The Amazing PH Passat Alltrack Thread
Discussion
bedonde said:
Mine also has the OSF suspension creak and has done for a while, although it's now more noticeable. Complete apathy and a lack of any personal attachment to the car means I'm only raising it with dealer when it has its first service on Friday...
Got mine back. They've greased the front lower arms and it seems to have cured it.One downer is they have done something screwy with the miles to next service, it's showing 9.4k/365 days, so I think they've switched it to fixed servicing rather than variable
I do have some exciting cautious optimism to report though. It also had a load of software updates on various modules in the car. Now, I need to spend more time in it (only drove it home today) however damned if it doesn't feel smoother and quicker to pick up from low revs, I'm wondering if part of the updates has somehow solved the drivetrain crappiness..?
In other news from the other thread, VW are reintroducing petrol engines to the Passat, they now have the 220bhp TSI listed on the configurator. Could be interested come renewal time...
Gentlemen of the thread...
It's like I'm driving a different car. Seriously. Can't believe it actually. In D the car is hanging onto gears a little more, and low down the rev range when I squeeze the throttle it no longer feels like I'm on a beach towing an anchor stuttering to pick up speed. Just smooth acceleration. The car is also changing gears when I would expect it to and just generally feels transformed!
I have noticed though that each time I've pulled up so far the fan is going like the clappers after I switch it off. I dropped my daughter to school, walked her to class, came back and it was still going.
So, I'm going to call VW and ask if I can speak to a tech to see if they know exactly what the software updates entailed. Chances are they just plug it in and let it do it's thing but it's worth a try. I would urge you all to get them done asap even if your service is not due.
I also await ridicule when they claim it's nothing to do with anything like that... But I assure you from the seat of my pants the car feels totally different!
It's like I'm driving a different car. Seriously. Can't believe it actually. In D the car is hanging onto gears a little more, and low down the rev range when I squeeze the throttle it no longer feels like I'm on a beach towing an anchor stuttering to pick up speed. Just smooth acceleration. The car is also changing gears when I would expect it to and just generally feels transformed!
I have noticed though that each time I've pulled up so far the fan is going like the clappers after I switch it off. I dropped my daughter to school, walked her to class, came back and it was still going.
So, I'm going to call VW and ask if I can speak to a tech to see if they know exactly what the software updates entailed. Chances are they just plug it in and let it do it's thing but it's worth a try. I would urge you all to get them done asap even if your service is not due.
I also await ridicule when they claim it's nothing to do with anything like that... But I assure you from the seat of my pants the car feels totally different!
hornetrider said:
One downer is they have done something screwy with the miles to next service, it's showing 9.4k/365 days, so I think they've switched it to fixed servicing rather than variable
That does sound like it's been reset to annual. Although maybe they only did an oil change and now it's indicating when the Inspection (I think it's called) service is due.Same happened on our Tiguan - it should have been reset to annual at PDI but wasn't. Lease cars should be left on longlife servicing.
Sheepshanks said:
That does sound like it's been reset to annual. Although maybe they only did an oil change and now it's indicating when the Inspection (I think it's called) service is due.
Same happened on our Tiguan - it should have been reset to annual at PDI but wasn't. Lease cars should be left on longlife servicing.
It's telling me:Same happened on our Tiguan - it should have been reset to annual at PDI but wasn't. Lease cars should be left on longlife servicing.
Inspection in 20k/364 days
Oil change in 9.3k/364 days
hornetrider said:
Yes a few times, but not every time 
Was it a series of short journeys? Ours did it the other day - 3 miles to granddaughters school, it was running. A mile to her house to pick something up - running. 3.5 miles home - running. Didn't stop it the last time and drove around for a few mins - checked again and it had stopped.
Mine seems to have been constantly regening recently - after a number of sorter journeys it was doing it every time I stopped.
Very interested in the software update - I was always convinced that as our Passats were made just after the diesel-gate scandal broke, that we were victims of VW over compensating the NOx reduction. I wonder f they finally optimized it?
My big question is.... Will VW update the software FoC without it going in for a service? Mine is not due for ages - I have only doe 8kish miles.
Let us know what VW say about the changes Horneyride.
Very interested in the software update - I was always convinced that as our Passats were made just after the diesel-gate scandal broke, that we were victims of VW over compensating the NOx reduction. I wonder f they finally optimized it?
My big question is.... Will VW update the software FoC without it going in for a service? Mine is not due for ages - I have only doe 8kish miles.
Let us know what VW say about the changes Horneyride.
Mine went in for its first service yesterday and had the software update too. Doesn't seem to be any difference in drivability, i.e. still pretty woeful in normal mode and feels sluggish unless in sport, in which case it turns annoyingly manic and holds on to gears for too long. They want mine back to fix the suspension break as they apparently need to drop the wishbones in order to apply some grease and stop the incessant creaking. Seemingly no fix for my senile parking sensors either...
bedonde said:
Mine went in for its first service yesterday and had the software update too. Doesn't seem to be any difference in drivability, i.e. still pretty woeful in normal mode and feels sluggish unless in sport, in which case it turns annoyingly manic and holds on to gears for too long. They want mine back to fix the suspension break as they apparently need to drop the wishbones in order to apply some grease and stop the incessant creaking. Seemingly no fix for my senile parking sensors either...
What's up with the parking sensors? Mine are pretty good.Emeye said:
Any update Hornet? Any change to the economy?
My driving profile has changed recently so I can't really comment on relative economy - I'm mostly doing shorter journeys.In terms of the update, VW were only able to say several software updates including a recall were performed on the car. The recall I have learned is something about the dipped beam warning light so nothing substantive with regards to the engine. They were unable to provide any more info sadly.
With regards to how it drives there is definitely an improvement. I take two right turns regularly, one around a mini roundabout and up a hill, another turning right and going up a hill. In both cases pre-service the car would be in 3rd gear, as I made the turn and accelerated the car would stutter, fail to accelerate and then kick down to 2nd with a jerk. Now, regular as clockwork, it does drop to 3rd but in both cases it pulls cleanly up the hill every time.
I have noticed that whereas before the car would not really accelerate at low revs, but would stutter then kick down, now it pulls cleanly and smoothly. Not like a scalded cat of course as it's still low down the rev range, but it doesn't feel like it's trying to clear it's throat anymore. So there's definitely an improvement and I'm very pleased.
In other news I put two new tyres on it. Priced up Contis and they were 125 a corner, so I bought Nexen N8000s for 70 a corner after reading some decent reviews. They are on the front and the car grips really well when pushed in wet or dry, so much so I can't tell the difference. I can't remember what the lease agreement said about tyres, whether it specified same brand or same specification? The tyres are labelled ZR as opposed to the Contis just being R, so we shall see come hand over time.
I'm also going to shortly request extra miles from VWFS. Has anyone done that yet and got any feedback on how it went?
New owner of a Golf Alltrak 1.8TSi, and liking it so far.
It steers well, the AWD will be good for winter snow, and the interior is nice with the Fender audio and moonroof. Its not exactly quick, but the stick shift helps make the most of the torque. A few goodies from APR will probably give it the extra poke it needs.
It steers well, the AWD will be good for winter snow, and the interior is nice with the Fender audio and moonroof. Its not exactly quick, but the stick shift helps make the most of the torque. A few goodies from APR will probably give it the extra poke it needs.
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