Comments on: 2008 Volkswagen Passat V6 4Motion review

By: Govna

Govna — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:38:15 +0000

Righty ho, to all you sad people that bought the Picasso, how could you do it? I’m sorry just to look at that thing makes me a little sick….and another thing, I’m sure Pablo would have wanted a few more angles in it, but I guess being dead, he doesn’t get much say in it all anymore.
Anyway back to the Passat, wholy shite this is fun to drive. I’m with previous correspondence when it comes to the slightly clunky lower gearing but I adore it when it comes to foot down acceleration…. Wunderbar! That’s fun and then it grips the road like gladwrap. I took it over the Port Hills in Christchurch today and tonight and compared to the Audi Quattro TDi of similiar age they both clung to the road remarkedably well but I think I would prefer to be transporting my family in the VW and I might possibly kill myself in the Audi. The paddle shift in the Audi was cool, but Volksi’s lights won me over just a tad. How nifty are the lights that anticipate your direction particulary on the windy, quick steep ascent and descent on my regular 15 minute commute to work in my current gas gurling Range Rover. That time will be possibly be cut in half in this honey and the gas consumption as well, when I buy this Passat Monday morning (don’t tell the dealer!)
So the Missus will understand the economics and I will find a sanctioned affair with a car. It’s not going to be as sexy a purchase as a RR Sport or a Toureg but I will get there in as much comfort in half the time.

By: Ed Snack

Ed Snack — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:14:31 +0000

Way after the last entry but never mind… I have a 3.2 V6 4M Variant, and I finally tracked down the delay problem. It is apparently a safety overlock in the ECU which can be programmed out by an ECU upgrade by the likes of APR. It is activated if you brake (not necessarily to a stop but the same happens if you do), accelerate a little, brake again, then try to accelerate. The fuel is temporarily cut off to avoid presumably an inadvertent acceleration “incident”, but in real life it just seem to strand you in the middle of intersections until you get the fuel back on again. It’s actually not all that long, but it sure seems like it !

By: VK2

VK2 — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:13:07 +0000

I also have the Passat V6 and I find it to be a thrilling drive. I enjoy smoking other guys at the lights who dont expect the VW to have so much punch. As for the VW selecting 6th gear around town this reduces fuel consumption and does not bother me at all as you have two options to overcome this (S or manual). I just got back from a trip down the Hume this afternoon and it was an effortless cruise at 140 errr I mean 110 km/h. And geez for the price, it is waaaay cheaper than the Audi equivalent V6 3.2 quattro! I love it.

By: weirluo

weirluo — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:26:53 +0000

review on the R36, please do a rull road test!!!

By: geoff

geoff — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:51:50 +0000

I test drove one of these for a day and absolutely loved it.
We have the earlier Passat which has better build and finish in my view but the new V6 motor is something else.

The performance is probably a bit over the top for a family car (this would have to run very close to our Aussie V8′s) and without the 4wd it would be very dangerous.

Mrs wants to look at others and this is where I agree with an earlier comment… all of the luxury cars now have plastic interiors. The Passat is definitely one of the better ones.

Points taken on the gearbox however this should not be an issue in real life and the strengths certainly outweigh it.

When is the review on the R36… now that would be nice..

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:30:38 +0000

Regarding the annoyances of the DSG (yes, it often does choose a different gear than I would have, when in D), what a small price to pay for such a brilliant, fun piece of kit!!!

You guys complaining about it in D should try it in manual a little more often! i think its the best fun piece of technology i’ve seen in a car of mine in 20yrs of motoring (besides the turbos in my previous Subaru’s maybe – RIP my little siver rexxy!).

6 speeds, seamless and QUICK upshifts under full throttle, and the ‘blips’ of the throttle to match rpm under heavy breaking – what a hoot! I feel like Schuey sometimes!

DSG kicks SMG’s arse! VW ahead of BMW, now that doesn’t happen very often. In fact, for the new M’s, Bavaria has gone for the dual clutch setup ala VW for SMG II, so there you go.

DSG was the deal breaker for me when deciding between the Liberty SpecB and the Passat. and i’m soooo glad!

Thankyou VDub!

By: C.B.

C.B. — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:15:29 +0000

Christiaan K;

Havin driven both the Passat and the M35 Stagea (250t RS four V) I can honestly say that, for me, the Stagea wins hands down and is part of the reason I purchased one. The only thing the Passat has that is missing in the Stagea is that it is an “official” release in Australia and also cruise control (although rare, there are models available with cruise. Interestingly the Stagea uses a radar located in the grill to sense upcoming traffic and automatically slows the vehicle to match the speed of the vehicle in front).
The Stagea has all the luxury refinements you could need, drives smoothly and just wants to cruise at speeds north of 150kph. The fuel consumption is better than can expected for a 1700kg turbocharged wagon with roughly 12L/100 around town and a rediculous 7.5L/100 avg. cruising up to the Murray River and 100-120kph.
The engine (VQ25DET)is very smooth at any speed, but once you hit around 3000rpm, the boost really kicks in.
“Effortless power” is how to best describe the Stagea. It is practical, luxurious, powerful and better than expected on fuel although it has an 80L tank *ouch*(be sure to use a minimum 98RON fuel).
I can’t speak highy enough of the build quality, performance, comfort levels, storage compartments (I am still finding new ones 12 months down the track) and general refinement… It also looks very nice on the road.
At around $25k (negotiate!!) from a car yard, you cannot go wrong.
I just cannot understand why cars like this (and the Nissan Cima – large, luxurious, Powerful, V8 rear wheel drive sedan – surely if a car was made for Australian buyers…) are not released here.

By: weirluo

weirluo — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:58:43 +0000

I personally prefer the Volvo V70 T6.

By: RB25DET

RB25DET — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:02:49 +0000

Just to mention that the hesitation on take up of drive is due to the DSG having a clutch system similar to a manual but with two smaller clutch plates. So it cant just put all the power on when your foot is depressed quickly or it will burn the clutch’s out. So the hesitation is an electronic safety to stop burning out the clutch. Hense been able to tune it out slightly at a dealer. If you depress the throttle more gently to the floor out of junctions you may find this does not happen.

By: Owen Perham

Owen Perham — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:24:54 +0000

I too have driven the Passat but only with the diesel engine and DSG “box”. I hated it! The massive hesitation when the throttle is pressed was just horrid. I have talked about this with Passat owners overseas and it is typical of the DSG box in both VW and Audi’s. It apparantly is a popular complaint to the point where VW dealers in Europe can tune this out to some degree electronicaly. I then talked to the dealer about service costs. If you are thinking of buying a Passat, you should sit down with the dealers service department and ask to see the recomended prices of all of the services up to 150’000k’s. If your chosen Passat has a DSG box (the 4 cyl petrol uses a regular 6 speed auto) then you need to be aware of the $600 to $700 hit at around 60’000 and again at around 120’000 for the DSG service (does not apply to the regular 6 speeder in the 4 cyl petrols) on tp of the normal VW high service costs. At around the 70 to 90’000 mark there is a major service of over $1’000 (can’t remember all of the details on what is done). This (if your car has DSG) is on top of the DSG service so you pride and joy will hit you with close on two grand of workshop joy in short time. If you have any say in it, trade when the warranty runs out. These Passats (i’m talking current shape/model) are renowned world wide for crook electrics, breaking plastic cam belt tensioners with devestating engine damage, dodging central locking actuators, windscreen wipers becoming detached at speed and the petrol engines not liking high sulphu content that we get at some outlets here in Oz. They do not like ethenol blends either. You should also find out about the warranty exclusions on engine damage due to fuel contaminants before buying particularly if you live in rural areas or do a lot of country kilometres where fresh, ethenol free high octane ULP is available. VW are very specific on using the boliger ULP and if you damage an engine by using standard grade you might be in for a rude shock. I walked away from the Passat after researching all of this and reading the Lemon cars guide at the local newsagent. Again if you are looking at buying the Passat I strongly suggest you read this book and ask the dealer a lot of probing questions. If the answers are at all vague or sound odd, get them written onto the contract becasue all of this might save YOU some money later on.