philipdayton Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Hi all! I'm considering a move from Italy to Germany.... I currently drive a '95 Alfa 155 2.5 V6 Wide body, it's now done nearly 155,000 miles. I've owned the car for 5 years and loved every minute. Unfortunately i've also spent about £4000 keeping it on the road over the past couple of years! I'm now looking at a Passat either 1.8T or 130 TDI I have a budget of £4000 + whatever i get for mine (not a lot!!! ) I've read varying reviews on Passat's, main gripe seems to be costly suspension issues. I would be very grateful for any advice/opinions etc. What should i be looking for? How much should I pay? Mileage not really an issue Anyone selling? Thanks in advance Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Welcome to tyresmoke. I could bt tempted to part with mine for the right price, even though it doesnt quite meet your engine requirements!!! As far as I am aware the costly suspension bits get done udner a recal ntoice (mine was checked when it went in last) and the rest of the suspension wouldnt cost much to replace aftermarket if you did have an issue. Mine has done 75k now and have no issues at all. The TDis are great engines, but I am still a lover of the 1.8T, our A4 is a 1.8T and still fun to drive. I guess the oil burner just gives you cheaper running costs given how much we get extorted for petrol these days. I think the other thing you need to keep an eye on is the wet carpets as this can cause you some electircal issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Thanks, What causes the wet carpets? What are you driving? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 I have a 2.8 V6 Syncro. If you search here there is a detailed explanation, but I think (off the top of my head) it is due to drain holes by the battery compartment getting blocked and eventually allowing water to get inot the foot well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Nice Motor Ideally that's what i want, but putting my sensible head back on for a moment i feel that a TDI may better. I will really miss that V6 din tho' How much do you think i should pay for a 100,000+ miler on a 51 plate (facelifted chrome grille) What should i check for on high milers, apart from the obvious smoking turbo's? What about catalyst's and cam belt intervals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritesh Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 for one of that miles I would pay between 3 and 4K if that. obvisous signs are the turbo, CV joints, condition of Oil, general condition of the car..but I would expect it to be worn by this state but there are owners who are very good with caring for their cars. check electrical systems a full service history is aplus point. timing belt changes and all MOTs to check and verify milage...the list goes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 How do the 1.8T's handle big mileage? I've heard that the TDI's can go on for ever but what about the 1.8T's. I've just found a 51 plate 1.8T sport with 90,000 on Autotrader at a dealer for £4450 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9969 Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 I've got a '99 1.8T with 140k+ on the clock It was an ex company car - owned by someone in a bank I've got shed loads of service history - all main dealer I run it everyday - goes like clockwork ! Stick it on the motorway and I have to pull it back LOVE IT ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 Go for the TDI not the 1.8T, as the TDI engines are the MUTS NUTS, When it comes to suspension any knocking nosie from the front end = £££ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugboy Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 The 130 TDi is a nicer drive than the 1.8T. I would have preffered the TDi, but they are much more expensive. I paid £3700 for my 4 year old 1.8T Sport which had done 100k. Think I got a good deal though as it should have been nearer 4.5k. My engine seems fine, but the suspension is worn. Obviously that would be the same scenario regardless of what fuel it is. Nice car, but dont expect that it will mega reliable and fault free. I honestly dont think they are any more reliable than a Ford or Vauxhall. They are however made from much nicer quality materials. Either way you will be losing out from a performance and handling point of view when coming from your Alfa. Make sure you get a Sport model otherwise it will feel even worse in the corners. I know what you mean about the V6 growl. My in laws have a 2.6 Vectra SRi and the engine is lush in comparison. Shame its worse than the Passat in most respects as they are cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 THe V6 is cool - full leather, heated bum warmers, elec windows all round and sunroof - all work without a hitch. Sounds good as well, and while it rides a bit high, it handles well enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted February 7, 2006 Report Share Posted February 7, 2006 I like the TDI'S but i have drove a few V6's and they are good as a every day car. The V6 passat shao_khan has is cool (a rare colour), i would buy it if i had the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritesh Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 I agree with PugBoy, the TDi 130 models are excellent but they do command a price being a TDi. I've had my 1.8T sport Tiptronic for a year and a half now and I love it. bought it with only 30K on the clock so its was and still is a baby. but I've only had the comman woes or the factory alarm system and the dreaded tasked of replacing the car battery. But motoring wise its excellent. I went for the 1.8T as i couldnt justify the extra money and I only use my Passat as a weekend runner, plod around in a little hatchback for work. :-) on the motorway it feel sweet..suspension is still great, and there it pulls lovely and the tip box is a nice touch. around town you will find that the car feels big. There have been loads of people who have varying MPG on the car but I can always manage to get over 35MPG from my petrol model and get on average 400 miles from a tank of fuel. The Sport model comes more or less fully loaded except for Leather and sat nav and elecy seats. Depends on what sort of toys you want. I would avoid the base S model and the SE (personally) if u can find and stretch to it go for the Sport model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 I drove a 130TDI passat yesterday and although it had done in excess of 100,000 miles i was mightily impressed. obviously it lacks top end power, but the torque was fantastic. The only thing is i'm being greedy and want a facelift model and i'm struggling to find a TDI for £4000 mark. Plenty of 1.8T's and 2.0 but still a bit unsure of whether to 'trust' the turbo on a high mileage 1.8T or whether the 2.0 will have enough grunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 I hate (no that isnt too strong a word) the 2.0l engine - its horrid, the only use it has is that it is a good starting point for a very big bhp motor, but other than that I cant think of one good thing to say about it. IN general it is underpowered, poor economy, poor performance, poor driveability. if its petrol you want then 1.8T all the way. Guy at work just telling me his 1.8T is coming upto 90k miles now and he has had nothing other than routine maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritesh Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 The Turbo on the 1.8T models should last for a looooong time. as long as the car is maintained properly and with Turbo charged cars you should always let the turbo cool (idle for a few mins) before turning the engine off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
9969 Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 My 1.8 20v Sport Turbo goes like a rocket Annual services , 140 k+ on the clock If you want some fun and car with muscle - go for 1.8T ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugboy Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 I wouldn't worry about the turbo on the 1.8T. A turbo is designed to last the lifetime of the engine and its only 150bhp. The boggo 1.8 is 125 so its hardly working hard. Dont forget the diesel has a turbo as well! You will seriously struggle to get a facelift diesel for £4k. There is a guy at work selling a 51 plate S with 80k on the clock for £5995. Seems expenisive to me, but it would probably sell @ £4995. Thats only an poverty spec model as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waitey Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 I have a x reg 1.8T SEL and apart from the MAF going last year it has been a superb car, pulls well and fuel economy isnt too bad considering i only do short trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Your right Pugboy, really struggling! Ive just found a facelift 1.8T Sport in black with 90,000 on the clock for £4,495 in Birmingham, not that far from Derby! Just dropped the guy an email and price is negotiable. Good spec, tidy looking car, well, on the pictures anyway! I wonder if he'd be interested in a '95 155 2.5V6 with 1 months MOT in part ex? HA HA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritesh Posted February 8, 2006 Report Share Posted February 8, 2006 Best of luck mate! ....make sure u drive it for atleast 10 miles! over all rds types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 Just spoke to the garage owner, he says the car was owned by black horse finance. He won't tell me that cam belt has been changed cos he can't find anything that says for definate that it has. At what intervals should cam belt be changed? It's got a full VW history up to date (90,000 miles) He'll take my Alfa in P/X and has come down to £4,100. bearing in mind my Alfa has 3 weeks MOT left and could cost £££££'s to get through (suspected steering rack problem ) What do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pritesh Posted February 9, 2006 Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 cambelt should have been done at 60K and you must have a recipt to prove its been done. its not bad at all..provided everything checks out... I can compile a list of stuff to check if u want but it will take some time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 I' really appreciate that, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipdayton Posted February 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2006 going to see it tomorrow PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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