 100% skeptical about getting a VW as I've been put off VAG's by the A3 being a tedious horrid car imho. Anyway the Passat B5.5 has blown me away in how much of a good car it is. On a run it will do low 50's with the A/C on and mid 50's with it off Round towny stuff is anywhere between 40 and 50mpg. The 130 is surprisingly rapid for a big bus of a car We have the double Din monochrome satnav, and while the its a little user unfriendly, its definitely the minimum toy spec you want (you can get a colour one too) All I've had to change thus far is the oil (stick to VW quantum or branded VW stuff) + filter, the brake pads and also had to change the radiator but that was due to a hole in it and frankly that was the easiest job I've ever had to do UK passats is a tolerable forum but tbh its a bit sow in terms of getting real technical responses. Get a VAGCOM or borrow one to set a few things up like antihijack locking and some other extra tweaks that the BMS permits. I've shown a few cars a clean set of heels down twisties in it too with no drama as you just have to know the road and set the car upwell before the bend Only odd/irritating thing is the insurance seems high for what it is

[Mangham54]

Cheers for the comments... Randomly I thought the Passat to be strangely average on insurance... Even more strange was the insurance costs of the peugeot diesels as they were silly money. I started by looking at a '57 reg Golf and Passat, but having seen a smart looking 2002 car, with verified equivalent mileage for £6k less It made me start to wonder. I had considered the likes of the Saab 9-3 1.9 TiD and the Ford Mundane... But something kept drawing me back towards Passat. To be honest I would prefer the SE spec or higher, but really don't like black leather seats that some of the high spec cars are fitted with. When all said and done I am just looking for a comfortable, reliable workhouse that doesn't feel bargain basement. I did wander towards the ukpassats site and was immediately put off by the front page... Shouldn't really be so anti-boy-racer but unfortunately I am.

[slindborg]

I think all VW sites have that 'style' of front page in that all VW's by law must be sitting near the floor on crap coilovers, run wheels with tyres stretched over them and other sh** adorning them I think ours is an SE, but with cloth interior and tbh its damn comfy. I'd never opt for leather in a car unless its purely on the bolsters/high wear areas.

[CocoPops]

I run a B6 DSG estate as my daily driver, love it. Munches the miles. Would deffo have another DSG car.

[Ouchie]

My mum has one that age from new. Sport version with 6 speed box. Nearly 100k on the clock and should keep going for a few more years. Very comfy.

[Mangham54]

Had a look at this car in my lunch and seemed to drive nicely and the engine still pulled well and ran smoothly. However the garage owner had mentioned an issue with the brakes before I went through that he is going to get sorted when it has a new MOT on it. It is a weird one, at 10mph+ and you press gently the car decelerates smoothly, but for the last few yards (or if you press a bit harder) there is a distinct vibration from the brake pedal as well as a weird noise to go with it. Going to have another look at it when I have a bit more time before going any further... It is not a sensation that I am used to. Would a duff or clogged tooth on the hub lead to the ABS having a moment and thinking a wheel was skidding? Also how would a warped disc effect the car... I would have thought it would do it everytime you braked, rather than in the last few yards or randomly under heavier braking. I appreciate that this would be better posted on the ukpassats site, but the feckers won't let me in... As the registration page keeps saying something is wrong with me application.

[CocoPops]

Try.... The VWAudiForum http://www.vwaudifor...y.php?11-Passat I use the B6 forum there. Seems a little lessy chavvy than ukpassats. Cheers, Lee

[slindborg]

Warped discs (very rare for discs to REALLY be warped) would show at all speeds, but worse at high speed. The brakes on the B5/5.5 are massively over servoed and actually give you the feeling that the master cylinder is duff I'd say it sounds like the ABS is intervening for some reason. Was there any ABS warning light on to infer an iffy sensor etc. VAGCOM would tell you pretty much immediately what was wrong. Look at more cars.

[Mangham54]

No warning lights at all... But they do come on as they should when starting the car - so it isn't because the bulb isn't there Popped back after work today to have a second 'chat'. The garage will get it sorted, whatever it is and get the MOT centre to list exactly what was up and verify it has had whatever is recommnded done. As for the rest of the car - it is a 9yo car... But there is proof of the cambelt change (in the last 2years / 20k miles) so should be good for another 30-40k. The shock was the part-ex valuation on the MG... Put it this way it was a few quid more than I had expected... No deal done yet - got some more shopping to do first. But fook me... VX220 to Diesel Passat - talk about sideways step

[Jimmo]

I had a petrol B5.5 Passat 2.0SE for about 3 years and covered huge miles with it. 2.0 unit was punchy enough but nightmare fuel consumption. Mechanically the car was extremely reliable and ran like new at 140K on the clock. In the end I got rid due to worsening electrical problems caused by the dreaded and notorious pollen filter fault. Water seeps in at bonnet, tracks back to the rear floor pan and saturates the module located between the floor pan and the carpet. All sorts of gremlins started giving me problems as a result of this. But I could have suffered them as the car was still usable however the mpg ended it for me. I then bought a 2007 B6 Passat which I still have. Again, mechanically very reliable but I've been having problems with the electronic handbrake, lights and other endless electrical gremlins which should not be happening on a car like this. This is the 1.9TDi and munches the motorway miles. On trips to the east midlands I'm getting 55mpg. Correct me if i'm wrong but I think this is the same unit that was used in the earlier B5/B5.5 so I would say the fuel con should be in the same ball park. Between me and my father we have owned 5 variants of passat between 1991 and 2009, all have had no end of electrical problems, leccy windows packing up, switches burning out, air con units giving up, with the exception of my B5.5, all of these cars were brand new/ nearly new when bought. From experience with the many problems encountered I would say don't go anywhere near them! But that said, in essential terms, they are very reliable, if you can tolerate the nuisance items. PS: Jumping into the VX220 after 3-4 week stints in the Passat can be quite exciting even though I've had the VX for over 5 years. So the Passat does its job I suppose.

Edited by Jimmo, 20 August 2011 - 08:57 PM.

[Mangham54]

Ooops... Too late

To be honest I shall keep a close eye on the Passat I been and done a deal on today and see if I can have a look at this 'can of worms' and whether there is any tinkering I can do to help it.

To be honest, at the price I paid, if it manages to survive 2-3yrs of motorway munching without any major electrical hiccups that stop it being driven it will have paid for itself a few times over and could just be scrapped and I'd still be a winner.

Worst case scenario is that I am going to chuck my AA breakdown repair cover on it, so if I do have any issues they may help cover some of the costs... We'll just have to see.

[slindborg]

Ooops... Too late

To be honest I shall keep a close eye on the Passat I been and done a deal on today and see if I can have a look at this 'can of worms' and whether there is any tinkering I can do to help it.

To be honest, at the price I paid, if it manages to survive 2-3yrs of motorway munching without any major electrical hiccups that stop it being driven it will have paid for itself a few times over and could just be scrapped and I'd still be a winner.

Worst case scenario is that I am going to chuck my AA breakdown repair cover on it, so if I do have any issues they may help cover some of the costs... We'll just have to see.

PM me the plate/VIN and I'll get my mate at a VAG dealer to see if its had the pollen filter rework (not recall ), Luckily mine had it done and I've not found any water in the car in the year weve had it

[Mangham54]

Ooops... Too late

To be honest I shall keep a close eye on the Passat I been and done a deal on today and see if I can have a look at this 'can of worms' and whether there is any tinkering I can do to help it.

To be honest, at the price I paid, if it manages to survive 2-3yrs of motorway munching without any major electrical hiccups that stop it being driven it will have paid for itself a few times over and could just be scrapped and I'd still be a winner.

Worst case scenario is that I am going to chuck my AA breakdown repair cover on it, so if I do have any issues they may help cover some of the costs... We'll just have to see.

PM me the plate/VIN and I'll get my mate at a VAG dealer to see if its had the pollen filter rework (not recall ), Luckily mine had it done and I've not found any water in the car in the year weve had it

Cheers Stuart, PM on it's way...

Just need to find a friendly VAG dealer who can sort me out a few bits... Just to spruce up the car of it's tatty bits.

[Lordbenny]

I've got a 51 plate B5 work horse and its been amazing. Its now on 150,000 and, funnily enough, its going in for a few bits a pieces tonight. Brakes (pads & discs), brake fluid and suspension bushes. should be good for another 50,000 before I need to do anything else to it other than a fluid service every 10k. Only problem you should be aware of that I know of is the water pump tends to go, in which case its a good time to do a timing belt & tensioner change. I did 2000 miles in it over a week a month ago and I got around 48 MPG over the week. If your really careful as in a constant 55/65mph in 5th you can see 58Mpg, I was amazed. Superb motorway cruiser, quiet, comfortable & safe.

[Mangham54]

Well I got myself registered on ukpassats and was immediately amused to discover that EBC Greenshite pads being slated over there... Felt at home straight away! I really don't like the 'skin' that is used on there as it is fookin difficult to read on a PC, let alone on my phone. Makes you realise what we got here... Plus it is comparatively chavvy over there

[Lordbenny]

Well I got myself registered on ukpassats and was immediately amused to discover that EBC Greenshite pads being slated over there... Felt at home straight away!

I really don't like the 'skin' that is used on there as it is fookin difficult to read on a PC, let alone on my phone. Makes you realise what we got here... Plus it is comparatively chavvy over there

Ha Ha , I know exactly what you mean! Seems odd going to another site doesn't it? yes, it is rather 'chavvy'!

[Mangham54]

Picked up the new 'beast' up today.



Gave it a good run back to the house ready for my tinkering to start... I gutted the old stereo and had to rewire the drivers door speakers as they weren't working - do know how I managed to miss that before.

Rubbed some peanut butter into two of the black edging strips - and fcuk me (how did I not know about the before) it worked a bloody treat.

So tomorrow it is cleaning day proper. After taking my old dear through to Huddersfield first.

Edited by Mangham54, 25 August 2011 - 05:52 PM.

[Mangham54]

Well, another day another dollar. Had a bit more fun last night with the barge... Started to strip and clean the car only to find pack after pack after pack of international phone cards that had slipped behind the rear seats so gonna have to get the missus to find out if they are worth owt. If the face value is correct I may be able to almost offset the cost of buying the car with them However, went round to the rents last night... After my tikerings with the door card (to sort the drivers speakers out) it felt a little loose at the handle when I got in. Got to my parents and pulled the inside door handle and click, rattle rattle. Looks like the clip on the back of the handle has come loose- doh! So had to get Mel to come and let me out by opening the door from the outside. So work begins again in 10mins once I finish drinking my tea.