VAG loving Opponauts, opinions please

"Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole" (Dukie)
02/17/2015 at 10:20 • Filed to: Oppopinions, VAG

With my family growing by another wang that arrives in June, I've decided to sell/trade Aces, my 1981 Celica, and get something more family friendly for the time being.

I've been perusing the local List of Craig and have been drawn to VAG. Both the Passat & A6, particularly in the wagon variation. I had one as a rental during my stay in NJ during Hurricane Sandy and really liked it. For those of you that have owned these cars, what are some things to look out for? Things to look for as far as best options (is the one motor better to own than another?, etc). Here's a couple of the one's I'm interested in, thoughts?

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http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/489211…

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DISCUSSION (25)

Leon711 > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:22

last one "roof racks not sale"

Coty > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:23

Bitch please:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/488630…

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Coty
02/17/2015 at 10:25

The ability to "baby" is in high regard. That said, I've had one car seat in my former 1975 Beetle. The child was not pleased with her leg room at 3 years old. I doubt at 9 she'll be happier.

Also, the wife mandated air conditioning, and not 2x60.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Leon711
02/17/2015 at 10:27

That's why it has an engine, right?

Yossarian > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:28

Your first two ads are for the same car.

I've heard bad things about the 1.8T. Would take the 2.8 V6 over it.

Coty > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:28

Well shoot.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:29

If you're talking A6, avoid anything with a turbo. Go instead o for 2.8 or 3.0.

505Turbeaux > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:30

those were some damn dark times for VAG products right there. My one word of advice, avoid anything late 90's - early 2000's on either.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Yossarian
02/17/2015 at 10:31

Tis early for me, and I have fat fingers.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 10:34

This may explain the overabundance of them in my area. Hmm.

Thoughts on other wagons (Subaru, Volvo, etc)?

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Coty
02/17/2015 at 10:38

Trust me, I perked up when I saw a nice Squareback, then remembered I'd have to get the new kid's car seat out of the front door while he's sleeping.

nopenopenope.jpeg

505Turbeaux > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:38

Subies are good, if you can stomach doing head gaskets and replacing the whole front end on it every 130K miles. Volvo I wouldnt touch 98-2000 for tranny issues and general crap quality, or in 96 because of a one year only issue with the OBD2 readiness requiring a huge drive cycle done twice to set - 01+ is kind of a crapshoot. Mercedes, w210 is good as long as you dont live in a rust prone area, mine is 4Matic and gets 28MPG almost all the time. If you can find a good Camry wagon those are wicked awesome.

Tohru > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:39

Shit man, if you're going to go Audi, go full crazy.

Buy THIS 2013 Audi Allroad from CarMax, and get the MaxCare on it.

Or, I'll do you one better. For the same money, you could get THIS 2012 Range Rover Evoque.

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 10:41

Hmm, I haven't looked at the W210s. I'll have to check those, Camry wagons are around but look tired in most of the ads.

jkm7680 > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:41

Anything with the 2.8 engine is going to be as reliable as you'll get as far as 90's VAG products go. I've got a '97 A4 with the 12v 2.8 and I've had little to no problems with it. That A6 has the 30v, but I speak from experience.

The 1.8T is high maintenance, but there is a great aftermarket community and you'll be able to easily find replacement parts that are better than/equal to those components that are already on the car. Beware of electrical gremlins.

For the 1.8T, watch out for aftermarket modifications, as those are sometimes signs of abuse and make sure that there is proof of any said repairs or preventative maintenance done.

With the 2.8, small things are the biggest downfalls from my personal experience. Just look out for small ticket things.

Boxer_4 > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:43

For the 1.8t Passats:

Make sure synthetic oil was used and was changed frequently (every 3,000 to 5,000 miles). These engines had significant sludge issues in the Passat and A4 if not properly maintained. VW didn't originally spec synthetic oil, but did later. Our 01 wagon never had the sludge issue, but we used Castrol Syntec and changed it every 3,000 miles. A friend of ours didn't, and needed the engine replaced as a result.

Check for carpet dampness in the both foot wells. The Passat had a cabin air filter, and the gasket could fail over time allowing water entry. The sunroof (if equipped) drains like to clog, too. The automatic transmission controller is located in the passenger foot well. The Comfort Control Module (CCM) which controls a lot of electronic functions is located in the drivers foot well. Both are not good to get wet. (Ask me how I know about the automatic transmission controller).

Verify that the timing belt was changed (and related items, too). The 1.8t is an interference engine, and the belt isn't the easiest to change on these cars.

Coil packs were an issue on early '00 cars due to a bad run of Bosch parts. They are fairly easy to change out, but it is an annoyance.

I seem to recall the PCV likes to clog occationally on these, too.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:44

I wouldn't trust any of those, but especially not the 1.8T.

505Turbeaux > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 10:45

alot of them are, but if you find a good one it will last forever

GhostZ > Coty
02/17/2015 at 10:48

2/10 for accuracy, but 12/10 for style

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2015 at 10:52

The head gasket issue is primarily associated with the 2.5 motor. People make a big deal about it being an engine-out job on subies, but Subarus probably have the easiest engines to remove in the world. There are jokes about it. "Need a new alternator? Better pull the engine!" Turns out that it's just three bolts and lifts straight out. It's just (like all cars) easier to work on the engine when it's out, but (unlike in all cars), the engine's super easy to remove.

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
02/17/2015 at 10:55

oh yeah no doubt, but I still dont trust them in the age range he is looking at. I have yanked quite a few of those.

TheHondaBro > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 11:00

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Yeah, ummmm... Phrasing.

Confused Miata > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 11:40

If you're set on one of those the A6 is probably the best. Be sure the timing belt has been changed though. You may want to consider BMWs and Mercedes from the same era but they're only slightly better..

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Confused Miata
02/17/2015 at 11:44

Yeah, that's one of the things I was looking at was how recently the timing belt had been changed.

RallyWrench > Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole
02/17/2015 at 14:18

I will say that the AHA 2.8 is a hard engine to kill as long as you take care the timing belt & water pump when necessary. They do leak oil from everywhere though. These cars also tend to consume front suspension & steering bits if the roads are anything less than perfect, including steering racks. Engine mounts are a weakness. Window regulators are common failures as well. Instrument cluster displays pixellate & become illegible. The automatics will (sometimes) do 200k+ with service, less than 150 if not. The driveshaft front CV joint gets cooked by the cat converters, hardening the grease & inducing a leak at the transmission output. With Passats, the 1.8t is to be avoided. Much more plastic/rubber and turbo related problems than the V6. And so on and so forth.

At this point these are good cars for mechanics to own (and 2 of my guys do), but I don't recommend them to clients, because they'll have to see me far too often. El Uly has an A6 Avant too. Do not touch an AWD Volvo, you'll thank me later. The W210 Mercedes is a great car, but wagons are hard to find in decent shape, and apparently they rust in the land of salty roads. If you need an AWD wagon, get a Subaru with the heads already fixed with MLS gaskets. And if you need to do suspension work, it's cheap, and it's a great excuse to call Primitive Rally for some upgrades.