Topic: CD Article: 2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T

[2latecrew]

Just got an 07 Passat 2.0T (w/7000 kms on it) as a loaner while my car is in for service.
I actually had high hopes for it since I like its styling, but not impressed at all. First off it died twice in stop and go traffic. Luckily it started each time, but WTH?

The interior is so cheap feeling. They have really dropped the ball. The quality of the plastics are sub-par, especially for VW. The lower dash and upper doors are hard to the touch. There is also alot of creeking and ratting in the dash assembly and doors.
The ride is okay, somewhat floaty with vague steering, but too harsh on expansion joints and the like.

A new car died twice in traffic? No need for hand wringing. All new cars do that.

[JSCC]

Just got an 07 Passat 2.0T (w/7000 kms on it) as a loaner while my car is in for service.
I actually had high hopes for it since I like its styling, but not impressed at all. First off it died twice in stop and go traffic. Luckily it started each time, but WTH?

The interior is so cheap feeling. They have really dropped the ball. The quality of the plastics are sub-par, especially for VW. The lower dash and upper doors are hard to the touch. There is also alot of creeking and ratting in the dash assembly and doors.
The ride is okay, somewhat floaty with vague steering, but too harsh on expansion joints and the like.

Which VW model do you drive?
How does it compare to the 2007 Passat?

[daft]

Which VW model do you drive?
How does it compare to the 2007 Passat?

I don't drive a VW. My first and last VW was an 03 TDi Jetta...My local VW and Volvo dealers are owned by the same group, so they sometimes interchange loaners.

[Ray19]

I'm considering a new Passat wagon 2.0t, I think that at 30 000$ it's a good price, I would rent it for three or four years, I don't want to buy an SUV and I want a manual transmission.
Is there anything I should now before buying a Passat??

[Mitlov]

I'm considering a new Passat wagon 2.0t, I think that at 30 000$ it's a good price, I would rent it for three or four years, I don't want to buy an SUV and I want a manual transmission.
Is there anything I should now before buying a Passat??

Yeah, go to www.vwvortex.com and set up an account.  In case you have a problem--and we hope you don't--people there will help diagnose it a whole lot more effectively (and a whole lot cheaper) than mechanics at your dealership.  This will also help with your stress levels.

It's a lot easier and less stressful to say "gosh, it sounds like my coil packs are starting to go" (just an example, this specific problem should be rectified by now) than saying "OH MY GOD MY CAR IS BOGGING DOWN AND I DON'T KNOW WHY!  IS IT A LEMON?!?!?!"  This will also help a mechanic fix it more quickly and cheaply.

With a Passat, you will have a higher statistical chance of reliability problems.  HOWEVER, having been inside the new Passat, the up-to-2007 Accord, and up-to-2006 Camry, I have to say the Passat feels like twice the car when you're inside it.  It's a very, very pleasant vehicle to be driving around in.  Add in the great character and fuel economy of the 2.0T and the practicality of a wagon, and I think you'll be happy.

[Ex-airbalancer]

If only they would put a TDI in the Passat wagon it would the car to get

[Spheric]

Is there anything I should now before buying a Passat??

Castrol Syntec oil only @ 100 dollars each time.

The turbo FSI engine sounds diesel-ish. More power than you will ever need.

Speedometer is factory calibrated to read higher than actual speed (about 3-5 kph higher) - which is fine especially as you approach the 'seize your car' speed limits of Ontario.

You may want to consider changing the factory installed Continental AS tires for something more gripping.

No need for power steering fluid.

Let us know if you decide to bite the bullet....

ps. if you're still around in April I will post about my first year of ownership. 

[tpl]

If only they would put a TDI in the Passat wagon it would the car to get

They used to do so I saw one just this Saturday. They still do in Euland and I bet we will get one here in calendar 2009 probably with the 134 bhp engine.

[Ex-airbalancer]

If only they would put a TDI in the Passat wagon it would the car to get

They used to do so I saw one just this Saturday. They still do in Euland and I bet we will get one here in calendar 2009 probably with the 134 bhp engine.

I have not read anything about the Passat getting the TDI in the future in NA

[JSCC]

Only TDIs confirmed coming are Jetta/Jetta wagon/Touareg.

[inco]

Only TDIs confirmed coming are Jetta/Jetta wagon/Touareg.

Frustrating in that there is likely to be a much bigger demand developed in the near future as more interest in diesels develops. I for one have been thinking about them again and would love to have something to wear with diesel flavouring.

But my desires also fancy AWD now and since VW isn't about to bring in the Tiguan yet, that doesn't leave anything exciting on the horizon. And I don't want a $95,000 Touareg thank you!

And then if anyone read this month's C&D Steering Column article by "Chubby Checker" you kinda have to wonder if the move is going to be worth it. Prices will rise with demand and force gas companies to change the refineries we currently have and up goes the price again. Combine that with the higher costs required to take out the sulfur and the popularity or interest may very well fall.

Seems like we can't win regardless. 

[Ray19]

Is there anything I should now before buying a Passat??

Castrol Syntec oil only @ 100 dollars each time.

The turbo FSI engine sounds diesel-ish. More power than you will ever need.

Speedometer is factory calibrated to read higher than actual speed (about 3-5 kph higher) - which is fine especially as you approach the 'seize your car' speed limits of Ontario.

You may want to consider changing the factory installed Continental AS tires for something more gripping.

No need for power steering fluid.

Let us know if you decide to bite the bullet....

ps. if you're still around in April I will post about my first year of ownership. 

thanks a lot!!!
I'm not going to be doing a lot of mileage with the car, do I need to change the oil every 3 months or can I change the oil every 8000Km??

[Seafoam]

Is there anything I should now before buying a Passat??

Castrol Syntec oil only @ 100 dollars each time.

The turbo FSI engine sounds diesel-ish. More power than you will ever need.

Speedometer is factory calibrated to read higher than actual speed (about 3-5 kph higher) - which is fine especially as you approach the 'seize your car' speed limits of Ontario.

You may want to consider changing the factory installed Continental AS tires for something more gripping.

No need for power steering fluid.

Let us know if you decide to bite the bullet....

ps. if you're still around in April I will post about my first year of ownership. 

Speedometer is "factory calibrated'' to read higher than actual.Thats hope the odometer is not calibrated the same way.Honda got in trouble recently for odometers displaying distances more than actually travelled.
 

[sailor723]

Hmmmm.....Don't odometers use the speedometer to calculate distance? If they do your 80k warranty could be up around 77,000 kms 

[tortoise]

I saw a 2.0T Passat with a manual the other day.  I'm pretty sure the owner had to wipe the drool off of his window.

[Spheric]

Hmmmm.....Don't odometers use the speedometer to calculate distance? If they do your 80k warranty could be up around 77,000 kms 

According to the VW Vortex tech folks, the analogue speedometer and the odometer are not synchronized. However, the odometer is dead on accurate (I have verified this myself several times).

If I was so inclined I could get a digital readout of my speed via the dual climate control display which is apparently accurate and linked to the car's actual speed sensor.

[Spheric]

thanks a lot!!!
I'm not going to be doing a lot of mileage with the car, do I need to change the oil every 3 months or can I change the oil every 8000Km??

How low mileage do you intend to go ? Re oil changes, that's a judgement decision you'll have to make depending on the 'severe' (stop and go urban driving) conditions the engine is subjected to. According to my manual, the syntec oil changes are scheduled at:
8000 km
16000 km
32000 km
48000 km
64000 km etc. 

Keep a spare litre of Castrol in the garage to top up the oil level. If like me, this is your first turbo, you'll be experimenting with the gas pedal a lot in the early days.... 

[Ray19]

I'm going to do around 10 000Km per year.
I use my car some months and the other I works on day shift so I take the train and I barely use the car.
I don't want to pay a train pass for nothing so when I work night shift it's for a complete month, that's when I use my car.

[BlackS40]

Speedometer is factory calibrated to read higher than actual speed (about 3-5 kph higher) - which is fine especially as you approach the 'seize your car' speed limits of Ontario.

Hey, I noticed this in my VW Beetle.  My Nuvi GPS system always seemed to be 3-4kph lower than the speedometer claimed.  When I checked this in my wife's 2008 Grand Caravan, the speed was dead on.  Go figure.  Is this a VW thing, or a German thing in general?

[Ex-airbalancer]

Speedometer is factory calibrated to read higher than actual speed (about 3-5 kph higher) - which is fine especially as you approach the 'seize your car' speed limits of Ontario.

Hey, I noticed this in my VW Beetle.  My Nuvi GPS system always seemed to be 3-4kph lower than the speedometer claimed.  When I checked this in my wife's 2008 Grand Caravan, the speed was dead on.  Go figure.  Is this a VW thing, or a German thing in general?

BMW is about 5 km/hr slower then Nuvi, GMC is about 3 km/hr Then Nuvi