Thinking of making the switch

[dtmfan]

Hi,
I'm a long time lurker on here and wanted some opinions advice from all of you that have the new TDI passat's. I'm currently entertaining the idea to get rid of my gas hog MDX. As much as it pains me, we don't really need the utility of the car and the AWD anymore since we relocated. I'm sick of continuously getting 17-18mpg on premium gas. I've long entertained the idea of switching over to the passat. The car seems to have the right amount of space and obviously the gas economy is a real plus. Where I have reservations is that I plant to keep this car at 5-10 years at a minimum. Coming from the Acura/Honda camp..reliability has been amazing. I'm a little leery of VW quality due to issues friends/family have had in the past( granted this was in the early 2000 time frame and it looks like VW has made great strides). Also the DSG..seems like a pretty complex transmission. Longterm is it better to go with the extended warranty on this thing? I'm looking for advice on those of you who have had this car for a bit. Worth it? Any regrets? I'm just afraid of giving up a perfectly good working car (MDX) for the Passat that gets way better mileage but down the road will have more issues. Thanks for your time and info!

 

[LimonPani]

I have a 6speed manual and have no regrets. Went on a work trip that was 400 miles round trip, was nice to come back and have plenty of fuel to spare. (I started out with almost full tank). So far for me I have no complaints but then again I'm fairly easy to please

 

[dtmfan]

I have a 6speed manual and have no regrets. Went on a work trip that was 400 miles round trip, was nice to come back and have plenty of fuel to spare. (I started out with almost full tank). So far for me I have no complaints but then again I'm fairly easy to please

Thanks for the quick reply. I can only dream about that kind of gas mileage. With gas prices climbing here locally .30 this week, I'm about to pull the trigger.

 

[in2dwww]

Don't do it.

 

[LokiWolf]

Hi,
I'm a long time lurker on here and wanted some opinions advice from all of you that have the new TDI passat's. I'm currently entertaining the idea to get rid of my gas hog MDX. As much as it pains me, we don't really need the utility of the car and the AWD anymore since we relocated. I'm sick of continuously getting 17-18mpg on premium gas. I've long entertained the idea of switching over to the passat. The car seems to have the right amount of space and obviously the gas economy is a real plus. Where I have reservations is that I plant to keep this car at 5-10 years at a minimum. Coming from the Acura/Honda camp..reliability has been amazing. I'm a little leery of VW quality due to issues friends/family have had in the past( granted this was in the early 2000 time frame and it looks like VW has made great strides). Also the DSG..seems like a pretty complex transmission. Longterm is it better to go with the extended warranty on this thing? I'm looking for advice on those of you who have had this car for a bit. Worth it? Any regrets? I'm just afraid of giving up a perfectly good working car (MDX) for the Passat that gets way better mileage but down the road will have more issues. Thanks for your time and info!

Watch out, there are a few on here that had a bad experience, and they speak frequently, and loudly, and won't let it die. Many of us are VERY happy with our choice! Do it, great car!


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[fenderod]

Call it a wash on long-term maintenance - Acuras/Hondas can have their high-mileage issues (transmissions come to mind). Obviously a big fuel savings regardless of your annual mileage - I love filling up the Passat once vs twice a week with my old car. Probably comes down to daily driving experience - are you in a later SH-AWD model MDX? Have you driven the Passat and does it compare well for you?

 

[Lightflyer1]

As said above there are 2 or 3 that had a bad experience and lose no chance to condemn the car at every chance, so don't let only their opinion influence you.

I have had tdi's since 2005. No proplems with any of them. My Passat has been excellent so far with about 3k miles on the odo so far. The DSG is a very good choice if you want an auto. It has some quirks you need to get used to but no big deal. It also requires serviceing every 40k miles and the dealers charge $300 to $500. Not an issue really. It does better on longer trips compared to short runs. The dpf needs to regenerate now and again and if doing short trips you needs to drive some occaisionally to let it do its thing. Fuel mileage will suffer on only short trips. Mine is around 32 so far with only a 6 mile commute. However on the highway it shines as my last trip to Galveston and back was 48 mpg. If you are insured with GEICO they offer Mechanicl Breakdown Insurence (MBI) for about $8 a month for 7/100k miles, just in case.

 

[skinnyb]

Watch out, there are a few on here that had a bad experience, and they speak frequently, and loudly, and won't let it die. Many of us are VERY happy with our choice! Do it, great car!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

X2. I love mine. Just went out of warranty last week (36,700 today) and not looking back. That being said, I have just retired mine to Wifey duty as I am getting a JSW tomorrow for me and she only drives about 10-11k a year.

 

[PaulB]

I started with a B4 Passat back in 2000 that had 80k miles on it, I sold it with 213k miles. In that entire period I averaged 47mpg in all conditions. I tried driving conservatively for a few of those tanks and managed to get 1000 miles for the tank of fuel. The reliability was good but not at the Honda level. The car never stranded me.

Do try some spirited driving when you test drive. The engine has a sound that some people can't get used to. You either love 'em or hate 'em.

I like driving a car that does not turn into a bomb if you crash it. Diesel is cool. However it is even more expensive than premium gas. If you assume both premium and diesel is $4/gal, and drive 200k miles, in the end you will have spent $44,000 with the MDX (18mpg) versus $17,000 with the Passat (47mpg), a difference of $27,000 - the cost of the Passat. It's like driving that period with a free car.

I have only 300 miles on my replacement Passat. It's a very nice car, a 6-speed. Looks like the MPG will be similar to the B4. I like having a car that can go 300k or even 500k if I am careful with it. Probably the last car I will own.

 

[in2dwww]

I only give you the advice that you seek. Based on my experience, you are hesitant to pull the trigger but you are also trying to convince yourself. No offense, but I would peg you for a hybrid buyer. Given your experience with Japanese cars, you will be making a massive departure for fuel savings and jumping into a 5-10 year purchase decision based on giving up what you already have... and you already have a good thing.

The only psychographic point you make is the fuel economy. Beyond your need for fuel cost savings, have you considered:

Have you ever had a diesel car?
Do you know the benefits of diesel?
Are you a fan of front wheel drive?
Have you ever owned a VW before?
Do you really want to dump the MDX for something that is an extreme departure for you?

I say, just be happy and stick it out with the MDX until you find something you're really sold on.

 

[Lightflyer1]

A much better post than your previous one liner. Congrats!

 

[in2dwww]

A much better post than your previous one liner. Congrats!

Plus, if you become a Passat owner, you'd have to deal with 10-gallon hats like this guy.

 

[Sandhopper]

This is our second Passat a B5 and now a B7. I have never had any issues with our VWs and we are very happy with this car. Not to say some folks have not had their issues but our '13 Passat has privided 10K trouble free miles at an average of 38 mpg diesel (since November). Only you can make the right choice. Take one for a test drive under your normal driving conditions to make sure you are getting a good feeling for what you can expect on a daily basis from the car. I wish I had gone with a manual but the DSG works well for our purpose. Good hunting...

 

[Lightflyer1]

Plus, if you become a Passat owner, you'd have to deal with 10-gallon hats like this guy.

We don't let them out of the state, especially that close to "New York City" (from the Pace commercial).

 

[dtmfan]

I only give you the advice that you seek. Based on my experience, you are hesitant to pull the trigger but you are also trying to convince yourself. No offense, but I would peg you for a hybrid buyer. Given your experience with Japanese cars, you will be making a massive departure for fuel savings and jumping into a 5-10 year purchase decision based on giving up what you already have... and you already have a good thing.

The only psychographic point you make is the fuel economy. Beyond your need for fuel cost savings, have you considered:

Have you ever had a diesel car?

No, but driven a few in my time

Do you know the benefits of diesel?

Absolutely that's why I'm on this site shopping for one
Are you a fan of front wheel drive?

Current car besides the mdx is fwd.. Not an issue
Have you ever owned a VW before?

Nope that is why I'm hesitant but I hear good things

Do you really want to dump the MDX for something that is an extreme departure for you?

Not sure, but its not that extreme of a departure.

I say, just be happy and stick it out with the MDX until you find something you're really sold on.

I appreciate the thoughts. Definitely not a hybrid fan.. Never seen the point with how good modern diesel tech is. Big thing here is how close reliability wise is the current passat to my Acura. If its in the ballpark I'm probably going to seriously consider purchasing a TDI. As much as I love the mdx I can't justify it for a daily driver when I don't use it for its full capability.

 

[Ace Deprave]

I appreciate the thoughts. Definitely not a hybrid fan.. Never seen the point with how good modern diesel tech is. Big thing here is how close reliability wise is the current passat to my Acura. If its in the ballpark I'm probably going to seriously consider purchasing a TDI. As much as I love the mdx I can't justify it for a daily driver when I don't use it for its full capability.

The Passat is only my second German car, the first being a 2000 Audi A4. I loved that car, and drove it for 8 years, but it was not without its quirks. So far, the Passat has been much more reliable, as the Audi had to have several electrical parts (cruise control stalk, water temp gauge sensor, entire instrument cluster) replaced while under warranty.

The only thing I've had to have done on the Passat is have it aligned, as it had a bit of drift to the right. I've only had it since the end of May, but have put 23,000 miles on it. Hopefully it will continue to be trouble free.

 

[in2dwww]

The TDI's I've owned have never stranded me. So that makes them reliable. However, I have had issues with rattles, the Fender stereo, and other little things that I think are unacceptable for any new car, notwithstanding how much it costs.

I am a scheduled maintenance zealot with everything I own. I can tell you that air and fuel filters are required at 20k mile intervals. DSG service is required at 40k intervals. Oil changes are required at 10k intervals. The maintenance costs are far below what you'll pay for a gasser. There are no spark plugs to replace!

Stick to the maintenance and only purchase diesel fuel from mainstream stations and you will never be stranded.

The fuel economy is fantastic. Performance is not hyperactive in the winter, but it picks up when ambient temps get past 52 degrees and it gets even better when the weather gets past 72 degrees (which I suspect is why VW doesn't promote the TDI in winter).

A/C always blows cold. The heater is something you'll want to check out.

 

[Salsaman06]

Lots of opinions here. I'll add mine to the mix. Two things I would point out that you should carefully think on since you made reference to them.

One, if you are looking to save money from the higher mpg, you should search the Internet for a Calculator for gas mileage savings and see how long it will take to actually start saving money if you are replacing a vehicle you already own. You'll find that no one will realize any savings for a long long time. I traded a VW New Beetle for my Passat and it would take almost 36 years to actually see any savings from the higher mpg. In other words, it was MUCH cheaper to just keep my Beetle even though it got only a little over half the mpg that the TDI does. I did not buy the TDI Passat to save money.

Two, if you are really concerned about reliability then you need to consider carefully your next step. I have to refer you to Consumer Reports to get an accurate assessment of reliability. My family has been using the reliability reports since the 70's and they have never been wrong for us. But the key to reading those reports is to see how the reliability and the consistency of that reliability of a brand faired over the last 10 years. You can't just look at the current models and the models 1 or 2 years old. Almost all the makes do well the first few years. Looking at their record long term will give you some idea of what to expect. You'll find that VW does not fair too well compared to Honda or Toyota. Yeah you will always hear the "my Honda was a piece of sh@t" and "my VW has been flawless for 10+years" statements in various forums out there but those situations are the exception. CR has much more credibility than any forum out there on this topic. I did not buy the Passat for VW's reliability record.

I am not trying to dissuade you from buying the Passat TDI. I was seriously considering the new Honda Accord. But I chose the Passat TDI. The things that stood out to me were, of course, the diesel engine. Never owned one. The test drive was....eye opening. Blew me away. Then there was the quietness and solidness (and its 5 star crash ratings) of the Passat compared to the Honda. And the sound system in the Passat was better. And I liked the looks of the Passat inside and out. And then there is the way a German car drives. There is nothing else like it. After driving the Passat TDI for 2 months now, I don't think I could ever go back to a gasoline powered vehicle. Every time I get behind the wheel I just have a big smile on my face. So for me, the quirks and the *chance* that it might be less reliable than the Accord are things I am willing to live with.

 

[tdiatlast]

The TDI's I've owned have never stranded me. So that makes them reliable. However, I have had issues with rattles, the Fender stereo, and other little things that I think are unacceptable for any new car, notwithstanding how much it costs.
I am a scheduled maintenance zealot with everything I own. I can tell you that air and fuel filters are required at 20k mile intervals. DSG service is required at 40k intervals. Oil changes are required at 10k intervals. The maintenance costs are far below what you'll pay for a gasser. There are no spark plugs to replace!
Stick to the maintenance and only purchase diesel fuel from mainstream stations and you will never be stranded.
The fuel economy is fantastic. Performance is not hyperactive in the winter, but it picks up when ambient temps get past 52 degrees and i t gets even better when the weather gets past 72 degrees (which I suspect is why VW doesn't promote the TDI in winter).
A/C always blows cold. The heater is something you'll want to check out.

Whoa there! You must have discovered that your portfolio contains VW stock!!!
One quibble with this post, though...air filter is 60k change, not 20k...another $20-25 savings...

Has anyone looked seriously at the new Mazda "Skyactiv" technology? Two friends rave about their Mazdas, but I haven't had a ride nor driven one. Just a thought, as the MPG, on paper at least, seems good. Mazda does pretend to be a "drivers" car. Plus, like them or not, (and I know the OP says "no" to hybrid) I've not met a disatisfied Prius owner, although the owners I know just want to get where they're going...

 

[Mr. Furious]

Plus, like them or not, (and I know the OP says "no" to hybrid) I've not met a disatisfied Prius owner, although the owners I know just want to get where they're going...

I've never owned a Prius, but I did seriously consider the Prius V when I first started evaluating vehicles (the regular Prius didn't have enough cargo room for my needs). I very well might have purchased one, but the darn thing couldn't get out of its own way. I wasn't expecting it to take off like an F40 off the line, but it felt like someone was pushing it from behind. Someone who wasn't particularly strong. And maybe had a back condition.

So if you just want to get from point A to point B, as you noted, and you don't ever want to merge onto an Interstate while going slightly uphill*, I'm sure they're great.

* I sometimes get stuck behind a Prius when merging onto the Interstate on my way to work in the morning, and while it's possible that they're just lollygagging, my test drives make me think that they have it floored.

 

[APT]

Do not buy a TDI to save money. There are plenty of other ways to achieve similar "savings".

Do you want a sedan? Do you like the Passat, think it's near the top in it's class? Check out the Fusion and Camry hybrids for probably lower operating costs over 5-10 years. They drive pretty well, much like their non-hybrid versions. Ford and Toyota sell far more of their mid size sedans than VW. While that does not make them better or best to you, they are very good vehicles for many hundreds of thousands of people. Do you have a loan on the MDX? How many more payments?

What is your typical driving route? Less than 10 mile trips per engine start will not yield high fuel economy, especially in the winter. How many miles per year? What is the actual fuel savings of the a base engine in the Passat, Altima, Camry, Accord at 25-28mpg mixed vs. 35-40mpg mixed for a TDI? 20k miles per year will be less than $1000 savings at 40mpg compared to 25mpg. Plus extra costs of the TDI oil changes, DSG service, and timing belt at 130k miles.

If you like the MDX, check out the CR-V. A loaded up one costs less than a similarly equipped Psssat TDI. They get 26-28mpg mixed. It will be as reliable as you expect for 5-10 years.

All that said, I love my Passat TDI. It really matches well with my driving style. I love the torque which feels like a V6 from 1500-3000rpm. Few downshifts are needed, just torque - now. I can drive aggressively and still get 38mpg lifetime average. It handles well and fits my family of 5 when needed. 600+ miles per tanks means filling up ever 10-ish days instead of 4 I was used to. These are aspects about it I value, but that does'nt mean you will. I have driven competitor 4-cyl and V6 mid sized sedans. I really dislike the 4-cyls and I only get 25mpg with them and 22mpg with the V6s with my driving style. I've owned a couple 6-cyls mid sizers before kids.

So, test drive the Passat. Check out the 2.5L too for comparison, about $4k cheaper for the same equipment than a TDI. Evaluate how you like driving it. If you don't care about the driving experience of the TDI, don't get one.

Also, check out the Touareg TDI while at the VW dealer. About the same size as your MDX, but far more torque and 25-28mpg mixed.

Take a look at real world fuel economy from owners of vehicles you are interested in. EPA ratings are one thing, but the reality does not always match up.

 

[ChadS99SVT]

Do not buy a TDI to save money. There are plenty of other ways to achieve similar "savings".

What is your typical driving route? Less than 10 mile trips per engine start will not yield high fuel economy, especially in the winter. How many miles per year?

IMO this is the first question you need to ask yourself....



Me being a novice to TDI's and diesels I have found some interestign quirks.

I love my TDI and for me it's been nearly flawless.

If you don't have a long commute, live in a cold climate, your mileage is going to be quite a bit less than people are boasting about here. It's quite surprising how much worse the MPG's are in the winter time. that Being said I still get respectable MPG since I have a long commute (47miles each way). If I had a less than 10mile commute I would be hating my MPG during the winter and probably disliking it in the summer too.

These cars need their legs stretched and if you can't offer that on a normal basis I personally feel it's probably not the car for you.

Unless your ok with sub 30 or low 30mpgs at best.

 

[PaulB]

I traded a VW New Beetle for my Passat and it would take almost 36 years to actually see any savings from the higher mpg.

Well, his baseline is the 18mpg MDX. Your statement here might be getting a bit pessimistic. As I calculated earlier, in 200k miles the savings in fuel pays for the Passat. Yeah if you only put 2k miles per year on your car, it will take forever to recoup the savings. People who drive a lot of miles, though, will want something like a Passat.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

The Passat TDI should at least double the MDX's mileage unless he's driving <10 miles every single day, in which case it will be slightly less than double.

 

[APT]

Right, but using half the fuel at 5k miles per year is probably not valuable to most people. 18k miles per year, 25k, 40k?

Or, 1 year left on a $45k loan, then "free" driving.

 

[in2dwww]

If OP wants a new car with great economy (and who doesn't when gas hits $4/gallon), then the TDI is a wise choice because it holds its value. I am rather looking forward to other diesel models coming from various car makers toward the end of this year.

If I was the OP, I would pass on the Passat and hold the MDX until 2014 models hit the market in August-November. The Mercedes E250, possibly the BMW 320d, and quite likely the MB C250 bluetec will join the already announced Audi Q5, A6, A7, and A8. The MB S350 and GL350 are also available now if you have $100k. The Mazda something should be out by then also.

I keep hearing about the Tiguan TDI for 2014. And, of course, there is the Touraeg TDI available now.

The Jetta and Passat are entry level diesels compared to the onslaught of luxo cars heading here for 2014. Chances are a 10-year purchase may not bode well when more selection, luxury, and power choices are just around the corner.

The Passat TDI should at least double the MDX's mileage unless he's driving <10 miles every single day, in which case it will be slightly less than double.

 

[TomB]

Watch out, there are a few on here that had a bad experience, and they speak frequently, and loudly, and won't let it die. Many of us are VERY happy with our choice! Do it, great car!


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HAHAHA! But of course your opinion isn't biased either, huh? LOL! I know those of us who don't like it are just whiners, huh? Not that we really have opinions that are valid or anything, huh? Please don't dismiss our opinions because they do not align with yours. I believe in putting out ALL the facts and letting people make their own decision.

The car sucks compared to any VW made before 2010, especially the Passat line which was the Top of the Line for VW after the Phaeton. If you like base Honda or base Toyota you will like it. Coming from an Acura he may be disappointed by the appointment.

 

[dtmfan]

Thanks for all the well thought responses thus far.

Many compelling arguments either way. I wanted to go look at the passat today and the dealer did not have any TDI s in stock. In fact they had only 1 base model. I told him to call me when they get a TDI which should be next week sometime.

As for my current situation. My mdx is a 2010 that is already paid for. In theory working the pricing I would like on SE with sunroof, I would come out slightly ahead money wise on the purchase after selling my mdx privately. I drive about 15,000 miles a year which would save me significantly on gas. I may miss the utility, but as of now we don't ever use it to the full potential. Living in the south the SH-AWD is a waste now.



With that said.. It drives great for an SUV. It appears its better appointed inside compared to the Passat. Someone above mentioned this point as well.

Dealer experience with Acura has been nothing short of fantastic. I have no idea how my local VW dealer compares ( only 1 in town).

A big factor I did not consider is that this would mainly be driven around town. Obviously this impacts mileage but we do our share of short trips to the store and back daily etc. Many on here have mentioned its not good on the engine necessarily?


Still love the idea of a TDI, but I will definitely plan to test drive one to see how we really feel about it.

 

[eyetdiman]

Hi,
I'm a long time lurker on here and wanted some opinions advice from all of you that have the new TDI passat's. I'm currently entertaining the idea to get rid of my gas hog MDX. As much as it pains me, we don't really need the utility of the car and the AWD anymore since we relocated. I'm sick of continuously getting 17-18mpg on premium gas. I've long entertained the idea of switching over to the passat. The car seems to have the right amount of space and obviously the gas economy is a real plus. Where I have reservations is that I plant to keep this car at 5-10 years at a minimum. Coming from the Acura/Honda camp..reliability has been amazing. I'm a little leery of VW quality due to issues friends/family have had in the past( granted this was in the early 2000 time frame and it looks like VW has made great strides). Also the DSG..seems like a pretty complex transmission. Longterm is it better to go with the extended warranty on this thing? I'm looking for advice on those of you who have had this car for a bit. Worth it? Any regrets? I'm just afraid of giving up a perfectly good working car (MDX) for the Passat that gets way better mileage but down the road will have more issues. Thanks for your time and info!

How do you intend to use the car?

 

[TDI2000Zim]

Hi,
I'm a long time lurker on here and wanted some opinions advice from all of you that have the new TDI passat's. I'm currently entertaining the idea to get rid of my gas hog MDX. As much as it pains me, we don't really need the utility of the car and the AWD anymore since we relocated. I'm sick of continuously getting 17-18mpg on premium gas. I've long entertained the idea of switching over to the passat. The car seems to have the right amount of space and obviously the gas economy is a real plus. Where I have reservations is that I plant to keep this car at 5-10 years at a minimum. Coming from the Acura/Honda camp..reliability has been amazing. I'm a little leery of VW quality due to issues friends/family have had in the past( granted this was in the early 2000 time frame and it looks like VW has made great strides). Also the DSG..seems like a pretty complex transmission. Longterm is it better to go with the extended warranty on this thing? I'm looking for advice on those of you who have had this car for a bit. Worth it? Any regrets? I'm just afraid of giving up a perfectly good working car (MDX) for the Passat that gets way better mileage but down the road will have more issues. Thanks for your time and info!

If you want the very high mpg, yes the Passat is for you.

But if you want a carefree car, you are better off buying a Civic.

The Passat TDi is for those who know what they are doing and are willing to take the plunge with their eyes wide open.

The TDi has its own set of rules you have to abide by, and getting used to the diesel motor nuances (and sound, vibration, exhaust, etc.).

I was lucky in that I grew up with the sounds and smells of diesel trucks/buses, so getting a diesel car was natural. But, I've had to put up with some disappointments in my 13 years of TDi ownership.

If you know what you are doing, then welcome aboard. If not, then stay in the safety of your comfort zone.