Learn Me: B3 Passat.

Just spotted this Passat. VR6 + manual trans. $600. No title, but I might be able to figure that out.

What's the deal with these? Usual VW fanfare (electrics catching on fire)? Known problems?

B3 Passats have a pretty good reputation.

If you can sort out the title issue, I would go after that if I were you.

Some of the VR6's had BBS wheels, does that one?

Looks like an XR4ti front end. Do those cool well?

Before I could drive, my girlfriends dad ran a VW dealership. Her first car was an earlier Passat 5spd.

Damn I wish I could justify buying a VW like this (or a MKIV).

In reply to NGTD:

It has steelies on it in the picture. Ad says bad fuel pump. Car looks pretty nice. I wonder why no title.

If they have the BBS wheels they are worth the entire price of the car. Probably going to try to sell them separately.

Those Passat's were set up more like an enlarged Jetta and VW's of that era didn't have the issues that the newer ones have. I can remember what the fuel pump is like to get to. How is the mileage?

Without the title that car is only worth scrap value or for parting.

Early VR6, so it will need new timing chains and guides if they haven't been done. Otherwise they are decent cars outside of the typical 90's VW annoyances.

http://fifteen52.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/5323900455_546da00228_b.jpg

Not sure if I did that right. I really like these cars and the wagons can look pretty bad ass.

The bbs wheels that came on B3 Vr6 cars looked like this

And are completely undesirable and impossible to sell

They are more like ugly Corrados than Jettas. Front crossmember is usually worth 200 alone for the mk2 guys doing swaps.

Chains and cooling system issues. Door handles break.

Had one, wasnt horrible but a better parts car than a driver.

Passat: German for parts donor!

I had a 16v 5speed B3 wagon. Was fun but too big for me. Worked on a number of them. They are a mix of Corrado and second gen Golf/Jetta stuff, but were built in Germany so pretty good cars. I Have a Boser grill needing repair if interested. As was mentioned, t-chains, tensioners and guides are the weak link. Fuel tank accessed through panel under rear seat or at forward edge of trunk (can't remember). May have two pumps (one internal one external--it's been a while). Check fuses and relays, check electric portion of ignition switch, check for fuel in tank (no, seriously).

The ex-g/f had one (VR6, 5 spd wagon) when we first started dating in '02. She sold it in '03 after buying her MCS.

Good: huge rear seat leg room - seriously, it was amazing... No Passat since has matched it. Decent power and handling for its time.

Bad: this era of VR6 was infamous for eating coil-packs. We also went through a number of running issues that wouldn't throw a CEL (so at least then you'd have a clue). Finally got it running well enough to dump it. As decent as the shifter in my Mk IV is, the shifter in the B3 was terrible - sloppy and vague. I doubt an additional 11 years will have helped it any.

The only way I'd buy one of these is in B4 TDI guise...