My new Passat! '13 TDI SE 6M

Love my new car.

The bluetooth radio/phone integration is fantastic!

MPG for the first few miles is impressive...

Quite a bit smoother and quieter than my '09 Sportwagen...

Seems a little more powerful than the 09 'wagen...

Now it's time to put my mod list together!

- window tint
- 3m clear bra (hood)
- subwoofer add to the radio
- Blue Ox baseplate (to tow behind my motorhome)
- Footwell & ambient lights
- HID Headlight upgrade
- Chrome strips on the doors like the SEL models
- Euro mirrors

Anyone else have any must-have mods they are going to do?

Hey, newguy! Welcome to the Passat owner's club. Nice to see another 2000 member still around.

Another must-have mod/gadget is a ScanGauge so you can keep an eye on your EGTs. I think this is very important.

Well, let's see...

I started with a 2002 Jetta Wagon manual

Had a TDI club party at my house and Upsolute chipped about 20+ cars in one day. (got my chip tune free for being the host and getting that many guys over...)

then sold it to a forum member and got a 2005 Jetta Wagon manual

Then added a 2005 Passat TDI wagon for the (late) wife

Rocketchip tuned both 05's at the TDIFest...

Then sold the Passat to a forum member and got a Hyundai Minivan for (late) wife...

Then sold 2005 Jetta to a forum member...

Went without a TDI for 2 years

Then got a 2009 Sportwagon on the Cash For Clunkers deal...

Tried selling the 09 on the forum and on Craigslist... I had 3 buyers and all 3 fall thru, then the 4th showed up and bought it!

So now I have the 2013 Passat and LOVE it. (and sold the minivan gas hog after the wife passed...)

Still have the motorhome, Duramax and GTO.

Sorry to hear about the wife - hope you're doing well otherwise.

Nice looking GTO, it brings back memories of having a '68 Chevelle SS in my youth (and a "65 Vette). Man, those were fun cars and fun times.

Thanks VeeDubTDI -- it's been two years now and I have 4 and 7 year old boys! I have to put my superdad cape on every day!

Oh boy... The Hankook tires suck in the snow & ice...

Good thing the Michelin Xi3 snow tires go on this Monday!

Those should make all the difference in the world. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on the ESP behavior in the snow.

The one item I didn't see on your mods list, which gets good reviewes from others, is the DieselGeek shifter. (no affiliation, just repeating what I have read by others).

Hmm,

A DG PanzerPlate maybe?

Bill

I do already have a DG shifter that I never got around to installing on my JSW... so add that to the list...

As for the ESP - I REALLY wish I had a button to turn it off -- as with the Hankook's I was having a hard time getting around in the snow.

I just helped my GF (girlfriend) get a 2013 Hyundai Elantra... and it has the EXACT same Hankook tires. They suck on that car too. Her car has ESP and an OFF button... but I still got her car stuck right in front of my house. Had to turn off ESP and let 'er rip a bit.

Panzer plate - I have thought about that...