Auto Express – July 30, 2019

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk SpecialIssue 101

VWPassat BUYINGCARS

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/driverpower

OURVIEW

THEPassatMk8wasn’tinourlastDriverPowerused-

carsurvey,butitnotchedupa54th-placefinishinthe

2019newcarpoll.That’sarespectableresultrather

thanaspectacularone,withownerslikingbootspace,

all-roundvisibilityandridequality.Theinfotainment

systemalsogetsathumbsup,butownersaren’tso

keenonrefinement,thegearchangeorrunningcosts.

YOURVIEW

TIMLesterfromWorcesterownsa 2015 PassatEstate

2.0TDI.Hesays:“ThecarwasayearoldwhenIbought

ittoreplaceaMondeo,havingownedaPassatbefore

that.ThedifferenceinqualitybetweentheVWandFord

istangibleand,asausedbuy,thePassatoffersgood

valuewithrefinementandeconomy.It’sbeenreliable,

too,apartfromacoupleofminorelectricalproblems.”

Expert’s

verdict

from trade insider

Quentin Willson

Sponsoredby

In

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Recalls

Howmuch?

Partwatch

Runningcosts

2018 2017 2016 2015

ssat

NOWinitseighthgeneration,theVW

Passatoffersahigh-qualityfeelfora

reasonableprice.Ithasacomfortable

ride,aspacious–ifsomewhatutilitarian

–interiorandisn’texpensivetorun,

whichmakesitapracticalfamilycar

forday-to-dayuse.Thatbeingsaid,

GTEplug-inhybridmodelscanbe

ratherexpensivetopurchaseinthe

firstplace,andthePassatisn’tthe

mostfuncartodriveintheworld.

Commonfaults

WARRANTYWISEcurrentlyhasnocommon

faultdatafortheeighth-generation

Passat,becausemostcarsarestill

coveredbythemanufacturer’swarranty.

Pricesstartfrom£31permonthwithWarrantywise

PASSATSregisteredafter1April2 017 cost£135-145ayear

totax.Thosepricedatmorethan£40,000whennewcost

£455-£465fromyearstwotosix.

OWNERScanchoosefixedorvariableservicing,at

every12months/10,000miles,ortwoyears/18,000

miles.Fixedservicesalternatebetweenminor(£158)

andmajor(£206).Brakefluidneedstobechanged

everytwoyears(£69).Thecambeltshouldbereplaced

every130,000milesonTDIunitsor75,000mileson

BiTDIs.Petrolengineshavenosetschedule.

OFthe1,700usedPassatswefoundforsale,almost

1,600werediesel,84werepetroland10wereGTEs.

TherewereslightlymoreEstatesthansaloons,and

automaticsaccountedforjustoverathirdofavailable

cars.HalfadozenPassatswerebelow£6,500,butat

least£7,500netsanearly1.6TDISEwith120,000miles.

Capthemileageat60,000andyou’llpay£9,000for

a20151.6TDISETech.For£12,000youcanbuya

45,000-mile2.0TDISEBusinessEstate,while£14,000

bagsan18-plate1.6TDISwith15,000miles.

THEMk8Passathashad13recalls.Earlycarscould

beaffectedbybrakingproblemsbecauseofwiring

glitches,andairbagsgoingoff.Issueswithpanoramic

sunroofsonEstatesandfaultychildlocksledtoactionsin

2016.RecallswerealsomadefortheESPandlighting,

airbags,seatbeltpretensioners,backseats,sunroof

joints,wheelbearinghousingsandheadrestraints.

Pricesfora2 016 Passat2.0TDI.Dealerfiguressuppliedby

InchcapeVolkswagenCheltenham,Glos(www.inchcape.co.uk).

Independentpricesfromwww.eurocarparts.com.

Fuel CO 2 Annual

economyemissionsroadtax

Model

1.4TSI 1 5-21 45-57mpg114-144g/km £30-£160

1.8TSI 2 2-23 47mpg136g/km £145

2.0TSI 2 4-26 44mpg146g/km £160

1.6TDI 1 2-15 65-76mpg95-116g/km Free-£30

2.0TDI 1 9-23 60-67mpg106-123g/km £20-£125

2.0BiTDI 28 49-53mpg139-150g/km £145-£160

GTE 261 56-166mpg39-40g/km Free

DealerpriceIndependentprice

Part

Frontbrakepads(axleset) £95.96 £32.99

Frontbrakediscs(pair) £160.63 £107.98

Doormirrorglass(electric) £60.38 £37.49

Frontwiperset £37.61 £33.99

RearrattlesRattling

soundsfromthebackofthecarcanbe

downtoalooseundertray–thatorthe

suspensionneedstobelubricated.

Model

Saloon1.4TSI1 50 GT £19,608 £17,787 N/A N/A

Financepermonth* £311 £281 N/A N/A

Saloon1.6TDIS £14,265 £12,888 £11,750 £10,849

Financepermonth* £213 £192 £175 £162

Saloon1.6TDIGT£17,733 £16,455 £14,337 £13,300

Financepermonth* £260 £245 £214 £196

Saloon2.0TDI1 50 S£15,005 £13,613 £12,311 £11,413

Financepermonth* £221 £200 £181 £167

Saloon2.0TDI1 50 GT £18,483 £16,788 £14,918 £13,480

Financepermonth* £276 £250 £220 £199

*PricesfromBuyaCar.co.uk;quotesbasedona10%deposit

12Months’ExtendedWarrantyPrice:£341

NEEDTOKNOW

MostPassatscomewithregular

suspension,butinGTandR-Line

trim,the2.0BiTDIcamewith

Volkswagen’sDynamicChassis

Control,withthreesettings.

NEEDTO K

MostPassatscomewi

suspension,butinGT

trim,the2.0BiTDI

Volkswagen’sDynam

Control,withthre