2004-5 Passat Engine Transverse?

[tdihopeful]

I was considering that it would be cool to convert an Passat to manual trans and had in preliminary research found a shop that was offering the conversion that was enough to think it could be relatively easy to do. Saw a Passat for sale for 850$ and was said to have approx 150,000 and a "clean title". It was involved in a driver side contact that damaged the front quarter panel and door neither extensive in damage and while the front panel would need extensive work/replacement door perhaps wouldn't need replacement other than mirror. Pillar airbag had deployment. Other than that I noticed the advertisement said 2.0 liter engine. I looked at a Jetta Wagon of same year and noted it's engine was not Transversely mounted as with the Passat. Can anyone explain what I am looking at/trying to figure out.

 

[tdihopeful]

I was wondering if the Passat would be a better candidate for conversion to manual with all wheel drive as the transmission seems to lend to that configuration better. I think I erroneously titled the post. The Passat is Longitudinal engine mounting correct? Beetle, Golf, Jetta configuration is Transversely mounted no?

 

[Metal Man]

Yes, the Passat is longitudinal and a Golf, Jetta or New Beetle are transverse. I don't have any good advise for you other than buy the absolute nicest car you can find for a starting point. There's no point in investing all the time and money into a wreck. The Passat has more in common with an Audi A4 than most VW's so you would probably be sourcing most of the parts from an Audi.