Well, a mate has a 2003, 110k mile PD130 SE Passat Estate for sale, £4k to me.

So, whats to look out for on these at this mileage? Is it a sound buy?

Drive it down a cobbled street and see if the front suspension rattles. It's supposed to be much improved over the older B5 / B5.5's from late 2002 (?) onwards, but still worth checking as bills can run over £1000 to get that sorted.

SE is softly sprung though, but with a bit of tweaking should handle pretty well. I still think that the B5 Passat I had held the road very well and was controllable when it was provoked, and that was on soft springs.

Nice car overall though.

It is quite softly sprung, but thats part of its appeal tbh.

I'm simply going to be flogging the Focus and the Polo, will end up with the Passat and £3k in the bank (READ: off of debt), so I'm quite keen!!

I'm glad the suspension is allegedly improved. I will be taking preventative maintenance in terms of freeing off various nuts and bolts etc...

Sounds like a good deal Tom, I'd say go for it as long as it had been serviced on the dot and the interior didn't look too worn

Mileage on those isn't that big a deal, but yeah, make sure it's been looked after properly and do those checks.

They're solid purchases generally though

Check the passenger carpet isnt wet, big problems if it is although not difficult to rectify the cause.

Check CDL all works, cambelt has been done and check the coolant level (leaking radiators common)

You might have a creaky dash, but that's purely cosmetic.

iirc, bottom arms on front might be a weak area , though believe that was remedied after 2001 )i think they used A4 ones after that) - i know i had to have mine changed when I upgraded to Koni's. it's something like £50 though for them and you should be clear for many years after that.

Just check the rear tailgate number plate lights. Mine's got a bit of rust - bizarre.

driveshaft gaiters. I've ripped two off now (same side each time), though no idea how - never heard or felt anything. Seems that the first gear full throttle assaults don't agree with it maybe......tee-hee.

What else have i had done........nothing other than routine services and a cambelt change. Everything else has been upgrades.

Other than that, they're rock-solid motors, and if you ever feel the need for more power you know it's quite easy to get mags more from it (*looks out of window knowingly at his own pastie)

Do i take it you'll be popping onto the ukpassats forum then? Go on....

Check the passenger carpet isnt wet, big problems if it is although not difficult to rectify the cause.

Check CDL all works, cambelt has been done and check the coolant level (leaking radiators common)

what exactly is the cause of this bud as a company car at work suffers from this and we are baffled as to what it is

I agree with Gwilo.

Mines 150K now and with a fsh its seems spot on. No rattles from inside which i found a really nice place to be.

The handling is a little boat like but like you said it can be appealing no dodging every little stone on the road. I just put on audi s4 alloys which has improved the handling but kept the smooth ride.

Id say go for it, cleared my debts with it too which is a nice bonus

Adam

Pollen filter housing leaks due to a poor seal.

VW are running an active repair on it and hae been for a while. If your vehicle is on the list to be done it gets done FOC.

Ok, cheers all.

How do I get my free repair!!??

Just been for a spin in it, felt lovely and smooth. The interior looks like a car thats done half the mileage, very impressed. The bodywork and interior are both mint, except a wee scuff on the back bumper, no biggy.

Looks like its mine!!! Paying £4650, full tank of fuel, just serviced, 4 new Continental Sports, 11 months tax, 12 months MOT and he's changing the advisory on the CV boot wear. Its having a full valet on Friday and I should collect on Sat!!!

You may not be elidgeable for a free repair.

The car would have been checked on the VW system at its last service at a VW dealer.

Looks like we are all going this route!

I pick my 53 plate Passat Estate (Sport) on Saturday, 110k miles, looks like 10k!

Other than a dodgy door mirror indicator, I could not find anything wrong with it.

Let's hope we are both doing the right thing?

Quite common the indicator fault. Even when they are working they are pretty poor at best.

Looks like we are all going this route!

I pick my 53 plate Passat Estate (Sport) on Saturday, 110k miles, looks like 10k!

Other than a dodgy door mirror indicator, I could not find anything wrong with it.

Let's hope we are both doing the right thing?

He he, what are you paying for yours??

I hope its a sensible move...

Quite common the indicator fault. Even when they are working they are pretty poor at best.

What's the cure? other than fitting a new light unit?

Or should i say, what's the prevention? as this one will be fixed by the dealer!

Nowt other than fitting a new light unit, they just aint very good.

4 new Continental Sports

Are they already on the car or can you negotiate the tyres that go on?

Chris

Ok, cheers all.

How do I get my free repair!!??

Just been for a spin in it, felt lovely and smooth. The interior looks like a car thats done half the mileage, very impressed. The bodywork and interior are both mint, except a wee scuff on the back bumper, no biggy.

Looks like its mine!!! Paying £4650, full tank of fuel, just serviced, 4 new Continental Sports, 11 months tax, 12 months MOT and he's changing the advisory on the CV boot wear. Its having a full valet on Friday and I should collect on Sat!!!

Excellent, sound like you got a good deal Tom

Sure it will more that do for the 3 months of ownership it will probably have with you

Are they already on the car or can you negotiate the tyres that go on?

Chris

He put them on 3 days ago ready for the MOT... :(

I'm pleased with the deal anyway.

I really will need to keep this one, atleast until I become debt free. (That should be under 2 years btw)

I really will need to keep this one,

Well, now I've been over it with a fine toothed comb, and taken it for an extensive drive...

A couple of niggles:

• The boot 12v sockets don't work. I understand there is a 25A inline fuse tucked behind the dash behind the fuse box, so not concerned there.
  
• There is a resonant vibration from the air intake ducting at about 1500rpm, I'm sure I can sort that with a bit of jiggling.
  
• The drivers side end of the dash does rattle a bit, but thats a common problem similar to the Fabias dash mount problem. Its easy to get at, poking a bit of felt in the mount will cure it I'm sure.
  
• Although the clutch doesn't slip, its bite is quite high on the pedal travel. Its cheap enough to justify a clutch change in the next 20k or so.
  

And thats it. The history is bang up to date, being done on varible at consistant 21k intervals. It was last done 6k ago so no worries there. Its done 47k and 18 months since the last cambelt. I think 60k is the recommended, so thats going to need doing soonish. I'll be doing that myself though. Could probably do with a brake fluid change too (pads and disks are recent, all round), but again, I can do that myself. 4 new tyres, so I can't see any potential nightmares tbh!

However, this car books at just under £6k, but I'm paying over a grand less... but its mint!!! It looks like its had seat covers on its whole life, no wear to the interior at all. The only things that show wear are a shiny steering wheel and a slightly worn gear leaver gaitor... both pretty easily replaced, although tbh I wont bother. It drives lovely and tight, no nasty noises whatsoever, the engine doesnt smoke, pulls well etc... being fussy the gear change is a little sloppy with a bit of movement when wiggling the gear kn0b when in gear, but the 5 speeders aren't the best VAG box by far - but still a lushiously smooth change. So as said, the interior is immaculate, and the bodywork is unbelievably stunning!!! A small scuff to the back bumper is the only thing that lets it down. There is a small amount of stone chipping, (less than my 30k Furby was!), and white is very forgiving. All the alloys are near-mint.

So bloody well chuffed. Collect tomorrow.

The spec includes a 6 cd changer, climate control, superb heated seats, ESP etc etc. The only things I'm likely to do are fit cruise (hi Stu! :wave: ), and if available, some parking sensors too.

Roll on tomorrow!!!!

I pick mine up tomorrow.

Will let you know what it's 'really' like, after I've driven it for more than the 1/2hour test drive.

Mines got the 6 speed, I seem to remember it had a very short stroke on it between the gears.

Is this the same as the Fabia VRS 6 spreed?

I pick mine up tomorrow.

Will let you know what it's 'really' like, after I've driven it for more than the 1/2hour test drive.

Mines got the 6 speed, I seem to remember it had a very short stroke on it between the gears.

Is this the same as the Fabia VRS 6 spreed?

I think so. I too will report back tomorrow.

Its booked in for brake fluid change Monday morning, tyres Monday afternoon, next Saturday at Stus for cruise and the following Monday for some minting of the bodywork! I'm half tempted to send my AMD One-click for reflashing too, but either way, the car will be in mint condition in under a fortnight.

I'm half tempted to send my AMD One-click for reflashing too,

I think you should