2009 Volkswagen Passat Highline 2.0 TDI

Summary:

Rust bucket

Faults:

Rust and then more rust.

Electronics problems like central locking.

Clutch and flywheel.

Weak suspension.

General Comments:

Comfortable, but poor quality.

Paint quality poor and anti corrosion non-existent.

Rusted out doors and trunk after a few years.

Looked like junk after 7 years.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th October, 2020

5th Oct 2020, 18:19

Sad to hear modern Passat's are like this. I've seen a lot of 2009/2010 Passat's with rust on the arches. Shame really, years ago I had an 1990 Passat that I scrapped in 2005. Engine problems, but no rust, even at 15 years old.

In reply to 5th Oct 2020, 18:19

6th Oct 2020, 18:57

All Passats of sixth generation suffer from this; some more than others. Most is cosmetic and not structural. Especially the trunk lid on these rotted after few years. Mine was no exception. Really nothing you can do. Trunk lid on mine was sand blasted and painted twice. First time after less than two years under warranty. Rust came back after a year. Completely crazy. This car looked like a junkyard car when I sold it at 7 years old.

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1999 Volkswagen Passat TDI 1.9 turbo diesel

Summary:

Sehr gut

Faults:

Nothing so far, but I feared the worst when I bought it, seeing as the car had 2 year old oil in it, and the engine sounded like a laundry machine. Oil filter and new oil, and voila, it was as good as new.

General Comments:

I originally bought this car to use it as a point A to point B car, but it has become the car I use on longer trips as well.

My first opinion of the car, was that it was just a little rat, not stylish at all.

That changed a few weeks, and 600 km later. After a long trip, I wasn't tired and deadbeat, the little "rat" as I called it proved to be quite comfy, and the look of the car was really growing on me.

Now it's winter, -10 Celsius outside, and it starts easily, every morning. I leave the car running for 10 minutes while I drink some tea, or finish my breakfast, and I'm greeted with a warm car.

The roads are slippery this time of the year, but the rat seems to have as much grip as it did in the summer.

Now and again I take it on the roads just to burn out some residue from the engine, EGR etc, which the car tells me it wants to do by creating a fairly strong exhaust smell. "Higher RPM" the car commands, and the pedal hits the metal, the car smokes for a bit, then the strong exhaust smell disappears.

The car is hilariously nice on the fuel, returning an average of 4.9 litres per 100 km of fairly fast driving.

The fuel consumption does go up a little when I've only been taking short trips with it at low speeds, but a longer trip with a heavy right foot fixes that (these cars were not meant to go 60km/h forever...)

All in all, this is a great car, and it has yet to disappoint me.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th November, 2016

15th Nov 2016, 21:48

Update: Now gone 435000. Still running strong. Gonna change oils and filters as soon as I get time. Oil consumption is pretty low, despite me currently using very thin oil on it.

The turbo has yet to fail (I've heard of people complaining about failing turbos), though it should be noted that I don't play around with the turbo on a cold engine, and after driving, even if the turbo hasn't been too active, I let the car stand, with the engine still running, for a little while before shutting it down, just to let the turbo cool down... this may be the recipe for a long-lasting turbo. I also make sure to tell my car that it's a very good car when it starts in extremely cold weather... a pat on the hood keeps it happy too. One must never forget to show the car some affection. The average driver thinks that a car runs on fuel. It will... for a while, but if you want to keep it running forever, tank up some love as well. Love, fuel, oil and coolant will keep it running forever. Remove one of them, and your car will fail you.

Take a little care of your car, and your car will care for you a lot.

20th Jan 2017, 07:39

Update: 440k, no repairs, started even at -30C, slow, but started no less. Great car.

In reply to 20th Jan 2017, 07:39

20th Jan 2017, 18:56

Glad you're having a good run with the car - the 1.9TDI has always been a good engine (well, the early ones anyhow). How do you find the automatic with the diesel?

In reply to 20th Jan 2017, 18:56

2nd Apr 2017, 19:44

Sluggish. It shifts OK, but I believe I would have more oomph with a manual... I tend to disagree with its choice of gears, however, but that's a matter of taste.

15th Oct 2017, 20:28

Update: 450k, still runs fine, but had to replace all vacuum hoses and injector hoses, they started falling apart due to age. Also replaced N75 valve and oxygen sensors.

The car is nearing the end of its life with cracked windshield, worn brakes, wheel alignment, springs, suspension and bearings.

This was only a car I bought to "use up", and have therefore performed minimal amount of repairs and service.

There's a high chance that I will buy another Passat in the future, but I have 2 other cars waiting for one crushing and one loving hand each. An Audi A3 and an Audi 80.

So long, my good, trusted old friend, so long.