Hey everyone, I havent posted in awhile (in fact its been so long I couldnt even remember my old poster name) but I'm looking into getting a 1999 VW Passat for pretty cheap (family friend) and wanted to know everyones opinions about it and what to look for. Its a V6 with an automatic but I'm in need of a reliable car to commute so I cant be real picky. I figured the best experts around were on this board, so any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
hokie2009 wrote: ...1999 VW Passat... I'm in need of a reliable car... \
Those 2 things do not go together.
Run. Run away now...
mel_horn wrote: Run. Run away now...
As far and as fast as you can. If they follow you, be prepared to kill them. I was a VW service manager. For the same kind of money a Passat would bring they can get real reliability from an Accord. 'Nuff said.
what specifically are the problems that occur with this model?
Here is a thread that sums it up nicely:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/98-passat-18t/9628/page1/
hokie2009 wrote: what specifically are the problems that occur with this model?
"yes"
ABS modules fail consistently at $1500 a pop retail. Rebuilds are cheaper, but its still a nightmare to replace. Replacing the AC compressor (which seems to go every 60k or so) requires removing the entire front bumper, grille, etc. Suspension bushings are weak, and are not replacable. Ball joints are also not replacable. You have to buy the whole arm; two on the bottom per side, one or two on the top depending on a few factors, and to change one of the bottoms you have to partially drop the subframe to get the bolt out.. You can fill the bushings with some gunk to increase stiffness and reliability, but its still a bit complicated.
Catalysts don't seem to have a very long life, and one of the things that really chaps me (working at an import repair facility) is that many of the functions of the car can't be accessed in a typical repair setting. They require VAG COM equipment to talk to many of the systems. Its not a typical logical progression of things. For instance, when the ABS module goes, it often causes a low engine oil pressure light. Why? No one seems to know, but usually you can look at a list of symptoms and find the logical answer. Not with VWs. Symptoms are random and complex with no appropriate connection to the cause in many cases, and the only way to know is with costly VW VAG COM stuff.
The drive-by-wire throttle assembly (if its the 30v 2.8 anyway) contains all of the IAC, TPS, and throttle servos in one seemingly handy unit that A) can't be removed without rocking the engine forward and scraping knuckles, B) fails a lot, and C) can't be removed and replaced without using VAG COM to recalibrate it.
They're not horrible wastes of space, but given all the other perfectly viable, reliable options out there, there is no reason to waste time with a Passat IMHO. I could make a list similar to this for any car on the road today, but I would say to just run. As far as I'm concerned, the last reliable VW was the A2.
You'll need to log in to post.
