2000 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T

[jakeslouw]

I can get one of these cars cheap. Very cheap. Suspiciously cheap. From a dealer. :o

A quick Google shows issues with the engines in these cars: sludge and premature failure?

Anybody have anything first-hand to share? Or even second-hand. Oh heck any anecdotes? Just don't want to buy a lemon for one of the kids. :mad:

[sheerluck]

I had a 1999. It was unstoppable. No issues whatsoever in the time I had it, apart from a battery.

[Vern]

Sludge seemed to be the biggest problem with these.

We have an 07 2.5 125kw, its such a nice car to drive, goes extremely well and returns 6l/100k, but unfortunately we have to sell it:(, to many cars

[jakeslouw]

Sludge seemed to be the biggest problem with these.

We have an 07 2.5 125kw, its such a nice car to drive, goes extremely well and returns 6l/100k, but unfortunately we have to sell it:(, to many cars

Thanks Vern but what was the effect of the sludge? Engine wear? Failure?

[Sitec]

Turbo for the kids?... Have run VW's for a long time... 440000 kms on my Golf 2 GTD... Had a few petrols which were always good. As long as the fluids have been changed regularly it should be fine. If its been neglected, be suspicious.. Hear it start from cold, having checked the oil and water. Take it for a decent test run, and then check everything again. (Should be able able to see the coolant thru the header tank.. Don't try and open that when hot!!). Some are frightened off by spare parts... Don't be... Everything is available on the net, and the Dub's in Europe are like Falcons/Comodes over here. You can usually find a euro parts importer/distributor in your nearest city. Good luck.

[Vern]

The oils sludge problem was from infrequent oil changes and incorrect oil basically, it seems the fix is to use synthetic oil only and install a larger filter. Sludge would build up in the sump and block the oil pickup. I've read of people modifying the oil pick up by putting a larger pickup/screen on there.

[jakeslouw]

Turbo for the kids?... Have run VW's for a long time... 440000 kms on my Golf 2 GTD... Had a few petrols which were always good. As long as the fluids have been changed regularly it should be fine. If its been neglected, be suspicious.. Hear it start from cold, having checked the oil and water. Take it for a decent test run, and then check everything again. (Should be able able to see the coolant thru the header tank.. Don't try and open that when hot!!). Some are frightened off by spare parts... Don't be... Everything is available on the net, and the Dub's in Europe are like Falcons/Comodes over here. You can usually find a euro parts importer/distributor in your nearest city. Good luck.

Yeah kid is mid-20s already. I'll go have a look and eyeball the issues you mention. We also have a bunch of VW parts vendors over here: Volkspares, GoldWagen, etc. They import VW parts from Europe, very cheap. But sometimes these specialized cars can be more expensive to repair.

A standard Golf: no worries. But these Passats weren't sold over here in huge numbers.

[Sitec]

I hadn't noticed where you are until now! Are you still able to get the 'Citi Golf'. Worked out there for a while and couldn't get over all the 'modernised' Mk1 Golfs buzzing around! :)

[jakeslouw]

I hadn't noticed where you are until now! Are you still able to get the 'Citi Golf'. Worked out there for a while and couldn't get over all the 'modernised' Mk1 Golfs buzzing around! :)

Production on the Citi Golfs ended in around Aug 2009.

Last models were 1.4i, 1.6i and 1.8i. Aircon standard. 0-100 in 8.5s.

They are still selling for WAY above standard retail book values.

Around $7,000 for a well used version of the MY2009!