B5 Passat Experience?

Did my best to avoid the "learn me" thread title...but basically what I'm saying is learn me B5 Passats.

I know the 1.8T had some sludge issues, but that's about it. Prices seem to be all over the price with decent cars in the $5-6K range. I'm looking for a nice highway car that has some pick-up. I like the looks of the B5 more than the B6 or other comparable cars, and I think with some subtle upgrades it would be fun to drive and relatively invisible to law enforcement. I looked briefly on vortex and couldn't find much in the way of solid ownership experience/knowledge. I do, however, now know that stretched tires and wheels with huge lips will fit.

So...that said...anybody have experience?

I have a 2004 Passat GLS. It is a smooth ride on the highway and gets about 28mpg. I have owned it for a year now without many problems. No sludge problems yet but I'm always scared now since learning of this. So far I am pleased with it and feel it is a nice car. I have a dealer warranty on mine. Only thing so far to crap out was a switch that controls something in the transmission. Dealer fixed it in 10 min. and has been fine ever since.

Buy it. Then buy a GIAC chip for the ECU (I think you send your ECU to them and they solder it on), a new fuel pressure regulator, a new air intake, lower it a few inches, put 17" wheels on her (think five-spoke TSW) and 160 MPH will come up on you pretty quickly while you're driving around in a good-looking and stylish sedan.

In fact, I think my neighbor has his old TSWs (not old, but he sold the car like two years ago) and he has some nice Dunlop tires on them.

Ignore my Z. This is the only picture I have of my buddy's Passat. I loved that car.

We've had one for about 3 years now and it's been good. Make sure you keep some extra coil packs on hand, the ones on our car just randomly fail occasionaly. Keep an eye on the vacuum hoses, if one of them cracks it runs like crap. Other than that it's a great highway car.

I've had an '02 wagon since new. >130K now. It's had mobil1 every 5K and the revised oil filter since it was available so I'm hoping the sludge stays away. The coil packs were a big and still are a minor problem. I keep an extra one around. VW has paid for every one that's failed. The turbo is getting a bit tired. Assorted vacuum hoses. A failed window regulator was a bit pricy but no other problems. My wife wants something new(er) but it's been such a great car, I don't want to part with it.

Had a '01, had the sludge issue, coil issue, vaccum hose issue, car always needed something.

I hated it, wife says she loved that car and misses it.

confuZion3 wrote: Buy it. Then buy a GIAC chip for the ECU (I think you send your ECU to them and they solder it on), a new fuel pressure regulator,

Actually, the longitudinal 1.8Ts come stock with a 4BAR FPR, so no need to upgrade, while you are at it, get it reflashed with software (REVO )instead of a solder in chip, no need to rip out the ECU when you can plug in the computer via the OBD2...

We had a 1.8T/5 speed for close to 80k miles. It was a great car for us, was smooth, had decent giddy up and drive very nicely. It was bone stock and consistely got us 25 mpg beating around and 33 mpg on long highway trips.

It was my wifes car, which we sold as the family grew. We had to buy a van, but even so, I regret selling the Passat.

Had an '01.5 since new, put 95k miles on it with 1 set of tires, 1 set of brakes, 1 timing belt/water pump and 1 MAF. Thing was bulletproof.

Good feedback, thanks to those that posted. The more I think about this car, the more I'm thinking it needs to be my next DD.

I talked to a couple VW techs and they said the sludge issue is mainly related to the smaller oil pan on Passat-equipped 1.8Ts. Seems that if the car's been maintained and the oil changed regularly, it isn't an issue. Guess I'll be demanding a full service history.

Some pics of what I'm after. The car will either be black or the dark blue.