Please talk me out of buying a 2005 Passat VR6 wagon. I've spent years
fixing two A-2 Jettas, and I've driven all the reliable, boring, ill-
fitting Japanese cars on the market to replace them (I'm 6'2 with long
legs). I'm close to concluding that a Passat is more reliable than
these two old clunkers, and, if I buy one, I might not have to spend
every Friday night for the rest of my life under the hood of an aging
VW. Please tell me I'm wrong so I can buy a Camry and join my friends
at the old folks' home.

Pat
85 1.8 auto
87 1.8 manual rust bucket bought for $100 from a guy who rebuilt the
head and tried to get it running for a year
93 Subaru Loyale (given to me)
93 Ford Aerostar van (the only car in my driveway that starts
consistently, but is almost impossible to work on)

Maybe a V6 engine not a VR6 engine???

They require attention too, but you will like driving it!

Here are two Passat specific yahoo groups you can join.
vwpassat-subscribe (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com
passats-subscribe (AT) yahoogroups (DOT) com

JMHO
--
later,
(One out of many daves)

"PatAL7L" <pmoore44 (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

On May 8, 10:15*pm, PatAL7L <pmoor... (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
The VR6 is a pretty tough engine with a decent reputation for
longevity and the Passat transmission gets highmarks. After which, the
Passat of that vintage is, in few words, difficult to service (see
"expensive") beyond the basics. I will also suggest that '05 was about
at the end of the VW - we-don't-give-a-sh*t-about-our-customers era
such that you need to be additionally careful about the vehicle
history and repair records. This particular vehicle had three recalls
as I remember, depending on fuel and type. So check those as well.
BUT, and this is a big one - the '05 is the only Passat that Consumer
Reports does not put on their 'avoid' list through '08. That is worth
something, at least.

Given the similarly priced alternatives which _are_ relatively easy to
service and are comfortable for 6'+ people (I am 6'-3"), you should
check out some of the Euro alternatives - Saab,Volvo, Mercedes - as
well. This will make you feel as if you have covered all the options
anyway.


Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Based on my personal experiance with a 2000 Passat, the following is also
useful:

http://www.myvwlemon.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Passat&number =2&DaysPrune=1000&LastLogin=


"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nospam (AT) pleasehotmail (DOT) com> wrote