Volkswagen Passat 1995 Problems

Its lines were pleasant rather than challenging. It was a car that blended into the scene. Inside, the Passat was neat and clean. The dash was well laid out, with all controls neatly arranged within easy reach of the driver, the seats were comfortable, and the ambience airy.The on-road experience probably ensured the Passat avoided the bland tag. It drove like a European car, which meant it was a much more rewarding experience to drive compared to most Japanese cars. The road holding was good, the handling safe and secure, the brakes powerful and confidence inspiring.Underneath, the Passat rode on four-link front suspension with a spring and shock absorber unit, while the rear was a torsion beam with trailing arms and separate coil springs and sway bar. The punch was provided by one of two engines, the first an 85kW 2.0-litre single overhead camshaft four-cylinder that delivered a spirited performance, at least in manual form. The other was a 128kW 2.8-litre single overhead camshaft V6 that was shoehorned lengthwise under the bonnet making for a rather cramped engine bay when it came to servicing.If the four-cylinder was more leisurely, the V6 had oodles of get-up-and-go, making the Passat something of a sports sedan with credibility. VW offered the choice of a five-speed manual with a decent shift, and a four-speed auto. There were two models, one the the GL, which was well equipped with airconditioning, dual airbags, anti-skid electronics, six-speaker sound, cruise control, on-board trip computer, power windows, mirrors and steering, and cloth trim.The sporty VR6 added alloy wheels, traction control and a leather steering wheel, as well as the V6 engine.A thorough makeover was launched in 1998 when the styling was smoothed for an even cleaner look with a new grille, front bumper and headlights. A wagon also joined the range. New 1.8-litre double overhead camshaft four-cylinder engines were used. The base engine boasted 92kW, while the turbocharged version had 110kW. The V6 went up to 142kW.While the main mechanical components are quite reliable and robust, the Passat does suffer from a number of problems. The airconditioning evaporator cracks and the ABS brake controller can fail. Both require replacements costing about $2000 for each.It's worth having the front suspension and drive shafts checked, in particular the rubber seals over the joints. The seals protecting the control arm joints are known to split or crack and once that happens the grease lubricating the joints leaks out and grit and grime gets in, which hastens the end of the joints.As with most modern VW engines the Passat's engines can use a little oil so it pays to keep a watch on the oil level. VW configures the piston rings such that the engine will consume a little oil as a way of protecting it at high speed on the German autobahns, but it can be worrying for anyone used to Japanese engines which don't use any oil at all. Using the oil isn't something to worry about, but it does pay to check the oil level regularly to make sure it doesn't drop to a dangerously low level.Dual airbags across the range and side airbags on some models give the Passat decent crash protection, while standard ABS in tandem with the Passat's chassis balance means a good level of active safety.

Volkswagen Passat is a medium-large car aimed at those looking for a solid machine that should stand the test of time. Stylish it's not, but that's the way VW does its shapes, intending them to be timeless. There's an exception in the Passat range, see the upcoming notes on the model tagged the "CC". Passat shares

Passat is a medium-large German car that appeals to those who refuse to pay big dollars for a similar car from one of the more prestigious marques from the same country. Audi won’t thank us for saying so, but there are quite a few out of sight components that are shared by Passat and upmarket Audi vehicles.The Passat in all its formats offers better than average comfort thanks to well-shaped seats and suspension which is able to soak up just about anything thrown at it. Handling is good, with virtually neutral road behaviour at normal speeds, gradually changing to safe understeer if the big car is pushed hard.In the earlier days almost all Passat imports were four-door sedans but with the introduction of the 1998 model, five-door wagons were offered. Wagons have been a popular choice ever since as their squared off rear end makes for a practical load area.An interesting style called Passat CC was introduced in February 2009. Virtually a four-door coupe in the manner of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the sleek CC is just right for those who seldom use the back seat but want the convenience of rear doors. The back seat is reasonably comfortable and is certainly much better than that of the typical two-door coupe.Volkswagen went all cute with the marketing of the latest CC when it arrived in June 2012, dropping the Passat from its name and calling it simply the CC. Don’t forget to check out both names if you’re doing a search for the pretty coupe on used-car sites.Engine options show a fascinating variation, with four-, five-, six- and eight-cylinder layouts. The V5 and V6 use an interesting design with a narrow-angle V which enables it to run one cylinder head covering both cylinder banks.Though smaller engines aren’t always accepted by Australian buyers, even the four-cylinder Passats have enough performance for many buyers. Many of the later petrol – and all diesel – Volkswagen engines use a turbocharger to generate significantly extra torque.Volkswagen started a strong push on turbo-diesel engines in Australia in 2006 and these days the company often sells more diesel cars than petrol ones in Australia.A four-speed automatic was used in the pre-1998 model, followed by a five-speed unit with tiptronic. The forward ratios were increased to six with a DSG installation from 2006, and to seven forward ratios from early 2010.All-wheel drive isn't all that common in Australian Passats but gives better traction coming out of corners and on slippery surfaces and is worth considering if you are doing a lot of driving on unmade surfaces, or even on the snow and ice for which it was originally designed.For the revhead, Volkswagen imported the Passat R36 from June 2008. R36 has a 220 kilowatt engine, all-wheel drive and is sold in both sedan and wagon bodies.Volkswagen Group Australia has put a lot of work in recent years in getting its supply of spare parts up to international best practice. Prices are similar to those of other European imports in its class. Similarly, the dealer group has grown markedly in recent years and VW is represented in most population centres of significant size.Passat is a relatively complex machine in the modern manner, but a competent home mechanic should be able to do a fair bit of work on it. Always have a workshop manual on standby, and please leave safety items to professionals.Insurance is generally not expensive but make inquiries from a number of companies as there can be quite a difference in premiums.WHAT TO LOOK FORLook over the condition of the interior in case the Passat has had a hard life. It’s not common in a car like this, but can happen and rectification can be expensive.The engine should start within a second of the key being turned and should settle into a steady idle within seconds. If there is a flat spot in acceleration there could be fuel-injection problems.Check the insides of the front wheels for signs of severe brake dust build up, indicating hard driving. This is more likely on one of the sporting models, but Passats do seem to attract people who like to pedal along hard.Look over the body for signs of crash repairs, especially paint that doesn’t match and panels that don't fit exactly. Check the complete body, including hard to reach areas under the bonnet, in the boot and under the car.CAR BUYING TIPBefore settling on any car it makes sense to check on availability of spare parts and servicing in your home and work neighbourhoods.