VW Passat 1.9 tdi 130
Discussion
Am thinking of trading my Subaru Impreza WRX for a Passat 1.9 tdi 130. I need something more economical for my newly aquired 80 mile daily commute down and back up the M1.
I would be looking at a 2003 reg Passat with 40k miles on the clock - seen one with a VW dealer for about £6,500 or a similar one with a non VW dealer for £500 or so less.
Anyone have any advice - performance seems fair and economy very decent for a large car like this?
Anything likely to go wrong with the ones I am looking at - I know they are a few years old now? Maybe I should get something a bit newer - can get a 2006 1.6 Citroen C4 for a similar price?
Any advice or wisdom very much appreciated!
I would be looking at a 2003 reg Passat with 40k miles on the clock - seen one with a VW dealer for about £6,500 or a similar one with a non VW dealer for £500 or so less.
Anyone have any advice - performance seems fair and economy very decent for a large car like this?
Anything likely to go wrong with the ones I am looking at - I know they are a few years old now? Maybe I should get something a bit newer - can get a 2006 1.6 Citroen C4 for a similar price?
Any advice or wisdom very much appreciated!
andy118run said:
Am thinking of trading my Subaru Impreza WRX for a Passat 1.9 tdi 130. I need something more economical for my newly aquired 80 mile daily commute down and back up the M1.
I would be looking at a 2003 reg Passat with 40k miles on the clock - seen one with a VW dealer for about £6,500 or a similar one with a non VW dealer for £500 or so less.
Anyone have any advice - performance seems fair and economy very decent for a large car like this?
Anything likely to go wrong with the ones I am looking at - I know they are a few years old now? Maybe I should get something a bit newer - can get a 2006 1.6 Citroen C4 for a similar price?
Any advice or wisdom very much appreciated!
Hi,I would be looking at a 2003 reg Passat with 40k miles on the clock - seen one with a VW dealer for about £6,500 or a similar one with a non VW dealer for £500 or so less.
Anyone have any advice - performance seems fair and economy very decent for a large car like this?
Anything likely to go wrong with the ones I am looking at - I know they are a few years old now? Maybe I should get something a bit newer - can get a 2006 1.6 Citroen C4 for a similar price?
Any advice or wisdom very much appreciated!
I have been running a 2001 B5 Passat 130 tdi estate for the last year and I love it.
I will do 50mpg on the motorway at 70mph all day long and will even give you 60mpg if you granny it.
However there is some performance there if you want it and bags of torque. Mine is standard and although you can remap this has been known to damage the dual mass flywheel and clutch. It wiil sit at 120mph no problem and 60 comes up in about 8 - 9 seconds if you press on... Mid range torque is relative effortless when overtaking etc.
I paid £5,500 for my 2001 model last year, with 67,000 on the clock.
It now has 97,000 on it and the issues I have had are:
New alternator @ 70k - £250 fitted
New brake pedal switch - £60 fitted (probably £15 diy)
New Wash wipe stalk when windscreen washers failed - £90 fitted
Boost leak repaired on a vaccuum hose to brake servo system - £50
Apart from that I would say very reliable and lovely to drive.
Mine has cruise and climate which IMO are a must.
Cheers,
Steve.
Are you serious?? 
my 01 a4 130 tdi has done 240k miles and in that time it has had 1 new wiper arm and assembly 80 quid. 1 new rear anti roll bar 200 quid. 1 front passenger side bearing sub 100 quid. 1 new clutch and release assembly 3-400 iirc. Oh and also boost pressure sensor 80 quid.
Iirc thats it apart from routine servicing. So what 7-800 pounds in non service items in 240k miles whereas your passat has gone through half that in 30k miles??

my 01 a4 130 tdi has done 240k miles and in that time it has had 1 new wiper arm and assembly 80 quid. 1 new rear anti roll bar 200 quid. 1 front passenger side bearing sub 100 quid. 1 new clutch and release assembly 3-400 iirc. Oh and also boost pressure sensor 80 quid.
Iirc thats it apart from routine servicing. So what 7-800 pounds in non service items in 240k miles whereas your passat has gone through half that in 30k miles??
Edited by jimmyb on Thursday 20th August 17:17
jimmyb said:
Are you serious?? 
my 01 a4 130 tdi has done 240k miles and in that time it has had 1 new wiper arm and assembly 80 quid. 1 new rear anti roll bar 200 quid. 1 front passenger side bearing sub 100 quid. 1 new clutch and release assembly 3-400 iirc. Oh and also boost pressure sensor 80 quid.
Iirc thats it apart from routine servicing. So what 7-800 pounds in non service items in 240k miles whereas your passat has gone through half that in 30k miles??
Yes I am serious.
my 01 a4 130 tdi has done 240k miles and in that time it has had 1 new wiper arm and assembly 80 quid. 1 new rear anti roll bar 200 quid. 1 front passenger side bearing sub 100 quid. 1 new clutch and release assembly 3-400 iirc. Oh and also boost pressure sensor 80 quid.
Iirc thats it apart from routine servicing. So what 7-800 pounds in non service items in 240k miles whereas your passat has gone through half that in 30k miles??
Edited by jimmyb on Thursday 20th August 17:17
As I said, apart from that I am very happy with it.
I think the Alternator is a weak point on these cars as is the brake pedal switch wwhich was also replaced by the previous owner before me.
I still think it is a great car...

I've got the 140 2.0L mk5 Golf and also do an 80mile motorway round-trip each day.
This week I'm achieving an average indicated 56mpg! (Probably about 54 actual).
On one particularly relaxing trip home (Monday if I recall) I got it to 66mpg.
These VAG diesels really are very economical.
This week I'm achieving an average indicated 56mpg! (Probably about 54 actual).
On one particularly relaxing trip home (Monday if I recall) I got it to 66mpg.
These VAG diesels really are very economical.
My brother had one of the Highline spec estates for a couple of years (100k miles for him). Was very economical (50mpg all day long) and I don't think he ever had any trouble with it. Certainly nothing major.
Really comfy cars too IMO. The ride is fantastic.
It's also a much better car than the 2.0 140 that replaced it. Not much performance difference but economy much worse on the 2.0.
Really comfy cars too IMO. The ride is fantastic.
It's also a much better car than the 2.0 140 that replaced it. Not much performance difference but economy much worse on the 2.0.
I was looking at either Passat TDi estates or an A6 Avant, same engine.
In the end it came down to rear legroom - the A6 definitely has the edge.
Worst economy I've got has been around 45mpg with a more around-town mix of driving. It got around 48mpg on a 1100+ mile round trip to scotland, boot absolutely full to the brim, with myself, swmbo and the two kids. Fair bit of a/c on during that drive.
Fantastic engines, pull well, can easily keep up with the traffic up to mildly illegal speeds. I keep on considering a remap, which is supposed to give up to around a 5mpg improvement.
In the end it came down to rear legroom - the A6 definitely has the edge.
Worst economy I've got has been around 45mpg with a more around-town mix of driving. It got around 48mpg on a 1100+ mile round trip to scotland, boot absolutely full to the brim, with myself, swmbo and the two kids. Fair bit of a/c on during that drive.
Fantastic engines, pull well, can easily keep up with the traffic up to mildly illegal speeds. I keep on considering a remap, which is supposed to give up to around a 5mpg improvement.
In four odd years mine has had:
A refurbished gearbox £1000
4 new wheels as they corroded £900
Leaking from the scuttle / battery bay that soaked the convenience module in the passenger footwell £200
New Radiator £250
Battery £100
Leaky oil somewhere that had something to to with the turbo £100
It can't be left parked nose up on a hill or it won't start. I expect that's a filthy diesel filter TBH.
Mine's the sport and at 65k + the suspension has been largely inoperable and there is little or no ride comfort on anything other that A roads & motorways. The seats stain exceptionally easily with kids about (black cloth interior)
As far as positives go, the 130 diesel is supposed to be good for 200k + if well maintained. The thing is enormous inside and perfect for kids / mountain bikes. I've got no intention to get rid of mine until it dies.
A refurbished gearbox £1000
4 new wheels as they corroded £900
Leaking from the scuttle / battery bay that soaked the convenience module in the passenger footwell £200
New Radiator £250
Battery £100
Leaky oil somewhere that had something to to with the turbo £100
It can't be left parked nose up on a hill or it won't start. I expect that's a filthy diesel filter TBH.
Mine's the sport and at 65k + the suspension has been largely inoperable and there is little or no ride comfort on anything other that A roads & motorways. The seats stain exceptionally easily with kids about (black cloth interior)
As far as positives go, the 130 diesel is supposed to be good for 200k + if well maintained. The thing is enormous inside and perfect for kids / mountain bikes. I've got no intention to get rid of mine until it dies.
My '03 PD130 has done 139,000miles.
I've replaced alternator, fan belt tensioner, accelerator pedal sensor and a temp sensor.
It still returns 53+mpg on daily 110mile (roundtrip) commute.
It's fine for a daily work car. Don't know what I'll get next as I heard the 2.0 diesel was worse on mpg but is probably a bit more refined.
Mike
I've replaced alternator, fan belt tensioner, accelerator pedal sensor and a temp sensor.
It still returns 53+mpg on daily 110mile (roundtrip) commute.
It's fine for a daily work car. Don't know what I'll get next as I heard the 2.0 diesel was worse on mpg but is probably a bit more refined.
Mike
I would disagree about the sports suspension.
I have never found the Sport suspension hard, if anything it could do with being a little firmer. ( I am 36 years old to not trying to go racing with it either!)
I was going to add to my inital post that the sport is still quite "soft" and a lot better than the standard wallowy affair. (so I am told)
Cheers,
Steve.
I have never found the Sport suspension hard, if anything it could do with being a little firmer. ( I am 36 years old to not trying to go racing with it either!)

I was going to add to my inital post that the sport is still quite "soft" and a lot better than the standard wallowy affair. (so I am told)
Cheers,
Steve.
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