VW Passat W8

[james280779]

opinions? I just bought the one on Ebay. 2002 57k miles, all new coil packs and service history - looks immaculate.

Anything else to look out for?

I know its not going to match an m5 or audi RS performance but thats why I have my other cars- I just wanted something different that a pregnant wife can be comfortable in and driving.

Also owner reckons it can hit 190mph with limiter removed - is this likely? I am not convinced myself - cant see a passat overtaking most ferrari's. (not that I will ever do 190mph)

and for those non-petrolcated, a W8 is literally half the W16 as found in the veyron (minus the forced induction)

Edited by james280779 on Wednesday 22 August 01:08

[carinaman]

You may want to check through this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...

[carinaman]

james280779 said:

I know its not going to match an m5 or audi RS performance but thats why I have my other cars- I just wanted something different that a pregnant wife can be comfortable in and driving.

Also owner reckons it can hit 190mph with limiter removed - is this likely? I am not convinced myself - cant see a passat overtaking most ferrari's. (not that I will ever do 190mph)

Edited by james280779 on Wednesday 22 August 01:08

That almost double ton capability may come in handy when the waters break.

[james280779]

carinaman said:

You may want to check through this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...

thanks- I had seen that before and completely forgot about it- interesting read

[james280779]

I am also thinking - 8 cylinder engine weighing in at 190 kilos and small enough to fit into an engine bay designed for a four cylinder.............., easily tunable to well over 300 bhp - epic potential for an engine coversion for an old golf or something of the like after the car itself gives up.

[Motorrad]

james280779 said:

opinions? I just bought the one on Ebay. 2002 57k miles, all new coil packs and service history - looks immaculate.

Anything else to look out for?

I know its not going to match an m5 or audi RS performance but thats why I have my other cars- I just wanted something different that a pregnant wife can be comfortable in and driving.

Also owner reckons it can hit 190mph with limiter removed - is this likely? I am not convinced myself - cant see a passat overtaking most ferrari's. (not that I will ever do 190mph)

and for those non-petrolcated, a W8 is literally half the W16 as found in the veyron (minus the forced induction)

Edited by james280779 on Wednesday 22 August 01:08

I think the owner is talking bks re:190mph, they have less than 300bhp in a saloon/estate body. My MTM fettled RS2 which had less than stellar aerodynamics r/r'd at 380bhp and wouldn't go faster than 167mph.

How much did you pay for it? Is it the less troublesome manual? Hope it all goes well.

[mnkiboy]

275bhp, so it's probably good for around 155mph. Quick for an old Passatt, but it's not quite 190mph.

Think you'll need an RS6 or an M5 for that kind of speed.

[ajb85]

Quentin Wilson recommends these!
But then again it wasn't long ago that he was also telling us to all rush out and buy Vauxhall Senators before their prices sky-rocket

[Triumph Man]

james280779 said:

I am also thinking - 8 cylinder engine weighing in at 190 kilos and small enough to fit into an engine bay designed for a four cylinder.............., easily tunable to well over 300 bhp - epic potential for an engine coversion for an old golf or something of the like after the car itself gives up.

It would be the other way around - the car would go on forever, the engine would give up

Although go for it!

ETA just seen that you have. Congratulations! Thread in reader's cars soon?

[Triumph Man]

mnkiboy said:

275bhp, so it's probably good for around 155mph. Quick for an old Passatt, but it's not quite 190mph.

Think you'll need an RS6 or an M5 for that kind of speed.

That 155mph is limited I believe, but I doubt 190 mph is achievable!

[mnkiboy]

Triumph Man said:

That 155mph is limited I believe, but I doubt 190 mph is achievable!

Even without the limiter, I doubt it would go much past 155.

[emicen]

mnkiboy said:

Triumph Man said:

That 155mph is limited I believe, but I doubt 190 mph is achievable!

Even without the limiter, I doubt it would go much past 155.

On a very cold, bone dry morning at the Ehra Lessen test track, a team of engineers huddle round a W8 Passat preparing for top speed testing. In the background a marketing nonce stands, wringing his hands slightly, a bead of sweat rolling from brow to cheek forcing him to pensively tug loose his ridiculously over sized tie knot.

Crackling off on to the test track the Passat drivers presses pedal to carpet for a solid 20mins.

154.7mph, Mr Marketing is not impressed.

"TAPING ZE DAMN SHUTLINES BITTE!!!" he shrieks!

20mins later, 155.4mph

"Excellent, now ve claiming she iz limited to vun hundred und fifty five!"



Never underestimate the power of marketing bullst.

[james280779]

Motorrad said:

I think the owner is talking bks re:190mph, they have less than 300bhp in a saloon/estate body. My MTM fettled RS2 which had less than stellar aerodynamics r/r'd at 380bhp and wouldn't go faster than 167mph.

How much did you pay for it? Is it the less troublesome manual? Hope it all goes well.

a shade over 2k including a new MOT.

After much research it appears the Manual is the troublesome one, gearing isnt right, clutch is prone to failure etc. The Auto tiptronic is lifted straight from the 911 of the same era. Due to this I bought it although I was initially reluctant due to the autobox.

[james280779]

mnkiboy said:

Even without the limiter, I doubt it would go much past 155.

from speaking to people and research it appears it hits the 155 fairly easily and is still going strong when it does. However I am also sceptical about top speed but now intrigued!

[Parabola]

Fancy taking it to VMAX for us? Or Nardo if that bit of track isn't long enough!

[james280779]

Parabola said:

Fancy taking it to VMAX for us? Or Nardo if that bit of track isn't long enough!

i am thinking about a rolling road just to find out.

[Parabola]

james280779 said:

i am thinking about a rolling road just to find out.

Can a rolling road give you an idea of a cars top speed?

Make sure you post the results here.

[mcbook]

Parabola said:

Can a rolling road give you an idea of a cars top speed?

Make sure you post the results here.

Surely a rolling road won't give top speed? Wind resistance is a major limiting factor and that is absent when the car's inside a garage.

[dvs_dave]

james280779 said:

easily tunable to well over 300 bhp

Nice idea....reality not very easy at all. The W8 is a low performance engine, especially considering it's capacity and complexity, and there is zero aftermarket support when it comes to tuning.

It's far easier to get 300+ bhp out of the 1.8T than it'll ever be with the W8.

[oscarwilde]

carinaman said:

You may want to check through this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=3&a...

My car now. I think you need to be wary of opinions from people who've never owned one and base everything they say on what they've been told by their mates or read on the internet. I'll post a running report in due course but the first fortnight's ownership is unlikely to be fully representative.