Which car is best to buy now?

[bearishgurl]

[quote=NicMM][quote=bearishgurl][quote=poorgradstudent]You can still get great deals on Toyotas right now thanks to the beating they took from the recalls.[/quote]

You mean, the beating they took on all the “recalls” they did on false pretenses, lol.[/quote]

Amazingly, after the recall scandals, Toyota recovered so quickly. Their sales volume is up and I don’t see any price reduce because of the scandals.[/quote]

Because everyone knows it was just ambulance-chaser lawyers and copycat artists preying on Toyota. They’ve always built a great (and safe) product. I’ve been driving them for nearly 40 years.

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM]Does any one drive Lexus IS sedan? Any comments about it?[/quote]

I don’t think “Family sedan” = Lexus IS or for that matter any Bimmer 3 series. Just check out the room in back.
If you’re tall, and you put your seat back, there will be very little rear room in back imho.

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM]Does any one drive Lexus IS sedan? Any comments about it?[/quote]

I don’t think “Family sedan” = Lexus IS or for that matter any Bimmer 3 series. Just check out the room in back.
If you’re tall, and you put your seat back, there will be very little rear room in back imho.

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM]Does any one drive Lexus IS sedan? Any comments about it?[/quote]

I don’t think “Family sedan” = Lexus IS or for that matter any Bimmer 3 series. Just check out the room in back.
If you’re tall, and you put your seat back, there will be very little rear room in back imho.

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM]Does any one drive Lexus IS sedan? Any comments about it?[/quote]

I don’t think “Family sedan” = Lexus IS or for that matter any Bimmer 3 series. Just check out the room in back.
If you’re tall, and you put your seat back, there will be very little rear room in back imho.

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM]Does any one drive Lexus IS sedan? Any comments about it?[/quote]

I don’t think “Family sedan” = Lexus IS or for that matter any Bimmer 3 series. Just check out the room in back.
If you’re tall, and you put your seat back, there will be very little rear room in back imho.

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…

[Coronita]

[quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…

[NicMM]

Flu,

It’s amazing you can run such a long list. I am sure you maintain your car well.

My Passat has 1.8T engine. Since last year, my Check Engine light showed up several times. I usually sent it to dealer to exam it and sent to Indi shop to repair it. The last time (6 month ago) Check Engine showed up, the Indi shop could not repair it. I sent to dealer and they did not find any problem and the Check Engine light was gone by itself.

And this week, a sign of “STOP, check your coolant” showed. I turned off the engine and it’s gone after I turned on the engine. It occurred three times in two days before I sent it to dealer. The dealer said someone put wrong coolant in it and it was leaking, so the coolant was almost gone. Besides that, he said there was crack in the transmission, and other problems. All the problems seemed to be emerging in 6 months, as when I sent the car to dealer 6 months ago, they never told me those problems.

NicMM

[quote=flu][quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…[/quote]

[NicMM]

Flu,

It’s amazing you can run such a long list. I am sure you maintain your car well.

My Passat has 1.8T engine. Since last year, my Check Engine light showed up several times. I usually sent it to dealer to exam it and sent to Indi shop to repair it. The last time (6 month ago) Check Engine showed up, the Indi shop could not repair it. I sent to dealer and they did not find any problem and the Check Engine light was gone by itself.

And this week, a sign of “STOP, check your coolant” showed. I turned off the engine and it’s gone after I turned on the engine. It occurred three times in two days before I sent it to dealer. The dealer said someone put wrong coolant in it and it was leaking, so the coolant was almost gone. Besides that, he said there was crack in the transmission, and other problems. All the problems seemed to be emerging in 6 months, as when I sent the car to dealer 6 months ago, they never told me those problems.

NicMM

[quote=flu][quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…[/quote]

[NicMM]

Flu,

It’s amazing you can run such a long list. I am sure you maintain your car well.

My Passat has 1.8T engine. Since last year, my Check Engine light showed up several times. I usually sent it to dealer to exam it and sent to Indi shop to repair it. The last time (6 month ago) Check Engine showed up, the Indi shop could not repair it. I sent to dealer and they did not find any problem and the Check Engine light was gone by itself.

And this week, a sign of “STOP, check your coolant” showed. I turned off the engine and it’s gone after I turned on the engine. It occurred three times in two days before I sent it to dealer. The dealer said someone put wrong coolant in it and it was leaking, so the coolant was almost gone. Besides that, he said there was crack in the transmission, and other problems. All the problems seemed to be emerging in 6 months, as when I sent the car to dealer 6 months ago, they never told me those problems.

NicMM

[quote=flu][quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…[/quote]

[NicMM]

Flu,

It’s amazing you can run such a long list. I am sure you maintain your car well.

My Passat has 1.8T engine. Since last year, my Check Engine light showed up several times. I usually sent it to dealer to exam it and sent to Indi shop to repair it. The last time (6 month ago) Check Engine showed up, the Indi shop could not repair it. I sent to dealer and they did not find any problem and the Check Engine light was gone by itself.

And this week, a sign of “STOP, check your coolant” showed. I turned off the engine and it’s gone after I turned on the engine. It occurred three times in two days before I sent it to dealer. The dealer said someone put wrong coolant in it and it was leaking, so the coolant was almost gone. Besides that, he said there was crack in the transmission, and other problems. All the problems seemed to be emerging in 6 months, as when I sent the car to dealer 6 months ago, they never told me those problems.

NicMM

[quote=flu][quote=NicMM][quote=Diego Mamani][quote=NicMM]My 8 years old Passat needs big repairing, costing over $3000. I bought it brand new.[/quote]

Do you drive hard? How about following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance?

I ask because I have a Ford that I bought new in the Fall of 2001 (9 years!) and it runs like new; nothing has broken down ever. Granted, I drive nicely, and I’ve followed all the maintenance. I also have low miles in it. But still, I’m used to think of an 8-year old car (such as yours) as a “newer” car.[/quote]

No, I don’t think I am driving hard but I can’t say I drive nicely either. The mileage is like under 80,000 miles. I went to dealer to maintain in the first 4 years when it was under warranty. After that, I went to dealer or some other repair shop depending on schedule, distance, availability, etc.

But I lost my manual during a moving four years ago. Not sure if I missed anything. Basically, my understanding is it should be maintained every 5000 miles.[/quote]

What exactly is going on with it?

If I recall, MY2002 is the B5.5 model, which was mainly a exterior refresh from the B5 models. If I recall, this shared platforms with the B5 Audi A4.

What engine is it? V6 or 1.8T or W8? Is it 4motion?

Unfortunately, 2001.5-2002 was a bad year for VAG products.

1) 2.8 V6 engines were pretty much problematic. Ditto on the W8.
2) the 1.8T generally is a pretty reliable engine. BUT, in MY2002, they were plagued with crappy coil pack issues. Also, I believe this was the year they bumped up the HP from 150hp to about 170-180hp and variable timing, etc…But VAG didn’t tell people (1) to switch to synthetic oil and (2) didn’t put on a TSP bulletin telling folks to run larger oil filters. And since 1.8T’s don’t have an afterrun oil pump when the engine is off, I believe a lot of 1.8T owners ended up with coked engine oil… failed oil pumps, etc…About 8 months after, VAG revised the maintenance by (a) oversized oil filter and (b) requiring full synthetic available in a not-so-common weight (0w40 Mobil 1, 5w40 Castrol Syntec, or Motul 5w30/5w40 european formula)…If you took it to a independent shop, I wonder if they got that right or if they even bother to put full synthetic in your engine.

Aside from this issue, B5/B5.5 also suffer from
1) Control arm problems.
2) Engine mounts are too soft and go bad
3) And despite what VAG say about the transmission, it definitely is NOT a lifetime transmission fluid…You should change it at every 30-40k along with the transmission filter.
4) Same could be said about the differential fluids if you have a 4motion.
5) The gear oil is also not “lifetime”
6) The fuel filter should also be changed every 30k ish, even though it’s in a major PITA location (right next to the fuel tank…Which normally requires extra labor).
7) There were problems with the MAF sensor, which should have been covered with 7 years emissions warranty.
8) The recommended interval for timing belt/water pump was not correct either (previously it was said 100k..Turns out it should have been inspected earlier). There was a lawsuit on this and VAG settled.
9) The engine cover seals probably go bad around 50k, which you can tell because you can smell an oil burning smell if you let the air in from the vent.
10) And you have a few hoses that will go bad that will need to be replaced around the same time.
11) The G12 coolant didn’t turn out to be as good as they thought it was, which is why they went to a G12Plus purple coolant. Some folks ended up getting a corroded radiator as a result.

Unfortunately, a lot of this “maintanence” requires taking the front end of the car off. So that’s usually 2-3-4 hours of labor just to do that, let alone to actually fix the problem(s).

Anyway, it could have been worse. You could have bought a Mercedes…. Lol…[/quote]

[Author]

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