Volkswagen Experts

[AZHuskiePop]

I know a kid who has a chance to buy a 2017 Passat .I’m assuming lower model with 112,000 miles on it relatively ($12K )inexpensively
I’m a Toyota guy and my understanding is even the Turbo 4 cylinder is pretty much done at 100,000. I understand German car repairs tend to be pricy.
They can’t afford expensive repairs but need a vehicle to get to work.
If it was a Camry , or Accord , Civic , or Corolla it’s still in the break stage. But I’m uncertain on VW durability.
Good or Bad idea

 

[JMick]

But the manifold is attached to the block and I’m sure is at some pretty high temps. I’ve had numerous cars without a plastic manifold go to 150k + miles. The Tiguan manifold crapped out at 51k. And they switched back to aluminum. If it worked so well why switch back?

your general understanding of how a combustion engine works is flawed. the intake manifold isn't attached to the block. there aren't any explosions in the intake manifold. it's literally just a passage for air.

i don't know why VW couldn't make a plastic intake manifold. maybe because they still can't make electronics even though everyone can figure those out too.

 

[NJHusky]

your general understanding of how a combustion engine works is flawed. the intake manifold isn't attached to the block. there aren't any explosions in the intake manifold. it's literally just a passage for air.

i don't know why VW couldn't make a plastic intake manifold. maybe because they still can't make electronics even though everyone can figure those out too.

I understand there is no combustion there. Always thought the intake manifold was attached to the engine and thus would get exposed to heat. I stand corrected.

Didn’t realize plastic was the norm. Only time I knew about it was when it failed. And that my mechanic thought it was was junk.

 

[JMick]

I understand there is no combustion there. Always thought the intake manifold was attached to the engine and thus would get exposed to heat. I stand corrected.

Didn’t realize plastic was the norm. Only time I knew about it was when it failed. And that my mechanic thought it was was junk.

it goes air box -> air filter -> air intake tube -> throttle body -> intake manifold -> head(s) -> block

the combustion chamber is in the heads and the heads are open to the block where the piston moves up and down compressing the air, while the spark occurs in the combustion chamber of the head and the fuel injectors dump fuel either: into the bottom of the intake manifold (port injection) or directly into the cylinder (direct injection).

with port injection, essentially what happens is that the fuel is dumped into the into manifold where it mixes with the air coming into the manifold. but it doesn't combust there - it gets sucked down into the cylinders (what you're calling the block) and then with the spark from the spark plugs, combusts as the piston compresses the air. This is what they call "timing."

any time they are setting your timing, they're setting when the piston is at the upmost position to account for when the burn happens

direct injection creates the mixture within the cylinder and is why it's more efficient.

 

[CL82]

Not sure what the heck you guys are talking about? "Service"? "Oil"?

I'll tell you what, though. The maintenance on my Chevy Bolt is brutal!! I have to wash at least once a year! Oh, and I heard the cabin air filter needs to be changed at some point.

Yeah, the Bolt is just a peach.
.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Thank You for all your replies
Great information as always

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Thank You for all your replies

 

[Fishy]

Past owner of several VW/Audi products.

They are great to drive but complex, finicky, and prone to expensive repairs.

 

[Get a Job]

Yeah, the Bolt is just a peach.
.View attachment 74468

Aw, come on. I mean, sure, it might spontaneously combust, but think of the fuel savings!!

Actually, that recall worked out great for me. I've owned it for 3.5 years (almost halfway through the battery warranty), and now they're replacing the battery for free. I assume this resets my warranty, and, even if not, I have a brand new battery.

 

[gtcam]

BMW, Audi, low end Benz - all have dropped great craftmanship for mass production and I don't think they have it in them to do so - most are less than acceptable for long term usage
The Japanese and Korean automakers have somewhat mastered the idea that automobiles shouldn't die once they reach 100,000 miles.

 

[CONN78SEJ]

Wife had a Tiguan....our mechanic was not a fan. I know VW/Audi have issues at about 100k if they use a timing belt instead of a chain. Her tiguan had a plastic intake manifold that went right after the warranty period.

When we were looking for another vehicle...I said anything but a VW or Audi.

If you want reliability can't beat Honda or Toyota IMO

I love my Honda, traded in a Civic at 185,000 miles, and got $3000 for the trade in for another new Civic 3 years ago, present mileage is almost 130,000 miles and still going strong with a 39mpg average. On VW’s, my wife loves them, leased a Jetta SEL for her three years ago, great little car. At the end of the lease gave it back to them and they gave us $17,000 towards a new lease on another VW three weeks ago. We leased the new VW AWD Taos, last I checked the odometer 320mi and counting. VW’s hold there value exceptionally well, and are built like tanks, but I also have my doubts on reliability, hence I wouldn’t dare buy one, if you like VW’s only lease them. Loads of room for our two large dogs.

 

[connVA]

Our German piano tuner came over this afternoon for our yearly check-up. He was driving a Lexus.

 

[Waquoit]

Our German piano tuner came over this afternoon for our yearly check-up. He was driving a Lexus.

You know better than I but I always read those piano tuners made good money.

 

[connVA]

You know better than I but I always read those piano tuners made good money.

$165 for 30-45 min of work, although we have a cheapie that we’re trying to keep in serviceable shape for the kids (an old spinet from the 1950’s that he keeps telling us really needs to be replaced). I imagine it’s a significant step up for tuning a baby grand or even a decent upright.

 

[Fishy]

Long-time Audi/VW owner.

Do not buy one.

The only thing they are good for is training you to be a BMW owner. If you go straight from normal car repairs to BMW car repairs, you will be killed by shock, A Volkswagen will condition you to insane repairs and provide the training you‘ll need to own a BMW.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The 2017 Passat 2.0t is a fairly reliable vehicle. That said, 12k for one with 125,000 miles is scary. I bought one for my son two years ago for 16k with 12,000 miles and it was showroom ready. Granted, this was pre-pandemic, but I’d run from that car at $12,000.

Honestly, I don't think the car is a problem in a generic sense. But this one...back away slowly. There are a lot of other cars at $12k that will be better choices.

That said: wow. My 2016 Mazda CX-5 GT that my daughter drives is now worth about $8k more than it was two years ago. My X5 is selling for the same price I paid two years ago, it might have gone up a bit. Insane.

 

[Fishy]

Honestly, I don't think the car is a problem in a generic sense. But this one...back away slowly. There are a lot of other cars at $12k that will be better choices.

That said: wow. My 2016 Mazda CX-5 GT that my daughter drives is now worth about $8k more than it was two years ago. My X5 is selling for the same price I paid two years ago, it might have gone up a bit. Insane.

The car is a problem in a generic sense.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

As the saying goes, nothing is more expensive than a cheap German car.

 

[HuskyHawk]

As the saying goes, nothing is more expensive than a cheap German car.

So far, among my three used BMWs, my unexpected (not oil, brakes, tires) expenses have been zero. Cars are just generally a lot better now. We like Volvos, but those have been by far the most problematic cars we've owned.

 

[Fishy]

Avoid all BMWs from 2008 or so onwards. Avoid anything made by Volkswagen/Audi.

You’ll have better luck with Mercedes and Porsche, although repairs are typically stratospheric in cost.

 

[NC_Uconn_Fan]

Avoid all BMWs from 2008 or so onwards. Avoid anything made by Volkswagen/Audi.

You’ll have better luck with Mercedes and Porsche, although repairs are typically stratospheric in cost.

I have owned 6 Volkswagens since 2004, Zero issues. I still have 3 of them.

 

[Kolumbo]

Avoid all BMWs from 2008 or so onwards. Avoid anything made by Volkswagen/Audi.

You’ll have better luck with Mercedes and Porsche, although repairs are typically stratospheric in cost.

OK, stick with Mercedes & Porsche, gotcha.

Subaru WRX - Any negative feedback? I am looking for a used car to replace my small sedan, something fun to drive, and this car seems to fit the bill. Not as expensive as the German autos and a manual transmission with all-wheel drive makes it a perfect fit.

 

[JMick]

OK, stick with Mercedes & Porsche, gotcha.

Subaru WRX - Any negative feedback? I am looking for a used car to replace my small sedan, something fun to drive, and this car seems to fit the bill. Not as expensive as the German autos and a manual transmission with all-wheel drive makes it a perfect fit.

the shifter isn't great for a manual transmission. they're not very comfortable. the 2014+ are much more reliable than previous versions but they're less reliable than your average vehicle.

 

[Fishy]

OK, stick with Mercedes & Porsche, gotcha.

Subaru WRX - Any negative feedback? I am looking for a used car to replace my small sedan, something fun to drive, and this car seems to fit the bill. Not as expensive as the German autos and a manual transmission with all-wheel drive makes it a perfect fit.

Stick with Mercedes if you are in that part of the market obviously. Some MB models are nearly bulletproof to about 300,000 miles…my father used to put 200k on them and then would simply replace it with a new version of the same model.

If you are a normal human being who expects cars to just work like they are supposed to and be repaired without superhuman efforts, buy something else.

I do not think I have ever heard anyone say anything bad about a Subaru.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

the shifter isn't great for a manual transmission. they're not very comfortable. the 2014+ are much more reliable than previous versions but they're less reliable than your average vehicle.

Seconding that reliability is a definite concern depending on the engine model. Do some research to make sure that engine did not have head gasket issues. I would also make sure you're only buying a very clean car. WRX's attract a lot of morons and also a lot DIYers that may have done some shoddy work or put some serious strain on the car.

 

[JMick]

I do not think I have ever heard anyone say anything bad about a Subaru.

that's because subaru is a cult

 

[ClifSpliffy]

Avoid all BMWs from 2008 or so onwards. Avoid anything made by Volkswagen/Audi.

You’ll have better luck with Mercedes and Porsche, although repairs are typically stratospheric in cost.

for a variety of reasons not to my liking, im stuck tooling around in a benz 420S, circa 2012, for a week or so, crushing my street cred as a truck person. gross.
upon pickup, sisinlaw sez 'ur not gonna like it.' im like, 'beyond my disgust for foreign junk, what do u mean?' i get in, aaaaannnnnd i sez 'i don't like it. what are there, like 100 buttons on this? im not going back to school to learn how to run this!' i start poking the buttons to figger out the basics, and realize that the driver wiper is sketchy. we head to fairdale benz, behind the train station, bro walks in cuz its one of his rides. i wait outside.
10-15 minutes later, he walks out and *yells to me 'these people are morons! the driverwiper is different than the passenger one, i wanted to replace both, they tell me $178 for the pair, but only have the passenger one, and we'll get the driver one in a couple/tree days.'
headed over to auto zone, figgered out a good plan with the guy there, aboot 30 bucks for the pair.
buy 'murican. parts are inexpensive, and u can always get them five minutes from ur home. benz are dopes. they should have a pull down chart sumwhere near the driver with what the icons on all those buttons mean. im not a freakin mind reader.

*yells. at the top of their stairs by the door.
bro is a very large man, also born in Bridgeport. doesn't care if any benz service person heard him (they did).

 

[Kolumbo]

Not many American sedans in this class anymore but if I had the spare change:

 

[HuskyHawk]

OK, stick with Mercedes & Porsche, gotcha.

Subaru WRX - Any negative feedback? I am looking for a used car to replace my small sedan, something fun to drive, and this car seems to fit the bill. Not as expensive as the German autos and a manual transmission with all-wheel drive makes it a perfect fit.

As @WhereistheDove? said, the WRX is a hoon car. People beat the crap out of them and it has a cult following (like the Mitsubishi EVo used to). Not something I'd get used unless I knew the owner. Best best for a car like that is a Civic Si. It will attract some people who will drive it hard, but not nearly as many. Mazda 3, Kia Forte GT are other options. There's always the Jetta GLI to bring things full circle in the thread.

 

[Kolumbo]

As @WhereistheDove? said, the WRX is a hoon car. People beat the crap out of them and it has a cult following (like the Mitsubishi EVo used to). Not something I'd get used unless I knew the owner. Best best for a car like that is a Civic Si. It will attract some people who will drive it hard, but not nearly as many. Mazda 3, Kia Forte GT are other options. There's always the Jetta GLI to bring things full circle in the thread.

Yes, and as my wife told me, insurance. I was actually looking at the Subaru Crosstrek. I just want something fun to drive, I'm not drag racing. Lots of Jettas and Golfs out there so I think I need to look at them.

My first car was an old used rabbit and my second was a used VW which drove like the hot North African wind. No problemas.

 

[Kolumbo]

I know a kid who has a chance to buy a 2017 Passat .I’m assuming lower model with 112,000 miles on it relatively ($12K )inexpensively
I’m a Toyota guy and my understanding is even the Turbo 4 cylinder is pretty much done at 100,000. I understand German car repairs tend to be pricy.
They can’t afford expensive repairs but need a vehicle to get to work.
If it was a Camry , or Accord , Civic , or Corolla it’s still in the break stage. But I’m uncertain on VW durability.
Good or Bad idea

Did the kid pull the trigger? I was surprised to hear about the low reliability ratings but I have to believe it's gonna last much longer than 100k miles. $12k seems like an incredibly good price.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/volkswagen/passat/2017

So, what's the best online source?
cars.com
carvana.com
craigslist.com
ebay.com
other