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03 Passat Advice

T

Tommouse

Senior member
I'm looking for a new to me car and I took a 03 Passat home for the night from the dealer and I noticed as I kept driving it that it seems like 2nd gear engages roughly. Let me try to describe the problem then hopefully someone can provide some insight as to why this is.

03 Passat ~30,000mi GLS
5 spd Man 1.8T

When I shift from first to second it takes a bit to go, I'm guessing the sychros are working which is why it won't slip as easily into gear as others. That I'm not concerned with, I get that, and it seems normal to me. What I am concerned with is once in second I start to put my foot back down on the gas and I can feel the stick move. I feel it jump maybe a quarter inch or less towards the front of the car, now with the other gears I tested to see if they did the same thing was only a slight vibration or a tiny jump in comparison.

Any ideas. I know driving cars and trying to diagnose car problems is a qualititave thing so hopefully I was able to accuratly describe it for you guys to have something to go on.

Any advice is greatly appreciated 🙂
 
Its a VW, and as a autotech I say MOVE ON!!!

More problems to follow if you get it and lots of broken promises from teh dealer.
 
Having owned two Passats (01.5 and 02) and one Jetta (00), i can confidenty say to STAY AWAY.

While they are fun to drive, never again will i ever buy a VW.

I couldnt even list all the problems i had with all 3 here, it would take me an hour. Don't even get me started on the dealerships.
 
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Its a VW, and as a autotech I say MOVE ON!!!

More problems to follow if you get it and lots of broken promises from teh dealer.
Click to expand...

QFT.

I bought a fox back in the day, and my brother has had a jetta and passat. All 3 cars started out fine, but once they got a little quirk that needed to be fixed, the fixing never stopped. Seriously. One thing after another, after another, etc. Don't buy a VW.
 
But the car is so Hawt!!! How can I say no? Also we are only doing it if we get a REALLY good deal, you know the ones where you have to be crazy to walk away from.
 
Originally posted by: Tommouse
But the car is so Hawt!!! How can I say no? Also we are only doing it if we get a REALLY good deal, you know the ones where you have to be crazy to walk away from.
Click to expand...

Honestly, if it involves a VW, you would be crazy NOT to walk away from it....

Believe me, while the car looks nice and is fun to drive, it is not worth the trouble.
 
Originally posted by: Tommouse
But the car is so Hawt!!! How can I say no? Also we are only doing it if we get a REALLY good deal, you know the ones where you have to be crazy to walk away from.
Click to expand...

yes, and you are getting such rave reviews from members here.

if the damn thing already has a problem, don't expect it to ever be fixed. there is NO deal on a VW that could get me to buy. run away and don't look back.
 
Originally posted by: Tommouse
But the car is so Hawt!!! How can I say no? Also we are only doing it if we get a REALLY good deal, you know the ones where you have to be crazy to walk away from.
Click to expand...

Don't buy it.
I can give you a fact.. if VW's were reliable cheap to operate cars I would be driving one now, because I love the GTi Golf.. I like the sound of the engine, the styling, etc. I just hate all the stories of bad. You rarely see anyone who has had no problems with one. That is not my kind of car.
 
have you had someone else drive it? it could be your driving style. we have a GTi with the 1.8T engine in it and it used to "kick" between gears, used to feel kinda like a rubber band winding up and then letting go.

turned out the issue with that was a weak subframe. the stamped steel subframe was designed to flex a bit to make the ride smoother, which in turn was causing lots of wheel hop (never happens anymore with a tubular subframe!) and other problems. shifting is now so much more direct too, you used to really have to foce it in gear.. not really a solution to your problem, but try double-clutching too. that might help figure out what the problem is. 1st to second shift is always the hardest and slowest though, because there is a large speed difference between gears.

anyways! i'd be careful of VWs too, but if you're a gearhead then go for it. theyre excellent cars and the 1.8T is a gem of an engine.
 
So I didn't get it the garage we went to said the turbo was kind of funky. So that called the whole deal off.

Thinking about a Subaru or maybe a Toyota. I do like Honda but the back end of the (I think) 02-05 Accords are ooooogly, the 06 looks nicer but out of my price range. Any recomendations for a sporty midsized sedan?
 
I like my wrx, not sure what your price range is. For a daily driver, a 2.5rs would be fine for me as well.
 
Originally posted by: aphex
Having owned two Passats (01.5 and 02) and one Jetta (00), i can confidenty say to STAY AWAY.

While they are fun to drive, never again will i ever buy a VW.

I couldnt even list all the problems i had with all 3 here, it would take me an hour. Don't even get me started on the dealerships.
Click to expand...

My wife also had two Passats (98 and 03). The 98 was horrible. It had the engine sludge problem that that 1.8T engine is notorious for. Entire engine was replaced (under warranty). The 03 gave us no problems for the first 2 years/34,000 miles, then it was totalled and she fortunately replaced it with an Acura.

Plus Passats are pretty ugly. But I might be biased by seeing essentially the same car for the last 6 years, and hating it every day because of the problems it had.
 
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Its a VW, and as a autotech I say MOVE ON!!!
Click to expand...
AMEN!! No one wants a Nazi car. And the same goes to you Jap sympathyzers as well.

Buy American... check out the Ford 500, it's much roomier and less expensive 🙂 It's also made in America, not China or whatever.
 
Originally posted by: WyteWatt
Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Its a VW, and as a autotech I say MOVE ON!!!
Click to expand...
AMEN!! No one wants a Nazi car. And the same goes to you Jap sympathyzers as well.

Buy American... check out the Ford 500, it's much roomier and less expensive 🙂 It's also made in America, not China or whatever.
Click to expand...


and made in america is supposed to be better?

american cars are crap. german cars are definitely where its at.
 
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