2008 Passat 2.0 TDI SE Buying Advice

[mollytherocker]

Hi All

I am losing my company Honda Accord 2.0S VTEC at the end of Jan due to my company changing its policy on company cars. I will now get a monthly payment and have to buy my own car. I do about 18k a year.

I have test driven a 2008 Passat 2.0 TDI SE (12k miles) and liked it apart from the noisy engine on tickover and flat seats.

Is there anything I need to be looking at on these cars? Do they have a 3 year warranty and what is the service intervals and costs like? I plan on keeping it for 3 years (Approx 70k), is there any major costs I am likely to incur?

Mollytherocker

Edited by mollytherocker on Sunday 4th January 17:45

[VAG1]

im pretty sure they come with a 3 year warranty, 2 year unlimited miles and 3rd year 60k miles, if that makes sense.

[J400uk]

Might be worth stretching to a newer 2008 model. Highline repalced SE trim with the addition of bigger alloys and a full leather interior (at the same price iirc), and it uses the TDI 140 CR unit which is far smoother and quieter than the PD. It will cost you more, but be a more pleasent car to own and worth more when you come to sell it on.

Some useful info on them here - http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=...


EDIT: Highline replaced SE arround Feburary. The Highline will feature more standard equipment than the SE, including leather upholstery in place of cloth, heated front seats and four carpet mats. It will also be fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels rather than 16-inch wheels. VW says the additional kit is worth £2125, but it will charge a premium of just £250 over the outgoing SE models in both saloon and estate forms.

Edited by J400uk on Monday 5th January 16:27

[mollytherocker]

J400uk said:

Might be worth stretching to a newer 2008 model. Highline repalced SE trim with the addition of bigger alloys and a full leather interior (at the same price iirc), and it uses the TDI 140 CR unit which is far smoother and quieter than the PD. It will cost you more, but be a more pleasent car to own and worth more when you come to sell it on.

Some useful info on them here - http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=...


EDIT: Highline replaced SE arround Feburary. The Highline will feature more standard equipment than the SE, including leather upholstery in place of cloth, heated front seats and four carpet mats. It will also be fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels rather than 16-inch wheels. VW says the additional kit is worth £2125, but it will charge a premium of just £250 over the outgoing SE models in both saloon and estate forms.

Edited by J400uk on Monday 5th January 16:27

Thanks for the advice and link. Ive looked at some Highlines and they seem to be starting about 13k. I can get a 2008 57 plate SE for 10k. Is the Highline really worth 30% more or is it just because they are newer?

MTR

Edited by mollytherocker on Monday 5th January 20:14

[J400uk]

mollytherocker said:

J400uk said:

Might be worth stretching to a newer 2008 model. Highline repalced SE trim with the addition of bigger alloys and a full leather interior (at the same price iirc), and it uses the TDI 140 CR unit which is far smoother and quieter than the PD. It will cost you more, but be a more pleasent car to own and worth more when you come to sell it on.

Some useful info on them here - http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=...


EDIT: Highline replaced SE arround Feburary. The Highline will feature more standard equipment than the SE, including leather upholstery in place of cloth, heated front seats and four carpet mats. It will also be fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels rather than 16-inch wheels. VW says the additional kit is worth £2125, but it will charge a premium of just £250 over the outgoing SE models in both saloon and estate forms.

Edited by J400uk on Monday 5th January 16:27

Thanks for the advice and link. Ive looked at some Highlines and they seem to be starting about 13k. I can get a 2008 57 plate SE for 10k. Is the Highline really worth 30% more or is it just because they are newer?

MTR

Edited by mollytherocker on Monday 5th January 20:14

If there both 57s with the same mileage then no its not worth the extra £3k, but if the highlines are newer with lower mileage and the CR TDI then probably worth paying extra for imo.

[mollytherocker]

No, the Highlines I looked at are all 08 plates, so approx 6 months newer than the SE's.

Unfortunately, 10k is my budget!

MTR

[Spoons]

mollytherocker said:

Hi All

I am losing my company Honda Accord 2.0S VTEC at the end of Jan due to my company changing its policy on company cars. I will now get a monthly payment and have to buy my own car. I do about 18k a year.

I have test driven a 2008 Passat 2.0 TDI SE (12k miles) and liked it apart from the noisy engine on tickover and flat seats.

Is there anything I need to be looking at on these cars? Do they have a 3 year warranty and what is the service intervals and costs like? I plan on keeping it for 3 years (Approx 70k), is there any major costs I am likely to incur?

Mollytherocker

Longlife services intervals can go @20k cost is @£275, Try a DSG gearbox it's much better than the manual(IMO), Sport model has better seats than SE but suspension is much harder/jittery, a lot of the £10-12k low mileage SE's at VW dealers are ex rental/lease and have no options fitted, check for paintwork defects/repairs on these. VW finance is worth considering but don't pay the £300+ for their GAP insurance.

New Mondeo is a better car.

Edited by Spoons on Monday 5th January 22:46

[mollytherocker]

Thanks Spoons. I have been looking at '10k' cars at the well known supermarkets and it is obvious that they are ex-rental - one even had a reciept in the spare wheel well!

I will take your advice and try a Mondeo, although I dont really like the looks or the MASSIVE size!

MTR

[J400uk]

Be careful at the car supermarkets.

I was recently looking at Golf GT Sports at several car supermkts. No idea what the cars were used for before, all silver with consecutive non-vw HG57### numberplates. They were priced significantly below book price or what I would pay at a dealer. The badges were not right, and didn't match with each other or a genuine Golf, even though all from the same fleet. Interiors also seemed a bit suspect with damage to the drivers seat on a 10,000 mile car. Didn't look like imports as UK spec but its hard to tell.

Another time looking at a low mileage 6-month old Honda, it had loose scews on the dash and a tiny dent on the roof. As soon as started to ask questions about the car they immediately withdrew it from sale and basicly told us to go away. Funny how they were still advertising it even weeks later.

Theres also a story about some Golf GTIs at a certain car supermarket in Derby. Turned out they had been built by VW in 2005, shipped to Dubai and sat arround unsold for 2 years, then sent to UK and sold as brand new 07-plated cars..

[mollytherocker]

The cars I looked at were OK condition with just some minor scratches and the odd tiny scuff. Interiors were OK too.

However, I take you point and will inspect any potential purchase VERY closely!

Mechanically, there is always the 3 year 60k warranty!

MTR

[Spoons]

mollytherocker said:

Thanks Spoons. I have been looking at '10k' cars at the well known supermarkets and it is obvious that they are ex-rental - one even had a reciept in the spare wheel well!

I will take your advice and try a Mondeo, although I dont really like the looks or the MASSIVE size!

MTR

Looks put me off what would have been my 3rd Mondeo, I've a Passat Sport 170 with DSG which is ok but.... it has lifeless steering with no feel or feedback and it spoils the car, the steering feel and response was always a strong point with my 2002 Mondeo.

VW dealers have 57 passats @10k and you'll get the reassurance of buying a VW approved car.
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/search

[mollytherocker]

Spoons said:

mollytherocker said:

Thanks Spoons. I have been looking at '10k' cars at the well known supermarkets and it is obvious that they are ex-rental - one even had a reciept in the spare wheel well!

I will take your advice and try a Mondeo, although I dont really like the looks or the MASSIVE size!

MTR

Looks put me off what would have been my 3rd Mondeo, I've a Passat Sport 170 with DSG which is ok but.... it has lifeless steering with no feel or feedback and it spoils the car, the steering feel and response was always a strong point with my 2002 Mondeo.

VW dealers have 57 passats @10k and you'll get the reassurance of buying a VW approved car.
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/used/search

Thanks for the link, there are indeed a few 10k 57 plates at dealers. Unfortunately none local to me, most are in Scotland!

I will ring them though to see if they will bring one to my local dealer.

MTR

[Spoons]

Smith Knight Fay (Bolton) 0845 125 5813 Dec 2007 SE(cr) with DSG box at £10481

Gilbert Lawton (Altrincham) 0845 125 5825 Jan 08 SE with DSG box at £10495

Smith Knight Fay (Oldham)0845 125 5817 Dec 07 SE with DSG box at £10450

[mollytherocker]

Spoons said:

Smith Knight Fay (Bolton) 0845 125 5813 Dec 2007 SE(cr) with DSG box at £10481

Gilbert Lawton (Altrincham) 0845 125 5825 Jan 08 SE with DSG box at £10495

Smith Knight Fay (Oldham)0845 125 5817 Dec 07 SE with DSG box at £10450

I dont fancy the DSG as I am not into autos. However, I believe they are very good, so I may aswell try one.

MTR

[Oli.]

Try DSG, they are great - Your ar more like an automated manual box, and seamless