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1999 - 2000 Passat. Opinions?
noonan - November 11th, 2009 at 11:02 AM

Hi guys and girls,

I'm looking at getting a '99 - '00 era Passat Variant (seeing as a type 3 wagon is a little hard to pass off as a safe family car) and wanted to know if anyone here has one, or had one, or works as a mechanic and knows if they are a lemon or not?

Seems most of the "reviews" i can find on carsurvey.com are people moaning about how much their repairs cost... so i'm not sure if thats a case of people only using that site if they have something to complain about, or if its a standard opinion that they are expensive to fix and unreliable?

I understand that new cars = dealer repair bills not backyard fixes with some wd40, but are new VWs any more prone to big repair bills than any other modern Euro car (volvo v40 etc)?

Thanks for any opinions you have... and recommendations for an non-vw, recent, stylish, station wagon would be welcome too!

Steve

ian.mezz - November 11th, 2009 at 11:11 AM

i would buy a toyota

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=7888285&__Qpb=...

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=7870481&__Qpb=t...

VWCOOL - November 11th, 2009 at 11:15 AM

yeah a 10-year old Passat is not 'new'...

If it's simple reliable family transport you want, look at a Magna or Camry wagon

noonan - November 11th, 2009 at 02:27 PM

haha... i currently drive a camry wagon (after selling my beloved type 3 AND a '65 falcon in the big 'get a reliable car' meltdown of 2008) but it is a crusty old 1990 one.

My wifey thinks is the most boring car on earth, so i've been trying to keep her interested in getting a newer car by floating ideas of a euro wagon, but it seems you guys have similar thoughts to me. guess i'll wait to see if anyone else has 2cents to throw in... and then start looking at ways to fancy up a toyota so that i can at least show my face around town or work harder and buy something brand new.

Thanks for the tips so far... considering its been 2 years since i owned a VW its good to know that lurking around this board has been worth it!

Steve

71dub - November 11th, 2009 at 02:36 PM

possibly post the same question to the guys on the vw water cooled site and see what there thoughts are .
http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au  would be intresting to see there responce

Yogie - November 11th, 2009 at 03:11 PM

There is going to be a wagon version of the golf in the new year. Not sure how much it will be though and what budget you are looking for but it would still keep you in the VW family.

Yogie

donn - November 11th, 2009 at 04:28 PM

Forester, luv em

Pumba - November 11th, 2009 at 04:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by VWCOOL
yeah a 10-year old Passat is not 'new'...

If it's simple reliable family transport you want, look at a Magna or Camry wagon


Magna are you serious:lol:

Menangler - November 13th, 2009 at 09:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vwmad
Quote:
Originally posted by VWCOOL
yeah a 10-year old Passat is not 'new'...

If it's simple reliable family transport you want, look at a Magna or Camry wagon


Magna are you serious:lol:



A MAGNA!

We have a 2001 build V6 Passat, had it for 6 months, my wife drives it for work everyday and has done 23,000 K's in it already, car has 113,000 on it all up, we just had an outer CV joint replaced as the boot split and let the grease out and stuffed the joint, joint kit was $115.00 and $100 labour to fit, (mates rates) Repairs at the dealer can be expensive, I don't go near them, the only other work it has needed is the cam belt change at 100,000k and normal servicing.

It is a great car to drive, great on fuel easy 7.5 litres per 100 on a trip, the build quality is fantastic, its powerfull, quiet and has electric everything, cruise control ABS, Tipatronic, traction control, trip computer, the list goes on. it has a Galvanised body with a 12 year warranty against rust.

We tried to find a wagon but settled for a sedan as they are lots of them around and sedans are 5 - 6 grand cheaper for the same year model, the sedan still fits the 3 kids in the back no worries, has a big boot so all out gear fits easily, ours sold for $54,000 new and you can pick up a good used one with 100,000 to 130,000 k's for $11 to $15 K.

The older these cars become, more aftermarket parts become avaliable making repairs cheaper, stay away from the VW dealer.

Drive A 10 year old Magna then drive a 10 year old Passat, if you buy a Magna you deserve it!!:lol:

noonan - November 16th, 2009 at 08:14 AM

thanks guys, seems i have a good cross section of replies now, so its time to put on the ol' thinking hat and work out what is best for me.

Regardless of which way i go, i'm still keeping an eye out for a type 3 to love and cherish, so if we pass on the passat i'll be back posting
here soon enough with "check out my new whitewalls" style posts that i miss dearly!

ps. i promise i wont get a magna.

Baja Wes - November 17th, 2009 at 08:07 AM

I have a 99 Passat 1.8T. It's a fantastic car. Air flow meter died but got a rebuilt one and put it in myself for $260. That can happen to any car. The passat is way nicer than a jap family car. It is also ridiculously fuel efficient. The Passat's of that age should hold their value better too.

Pics of my Passat are here http://www.offroadvw.net/bajawes/passat/index.htm

noonan - November 17th, 2009 at 10:58 AM

ah sheeeesh wes, just when i thought i was convinced they were a bad idea i get someone else who owns one telling me they're a great car!

... and i think i almost had my wife convinced that a mazda or a toyota was a better option...

guess i should take a few test drives and consider a Passat back on the list of options. I guess you only live once, so its no use wasting years driving around in a boring car.

Thanks for the advice, and congrats on yours, it looks clean as a whistle... if only it was black and a wagon, i'd have made you an offer!

Steve

Baja Wes - November 17th, 2009 at 12:40 PM

The 1.8t is such a nice motor. Not much outright power but heaps of low and mid range torque which is what you want for everyday driving. On the highway get into the 5L/100km bracket. Around the suburbs we normally average around 8L/100km.

I'd actually like a black wagon too. We had our first kid 6 months ago and it is apparent it will all get a bit tight on space if we have a second kid :)