Just wondering if the current owners 2012's would wait for a 2013 for the Backup camera and the rear air vents? Do your current passengers complain about it being too hot/cold in the back? I've had a backup camera in my last two vehicles so I am not sure how much I will or won’t miss it. Of course this is all assuming I could even find a 2012 lol
Worth waiting for a 2013??
- Thread starter dogger37
- Start date
tdibigd
Veteran Member
I'd like the secret PM info too!
Well when we purchased our '12 I already knew of these additions for '13 and clearly we did not wait. Having said that and with some weeks with the car, I can state that not having rear vents is no big deal, but not having a rear camera when you've paid for and have the premium trim with the nav screen is a bit of a bummer. Yes I am perfectly aware that we went for generations with no rear cameras, but to have the technology readily available and a display screen already in your car, but no actual camera, is a let down.
You forget about the Tsunami in Japan already, cause that's where the cameras were made. They were not available at introduction time of the new passat, so the model year had to pass on them.
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APT
Veteran Member
If you want an SEL and want to pay up to $1000 more than current 2012, get the 2013. No reason not to get one. The 2013 SE's lose automatic dual zone climate control. The rear vents seem worthless to me, other than loyal VW owners and automobile testers.
Papachristou
Veteran Member
I read about the '13s and decided to go ahead and get the '12. We couldnt justify the extra $2k for the SEL since we were already paying extra for the DSG/sunroof and i really wanted a manual. SInce the SE's were losing features like the climate control, we went ahead and got ours. If you are getting an SEL, i would wait. The rear air vents are a very minor deal (especially since i dont ride in the back lol)
I don't know, everyone keeps saying the rear vents are a minor deal. I have a 2 year old that sits back there and when the car is hot in the summer, rear air vents don't seem so minor. I would definitely appreciate getting air to the back seats quickly.
Papachristou
Veteran Member
thats a good point, but if i had to choose, i think i would rather have climi and no rear vents than not have climi with rear vents. Obviously the car should have had both from the beginning. big oversight on VWs part.
APT
Veteran Member
I have my 3 kids (currently 3/4/7) in the back of my Passat at times, although it is not the main family vehicle. We use it on short trips around town. There are vents under the front seats for the rear on 2012 models. While I have never ridden in the back seat, it seems comfortable in the whole cabin.
Also, tint the windows, at least the rear to help minimize heat buildup.
Also, tint the windows, at least the rear to help minimize heat buildup.
11psiGSR
Member
We pre-ordered a 2013 White/Black TDI SEL. Maybe the rear vents and b/up camera aren't that big of a deal to some. We figured we have waited this long... What's a few more months?
Excited to get her out of driving our 13 mpg Yukon Denali, although it will stay in the family as a tow vehicle.
Excited to get her out of driving our 13 mpg Yukon Denali, although it will stay in the family as a tow vehicle.
Papachristou
Veteran Member
for people getting an SEL, it is worth the wait since you will gain some features like two more rear air vents and backup camera (cool but dumb imo), for those getting an SE, the '12 has climi control.
FormerOwner
Veteran Member
I ordered an SE 6 speed... not much to worry 'bout eh?
[FONT="]According to my dealer... assigned production week is the week of July 2nd. He expects to see it about the third week of July, but he will keep me posted......[/FONT]
[FONT="]According to my dealer... assigned production week is the week of July 2nd. He expects to see it about the third week of July, but he will keep me posted......[/FONT]
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ajfd
Member
I just drove 12 hours (2 days x 6 hours) through 95-100+ deg, full sun with two kids (5 and 7) in the back. At no point did the kids complain that it was "too hot". In fact, a few times they told me they were "too cold". The AC settings were 68/72 with recirc on, fan was 2 or 3 clicks from "low", flow was split between floor and dash vents.
While I can't speak for everyone, I don't see how having the rear vents would ever make a difference for us.
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
I've never found rear vents to be particularly useful in most cars that have them. They're usually too low and just blow on my shins. It looks like the positioning on the Passat may be a bit higher, but it's a non-issue for us - no complaints so far when people have been riding in the back.
It was also a non-issue when I was growing up in southern Arizona in the back of a chevy station wagon.
The way these cars cool off using the max ac feature I don't see rear vents as necessary, nice maybe.
compu_85
Gadget Guy
Actually when I was in the back on that really hot day I kind of wanted the rear vents. I might retrofit them at some point.
-J
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
LOL. That's going to be a crazy retrofit, I'm sure.
Would the rear air vents actually have made you more comfortable? Or would they just freeze your knees?
Would the rear air vents actually have made you more comfortable? Or would they just freeze your knees?
compu_85
Gadget Guy
I'll have to retrofit it to see
VeeDubTDI
Wanderluster, Traveler, TDIClub Enthusiast
I should have seen that coming!
MyAvocation
Top Post Dawg
Here's a high-output retrofit (all parts available on Craigslist):
And this one's both portable and LEEDs compliant:
And this one's both portable and LEEDs compliant:
tdiatlast
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2009
- Location
- Fort Worth, Texas
- TDI
- 2009 Sportwagen (boughtback); 2014 Passat TDI SEL (boughtback)
Yah...those big, clear vents with the crank handles were very refreshing...It was also a non-issue when I was growing up in southern Arizona in the back of a chevy station wagon.
The way these cars cool off using the max ac feature I don't see rear vents as necessary, nice maybe.
Crank handles? Vents? I said the back. As in all the way with no seatbelts, just a lot of flat space to mess around with and a back seat to fly into when dad thought we were acting up and slammed on the brakes.
I'd retrofit the owners butt into the shotgun position... problem solved.I'll have to retrofit it to see
compu_85
Gadget Guy
I was letting my mother ride up front
Ace Deprave
Veteran Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2012
- Location
- Louisiana
- TDI
- Former owner of a 2012 Passat SE TDI (traded for a 2015 Golf R)
I've never had a car with rear vents, so that's not an issue for me at all. My daughter rides in the back, and is generally cold when I'm comfortable, so it works out well. My last two cars (00 Audi A4 and 08 Mazdaspeed3) have had climate control, and I don't particularly want to buy a car without it. The Passat definitely has the best a/c I've ever had, and now that I got my windows tinted, it's even better!
The AC in the passat is pretty good, but the AC in my 1998 Jetta TDI positively kicked A$$ on every single car I've ever had with A/C. I could run the fan on the lowest of settings, air recirculating, and even in the heat of Phoenix in July in the afternoon, it was comfortable on fan setting number 1, 2 just to cool the car down for a few minutes after being parked. White with tan interiors are great. Couldn't find tan in the passat, black is kind of hot.
TDI-BZ
Well-known member
just ran a locate on the 2012 TDI SEL 2.0 model #A3279M, in all colors. They ALL show in production stock with no Monroney stickers issued yet for the Pacific region. (West Coast)
It is gonna be awhile......
It is gonna be awhile......