OT: Thoughts on passat vr6

[brick8]

Thinking of picking up a 1996 passat vr6 5 speed with about 200K miles as a spare car for my boys to drive. Price is around $2k. I have never owned a vw and would appreciate your opinions.

[Qube]

I've only extensively driven a B3 VR6 and though 'fun', it just didn't feel nimble like the Corrado (driven 4-5 times). The B3 was fudgly looking without front grill. I haven't driven a B4. Only other Passat I have extensively driven was a 1.8T B5 :|

Why a VR6 Passat and not a usual MKIII 2-slo Golf or something (found under or near your asking)? Parts are plentiful as well... not as sure with the B4. You feel the need to give them something imitating performance with a VR? :)

Take my comments as drivel until someone knowledgable about the B4 VR6 steps in heh.

[brick8]

I guess I figure the passat is a safer car bcz it is bigger than a golf. Another possibility is a 1995 530i that I found nearby with 211k for about the same price. However, it is an auto (too bad) and probably too fast. But I might check that out as well.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

if BMW was crazy with the plastic in the motor, then VW is criminally insane.

Repairs will make you appriciate the BMW even more.

[CharlesAFerg]

if BMW was crazy with the plastic in the motor, then VW is criminally insane.

Repairs will make you appriciate the BMW even more.


A lot of kids out here have the VR6 gtis and ****. I don't see whats so amazing, they don't take care of the engines either, especially when they just drop in these huge turbos into these cars their mommys bought them. Dumbshits.

[Bellicose Right Winger]

High oil consumption is a problem with the VR6's. A co-worker needs a quart every 700 miles and he's only got 110k miles.

Paul Shovestul


Thinking of picking up a 1996 passat vr6 5 speed with about 200K miles as a spare car for my boys to drive. Price is around $2k. I have never owned a vw and would appreciate your opinions.

[Qube]

Too fast eh? Just get them a 2slo Golf and rack up brownie points for insurance driving first :) A VR6 will up your ins too eh.

[RallyD]

dont get a vw.
I've had a few and they are no fun even when they are working fine because you dread the next thing that is going to break.
BMWs are so refreshing and easier to maintain. A passat w/ 200K is ready for major problems. Heck, I had a brand new Jetta that I gave back to the dealer because at 1200 miles they tore the engine apart and were clueless as to what was wrong with my car. After that, I go and get a friggin' cabriolet for the wife. Ended up replacing everything, seriously, the damn thing is new and I want it out of my life.

How about another volvo 850, I see them all the time from n/a 5cyl to T5 for around $2K

If it were my kids, they'd be in a '92 240DL slow+safe.

[ericcamaro]

my girl had a 97 passat glx vr6 and it was by far the worst car ive ever had to deal with. There made cheap, and it shows, the interior went to crap really quik. To get a door handle and a window fixed it cost her 1k. The thing is horrible to work on as well. Even a break job is a pain the ASS. I would buy anything but that car, hers only had like 130k on it and it was dying fast. DO NOT BUY!!!

[brick8]

I am convinced, no vw. I want to buy a car with a manual transmission so that when they get old they won't be totally clueless about how to drive a 5 speed. Hard to find a used volvo or a bimmer with a 5 speed.

[SC David]

Funny you mention this. My dad just sold his '97 VR6 wagon. It was a fun car, relatively nimble and handled well. It had some problems like were mentioned above. It went through oil pretty quick, some parts of the interior were kind of cheap, namely the cupholders. The drivers power window went out twice I believe. Aside from those things, it was a great car. I was considering picking it up from him, but I have no need for two cars and don't want to get rid of mine after all the $$$ I've spent in bringing it back to good health. Definitely get it in a 5 speed though. The autos I've driven (like the M20 E34s :() are absolute dogs.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7559/dogpatchjan07009yn5.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2928/dogpatchjan07015copyiv5.jpg

[SC David]

I am convinced, no vw. I want to buy a car with a manual transmission so that when they get old they won't be totally clueless about how to drive a 5 speed. Hard to find a used volvo or a bimmer with a 5 speed.I say do it! This generation (B4) Passat with the engine/tranny combo your looking at would be a great first car. They are built solid and safe, have enough power to have some fun with, but not so much to get you in trouble, and are reasonable as far as maintenance goes. As with any car, as long as these VR6's are looked after they will run for a good while. I've heard of them making it to 250k without many problems. My dad's had 175k on it.

I think a lot of people here are basing their opinions on the late 90's VW's which were plagued with problems. My friend with a 99 Passat 1.8T had tonnnss of problems with his, and it was in the shop monthly. That thing leaked out of places you didn't know it had.

[Ross]

A good friends wife bought one new. It was always a problem and even though under warranty the constant attention(repair) it needed prompted them to sell it.
Parts cost more than BMW also.

[Qube]

Well, look at it this way. You have experience with the e34 platform. Get a 520/525 depending on where you are and you can share parts... experiences... repairs :)

[MTechnik540i]

Thinking of picking up a 1996 passat vr6 5 speed with about 200K miles as a spare car for my boys to drive. Price is around $2k. I have never owned a vw and would appreciate your opinions.

Unfortunately, I work within VW Service and can honestly say I'd avoid these cars at all cost.

Pick up a good E30, or an E36 for your Boys...A much better choice.

[SC David]

Haha, looks like everyone else has had much different experience with them! Oh well, I guess some get lucky.

[brick8]

I had an e30 convertible, was a great car, but didn't let them drive it. Way too much fun and too easy to get in trouble, if you know what I mean.

[John B.]

I'm thinking about picking up a mid 90s Volvo 850 for my daughter as her Sentra is getting beat & I hate working on it. Is that vintage 850 a good car & how are they to work on?

[brick8]

The 850 is a very solid car that is easy to work on. I have had several, including a T5 wagon, a 1993 GLT with a 5 speed and the current 850 n/a. The only somewhat difficult repair I have had on this one was replacing the neutral safety switch, but that was mainly because I had to do the repair in an unheated garage when it was 10 degrees. There is often times a harmless accumulation of oil on top of the motor that looks really bad (helps when trying to buy at a lower price) because people don't know that the gasket on the oil filler cap needs to be replaced every other oil change. There is plenty of room under the hood to work on things. The n/a is pretty slow so it is a good choice for younger drivers. The anti-lock computers on the newer 850s have bad solder joints causing lights to blink on the dashboard. You can remove it and send it out to be rebuilt for under $150. The turbo models are much more fun to drive but need more maintenance.

[John B.]

Thanks for the info! I have heard that the early 850s can be problematic. True? I'd be looking at a non Turbo model to keep my daughter's insurance down. Is it tough to find a 5 speed? How do the autos hold up over 100k?

[brick8]

The 1993s are not great (4 lug wheels, etc.) but the later years are fine. It is very hard to find a five speed other than a 1993, unfortunately. I don't know of any problems with the autos other than the neutral safety switch which was kind of tedious to replace (have to remove lots of stuff to get there) but not difficult. There is also a problem with all autos with the shift interlock but that is also not a big deal. For my information, I highly recommend posting on volvospeed.com. Lots of helpful people there.

[MTechnik540i]

I had an e30 convertible, was a great car, but didn't let them drive it. Way too much fun and too easy to get in trouble, if you know what I mean.

If you're really worried about them getting in trouble. Pick up a M42 powered E30.

[ryan roopnarine]

the volvo 850 (turbo, non T-5) is probably the most fuel efficient heavy car there is. someone and I were driving our vehicles through the paces in city driving, with a/c on (&c. &c) and the volvo pilot was getting back 25mpg city, and not being gentle to it either. if i needed a fuel efficient, inexpensive, heavy (read: for significant other) fullsize car, i'd get one without thinking about it.

[RallyD]

850, full size?
maybe i'm too big

[632 Regal]

850 hmm...
http://www.thecitypress.com/850/7push3.jpg