[davesimondotcom]

I know, just what we need, another car thread!

We still haven't recieved our settlement from the insurance company but we're already looking for the replacement car. (See here to learn why we're shopping.)

We're really bummed that our 626 is gone, it was in great shape for a car with 130,000+ on it. Very clean and ran well.

But, it's gone, so now we're shopping. Amy has always wanted to get another Passat, she drove a 1993 when we first met, and loved it.

On the second lot we walked on to, there was a 1999 Passat GLX that had just shown up today. Leather, sun/moon roof, 86K miles on its V6, fairly clean exterior and interior. Dealer said he'd put new tires on it.

I think the previous owner had pulled the VW audio deck (if not the whole system) and just had it put back in when he went to sell it. Only one speaker was working, CD changer is missing from the trunk. Dealer said he'd have it to his audio guy and promised the system would be working.

I don't care about the CD changer, as I'd rather hook up my iPod like this.

I ran a CARFAX report on it, came back with a clean bill of health.

Dealer is asking $10,900 - seems like a pretty good price to me. (KBB on it said $13,900.) What do you guys think? Anyone know about the reliablity of this model?

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

We still haven't recieved our settlement from the insurance company but we're already looking for the replacement car. (See here to learn why we're shopping.)

We're really bummed that our 626 is gone, it was in great shape for a car with 130,000+ on it. Very clean and ran well.

But, it's gone, so now we're shopping. Amy has always wanted to get another Passat, she drove a 1993 when we first met, and loved it.

On the second lot we walked on to, there was a 1999 Passat GLX that had just shown up today. Leather, sun/moon roof, 86K miles on its V6, fairly clean exterior and interior. Dealer said he'd put new tires on it.

I think the previous owner had pulled the VW audio deck (if not the whole system) and just had it put back in when he went to sell it. Only one speaker was working, CD changer is missing from the trunk. Dealer said he'd have it to his audio guy and promised the system would be working.

I don't care about the CD changer, as I'd rather hook up my iPod like this.

I ran a CARFAX report on it, came back with a clean bill of health.

Dealer is asking $10,900 - seems like a pretty good price to me. (KBB on it said $13,900.) What do you guys think? Anyone know about the reliablity of this model?

Not sure how Passats from 99 fare, but Golf and Jetta from that time are utter POS in term of reliability.
After checking, the passat from '99 gets a thumb down from Consumer Reports.

[ambush]

Passat GLXs are teh style tho.

[jaydon34]

I love the passat but the mileage is way to high.

[davesimondotcom]

86K isn't that high for something from 1999. That's less than 13,000 a year.

[jaydon34]

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

86K isn't that high for something from 1999. That's less than 13,000 a year.

sorry I what I meant was 80 thousand is too high to purchase a vehicle at in my opinion.

[dreilly1]

I'd consider 13k a year "Above average", myself. I have almost 90k on my 2000 Jetta, but we got that late in the model year. That's way above average!

The first VW's with the "Curvy" styling are the ones that have the problems. Passats got that in 97 or 98, Jettas and Golfs got them in 2000. So my Jetta has problems. The thing is, the engine and drive train is generally rock solid. I'm even still on the original clutch, and I'm bad with clutches.

I've already gotten recall notices or extended warranty notices on the oxygen sensor, the hazard switch, the front passenger side automatic windows, and the catalytic converter. They got the power ratio on the brakes wrong (or something like that), which means that I'm on my third pair of rear brakes, while I didn't hve to change the front breaks until 80k miles. And the glove compartment is a little broken, too. But it's fun to drive!

My in-laws recently bought a used 2000 Cabrio (with only 12k miles on it, now that's low mileage), and although the stereo system is exactly the same, there is enough different in the styling and interior to imply that the Cabrio still had mostly the old design. They have not nearly had the same number of miscellaneous problems that I've had with the Jetta.....

[davesimondotcom]

Originally Posted by jaydon34

sorry I what I meant was 80 thousand is too high to purchase a vehicle at in my opinion.

Well, that depends on your monetary situation, doesn't it?

If I could afford to walk on a lot and buy a new car, I would. But I can't.

We're basically trying to get the best, newest car we can get for the little amount of money we have. The $10,900 they want for this is probably pushing our limits on affordability.

Being that my wife's medical bills are rediculous, and I'm basically self-employed and not on a steady paycheck, we don't have the option of anything with low milage.

But considering our last car had 135K+ and was still in great condition, 86K isn't scaring us.

YMMV. (That's funny in this context.)

[zoroaster68]

VW's VR6 is an outdated engine. It sucks premium, and it doesn't get very good gas mileage. In all truthfulness, the smaller 1.8 turbo engine is a better idea. It gets good MPG, has a bit of power, and if you spend $300 on a chip, it's faster and more powerful than the VR6, WHILE getting better MPG.

1.8 turbo is the way to go.

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by zoroaster68

VW's VR6 is an outdated engine. It sucks premium, and it doesn't get very good gas mileage. In all truthfulness, the smaller 1.8 turbo engine is a better idea. It gets good MPG, has a bit of power, and if you spend $300 on a chip, it's faster and more powerful than the VR6, WHILE getting better MPG.

1.8 turbo is the way to go.

It does want premium though for optimal performance. Besides I would be worried about buying a second hand turbo engine. Watch for the oil sludge issue with these engines too. Nice engine to drive (although the 2.0T they have now is infinitely nicer), definitely better mileage than the V6, but can be troublesome.

[zoroaster68]

Originally Posted by villalobos

Besides I would be worried about buying a second hand turbo engine.

This statement would be valid if we were referring to a turbo car from the 1980s.

[villalobos]

Originally Posted by zoroaster68

This statement would be valid if we were referring to a turbo car from the 1980s.

This statement is still valid with modern turbos and highly depends on how the car was driven by the previous owner. Turbos are not per se unreliable but there are a few considerations to take in account when driving them, (such not flooring the car for 5 min and shut it off). A turbo will break if not taken care properly, just as a manual transmission can be ruined in a very short time if whoever drives it does know it.
Hey I am not bashing the engine, just being concerned about the possibility that the previous owner did not know any better. :-)

[zoroaster68]

Originally Posted by villalobos

This statement is still valid with modern turbos and highly depends on how the car was driven by the previous owner. Turbos are not per se unreliable but there are a few considerations to take in account when driving them, (such not flooring the car for 5 min and shut it off). A turbo will break if not taken care properly, just as a manual transmission can be ruined in a very short time if whoever drives it does know it.
Hey I am not bashing the engine, just being concerned about the possibility that the previous owner did not know any better. :-)

You might have a point if we were talking about performance cars, but the 1.8 turbo was the UNDERDOG to the VR6 in VWs for years, meaning if people wanted to go fast, they got the VR6. The demographic who was purchasing the 1.8t engine was probably doing so for the better gas mileage, so I wouldn't worry about them 'beating' on it much.

[ChrisF]

Originally Posted by zoroaster68

VW's VR6 is an outdated engine. It sucks premium, and it doesn't get very good gas mileage. In all truthfulness, the smaller 1.8 turbo engine is a better idea. It gets good MPG, has a bit of power, and if you spend $300 on a chip, it's faster and more powerful than the VR6, WHILE getting better MPG.

1.8 turbo is the way to go.

The '99 Passat uses the Audi V6, not the VR6. The Passat is essentially a stretched Audi A4.
As for buying a used VW, I'll never do it again. They just haven't demonstrated themselves to be as reliable as something Japanese, and when the Passat needs work, it's expensive. I'd pass.