Thinking about Buying a 2015 Passat TDI 2.0 Diesel...

[RapidPursuit]

Hi,

I'm thinking about buying a 2015 Passat Diesel...for our College Student.

It obviously costs a bit more than a similar gasoline-powered Volkswagen (or other make).

Is it a reasonable assumption that the Diesel version of the Passport is worth the extra money - in terms of how long it will last, etc?

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[oilhammer]

Never seen a diesel Passport.... I know they don't sell any here. Honda has never sold a diesel here.

 

[RapidPursuit]

Sorry, obviously Diesel Passat... edited the thread.

 

[CanadianALH]

Never seen a diesel Passport.... I know they don't sell any here. Honda has never sold a diesel here.

Think it autocorrected passat.

 

[oilhammer]

Oh! LOL.,... duh me....

Yeah, college student needs a cheap crap box that isn't too needy. Find a five year old Spark instead.

 

[CanadianALH]

As a collage studant I drive a 2002 Jetta tdi. I love it. Good fuel economy and plenty of parts at pick and pull. Plus its fun for the weekend.

 

[oilhammer]

As a college student I drove a 1973 Beetle. The difference here is, nobody bought it FOR me. And I was not depending on anyone to keep it on the road other than myself. My parents would have not purchased that car for me, even if they could have afforded to. My parents never bought me a car (although I did buy my in-laws a car).

 

[CanadianALH]

As a college student I drove a 1973 Beetle. The difference here is, nobody bought it FOR me. And I was not depending on anyone to keep it on the road other than myself. My parents would have not purchased that car for me, even if they could have afforded to. My parents never bought me a car (although I did buy my in-laws a car).

Yup same here. My dad helped my fix my sentra up but I paid for everything in the end. Since then I have bought my vehicles with my money and have paid to fix them. My parants have been generous but have never even thought about buying me a car. I know that when you don't pay for it or to fix it you sometimes neglect and abuse it.

 

[RapidPursuit]

Well...outside of whether or not we "should" buy him a car...

What kind of total mileage and reliability do folks see with a Passat TDI? Just trying to make a good decision here...

 

[AverageAndy]

What kind of total mileage and reliability do folks see with a Passat TDI? Just trying to make a good decision here...

My Passat has been fairly reliable; I'm at 154k miles now without any major work done (A/C repair, replaced 2 injectors and repaired a frayed wire). However, I would not send your son without having a good dealer close by (if still under warranty), a proper scan tool and maybe a free tow if it breaks down.

That being said, we just sent our son back to Alabama in a new to him 2013 Jetta 6MT (164k miles). It had a cracked DPF, so that fell off a week before we drove him back 2000+ miles. He does live near campus and has alternate transportation if needed (bike, electric skateboard, standard skateboard, legs).

 

[RapidPursuit]

Ok, that helps. I just keep hearing that the Diesel can go something like 200k miles, even closer to 300k with good care. Which would obviously make it easier to make the call on a Passat vs. something else that's a gasser - which might be cheaper - at least in terms of initial purchase price with the same miles.

 

[drucifer]

Well...outside of whether or not we "should" buy him a car...

What kind of total mileage and reliability do folks see with a Passat TDI? Just trying to make a good decision here...

The fuel savings is not going to overcome the reliability. Your son probably isn't going to fix anything. If you fix anything you have to travel. Probably best to get any decent toyota that can get 25 mpg. You don't need to worry about broken cars hundreds of miles away especially when he has a break in the semester and you wind up making two round trips.

There is the fun factor though.

 

[TomJD]

I’d vote No to a Passat for a college student.

Reasons:

1. Proximity to a trusted mechanic
2. most mechanics won’t know what to do with this, I.e., a rare engine
3. College cars see a lot of short trips. These engines are NOT ideal for that.
4. the premium you pay for a diesel engine outweighs the fuel savings in the short run (assuming a 4 year college stint, and not a 8 year joy ride)
5. I still have my college car in my garage, but I’m the only one I know. Once people get real jobs they move on from their college car so longevity shouldn’t be the number one factor.
6. in the long run you’ll have emissions/parts availability issues as VW moves on from dieselgate
7. And nothing a college student wants more is spending $50-60 to fill his tank when his buddies can do the same for notably less, thus a lot of trips to the filling station as they put 2-3 gallons in at a time, and the one off campus probably won’t have a diesel pump.
8. Oh, and it will be fun if one of their friends borrows the car and puts unleaded in the tank.

 

[oilhammer]

I can rattle off 10+ gasoline fueled cars that can and will easily last as long as a diesel. This myth of "diesel engines last forever" seems to never want to go away. Granted, the 1.8L gasoline engine offered in a 2015 Passat couldn't... but the 2.5L gasoline engine in a 2012 Passat could. And the 2.0L gasoline engine in a 1995 Passat could easily outlast them both.

Seriously, get him or her something smaller, cheaper, and more easily dealt with by anyone who needn't be a specialist to have an ice cube's chance in heck to keep it in good working order.

Then hopefully once school is over, this person can enter the real world and purchase whatever they want on their own.

 

[RapidPursuit]

Awesome feedback guys. Especially TomJD and OilHammer. Just the insight I was looking for.

Really appreciate the help.

 

[bigsexyTDI]

I would second Oilhammer's comment on the 2.5 Passat. That's the one I would recommend for a college kid if it just had to be a Passat. I am actually looking for a clean 2.5 5 speed Passat myself and saw one on Autotrader the other day with almost 300k miles on it. It also had a Carfax and it showed a full lifetime of regular oil changes. Tells me that if taken care of the 2.5 is a pretty robust unit.

All that said, if I was buying a college kid a car it would be a Camry or Corolla. Basic maintenance and any shop can work on it if something happens.

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

Ok, that helps. I just keep hearing that the Diesel can go something like 200k miles, even closer to 300k with good care. Which would obviously make it easier to make the call on a Passat vs. something else that's a gasser - which might be cheaper - at least in terms of initial purchase price with the same miles.

I would buy it for yourself and get the kid a Toyota with no back seat so theres no child support issues if you know what I mean

 

[braddies]

I would buy it for yourself and get the kid a Toyota with no back seat so theres no child support issues if you know what I mean

not an issue, OP is ok with child support

 

[John Wesley Hardin]

not an issue, OP is ok with child support

Who's the Daddy!

 

[jjblbi]

My opinion is diesel vehicles are best for longer commuters, 25k+ miles/year or more. Given they are no longer sold and good mechanics are hard to find you should shy away.

As much as it pains me to say, a college student may be better served by a Japanese or Korean car. Flame suit on...

 

[Powder Hound]

...As much as it pains me to say, a college student may be better served by a Japanese or Korean car. Flame suit on...

As shown in the comments above, no flame suit needed. The situation is what it is.

Cheers,

PH

 

[Judson]

Anything with the 3800 Series II engine. Buicks, usually. They made millions of them, any mechanic anywhere can work on then, and every damn auto parts store in the country carries parts for them. They’ll even get 30mpg on the highway on regular unleaded.