It is not only the D for D segment that enjoyed unprecedented popularity at the time, the D for diesel was also still plentiful. Because although the Passat was available with various five- and six-cylinder engines and even a W8 eight-cylinder, the fondest memories are probably of the 1.9 TDI diesel with unit injectors. A really spacious family car In 1996, there was little fuss about premium or non-premium. The Volkswagen Passat simply offered what people wanted: space. “There is no competitor that can match the legroom for the rear passengers,” says the owner of a Passat Variant 1.9 TDI. “The cargo box can also hold all the luggage for a family with three children.” Another Passat Variant driver also has this experience. “The Passat is known for having a lot of legroom in the back. The cargo space also appears to be enormous. Full of insulation material and wooden plates when the sofa is folded down.” To avoid confusion: these materials have been loaded by the owner himself. The next Passat Variant owner has also transported everything. “As soon as the rear seat is folded down, you have a completely flat loading floor. Bicycles, wheelbarrows, beds, mattresses, Euro pallets, almost everything fit in this family car.” Well, one more: “Wonderful family car. Enough space for 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children. Large loading space, easy to access.” The owner of a Passat Variant 2.3 V5 is more critical. “The interior space is certainly good,” he writes, “the storage space could have been a bit more spacious and well thought out, something sometimes flies around when accelerating hard. The trunk is in good condition and very usable, although larger boxes can be found in this class.” But not only the Passat Variant proves to be spacious, the sedan is hardly inferior. “Plenty of space for both the people in the front and the back,” writes the owner of – again – a Passat 1.9 TDI, but now in sedan version. “I have not been able to find the head, leg and trunk space in any other sedan,” writes the owner of another Passat diesel. On the road with the Passat There is no shortage of space in this Volkswagen, but what about driving? “The handling is fine, but no more than that,” says the owner of a Passat sedan with a 1.8-liter turbo engine. “The car steers a bit woolly and slides over the front wheels when going too fast. In that respect, the car cannot compete with my (2011) Golf, but I think that is logical.” Another 1.8 5V Turbo driver shares this experience. “There is not a rattle or hiccup to be seen. So quiet and comfortable, in fact, that I actually find it boring. The car is a wonderful cruiser, but it doesn’t involve me enough in driving. The engine only makes itself heard above 4000 rpm. Steering is fairly direct but without feeling.” The owner of a Passat Variant 2.3 V5 4Motion is moderately enthusiastic. “What an executioner of a car, that 4Motion kills it! The V5 170 hp makes it fast, but it is not fast like the Golf with the same engine. The 4Motion makes cornering much faster. You won’t reach that limit anyway, because before that time you will have already fallen out of your chair due to leaning over,” he writes with a wink. “For the rest, it is a lot more comfortable than the Golf.” Another driver paired this four-wheel drive with a 2.5-liter diesel engine. “The 4Motion drive gives a secure and safe feeling but, despite the 4-wheel drive, it is certainly not a sports car,” he says. “The Passat series is already set up fairly comfortably in terms of suspension and damping, the 4Motion is also equipped with 3 cm more ground clearance. An advantage on the unpaved roads in Sweden, but on paved roads I really can’t keep up with my son’s Alfa when it gets twisty.” Once again a 1.9 TDI driver mentions a disadvantage of his car. “The handling itself is good. However, don’t take thresholds too quickly. Otherwise, contact between the engine underbody and the road surface is unavoidable. So it could be a bit firmer.” This does not apply to the Passat W8, says the owner of such a special copy. “Suppose too punishing. Despite the finely tuned chassis, it is not a cornering rider due to its weight. Sublime straight-ahead (highway) handling.” Of course, we can’t end this topic without comments about the 1.9-liter TDI engine. “The pump injector TDI responds smoothly to the response of the accelerator pedal and has enough torque,” writes the owner of a 130 hp TDI who drove it to almost 400,000 kilometers. “On average, I drove 24,000 km per year with a consumption of 1 in 18 to 1 in 20.” The owner of a 110 hp engine is also enthusiastic. “Super, what power. This is the first car with which I can still accelerate uphill on the Autobahn (well, go a little faster) when driving at 130, instead of falling further and further back.” The Passat W8 driver seems less impressed: “Excellent power, smooth engine, torque is spread over the entire rev range. Still, it doesn’t feel very fast. Although that is of course relative, it doesn’t feel all that spectacular.” Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations The 1.9 TDI in this Passat has a reputation for achieving high mileage quite easily. Various user reviews show that it can indeed withstand frequent use. The owner of a 115 hp 1.9 TDI writes with a mileage of 392,000: “All in all, I have driven about 200,000 km with the 1.9 TDI, and the engine block is unprecedentedly strong. Hardly any oil consumption (half a liter per 25,000 km). We have had quite a few expenses over the years, but this was offset by low depreciation.” Fewer expenses and slightly more kilometers come from a second 1.9 TDI driver. “With regular maintenance, I traded the VW Passat for my current car after a respectable 396,000 km. Never had any problems with the engine, the only problem was a failing EGR, which I had replaced by the garage owner. A dynamo and a cooling fan motor.” Yet this driver notices the age of his car: “After more than 3 tons, the quality of the interior started to deteriorate somewhat, such as loose door panels and the occasional creaking of the door handles and seat seats, but you can expect that if the car is almost 10 years old.” The highest mileage in our Review section was achieved by a Passat Variant driver whose car we think is also a 1.9 TDI, despite the fact that he indicates that he drives a 2.0 Comfortline. “I actually have little to report,” he writes with a reading of 432,000 km. “The car still functions well. Had a few hiccups with the turbo, but that went away the next day. Cause unknown, not looked into further.” A few other drivers are reporting minor problems with their TDIs, namely faulty injector wiring harnesses and porous pipes between these injectors. “The car is 10 years old, so I think that’s possible,” the owner puts things into perspective. A Passat 2.3 V5 driver is less satisfied. “Many electronics problems from purchase to date: on-board computer, fuel cap lock, turn signals, windshield wipers. Significant maintenance costs at 100,000 kilometers.” The owner of an early Passat 1.8 5v Turbo also has few fond memories. “Conclusion: The Passat was one of the first batch of 3Bs (recognizable by green illuminated dials). I have the impression that this batch suffered from quite a few malfunctions. The repairs and annoyances did not leave a good impression on me, something happened every few months.” The W8 driver faced a major challenge, which he describes best himself. Nevertheless, the conclusion is clear: even though this generation of Passat is now really disappearing from the streets, the road to it seems to be one with few bumps. We appreciate it if you would like to contribute by maintaining the AutoWeek Consumption Monitor or by writing a user review in which you share your experiences with the car. This really helps potential buyers!
Source: www.autoweek.nl
