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Volkswagen Passat 2006+

2364 messages,  Last post on Feb 20, 2012 at 6:45 PM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Passat, Sedan

Messages Page 132 of 237

#1304 of 2364 Re: CR is logical [rayainsw] by markcincinnati

Feb 08, 2006 (1:17 pm)

Replying to: rayainsw (Feb 08, 2006 8:07 am)
The W8 had tempted me more than once -- especially when it came out with a full on ground effects package, wheels and a stick shift.
 
Then what happened to it?
 
Love to hear your experiences with your W8.
 
The brake issue really did test me -- 9 sets of rotors!
 
Thank you Audi/VW of America for working it out -- my current A6 C6 3.2 quattro has the best brakes of any car ever ( 14K miles, we'll see.)
 
At the time (2000 A6 4.2 and 2001 A6 4.2) there was NO better bargain than a VW/Audi of America car -- if you wanted THAT kind of performance.
 
I felt the W8 "was a bargain" and should have made a dent in the A4. I mean, at the time, it was possible to spend money on an A4 1.8T with plenty of options or get a Passat W8 -- and THEN VW discounted the heck out of the W8.
 
I never could figure out why they stopped marketing it -- I had seen two ads for the W8. Folks who drove them said they were impressive. At full MSRP (never sold at that from what I can tell) of $40,000 there were no other European cars that could come close to the level of performance. As the cars sat on lots the discounts went to 25% off MSRP.
 
Yawn was the apparent reaction.
 
My Audi dealer has been a godsend considering what WAS (and hopefully remains) a period of time of spotty products from the VW/Audi group.
 
The products (at least the Audis) have gotten darn near bullet proof (some Japanese car fans would no doubt disagree) -- the dealers, I am led to believe are better but still spotty. The VW dealers are at what level on the scale of 1 - 10?
 
Something must not be connecting what with the virtual giveaway prices on Passats these days.
 
If one were to drive an Accord, Camry and Passat back to back to back (similarly equipped) over the IDENTICAL test drive loop, would the certain German driving feel no longer be able to be picked up on?
 
I have test driven back to back an Audi A4 quattro and a Passat 4Motion -- the Passat's lack of available stick shift when the Audi for similar money MSRP and LOWER money on a lease could be had with a stick (plus free maint) sealed the deal. But at that time, they both felt very er, Germanic, in the best sense of the word.
 
Have Honda and Toyota managed to cook up this same sensation? For, if they have, apparently, it would seem to be heading down the path of making VW a tough sell and a tough message to market.
 
Otherwise, if the "joy of driving" is still clearly superior in the VW's, is it just the dealers that are in some respects making the brand almost "irrelevant?"
 
One by one my VW driving buddies are moving to other (usually German) cars -- Audis and BMW's mostly. One of the folks I work with has a 2004 Passat V6 and, thus far, loves it (stick shift.) He traded a Mitsubishi in on it and other than his concern that the Passat is a "little UNDER tired" grins from ear to ear as he drives that Passat like the Meatloaf album.
 
The question stands, how was the W8?

#1305 of 2364 Re: CR is logical [markcincinnati] by dino001

Feb 08, 2006 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: markcincinnati (Feb 08, 2006 1:17 pm)
When was W8 available with manual transmission, ever?

#1306 of 2364 06 Passat Manual with no sunroof.option by jodar96

Feb 08, 2006 (2:40 pm)

I just test drove an 06 Passat manual. I was impressed with the way it drove, its handling and its fit and finish. I don't understand why VW forces you to buy automatic to let you get the sunroof option ... It does not make sense. In Jetta, you can get sunroof with manual. I think I will hold out for 07 Camry or until VW offers sunroof with manual whichever comes first. For a manual with heated seats with MSRP of 24750, the dealer says $23000. I think $1700 off sticker is not a whole lot of break. Is it? This price is supposedly my VW supplier discount.
 
As much as I like the new Passat, I am always concerned about VW reliability. Right now, I have a 96 Camry XLE V-6. In almost 10 years, it has been exceptionally reliable. The only thing I ever did for the car was to have the timing belt replaced at Toyota dealer for $145. the rest has been regular maintenance.
 
Joe

#1307 of 2364 Re: CR is logical [dino001] by shipo

Feb 08, 2006 (6:43 pm)

Replying to: dino001 (Feb 08, 2006 2:24 pm)
My younger brother has an AWD W8 Passat Wagon with a manual transmission. He tells me that there were less than fifty wagons imported with the W8.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1308 of 2364 Re: CR is logical [shipo] by dino001

Feb 08, 2006 (9:36 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Feb 08, 2006 6:43 pm)
This is really odd, since GLX V6 4-motion was available with auto only. W8 was also 4-motion so logically it would be also auto only - apparently not.
 
I remember that vividly - Passat was on my short list, but it fell off it because all transmission-nazi attitude (not available either at all or at local dealerships - not even one). I never came across mentioning manual W8 on their website or anywhere else.
 
That auto-only attitude really bothers me. Everybody tries to convince me that it is "what people want" (which of course means I'm a freak). I somehow think it is more what manufacturers and dealers want people to think that they want. But how can they want something else, if it is not really there?
 
"You want a wagon with manual... what? nobody wants a wagon with manual - trust me, I know better, I have sold cars for last 10 years... We could order one for you, but you wait for 90-120 days and we don't really know if it will come, and here we have couple of autos - take another look, you get couple grand off the sticker..."

#1309 of 2364 Re: CR is logical [dino001] by markcincinnati

Feb 09, 2006 (9:06 am)

Replying to: dino001 (Feb 08, 2006 2:24 pm)
My local VW dealer had a white W8 that had "factory" BBS wheels, a rear deck spoiler and chin spoiler, sport suspension and a stick shift. The interior was a light grey leather and the seats appeared to be bolstered.
 
This and one or two other W8's sat so long, so untest-driven that the rotors turned completely orange and the windshields had so much grime on them you could write your name with your finger easily.
 
The initial W8's were tiptronics -- the performance option, was, as I recall "no extra charge" but the VW logoed BBS wheels were extra charge as well as the aero treatment.
 
The cars looked cool and probably "went like stink" (what ever that means.) But they did not sell well at all.
 
At the exact moment in time I would've been tempted my allroad was not close enough to lease end to make it worthwhile, but damn if they didn't discount the W8 big time!"
 
 
 
P.S. the fact that this great configuration was virtually unknown is an indication of VW's "refusal" to market this car.
 
Now, as we all know, the W8 is gone.
 
"A five-speed Tiptronic transmission is standard on the W8, but you can buy an optional 6 speed manual transmission which comes with a Sport Package with 17 inch tires and alloy wheels, and a sport suspension."

#1310 of 2364 W-8 by bjbird2

Feb 09, 2006 (3:25 pm)

When I was expressing some interest in the W-8 to my local VW mechanic, he mentioned a problem with the oil seals. I never did get into the details of the problem, and I have never heard it mentioned anywhere else. After he said that, I kind of lost interest in the W-8, and started lusting after the Phaeton, which has also virtually disappeared.

#1311 of 2364 07 PASSAT WAGON DRIVE by jimd4

Feb 09, 2006 (6:08 pm)

I drove the 2007 Passat Wagon 2.0T tonight with sport package 1, no leather. Very nice. Smooth, quiet, good performance with Tiptronic 6 auto and wide 2.0T torque band.
 Could use 17" wheels and better tires I would say. Interior very "Audi like" in terms of gauges and lighting of things. Not as much luxury as Audi but funtionaly nice. Real trip computer like Audi that is very funtional and esy to use.
 I drive A6 Audi now but new price is steep for 2006. 50K for A6 Avant.
 
Styling is subjective but looks good and clean. Prices are great but reliability is hard to judge.
 
Waiting to drive V6 RAV4.

#1312 of 2364 Test Drive - Questions . . .? by rayainsw

Feb 10, 2006 (11:46 am)

I am scheduled to test drive 1 (or 2) Passat 3.6s Saturday AM.
 
Questions:
Any personal experiences with the ‘hesitation’ I have seen attributed to the DBW and \ or Tiptronic?
Any suggestions about exactly what circumstances typically ‘trigger’ this event?
Is it only in S mode?
 
Any one driven (own?) any 06+ Passat with the 18” wheel \ tire package?
 
“ 18" ALLOY WHEELS -inc: P235/40R18 all-season tires (REQ: Equipment Pkg #1 Sport or Pkg #2 Sport) *Start Of Production 45/05* Code: PSM $353.00 $400.00”
 
Any other suggestions of specific things to look for?
 
Thanks,
- Ray
Very interested in the acceleration ‘feel’ of this V6, based on the C+D test numbers reported . . .

#1313 of 2364 Re: Test Drive - Questions . . .? [rayainsw] by markcincinnati

Feb 10, 2006 (9:28 pm)

Replying to: rayainsw (Feb 10, 2006 11:46 am)
Audi and BMW's (and Porsche's for that matter) something tronic transmissions are hell-bent to upshift early and dowshift late when used in "D" mode. If you are, as I suspect most of us are, drivers who do not fully and completely every single time come to a complete stop when coming to intersections and traffic control devices, you will (you cannot avoid it) experience tip or step lag since the transmission will be at least one gear higher than you would be in were you driving a stick shift.
 
The engine is, IMHO, in these cars in "D" under such circumstances barely above the RPM's require to stop the "lugging of the engine." Even with the relatively high HP and torque of the current Audi/BMW/Porsche/VW engines, left to its own devices, these something tronic transmissions will be moving forward at a relatively slow road speed in second or third gear and when the driver commands acceleration the transmission's software will determine if you "were kidding" or not. While the transmission and engine are debating what you asked for, there is a (generally) under one second delay.
 
The issue is there is a delay from "asking" for power to getting it.
 
"Tip lag" -- yes. Programmed to do this -- yes.
 
Difficult to understand why -- big time.
 
Why people actually demand these transmission AND pay MORE for them -- incomprehensible (I have one, takes one to know one.)
 
It is mitigated by placing the lever in "S" mode which delays upshifts and hurries along downshifts -- therefore keeping the engine's revs up, up into the optimum torque range. "D" is, as my wife calls it, "old man's mode."
 
It is so difficult to understand why the downshifts, at least, can't be made to come earlier even if the upshifts come too quickly.
 
If this car is available with a stick shift, I would asked to be paid to take the tip, were it me.
 
On the other hand, having the 6 speed tip, as I do, I would tell you, unless you demand a responsive transmission on a regular basis, the 6 speed tip is about the best auto transmission I have ever driven.
 
If you test drive -- try it in "S" mode for a long long test drive.

Messages Page 132 of 237

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