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It needs to be economical though for when it’s not towing. SUVs are out of the picture really.
rav4 diesel appears to be more economical than the cls. 60mpg on the combined cycle vs 55 (both numbers may be nonsense, but are probably comparible)
rav4 diesel appears to be more economical than the cls. 60mpg on the combined cycle vs 55 (both numbers may be nonsense, but are probably comparible)
I'd eat my Pirelli P-Zero 285s if those numbers were anywhere close to the real world numbers, but even if it's close to the CLS figures it's not enough given the Passats are capable of mid 60s in the real world on long trips.
I wouldn't put too much emphasis on cruise control unless its adaptive / radar controlled.
I do though. I hate not having cruise, even the standard kind.
I had cruise control retro fitted by a dude on my driveway for a couple of hundred quid to an Audi A3. Was a new stalk + some coding job. May or may not be be possible on other VAG cars. I was happy to pay someone, but sounds like the kind of thing you'd happily attempt yourself if it is possible (and you have access to a proper VAG-COM coding dongle).
Yeah just google retrofits, seems like it's an option but it does involve chasing wires through to the ECU, removing the security bolts and adding a couple of pins to the connector. From the look of the car it's the same as my old one so I should know my way around it pretty well!
Going by your description of the car it doesn't sound like it's been very well looked after, I'd walk away from it
No cruise? Beaten up pov spec, doesn't sound worth it.
Yeah I didn't get it.
It was scuffed all around door handles, as if it'd been owned by Mr T. Lots of nicer Passat Estates that age for much less. TCW really isn't cheap at all.
Another Passat today, saloon, in Newport. 2017, 60k miles, £12.5k. Really very nice inside, low road noise and comfortable, but the engine was annoyingly noisy. But lovely finish etc. However it was a 1.6 and sooo sloooow. Perhaps it just felt slow after the Merc, and normally I wouldn't be that bothered but it needs to tow a caravan. It's also the emissions scandal engine so it might not actually have 120bhp any more.
I suspect you might find that the more you look elsewhere, the more appealing your Merc becomes.
That's the wrong engine and you know it. Next!
What SlowPuncheur said. A 1.6tdi 4 cylinder diesel passat is a miserable, miserable thing.
Most things you dont like about your car would have been resolved by buying the regular, W212/W213 'T-modell' instead (the regular estate care). Particularly the ride. Mines like a RR.
Is 120 enough to pull a caravan?
Mines like a RR
Reliant Robin? 😮
Why are you looking at 1.6 engines to tow a caravan!?
Most things you dont like about your car would have been resolved by buying the regular, W212/W213 ‘T-modell’ instead (the regular estate care). Particularly the ride. Mines like a RR.
Yeah, I know - the E-Class estate has the self levelling, and it's basically the same car but made for comfort. But, unless it's spectacularly comfortable I wouldn't get it past the Mrs as she hates the styling. Plus, if I can get a much newer Passat for similar money that'd be more peace of mind. That said, I've not tried an E-Class, they might be amazing. There was one on Autotrader with the massaging seats, could be worth a try 🙂
Why are you looking at 1.6 engines to tow a caravan!?
I wasn't, specifically (obviously) I went to a big car place, saw the car, thought I'd give it a spin just to see what B8 Passats are like, and to see how slow the 1.6s actually are. TBH it was much worse than I thought it would be. It's an emissions-scandal era car, without Ad-blue, so that might've made it worse.
Have you tried bigger tyres?
if you're after a midsize estate for £12k why not get something with a manufacturer warranty? hyundai, kia, toyota all have stuff for that money that'd be pretty much worry free
Have you tried bigger tyres?
No, I want to, but it'll be a lot of money to discover she still doesn't like it. I can only go down to 18", according to the handbook and they're a rare offset so they're not particularly cheap or easy to find.
if you’re after a midsize estate for £12k why not get something with a manufacturer warranty? hyundai, kia, toyota all have stuff for that money that’d be pretty much worry free
Am I likely to find the same level of refinement and comfort? My mate had an Avensis and hated it. The other thing is that we want an auto, and VAG cars have far more available since DSGs have been so popular. I just searched for Avensises (Avenses?) nationwide and there are no autos available.
Holy Moly, it doesn’t matter what you like if mrsgrips has effective veto. She has to choose, or she has to agree to put up with what you get.
I think you are looking at things arse-about-face - surely the towing of a caravan is the main thing? So you need enough power and torque to do the job well.
We ended up with a 4WD Kuga to tow our horse-box. To me it's a hateful, wallowy barge of a thing - but it's great at towing and drives very well on a motorway. Has leather seats and loads of toys.
I just searched for Avensises (Avenses?) nationwide and there are no autos available.
I think your search is broken, autotrader throws up 76 for me. Theres a similar number of i40s and about 40 kia optimas as well.
Comfort is a fairly personal thing. Take a test drive (with your wife) before splurging this time?
Take a test drive (with your wife) before splurging this time?
😳 not sure they’d let that happen on a test drive!!
Have you considered a YouTube channel? Test drives, fault finding, home repairing. So much content!
(Half tongue in cheek, half tongue out of cheek 😛 )
Holy Moly, it doesn’t matter what you like if mrsgrips has effective veto.
No, because we both need to like it. She won't always hate anything I like...??
surely the towing of a caravan is the main thing?
Not really, it has to be a decent car and also be able to tow because it isn't always towing. Such cars exist, so there's no need to waste fuel with an SUV.
Boom
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You'll never sell it now - it is complete 🙃
I did wrestle with this for a while... do I return these genuine original Mercedes-Benz sunglasses holders (two was maybe extravagant), or do I fit them knowing it won't increase the resale price?
Mrs Grips has said she's not really all that bothered about it so I can keep it if I want. She did drive for the first time the other day and she didn't come back raving, but then it's only 5 miles. She did mash one of the wheels against a kerb though whilst I was watching....
Between now and when the lease is up on the Hyundai, and we may only need one car, the payments will be about four and a half grand, less the two (or so) I'll get from the Passat, means it'll cost 2.5-3k, assuming I can clear the loan by selling it. That could be the price for peace of mind.
Is that the faint sound of a worn bearing in the Passat gearbox or am I imagining it..?
Is that the faint sound of a worn bearing in the Passat gearbox or am I imagining it..?
Definitely an issue for the next owner to worry about. Get some subframe bolts in it, then step away from the socket set!
Mrs Grips has said she’s not really all that bothered about it so I can keep it if I want.
sunglasses holders and an unofficial acceptance from MrsMols....
it's staying!
Oh no she's curbed it! That would make me sad/mad in equal parts... 😔
Mrs Grips has said she’s not really all that bothered about it so I can keep it if I want.
Translated: she hates the damn thing
mash one of the wheels against a kerb
that's the excuse to try a set of smaller wheels.
Marvin must be a keeper after all the effort putting the sunglasses holder in!
Definitely an issue for the next owner to worry about. Get some subframe bolts in it, then step away from the socket set!
Bolts on order. Can't do it this weekend as I have a riding date planned. I think I may have figured out where I went wrong - there are two different lengths of bolt, and I might've put the shorter one where the longer one should've gone. If so, there might be enough thread left to make it work. Otherwise I'll need helicoil.
Fixed the handbrake though. Despite trying to different switches I had in the garage, it was in fact just the handbrake switch. £6.99 knockoff part from eBay, done.
that’s the excuse to try a set of smaller wheels.
They'll have to come from Germany. I can get some nice 5 spoke staggered wheels for about 500 € or AMG 5 spoke ones for 700 €. Apparently Mercedes fans are really into the AMG thing so having non-AMG wheels might put a prospective buyer off. So if I got the non AMG ones I might have to hold onto the original wheels for re-sale; however if I got the AMG ones I could perhaps sell the old wheels on. But if I am going to get non-AMG wheels I'd rather have non-staggered so I could get less sporty tyres, but these are pretty hard to find.
The wheels in this vid are the cheapest at about £380 for a set, available in non-staggered which means I can get much cheaper tyres. Probably the best option tbh.
Do it, you know if makes sense
Check engine light just came on.
😬
Check engine mounts light?
You’ve got a VW. You should be used to that.
Mines been on for 2 years now 😃
It's in limp mode innit.
I suspect sabotage.
Check engine light just came on.
History repeats itself first as farce then as tragedy!
Occams razer would state that you probably disturbed something doing the work you did