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Opinion on Passat/A4/Focus

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  • 02-08-2006 12:12pm
    #1
    Eglinton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 992 ✭✭✭


    Hi.

    I'm thinking about buying my first car (so no trade-in).
    Budget circa 8K flexibile-ish.
    Was thinking about a 00/01 Passat or a 99 A4. Maybe also a 1.6L focus but I'm used to driving those so would like a change.

    Any opinions on which would be best? Any other car suggestions appreciated also. Min 1.6L really. No boy racer type cars. Gonna go to a dealer only.


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    #2
    gyppo
    Registered Users Posts: 1,648 ✭✭✭gyppo


    What about this - its not too far away from you either.

    http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=477887


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    #3
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,711 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Passats and A4's are bigger cars than the humble Focus. More expensive too.


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    #4
    mikedragon32
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,939 ✭✭✭mikedragon32


    Why haven't you considered an Alfa 156?

    *runs for cover


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    #5
    Eglinton
    Closed Accounts Posts: 992 ✭✭✭Eglinton


    Think I'll go with a Passat. 2001 model perhaps. Really like the look of them. Anyone know much about them? What problems should I look for in a second hand one?


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    #6
    KeRbDoG
    Registered Users Posts: 4,253 ✭✭✭KeRbDoG


    A passat owner myself, the Passat is meant to have a larger interor than the A4.


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    #7
    dave2pvd
    Registered Users Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭dave2pvd


    Eglinton wrote:
    Think I'll go with a Passat. 2001 model perhaps. Really like the look of them. Anyone know much about them? What problems should I look for in a second hand one?

    Front suspension:
    Upper wishbones' balljoint wear due to defective dust boots.
    Lower wishbones' inboard bushings: premature failure
    Steering arm/knuckle balljoint wear; dust boots expire.

    Front driveshafts' CV joints fail early due to boots deteriorating

    Timing belt tensioner redesigned around 2001: it had a design flaw giving rise to a failure that caused total loss of tension --> valvetrain damage.

    Engine known to 'coke' its oil. To try to improve the problem, VW issued a bulletin to use a different grade oil to the one initially recommended for the car. A better solution would be a liquid-cooled turbo. Esp for hotter climates.

    Ignition control modules expire around 100kmi.

    Apparently reliability has improved from 2001 onwards. 1998 - 2000 year cars cost their owners a lot of money. Guess how I know?

    Oh - 1 more thing: Audi A6's of the same era had some of the same front suspension and driveshaft problems.

    Before buying, I'd recommend getting the car checked out at an independant mechanic that specialises in the make of car you are interested in. Not at a main dealer's.


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