It's time to change the car, because... on Octavia http://avtomarket.ru/opinions/Skoda/Octavia/33668/ the mileage exceeded 100 t.km., although no problems were brewing, because I look after the car very closely - I just wanted an update. The choice was between Passat B7 and Audi A4. Leaned towards the Passat. Previously, I owned a Passat B6 from 2008 to 2011, bought it new and, in principle, was happy with the car.
So, Passat B7 1.8 DSG Highline 12. mileage 45 t.km - good equipment (leather interior + Alcantara, aluminum inserts + xenon + LED lights at the rear, 17" wheels (Assembled in Germany)).
Looking ahead, I will say that I sold the car after a month of ownership. Well, let's talk about everything in order.
Strengths:
- Appearance
- Lighting engineering
- The interior is beautiful and very comfortable seats - Alcantara + leather
- Large trunk
Weak sides:
- Disgusting sound insulation
- Women's pendant
- DSG rattling
Part 2
Greetings local readers and writers!
In memory of a reliable friend and to help buyers of used B7 Passats, I want to tell you about the car with which we lived together for 3.5 years and 126,000 km.
I'll start with reasons for replacement. Despite the high mileage, I did not intend to change the car for at least another year, but wild currency fluctuations and ownerless money made their own adjustments. It was decided to replace the Passat with a new car, because... there are still cars at the old ruble prices, but by 2016 their cost would have increased 1.5-2 times. As a result, I bought an A4 Quattro with a 2L engine, it felt like I had done a downshift in some areas, for a full replacement I had to take the A6, but the Tiguan, for example, was not taken seriously at all. So the Passat is a very worthy car, despite the “budget package” which included:
Strengths:
reliability,
low cost of ownership.
Weak sides:
Resale prices fall.
Review of Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI (140 hp / 2.0 l. / 6 manual transmission) (Volkswagen Passat) 2013
Many who followed the cars that I owned before the Volkswagen Passat know that every year I “keep up” the results of the car’s operation for this period. November 27, 2014 It's been exactly one year since United Airlines left the showroom doors, so it's time to publish your opinion about this car. As always, I will try to make the review as unbiased and objective as possible. As per tradition, we will start the “debriefing” with the shortcomings. As you know, any car has shortcomings and the Passat B7 is naturally no exception.
Flaws
1. Speaker wheezing at sub-zero temperatures A well-known problem with the Passat B6/B7, which I encountered almost a month after purchasing the car, as soon as the first frosts hit. When the outside temperature was below -10 degrees, the driver's door speaker refused to work. Naturally, after driving around the city for some time, the speaker first began to wheeze, and then worked completely properly. This is a warranty case, but it is quite difficult to prove this to the dealer, because After the temperature rises, the wheezing disappears. Plus, I don’t really trust the officials, so I postponed solving this problem until installing acoustics from DynAudio.
Strengths:
- Quick heating of the interior
- Excellent sound insulation
- Turning light in fog lights
- High-quality audio preparation
- Clearance
- Heated windshield
- Huge trunk
- Reliability
- Prestige
- Tuning options
- Controllability
- Engine
Weak sides:
- Speaker wheezing at sub-zero temperatures
- Engine vibrations in severe frosts
- Rear windows don't go all the way down
- Hatchback ergonomics are still better
- Crickets
- Not Audi
Review of Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI (140 hp / 2.0 l. / 6 manual transmission) (Volkswagen Passat) 2013 Part 2
It's always a pity to part with good things. It’s especially a pity if this thing has never let you down and has always served you faithfully. That's exactly what my United Airlines was. A liner that always took me and my passengers to the right place. He never asked for any special attention to himself. It was a delightful combination of reliability, beauty and excellent driving performance. Many may say that this car is for “seniors,” but I loved my Passat. This is exactly how I will remember him: strict, restrained and confident.
Reason for sale
Strengths:
- Seat fabric
- Constructor
- Strict appearance
- Mechanics
- Engine
Weak sides:
- Electronic handbrake
- Non-switchable stabilization system
- Heated steering wheel
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI (Volkswagen Passat) 2014
Background.
Having traveled 4 years and 90,000 km. on a Skoda Octavia A5 Fl 1.8 tsi 6mt car, I began to think about changing it to something more recent. Initially (late 2014) I was considering the new Octavia a7, preferably in a station wagon, or even better with all-wheel drive (scout). But while I was getting ready, the dollar jumped up sharply, and with it the prices of cars. And the much-desired car began to cost quite a bit 1.6 million rubles. I didn’t have that kind of money, so this option was out of the question. However, I continued to monitor the market and travel/call showrooms in search of some interesting offer. And now at the end of March I went to test the restyled VW Jetta. I didn’t like the car due to cheaper materials than in my skoda and the lack of a number of options not only among the main trim levels, but also in additional packages. However, a few days later the manager from the VW dealership called me and offered me a VW Passat B7 in good configuration for a very interesting price. I went, touched it, looked and decided to take it. I sold the Skoda within a week and went to the dealership with the money to buy a new car.
Strengths:
- Dynamics
- Controllability
- Perfectly tuned suspension and steering
Weak sides:
- Gas pedal
- Rain sensor
- Relatively narrow opening to the trunk
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI BlueMotion (Volkswagen Passat) 2012
1.4 TSI with DSG, basic equipment, mileage when purchased was 58, now 62, serviced only by a dealer (located in Volgograd). I took it for 680, plus the owner left numbers 900 as a gift :) I’m not a fan, but let them be, don’t change them).
I compare it with the b6, which I had in 2010, and the BMW 316 f30, which I drove in September-October (it’s listed as a Passat in the database, the class is the same, I think you can compare). Before that there was a Mercedes ML (there is a review) and a lot of other things, for those who are interested - everything is listed in the garage.
Due to certain circumstances, I allocated 700 thousand money for the car, the main criteria: no older than 2 years, under warranty (the seller bought an additional warranty for 3 years), automatic, class D or E, good handling, therefore only German. Well, I didn’t really have to choose, especially since I already had such a car (b6), and it left only positive impressions.
Strengths:
- Fast and smooth gearbox shifts
- Economical
- Spacious
- Large trunk
- Solid appearance
- Inexpensive comprehensive insurance
Weak sides:
- Hard
- Doesn't know how to turn a little more fun than like a pensioner
- Noisy
- Creaking
- Shakes and trembles when driving at idle, incl. in reverse
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI (Volkswagen Passat) 2012
Good day everyone!
Almost a year ago, in August 2012, I purchased a Volkswagen Passat 1.8 turbo with a DSG automatic transmission. Before him, I drove a Ford Focus 1.6 automatic for almost three years - the impressions were the most positive, considering its low cost, it never let me down, worked like clockwork both in summer and winter, took me and my family to Finland twice, and I had to travel around Russia too. It's not about him, however. I won’t compare the Passat with it, it’s incorrect - they are in different categories.
So - Passat. When I was financially ready to buy a large sedan, I didn’t really feel the pain of choice, I went and tested the Toyota Camry 2.5 and, accordingly, the Passat, they were both about the same price, plus or minus 50 thousand. Toyota had an aura of reliability, super liquidity for subsequent sales, and a new body that seemed interesting to me - so I went to test it first. I drove out onto the Moscow Ring Road, sank the slipper - it drives well, the automatic is clearly on friendly terms with the engine, it accelerates vigorously, but this steering wheel...... ruined the whole impression - it's empty to the point of disgrace. And the sound insulation was an unpleasant surprise, although, probably, part of the blame is on the poor factory tires - very noisy. Then I immediately rushed to the Volkswagen showroom to get a new impression and compare the cars freshly. I got ready, listened to the instructions, got behind the wheel, drove onto the Moscow Ring Road - and began to have fun. From the way it steers, how you sit in a comfortable chair, from the excellent dynamics - in sport mode the box is a total hurricane! I asked the manager about the survivability of the DSG, since there are a lot of whiny reviews about it on the Internet, to which the answer was received that the Germans improved it in 2012, and there were complaints about previous models. And in any case, it has a 5-year warranty regardless of mileage. I didn’t think for a long time - I chose it from stock - beige color, black interior - the seats are upholstered in mixed leather, there are aluminum inserts on the front panel - it looks good, I still like it to this day. In terms of driving, the Passat is quite self-sufficient - there are enough dynamics always and everywhere, of course, taking into account the sport mode, the suspension is assembled, elastic, some would call it harsh, but it suits me - the wheels are 17th, you have to sacrifice something for beauty, in this case In this case, you pay with a somewhat tough passage through deep potholes or, conversely, convex parts of asphalt after repairing these same potholes by hand-cranked repairmen. He doesn’t like transverse cracks under two wheels at once, but who likes them..... The noise is decent, but it really depends on the tires. For the winter I installed a studless Nokia Hakkapelita R - it was so quiet in the cabin - a song, I drove around and purred with pleasure! But as soon as I put the summer factory Continental back in the spring, it took several days to get used to the acoustic discomfort, it was so unpleasant. With 50 thousand miles there is nothing to complain about - everything works, everything turns, takes me from point A to point B quickly and with pleasure for me. My native music suits me quite well - I am, of course, not a music lover, but I listen to both the radio and CDs - excellent rich sound on my native radio. When I bought it, I installed Webuster in the car - from October to March I used it every day - what a cool thing for our climate - in the morning you get into a warm car and life appears in bright colors! When I bought a car, my wife asked me to install a navigation system - this is a head unit, installed instead of the standard radio - there is navigation, music, telephone. First, the phone malfunctioned - the microphone frankly did not work, then this same head unit went out and did not turn on again... I took the poor fellow to a service center, sent it in for repair, put back the standard radio and never removed it. And honestly, the sound is an order of magnitude better than in that same head unit. Of course, they fixed it for me, so I carry it in a box in the trunk.
Strengths:
- Excellent dynamics of a turbocharged engine
- Nimble gearbox
- Very spacious salon
- Large trunk
Weak sides:
- Harsh suspension performance on poor asphalt surfaces
- No cruise control
Part 2
So, the second part of the review is exactly one year later.
Of course, I haven’t driven as much as some, but I can already sum up my operating experience. I still like the Passat. Only the emotions that raged immediately after the purchase have subsided. The appearance of the car is recognizable, strict, noble. You won’t believe it, but even though a dozen new Passats have already appeared in our city, people still pay attention to them and turn around. It's definitely flattering. You look at other new car-industry crafts: what a design!, what a style!, what an interior!, and then you go to your car and forget about the others. Why am I writing about this? Yes, because this is an important thing - so that the appearance of the car does not become disliked during operation. And it happens the other way around...
I don’t know where to start, so I’ll start with the first maintenance. I drove it when there were only 6 thousand km on the odometer. But a year passed and I decided not to risk it and go through it according to the regulations. At TO1, they changed my oil, added ~200 ml of coolant, changed the oil and cabin filters, eliminated the problems I described (more about them below), updated the control unit program (removed the maximum speed limit, which was set at 185 km/h - now 225-230 subjective). I paid less than 7 thousand rubles. It was a pity for the money, because I could do it all myself, but I didn’t want problems with the warranty. I never added oil myself. The level has always been normal. The servicemen were very surprised by the complete absence of windshield washer fluid in the tank (they said that I had cobwebs there), but I really never poured it. Rainy summer, then winter, then again rainy spring/summer - in general, I took advantage of natural precipitation. I wanted to fill it many times, and then I completely forgot about it - the rain sensor and wipers worked properly and did not require intervention.
Strengths:
Weak sides:
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI (Volkswagen Passat) 2011
A little about choice. In fact, after the Honda, I wanted a crossover that was high, all-wheel drive, a powerful engine, no less bells and whistles than in the Accord, with a budget of up to 1.4-1.5 million and not our build!!! It's probably surprising, but I haven't found a suitable candidate for myself. It’s expensive - Honda Crosstour, Toyota Higlander, for example, and it’s empty for the money. They collect them from us - Nissan Murano, FV Tiguan. The engines are rather weak - RAV 4, Grand Vitara. The equipment is a bit small - the Outlander XL, even at maximum speed with a 3 liter engine, does not have basic things. That is not in our county Of. dealer, and I'm lazy. Probably got too greedy, you bastard. Don't consider me a racist, but I didn't consider Koreans on principle. I would take a Honda CRV, but in a year it will be updated and the toad will crush driving a new, but morally outdated car. By the end, my Honda had already been deregistered, and I had to decide quickly. In the end, the Passat won, which I’m quite happy about.
Now about the FV Passat itself. I took it because I liked the quality of materials, workmanship, a sufficient number of options, the price was lower than I expected, and it was available. The manager assured that the assembly was German, I believed it, but I immediately checked by checking the wine - it was indeed German. I had never owned or considered a Passat before. But as soon as I sat inside, I immediately felt that the car was mine. The feeling of good quality, solidity, a certain gloss in the finish - something that I lacked in other contenders. Externally, the Accord is more stylish and sporty, but the Passat is more important and solid. The equipment is largely the same as the Accord, I’ll list what the Honda doesn’t have. Swiveling bi-xin headlights with LED daytime running lights (beautiful), double fog lights that light up and shine to the side when taxiing at low speed (useful). A system without key access to the interior and trunk and starting the engine with a button (convenient). Curtains on the rear doors and an electric sunshade on the rear window (cool). Heated rear seats (relevant). Electric handbrake (don't press your finger) and a recoil system. Tire pressure sensors (visually). I won’t list the large number of small bells and whistles, which together give a feeling of greater sophistication and high cost. I really liked the combined finishing of the seats – suede with “leather”. Suede does not burn so much in the heat and does not become a stake in cold weather. And the seats themselves in the Accord are more comfortable for me! Either Foltz’s seats are a bit short, or my legs are long, but I didn’t immediately find a comfortable driving position. The Passat is definitely higher than the Accord. And the ground clearance is greater (165mm versus 145mm) and the seating position is higher. Moreover, the space above your head, with the seats raised to the maximum, is also a couple of cm more. Where I drove with great caution on the Honda, I drove calmly and faster on the Passat. We give Passata a fat one for this +. The interior of the FV is narrower, a portable DVD does not fit between the seats on the armrest, and there is significantly more legroom for rear passengers. This makes it more comfortable to sit in the rear seats. By the way, the heated front and rear seats on the Passat are functional, as they warm the seats even without a passenger. In the Honda, the skin didn't warm up well until someone's butt created pressure. The trunk in the Accord is also quite large, but in the Passat it is better equipped. There are side niches with a partition. There are 4 hooks for packages.
Strengths:
- Comfortable, dynamic, solid German
Weak sides:
- Zhor oil
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI (Volkswagen Passat) 2011
Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI MT Comfort “Iceland” + Technic package
So, why Volkswagen and Passat? To do this, I’ll tell you the background story of the purchase. Before that I had a Nissan Primera 1.6 109 hp. MT 2006 sedan package Elegance. I was generally pleased with the car. I drove it for 5 years. During all this time, there has not been a single breakdown related to the quality and reliability of the car. But they drove into me twice, first from the front, then from behind, and the last time they set fire to my neighbor’s Infinity FX35, which was standing in the yard next to me, and I also suffered from the fire. This is where my patience ran out (to be guilty without guilt and end up with expensive body repairs). Maybe there was an evil fate hanging over my Nissan? I sold it without regret, but the memories of the car remained positive.
The question of choice became acute as soon as I was left without wheels. For two weeks I forgot and continued to look for the signaling key fob in my pockets. I argued with greedy taxi drivers and jostled in crowded minibuses. And he spent his nights sitting at the computer and reading tons of information about cars. After sitting like this for a month and a half or two, I realized that I definitely had to touch, feel, sit, press, go... But still, thanks to the one who invented the Internet - I haven’t digested such an amount of information in such a time frame for a long time. Special thanks to those who invented auto forums - there is a place to laugh and think at the same time.
Strengths:
- Breed
- Character
- Drive
- Quality
- Comfort
- Capacity
- Safety
- Economical
Weak sides:
- Long wait for a car to order
- Dear extras
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI BlueMotion (Volkswagen Passat) 2011
Greetings to all. At the request of forum members, I am posting a review about VW Passat B 7 1.4 TSI trendline . Sorry, the mileage is low, operating costs and reliability cannot yet be assessed.
Well, let's begin. On March 20, 2011, a Land Rover Discovery 3 with a trailer and a security guard drove into my Golf5, the impact was not strong, but the driver’s pillar had to be cut out, and therefore the decision was made to sell my friend and buy a replacement.
Has begun searching for suitable options, the requirements were as follows: that the car be no worse than the previous one, that it was NOT produced in Russia, there would be 6 speeds in the box, there would also be 6 airbags, and at a price of 800-850 thousand. As a result, I came back to the Golf, only in the 6th generation and in the highline configuration (it differs from the 5th in slightly modified optics, instrumentation and the presence of an airbag in the driver’s knees). Let's go order it. While we were driving, my wife was upset - I want an automatic! It’s worth making a digression here, regarding the gearbox, I really didn’t want to buy an automatic, especially the VAG DSG (works great, but there are questions about reliability), especially since there are no traffic jams in our little town, and 80% of my mileage is on the Kiev highway, one of the best in the country. Also, when buying an automatic, you have to pay extra (for VAG it’s about 65-70k), and during operation you regularly pay for higher fuel consumption, although the manufacturer convinces you otherwise. In general, the wife whined and whined and whined that she would pay for the breakdowns and bear the costs associated with the breakdowns. The price of the car turned from 850 to 920!!! Not a little for golf class, but competitors are not asleep and cost comparable. Considering that I was buying a 3rd car from the same dealer, it was agreed that when buying in cash there would be a 4% discount, when buying on credit 3% (standard credit program of the largest bank in the country) + carpets as a gift. The order has been placed, the delivery time for the car is 3.5 months, which means that 2 out of 3 summer months I will be a pedestrian, but what to do, “c" est la vie"
Strengths:
- Made in Germany
- Clear and easy to use
- Convenient in the cabin
- Nice appearance
- Fuel consumption
- Low purchase price
- Insurance does not have any special requirements
- I hope it is as reliable as previous VAG products
Weak sides:
- Turning radius is greater than golf
- You can't see the trunk in the rearview mirrors
- From the depths of the trunk, what the hell can you get out of it without getting into it up to your waist?
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI BlueMotion (Volkswagen Passat) 2011 Part 3
Please excuse me. Instead of continuing the operating experience, I want to briefly respond to the main opinions and judgments of forumists.
The goal of buying a car - minimizing costs - I consider achieved. Approximately 20.0 thousand rubles savings on transport tax, reduction in current maintenance costs - approximately 30.0% compared to Camry 3.5. Maintenance after 15 t.km instead of 10.0 t.km.
Will the Passat be just as reliable? This can only be confirmed by time, or rather the kilometers under the wheels. I have owned many different cars. From the premium class there was no Merc. In youth you need everything - both prestige and the power of a car as an external attribute. I don't need all this now. A car is just a means of transportation for me. And movement should be economical and comfortable.
Strengths:
- Good quality car
Weak sides:
- There is none of them. Is it possible to complete the car - for an additional fee
Second review. I drove 1100 km in ten days. In the first days I was unhappy that I did not give up the 1.4 TSI. Reasons: for everyday driving only for personal purposes, having a car for more than 800.0 thousand rubles is expensive. But I exceeded my car spending limit by 15.0%. And buying with a 1.8 engine would increase the price by another 110.0 thousand rubles. Now I’ve calmed down, let’s not rush, I’ll drive slowly. The car is completely suitable for leisurely driving. Average gasoline consumption is 7.3 liters. Approximately 40.0% city, the rest suburbs and outside the city.
The engine idles rough. The reason is direct injection. The car pulls confidently from 1500 rpm. The computer may prompt you to switch to a higher gear and the rpm may drop to 1200. It is still possible to drive in 4th gear at such rpm, but the car accelerates slowly, and if it is in 5th or 6th gear, you can feel how the engine becomes difficult. Therefore, accelerate to the desired speed in 4th gear, and then go to 6th. (This is outside the city). I use the technique of switching through gear. There is no point in switching sequentially, it will only waste time and burn gasoline.
For confident driving, especially in the city, there is no point in letting the revs drop below 1500-1700. The car pulls confidently at low and mid-range speeds, and this can deceive the driver - you can accelerate the throttle and overtake. But the car is in no hurry to accelerate. Traction does not mean that the car is capable of sudden acceleration. For sharp acceleration you need “horses”, and there are only 122 hp of them. Sharp overtaking is not possible. I'm having to unlearn my driving style on the Camry 3.5. To my surprise, I still don’t want to drive fast. Slow driving - speed within 90-110 km/h, short accelerations up to 140 km/h. It's outside the city. When overtaking, you have to be careful - or have a high speed in advance, or a margin of freedom in the oncoming lane. Impressions from the engine - it seems to me that in terms of its characteristics it can be compared with a 1.8 liter naturally aspirated one.
Strengths:
- After Camry the car seems like a toy
Weak sides:
- The car has no obvious shortcomings, only the price is higher than that of its classmates. But there is a reason
Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.4 TSI BlueMotion (Volkswagen Passat) 2011
I was looking for reviews of the Passat with a 1.4 TSI engine with MT (122 hp), but did not find acceptable answers from owner reviews. I have a Passat 2011 model. Sales began in Russia on May 14, 2011. First of all, I looked in the answers to see how much a 1.4 engine can move a car. I had my main doubts about this. Because I always drove fairly powerful cars. There was no low power. The last car is a Camry 3.5 liter. 2007 In three years and 8 months I drove 140 thousand km and sold it. Now in retirement it has become expensive to maintain such a car. Transport tax is more than 23 thousand rubles, gasoline consumption is on average 10.5 liters in summer, 11-11.5 liters in winter 1995. The car paid for itself completely and did not require me to spend a single ruble on repairs during this period. Having bought a Passat for 913.0 thousand rubles. It took me three days to get used to it - a manual transmission. I got used to it and started using the old tricks - shifting through gears. Surprisingly, the engine pulls, it can easily compete with 1.6 and 1.8 liter cars (atmospheric).
All-wheel drive, manual transmission, etc.
If you do not take into account the peculiarities of automatic transmissions, the transmission is more than reliable. Minor difficulties are associated only with the anthers of the front CV joints; there are often cases when they leaked at mileages of up to 50 thousand due to loose or flown clamps. It is recommended to check this unit, and if a non-factory clamp is installed, then a thorough inspection of the condition of the CV joint itself is necessary.
All-wheel drive vehicles with a Haldex clutch to drive the rear wheels perform excellently. The latest generation clutch itself still works reliably, it is recommended to change the oil in it at 40-50 thousand kilometers, not earlier, the electrics do not fail, the pump will cover 120-180 thousand kilometers even in the absence of maintenance, with mileages above 200 the unit usually requires repair.
Again, there are no difficulties with the angular gearbox. True, this is all provided that the engine is not heavily tuned. With a 350-horsepower engine under the hood and regular “races” on the highways, all transmission elements are at risk - you can “collapse” the driveshaft, the rear gearbox, and the clutch for literally tens of thousands of kilometers.
There are no particular difficulties with manual transmissions, provided that. The clutch is rather weak even for stock 1.8 TSI and 2.0 TSI engines, not to mention diesels. The clutch life is on average about 50-60 thousand kilometers even with careful handling, and the expensive dual-mass flywheel does not last much longer, especially on diesel engines.
And if the engine is forced, then real difficulties begin. With a torque above 320 Nm, the clutch wears out within literally 10-20 thousand, and then slippage begins. The clutch from the VR 6 does not fit into this place, but fortunately, tuning comes to the rescue - you can install a custom Bryce flywheel and get what you want.
But the manual transmission itself in practice turned out to be less robust than the six-speed pre-selective DQ 250 and, even more so, than the DQ 500, so in this case, “mechanics” are not the best suited for serious tuning. With a torque of 450-470 Nm, standard manual transmissions do not last long. Well, there are no purely resource problems yet, except that the seals of the manual transmission axle shafts may leak at high mileage.
Robots DSG7
The most successful option that could be found on machines of the B 6 generation - Aisin TF 60SN - was not officially installed on the B7. If you see it in advertisements for sale, then most likely the car is not exactly a B7, but its American relative, which has a very distant relationship with the European B7.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat (B7) "2010–14
Occasionally there are cars with an automatic transmission “swap”, fortunately the manufacturer has provided everything for this - literally “take it and put it in”, for example, with Passat CC or Skoda Octavia, where such equipment was one of the most common. It’s not a bad box, but on the Passat, with the standard cooling system, it regularly overheats and does not last very long. Already after 100-120 thousand kilometers, twitching is possible due to contamination of the valve body, dirty oil and intensive wear of the gas turbine engine locking linings, and overheating makes the automatic transmission wiring fragile. In general, this automatic transmission will cover 200-300 thousand kilometers only with good maintenance, but the chances are high, and it is relatively inexpensive to repair.
As standard, cars with engines up to and including 1.8 TSI were equipped with a seven-speed “dry” DSG transmission with the general name DQ 200. VW succeeded in trying to make an inexpensive, fast and economical automatic transmission for its cars. But all users of cars with these boxes until 2013-2014 acted as beta testers. After 2014, a set of improvements to the box finally covered the main weak points, and the reliability of its operation increased to quite acceptable for automatic transmissions of the latest generations. Now the transmission began to drive stably until the clutch set wears out normally at 120-160 thousand city mileage, without bothering with breakdowns.
Unfortunately, on cars before 2013 there were more than enough difficulties. The low lifespan of a clutch set is just the tip of the iceberg. The company constantly improved the transmission software to save resources while maintaining the dynamics of the car, so the first versions of the automatic transmission were noticeably more “vigorous” than the current ones.
Initially, the service life of clutches often did not exceed 30 thousand kilometers, and the technology for replacing them turned out to be very difficult. After the first repair, the problems multiplied - if the technology was violated, the mechanical part of the box suffered, and the clutch set itself did not last long. Now the services have become more adept at carrying out this procedure, and even unofficials change clutches with a good chance of success. But there are other problems.
The most obvious and fatal incident for the DQ 200 gearbox turned out to be a very weak differential, not designed for a torque of 250 Nm from the engine and a large gear ratio of the first stages of the automatic transmission. During intense launches, the satellite axis was literally welded to one of them or simply came out of the body. Of course, in any case, the box body was destroyed, the wheels jammed, and only the fact that this usually happened at low speed saved us from serious consequences.
In addition to the gearbox clutches, the engine flywheel also wears out. Its price is high enough to draw attention to its wear and tear.
Mechanical breakdowns are also not uncommon; before 2013, this happened often; cars driven through Moscow traffic jams were especially unlucky. Wear of gear shift forks, clutch release forks, and rod seats led to shock shifting of gears or complete failure of the gearbox. Shafts and bearings also broke during this kind of malfunction, but sometimes the shaft bearings failed on their own.
An important part of the DSG is the mechatronics unit, which contains control electronics and hydraulics. In the case of the DQ 200, the unit does not have external cooling, which makes it dependent on the temperature in the engine compartment and the electric drive of the pump. Previously, hydraulic units were not repaired, only complete replacement was practiced, but at the moment this problem has been solved.
If you decide to buy a car with DSG 7, and the gearbox fails, then you can even repair it yourself. All you need is a suitable diagnostic scanner to move the rods to the service position and a set of tools to fix the clutch. You can remove it almost in the yard, although all the systems of the new boxes are very demanding in terms of cleanliness, so I cannot recommend this style of repair.
Next, you can quite simply replace the hydraulic unit drive pump, hydraulic accumulator, system seals, filter (on the condition of which much depends) and clean or replace the set of solenoids. If the board is damaged (for example, part of the wiring burned out or contact between the electronics board and the main wiring board is lost), then few people do such repairs, but it is also possible.
Boxes from the turn of 2013 and 2014 have an order of magnitude fewer failures, especially in terms of mechatronics and mechanics, and optimized algorithms protect clutches. Those owners who bought a car in 2013 are especially lucky - their cars are covered by a five-year warranty, just like earlier, frankly unreliable transmission options. Since 2014, the warranty has been reduced to the previous 2 years, but this is quite justified.
Robots DSG 6
The six-speed automatic transmission DQ 250 looks much more interesting, which was standardly installed with 2.0 TSI, 3.6 FSI and 2.0 TDI diesel engines. Its design is very different from the “dry” box. Its clutch is made in the form of packages of “wet” clutches that operate in a common engine oil bath.
The box is designed for noticeably greater torque and actively “swaps” instead of DQ 200 during tuning. The main advantage of this box is the older structure, which means a better balance in the reliability of all its components.
Radiator
price for original
9,603 rubles
But essentially the problems are the same. The clutches do not burn, but their wear affects the contamination of the gearbox oil and the wear of the mechatronics. There is external cooling, and installing a banal crankcase protection will no longer lead to the death of the box. But the cooling is clearly insufficient, the design of the thermostat and heat exchanger allows the oil temperature to go far beyond 120 degrees, and at such temperatures the wear of the mechanics increases greatly and the electronics begin to fail. Fortunately, most problems can be solved by frequently changing the gearbox oil - this is exactly the case when the more often the better. Once every 30-40 thousand will be optimal.
The most common problem for this automatic transmission is wear of the solenoids. Due to severe contamination of the oil during operation, the abrasive literally gnaws out pieces of the aluminum board. Garbage and shavings are a common problem with such boxes. It is recommended to change the filter frequently; it can simply break if it gets very dirty. It is also worth installing an external radiator (for example, an American Passat CC fits like a native one) and a filter.
Due to chips, seals, rubber rings and box seals suffer, so leaks and pressure leaks occur regularly due to poor maintenance. The mechanical part also suffers due to oil contamination; dirt damages bearings and gears, and at a certain level of contamination with solid particles, damage increases like an avalanche.
DSG 6 is not very easy to repair; a lot of problems arise due to unqualified intervention. Services that have mastered the repair of hydraulic four-stage and some five-stage machines may be surprised to find that the qualifications of the craftsmen and equipment are not enough even for accurate assembly and disassembly of the unit.
Both DSG “robots” provide very high performance characteristics to the car, but the number of expensive repairs due to their fault is very high, even with low mileage. And if the DQ 250 gearbox mainly requires frequent and high-quality maintenance, then the DQ 200 until 2013 simply has too many design defects. Not all of them appear immediately, many cars managed only by replacing the software of the units and one replacement of the clutch with runs of up to 200 thousand kilometers, but the chances of serious expenses with such an automatic transmission are very high. Especially during traffic jam operation, and even with increased temperatures in the engine compartment and maximum loads.
Such a box has a very bad time when tuning engines, because with the standard limit of 250 Nm, there is software for it and even clutch kits designed for a torque one and a half times greater. In this case, the mechanics simply “burn.”
Motors
Petrol 1.8 and 2.0
The engines of the Passat B 7 are also “the most advanced”. It has only one naturally aspirated engine, the VR 6 3.6 liter, the rest are equipped with turbines with all the attendant complications. I’ll immediately disappoint you that all the proposed motors are mechanically flawed. But the scope for tuning is simply amazing. If you read my article, then the motor from the EA888 series is used as an example, as in the Passat. 1.4 TSI engines are noticeably worse tuned, but the increase in power compared to the factory version can be up to 50%, which is very, very significant. But there are serious problems with reliability even during normal operation.
In the photo: Under the hood of the Volkswagen Passat TSI Variant (B7) "2010–14 Even with such a small age by automotive standards, there are complaints about poor tightness of intake systems, contamination of radiators and leaking cooling systems. This is worth paying attention to when purchasing any petrol Passat. Oiling the intake pipes will also tell you whether the engine is consuming oil and where the leak is occurring - through the turbine or through the ventilation system. In general, inspection of the engine compartment, even on a fresh car, should be carried out with the utmost meticulousness.
Many engines with a mileage of 120-150 thousand kilometers have already gone through a replacement of the piston group or even a replacement of the block, so there may be nuances associated with unqualified installation: damage to the wiring, violation of the laying of hoses and wiring. In addition, the owners are clearly “embarrassed” to admit the true mileage of the cars. Sometimes you can get this information when diagnosing with a scanner, using marks from various blocks where the “mileage takers” were too lazy to get into, but the condition of the engine will also tell a lot to an attentive person.
The most popular engine for the Passat B7 is the 1.8 TSI of the EA 888 family. With a power of 152-160 horsepower, it provides very good dynamics, especially in combination with DSG, and high efficiency. The two-liter 2.0 TSI engine is extremely similar in design, except that it is equipped with a completely different gearbox and is more boosted in terms of torque. But the main design nuances are common to them.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat TSI (B7) "2010–14 Turbine 1.8 TSI (K03)
price for original
112,938 rubles
1.8 engines are mainly CDAA series, and two-liter ones are CCZB. First of all, you should pay attention to the tendency to have an oily appetite. The manufacturer struggled intensively with this, but as a result of all the replacements of the piston group, only after 2013 the option can be considered acceptable. It is not prone to coking at the slightest opportunity and has an acceptable service life.
Several different options with different thicknesses of the piston pin, piston and connecting rod on machines before 2013 have limited compatibility with each other, but all have the unpleasant property of starting to consume oil at the slightest overheating or rare oil changes. This is due to the strange design of the piston rings, insufficient oil drainage from the oil scraper ring and its weakness.
An additional factor contributing to losses is contamination of the crankcase ventilation system, leaks of gaskets and seals, a tendency to coking of the intake valves, increased wear of the intake valve guides and the low service life of their seals.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat TSI Variant (B7) "2010–14 Another trouble that every owner will have to face is the short and unpredictable life of the timing chain and oil pump. On average, it does not exceed 120 thousand, although there are unique ones with mileages over 250 on one chain. Moreover, breaks in the pump circuit also occur, especially during winter starts. The pump itself rarely fails, but in any case, the result is fatal for the engine.
The icing on the cake is the design of the pump and thermostat in a single unit with a plastic housing. Plastic aged three years or older is prone to warping and leaking. The price of the unit is quite high, and the motor is very sensitive to coolant leaks and overheating.
Pump with thermostat 1.8/2.0 TSI
price for original
13,947 rubles
With all this, the engines of this series have a large margin of safety for the piston group, a good crankshaft, a durable block and a boost margin of one and a half to two times without intervention in the piston group, only with the replacement of turbines and the power system.
Moreover, moderate boosting does not greatly affect the service life during normal operation, at least because tuning firmware primarily reduces the operating temperature, which has a good effect on the condition of the engine. They also require the use of higher quality and viscous oil and more frequent replacement of it than prescribed by the maintenance regulations. A very significant number of cars in Russia have chip tuning, don’t be too afraid of this when buying, but in this case it’s worth taking a closer look at the condition of the automatic transmission.
Petrol 1.4
The younger brother of the “big” 1.4-liter engines is noticeably more fragile. Its piston group does not tolerate boosting well, the supercharging system has a weak point in the form of a liquid intercooler, and the timing chain drive has a very short resource and is prone to chain jumps.
The family includes four series of motors. The simplest 1.4 122 l. With. – these are CAXA motors, they are the most common. A less common option is a twin-supercharged engine with 160 hp. pp., series CTHD/CKMA. It is very rare to find variants of this engine optimized for operation on compressed gas, the CDGA series with 150 hp. With.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat (B7) "2010–14 Oddly enough, the best option is a “gas” engine. It has a strengthened piston group that is almost not prone to coking, a more durable cylinder head material and a lower operating temperature. Twin-supercharged engines have a very complex intake system, with a compressor and turbine, and therefore high maintenance costs after the warranty expires.
Timing chain 1.8/2.0 20V
price for original
4,993 rubles
In Europe they were in demand for their combination of high power and amazing efficiency. A large sedan with such an engine on the highway has a consumption of less than 5 liters per hundred, and at low speed - even less than 4, while in the urban cycle the consumption can be less than 9 liters, which is a serious achievement for a car of this weight with a gasoline engine.
Problems with the timing chain are typical mainly for cars produced before 2012, but surprises are possible even after. In any case, the resource will not exceed 120-150 thousand, and if noise appears, it is recommended to immediately change it, without waiting for a jump. If the motor is older, then check whether the front cover of the engine has been replaced - on the new design there are protrusions that prevent the chain from jumping, a more aggressive configuration.
You also need to monitor the cleanliness of the water-oil heat exchanger (its block is inserted into the intake manifold and is contaminated by crankcase gases), the serviceability of its cooling pump, and the cleanliness of the intercooler radiator section. And even if the systems are in full working order, it is recommended to carefully monitor the operating temperature of the engine and the quality of gasoline. “Annealing” after a plug can lead to burnout of the piston, just like summer “races” on the highway at speeds close to maximum speed.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat Alltrack (B7) "2012–14 The same consequences are caused by refueling with 92-grade gasoline, ignoring errors in fuel equipment, or failure of the servo drive for adjusting the turbine in the closed position. A little more trouble can be caused by the existing tendency for the piston group to coke at standard oil change intervals of 15 thousand kilometers. It occurs less frequently than on 1.8/2.0 engines, but it is not as painless.
Motor version 122 hp. With. It’s too weak for this car, and with the firmware it’s 150-160 hp. With. The turbine is already suffering - it can withstand a maximum of 40-50 thousand kilometers. In general, this option is noticeably less reliable than larger engines, and the reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance costs is unlikely to compensate for this disadvantage.
Petrol VR 6
The top-end 3.6 BWS engine is frankly rare. A very interesting design has a good service life overall, but there are also plenty of shortcomings. At a minimum, a timing chain with an insufficient resource, the replacement of which requires removing the motor. It is located on the flywheel side, and replacing the lower chain is basically impossible on the machine. Coking of the valves and a tendency to coking of the piston group were also noted. The dense layout, complex intake, and extremely complex cylinder head design also do not help reduce operating costs. Despite the lack of supercharging, it is hardly simpler than the 1.8 TSI.
Diesels
Injection pump 1.8 TSI
price for original
14,215 rubles
Diesel engines are mainly represented by two types of engines - 2.0 TDI with 140 hp. With. The CFFB series with pump injectors is a relatively old design, the second CBAB engine is already with Common Rail injection.
The option with pump injectors is considered unambiguously resourceful and reliable, and the disadvantages associated with high wear of camshafts and a drop in oil pressure in the cylinder head are known and solvable. But new engines with electronic injection, with the same power, are much more responsive, have lower consumption and fewer expensive parts.
Of course, due to the rare complaints about them, one gets the impression that these are the most reliable engines in the new Passat. It may well be that this is so, but operating a diesel engine in Russia is always a lottery. It depends too much on the quality of the fuel, and components such as EGR and particulate filters, when operating in traffic jams, increase the number of failures and reduce service life.
In the photo: Under the hood of Volkswagen Passat "2010–15 Is it worth taking?
For such a new car, the Passat B 7 has a lot of problems. Failures of engines and gearboxes with mileages of up to 150 thousand and expensive repairs at the same time look especially unpleasant. But other than that it's not that scary. The body is not perfect, but most cars are still holding up well. The interior has become noticeably better than its predecessor. The electrics are a little more complicated than those of most cars, but they also provide a lot of possibilities, increasing the comfort of use significantly. In addition, most repairs are carried out under warranty or as part of the manufacturer’s post-warranty service, so the owners do not bear the full burden of the costs.
If you take a Passat like this, then make sure it’s as fresh as possible.
It is the latest series of machines that are less likely to have problems - just in time for the decline of the PQ 46 platform, all the problems that followed the pair of PQ 35/PQ 46 platforms from the moment of their appearance were corrected. Both motors and gearboxes have become significantly more reliable, having gotten rid of childhood diseases. To be even more specific, I would recommend a car with a 1.8 manual transmission or a 2.0 with a well-maintained DSG 6. Don’t count on a carefree future - sooner or later the car will ask for investment, but it is quite possible that by that time it will no longer be in your hands.
In the photo: Volkswagen Passat (B7) "2013–14 
- Year of manufacture: 2011
- Engine: Petrol 1.8 l
- Power: 152 hp
- Gearbox: Robotic
- Drive: Front
- In possession: from 1 to 2 years
Impression
Good afternoon everyone. At the moment, I have driven 9,000 km on my Passat B7. I went home to my parents from Krasnoyarsk to Ufa, having traveled 6,000 km only on the highway. I will say that thanks to the engine, which pulls equally well in any speed range, I overtook long vehicles without problems, sometimes I even overtook in a closed turn with limited visibility without fear (maybe I’m just a fool) and always managed to complete overtaking even in difficult moments.
In general, I am 100% satisfied with the engine. Many people write about the oil consumption of this engine, but I didn’t notice this. Perhaps the fact is that I literally stroked the gas pedal for the first 2,000 km, tried to break in the engine as gently as possible, or maybe some design changes were made. In general, at 8,500 km (despite the fact that maintenance is done once every 15,000 km) I went to the dealer to change the oil, the level practically did not decrease. So the talk about oil-guzzling is “slightly” exaggerated. By the way, the maintenance cost 3,700 (oil, filter, cover, labor).
Chassis. There is a short conversation about her. Namely: in ALL 9,000 KM there was NEVER A BREAKDOWN, although I fell into such potholes! This is why I REALLY like her! Moderately hard, quite elastic. The car does not swerve at speed, it stays on the road perfectly, there is no need to steer. I also didn’t notice any longitudinal rocking. In general, everything is short and clear.
Gasoline consumption was also surprising. After my previous Mitsubishi Colt with its modest 1?3-liter engine “ate” 13 liters around the city, I was preparing for something more. It turned out that during the break-in period, a turbo engine with the air conditioning constantly on consumes 11.5 liters per hundred. After running in, this figure dropped to 10.2 l/100 km! On the highway my car consumes 8.2 liters, but if my wife is driving, then 7.2 liters :)
I’ll say right away that 150-160 km/h is a completely normal speed for me, and I almost always drive like this (I mean on the highway, not in the city), so you can judge for yourself that the consumption is simply wonderful. By the way, it travels 160 km/h at an engine speed of 2,800, thanks to a 7-speed gearbox.
In Krasnoyarsk I pour 98 (recommended) from Gazpromneft. No comments. I poured 95 on the highway several times (also at Gazprom Neft) - I didn’t feel much of a difference, except that the dynamics at high speeds dropped somewhat, but this is also subjective.
What else? Regarding the paintwork (LPK), I will say the following: while the hoods on Tianas rust, and on many other Japanese cars there are a lot of chips, then on the trade wind for 6,000 km of the highway (crushed stone and gravel were present quite often, a couple of times it even got doused from head to toe). legs) there are not a single chip of paint on the car, with the exception of two chips on the plastic bumper. That is, the paintwork on the Germans is clearly not micrometer like on the Japanese...
I will also add that being in this car, I feel that everything was thought out by the engineers just for my sake. Everything is extremely convenient and exactly where it should be! On the Passat, the possibility of accidentally pressing the button for opening the side windows with your elbow is eliminated, because They are located exactly where they should be. And such little things in everything! That is, I can’t even imagine what else could be improved in the cabin, with the exception of the right front pillar (in my opinion, it is too wide and pedestrians cannot be seen behind it).
But here are still a few disadvantages that I discovered during operation.
1) As I wrote above – front left pillar. We need to make it more subtle. They hide pedestrians too much when turning right.
2) At speeds above 120-130 km/h, a whistle is heard on the left. Aerodynamics are not thought out in this sense. I don't know why this happens. I'm sinning with the shape of the mirror, it's possible that the whistle is due to it.
3) The car has an engine oil temperature sensor, which did not work for me. The dealer fixed everything, of course, but it turned out that the sensor was simply not connected. Hence the conclusion about the crookedness of the assemblers. Of course, I understand that this is a trifle, but suddenly there is also a similar jamb somewhere, but in a more important component of the car. For example, in the same gearbox, which is very capricious, and its repair costs 300,000 rubles.
4) The factory stated maximum speed of the car is 220 km/h, but mine did not accelerate above 178 km/h. As it turned out, this is an error in the engine ECU; it is eliminated by the new UD program. This flaw is present in the very first batches of cars from the factory. This suggests that the car is still somewhat crude, even though it is built on the Passat B6 (previous generation) base, which has already been worked out to the smallest detail.
5) The most important disadvantage (although at the same time a plus) is the DSG gearbox. Only the lazy did not talk about her weakness. But I reasoned like this: the warranty on the car (and on absolutely everything that is there, without dividing it into component parts) is 2 years. If there is any “jamb” in the box, it will definitely come out in 2 years. Therefore, fact! problematic! boxes didn't stop me :)
Due to the fact that the engine does not warm up at idle, it was decided to install Webasto for the winter. Let's see what happens to her.
The seventh generation Passat came to Russia in 2011. In fact, this car was the product of a deep restyling of the previous Passat, inheriting its dimensions, chassis and power units. The main changes took place in terms of the exterior: the car acquired a more discreet and at the same time solid appearance. Sales went up, since prices remained virtually unchanged compared to its predecessor. Both sedans and station wagons were imported from Germany, since the production capacity of the plant in Kaluga was farmed out to other models of the concern.
According to the 2011 price list, for the simplest Passat in the Trendline version, equipped with a 122-horsepower 1.4 TSI engine, dealers asked for 859,000 (manual transmission) or 929,000 (DSG) rubles. The optimal Passat Highline with a 152-horsepower 1.8-liter turbo engine was estimated at RUB 1,131,000. The diesel modification (170 hp) cost 1,393,000 rubles, and the most powerful (210 hp) gasoline version raised the bar by another hundred thousand.
Body and its electrical equipment
For the sake of style
There are almost no complaints about the car body - galvanization reliably protects it from chips, and only chrome moldings (as well as branded emblems) suffer from winter salt “porridge”, gradually becoming cloudy. Processing these parts with special means pushes the problem aside, but does not completely solve it. However, dealers offer owners of cars that are out of warranty for 2-3 thousand rubles to polish off the chrome with a six-month warranty.
Good sound insulation of the interior is not always spoiled by careful adjustment of interior elements: many owners complain to dealers about “crickets” and, not finding understanding from the officials, solve this problem on their own. The noise comes mainly from the dashboard, steering column levers and rear doors; occasionally the driver's airbag mounts in the steering wheel creak.
The so-called film heating of the windshield also causes criticism. Unlike threads, which work well even in decent frost, film can fail even at minus 10 0 C. However, glass, alas, is not interchangeable; so the owners have to put up with its (heating) slow operation.
On some copies, patterns in the form of “snowflakes” suddenly appear on the screen of the Premium color on-board computer, but this defect can only be seen from a very close distance, and besides, this “mystery of nature” does not in any way affect the readability of the display.
On Passats equipped with an electric drive for folding mirrors, when the temperature drops to +5 0 C, the operation algorithm may seem strange: the mirrors do not immediately take the “stowed” position. We recommend that you avoid using this function altogether in winter.
Transmission
Simpler means more reliable
The basic 6-speed manual transmission is not only extremely selective in its operation, but also very reliable. Some owners in winter complain about difficulty switching from first gear to second. We advise you to simply wait until the oil warms up: after 5–10 minutes of driving, this problem disappears.
Officially, only two modifications were supplied to Russia with a manual transmission - with a 122-horsepower 1.4 TSI and a 152-horsepower 1.8 TSI. However, on the secondary market you can also find “manual” cars imported from Europe with other engines.
The traditional “automatic machines” of the B7 have disappeared completely - you have to choose between preselective “robots”. The most reliable is the 6-speed DQ250 unit, the clutches of which operate in an oil bath. But the 7-speed “preselective” DQ200, in addition to somewhat nervous operation at low speeds, even after a mileage of 20–30 thousand kilometers may require “surgical” intervention. At best, the actuator will need to be replaced - “mechatronics”; In addition, you can get into replacing the clutch discs themselves.
It is very interesting that this spring, official dealers recognized Castrol synthetic oil as not entirely suitable for this box and announced a recall campaign to replace it with mineral oil. For cars under warranty (as well as for those cars whose owners underwent routine maintenance at the dealer on time) this procedure is absolutely free. By the way, the solution to this problem is considered temporary - German engineers are working hard to create a more suitable “synthetics”.
Theoretically, all-wheel drive “Passats” could come from Europe to Russia - in addition to the 300-horsepower gasoline version, the Haldex coupling could be found on 140- and 170-horsepower versions of the 2.0 TDI, both with a manual transmission and with a 6-speed DSG. However, it is not easy to find such modifications on the secondary market: they are brought exclusively to order.
Engines
Wide choose
The 1.4 TSI turbo engine does an excellent job of moving a fairly heavy car, and among the possible problems, the possibility of gasoline getting into the oil should be noted. Typically, this disease is observed in those vehicles whose daily mileage in one direction does not exceed ten kilometers - during this time the engine simply does not have time to warm up to operating temperature. Mechanics advise checking the oil level more often and in the off-season (at temperatures below +10 0 C) warming up the engine for up to five minutes.
The exotic 150-horsepower engine, running on gas and gasoline, is essentially a modified Twin Charger, which is simultaneously equipped with both a turbine and a mechanical compressor. Under the bottom of this Passat there are three cylinders with a total capacity of 21 kg of methane, which, together with a 31-liter gas tank, provide a range of almost 1000 kilometers. The interest in this motor, judging by the specialized forum, is enormous - however, the motor has a lot of problems. In addition to the elongating chain characteristic of a “twin charger” and its damper that is prone to self-destruction, the motor may have problems with the tightness of the gearbox. In addition, many dealers are wary of repairing and servicing such machines.
The 152-horsepower engine (160 hp in European specification) looks most preferable against this background. Excellent dynamics and moderate fuel consumption will clearly please the first owner, however, after break-in, the engine may begin to eat up oil. If the consumption does not exceed one liter per thousand kilometers, this is not considered a malfunction. In addition, the timing chain may also be pulled out. And although the manufacturer claims that it is designed for the entire service life of the car, after a mileage of 100 thousand kilometers it must be preventively replaced.
Much less common was the 2-liter gasoline turbo engine. Apart from an increased appetite for oil, this power unit did not stand out as anything special in terms of technical problems. And if the predecessor could only note a leak in the camshaft position sensor oil seal, then for the Passat-B7 Volkswagen engineers changed the design of the unit and, according to reviews on specialized forums, successfully solved the problem.
The 300-horsepower engine, combined exclusively with a 6-speed DSG robot and all-wheel drive transmission, is not available on the secondary market, although it cannot be called problematic.
And the most reliable can be considered the 170-horsepower turbodiesel officially introduced in Russia (a 140-horsepower modification is also sold in Europe). The engine withstands cold starts even in severe frosts, easily digests domestic fuel and demonstrates enviable efficiency. By and large, this unit has only one drawback - rather noisy operation, accompanied by noticeable vibration.
Chassis and steering
Any roads are dear to us
The Passat’s suspension can upset even the first owner: after a mileage of 25,000 km, the support bearings, silent blocks of the front levers, and stabilizer struts (both front and rear) can give out. It’s good that all of the above troubles can be noticed by a characteristic knocking sound.
Dealers without a hitch replaced this unit with a new one if there were knocks and play. It is gratifying that on the outside you can buy a new rack for almost half the price than from official dealers (part number - K1 423 055 M).
One way or another, before buying, you should definitely hang the car on a lift and inspect everything carefully - it’s not difficult to find a reason to bargain for a hundred thousand. And once you become an owner, you will have to be extremely careful - official dealers, not without reason, believe that the reason for such early failure of suspension parts is bad roads and “crazy” drivers.
A representative of the automotive business class, the Volkswagen Passat B7 debuted on the Russian market in May 2011. Do our readers know that the Passat is the most recognizable and popular car from Volkswagen AG in Russia? Yes, and this is a fact, the Passat over many years of production (the 1st generation of the model debuted back in 1973) has earned a reputation as a super reliable car. The first six generations of the model sold more than 15 million copies around the world. Look around, there are a lot of 3rd and 4th generation Passats driving along the city streets and roads of our country, and these cars are twenty or more years old. Will the new generation of the model be able to surpass the Volkswagen Passat B5 in popularity and reliability? In our review, we will try to find out whether the 2012-2013 Volkswagen Passat B7 was able to inherit the reliability and charisma of its ancestors.
Let's evaluate the exterior and interior of the car together, consider the body options (sedan and station wagon Passat Variant), look at the technical characteristics (suspension, engine, gearbox), and look at the possibility of choosing colors, tires and rims. Let's arrange a short test drive, get acquainted with the prices and configurations of the Volkswagen Passat B7 for 2013. We will devote a separate review to the off-road version of the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack. Traditionally, we will be helped by reviews from owners and their analysis, photos and video materials.
Let’s immediately focus on the two body types of the participant in our review and overall dimensions.
The 7th generation Passat is available in four-door sedan and five-door station wagon body styles. External dimensions sedan (station wagon) are: 4769 mm (4771 mm) in length, 1820 mm (with mirrors 2062 mm) in width, 1472 mm (1516 mm) in height, 2712 mm wheelbase, ground clearance ( clearance) for Russian versions of cars increased to 165 mm.
The appearance of the 2012-2013 Volkswagen Passat B 7 is strict and laconic in German. The front part of the car has large headlights; between them there is a narrow slot in the radiator grille with four chrome bars. A neat front bumper with an additional air duct and a characteristic aerodynamic lip along the lower edge, rectangular foglights. The sloping hood is marked with two side ribs, forming small ledges turning into sculptures of the wheel arches. When viewed from the side, we enjoy the regularity and calmness of the lines with soft transitions of smooth stampings. It is difficult to say which of the bodies in profile looks more harmonious - a sedan or a station wagon; here the preferences of the potential owner will be a priority. In our opinion, both executions look complete and laconic.
The rear of the sedan has large horizontal lighting elements, a neat bumper and a compact trunk lid. The Volkswagen Passat B7 station wagon traditionally has a large fifth door, the lower edge goes deep into the bumper profile, and lighting lamps that are slightly smaller than those of the sedan.
The design of the 7th Passat absorbed elements of the appearance of previous generations of the model, but with an eye to modern trends in global automotive fashion. An important fact for car enthusiasts in Russia is the corrosion-resistant “German” body, made of 74% high-quality steel with double-sided zinc coating, anti-gravel protection for the bottom and boxes, and protection for the engine compartment.
When ordering a car, you can choose the option you like colors enamels from a large palette of available options: basic Candy (white) and Urano (Grey), optional Tornado (red), Iron (gray), Light-Brown (light brown), Night Blue (blue), Reflex (silver), Island (metallic gray), Deep (black pearl), Black Oak (dark brown).
Volkswagen Passat B 7 is equipped with Trendline in the initial configuration tires 205/ 55 R16 on steel disks Size 16, for the Comfortline version tires 215/55 R16 and alloy wheels of 16 radius, and the rich Highline equipment is equipped with advanced self-sealing tires 235/45 R17 on light alloy wheels R17. You can also install larger wheels 215/45 R18 and 225/40 R18, and the choice of wheels is simply huge.
The interior of the Passat B 7 looks expensive, regardless of whether you are in the basic Trendline configuration with fabric upholstery of the seats (mechanical adjustment, heating, lift) or sitting in a leather chair with ventilation and electric drive in the packed Highline version. The first row seats look simple and flat, have dense padding, a correct anatomical profile and adequate lateral support. They are also very comfortable and convenient for long trips. The steering wheel is comfortable and pleasant to the touch, adjustable in depth and height, the instrument panel has large radii of the speedometer and tachometer, and there is a multifunctional screen between them. The front fascia and center console are conservative, with high-end versions featuring solid wood inserts on the dashboard and all versions featuring a dial clock on top of the console. The ergonomics of the controls, the information content of the instruments, the quality of materials and the level of assembly of the interior are exemplary.
In the second row there is enough space for three adult passengers, but with a caveat. Those sitting in the center will be disturbed by the high transmission tunnel and ventilation deflectors, which protrude strongly into the rear of the cabin. But two people are offered plenty of space in all directions. The trunk of the sedan when traveling holds 565 liters; by folding down the separate backrests of the rear seats, we get a flat floor and almost double the capacity. The trunk of the Volkswagen Passat b7 station wagon accommodates from 603 liters with five passengers on board to 1731 liters with the second row seats folded.
As we said above, the Volkswagen Passat B 7 sedan and Passat Variant B7 station wagon are offered in three trim levels: modest Trendline, harmonious Comfortline and sophisticated Highline. The Slavic mentality forces them to buy only the most luxurious and expensive things, which is why Russian car owners, when choosing their Passat, give preference to the “packaged” versions of the car. The usual attributes of a modern car will be available: climate control, full power accessories (mirrors, heated front seats, power windows), electric handbrake, heated windshield, alarm and central locking. The bulk of the comfort, entertainment and electronic assistant functions are still offered as options: leather upholstery, advanced multimedia system with color screen (navigator, CD MP3 AUX USB 8 speakers), heated rear seats, cruise control, LED rear lights, Park system Pilot with a rear view camera, a system capable of recognizing driver fatigue, bi-xenon headlights, opening the trunk with a wave of your foot under the bumper, and other pleasant little things.
Specifications Volkswagen Passat B7 2012-2013: in Russia, the new 7th generation Passat is offered with four gasoline engines, plus one turbodiesel (on the Passat 7, a turbine is present in all engines).
Petrol
- The 1.4 liter TSI (122 hp) is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission (or automatic 7 automatic transmission DSG), will provide acceleration to 100 mph in 10.6 seconds, a top speed of 200 mph, fuel consumption in mixed mode 6.3 liters In the city, fuel consumption is 8 liters.
- The petrol 1.8 liter TSI (152 hp) with 6 manual transmissions (7 DSG automatic transmissions) is capable of accelerating the car to 100 mph in 10.3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 214 mph. Fuel consumption will range from 5.4 liters on the highway to 9.7-10 liters in the city.
- The petrol 2.0 liter TSI (210 hp) with 6 DSG automatic transmission shoots to the first hundred in 7.7 seconds, acceleration will end at a maximum speed of 233 mph. The engine's appetite on the highway will be 6.1 liters, and in the city traffic 10.9-11.5 liters.
- 2.0 liter TDI BlueMotion (170 hp) with 6 DSG automatic transmissions, the diesel engine has an enviable temperament up to 100 mph in 8.8 seconds, the maximum achievable speed is 220 mph. Thanks to start-stop systems and braking energy recovery, the diesel engine will please you with modest consumption, 5.5 liters in the combined cycle, and about 6.5 liters in the city.
Reviews from owners of the Volkswagen Passat B7 confirm the moderate appetite for the new Volkswagen TSI and TDI BlueMotion engines. We immediately warn potential buyers that engines are prone to increased oil loss - up to 0.5 per 1000 km. Problems with the DSG gearbox are also common - rapid wear of the clutch discs, and malfunctions associated with shock absorbers; they can start knocking after 30 thousand kilometers, and over time the plastic in the cabin creaks. In our opinion, the car has not become worse with the change of generations; it’s just that the high cost of the car, multiplied by the more demanding attitude of car enthusiasts to quality and maintenance, ultimately results in inflated expectations of the owners. The slightest knock in the suspension or creaking in the cabin is perceived with what is called “hostility.”
The suspension is completely independent, MacPherson struts at the front, four-link rear, arms and subframes made of aluminum. The electromechanical power steering is capable of changing characteristics depending on the speed of movement, disc brakes with ABS, ESP, EDS, ASR, MSR. As an option, you can order (XDS) an electronic cross-axle differential lock (standard equipment for the Highline version), but, alas, it is not available with the youngest 1.4 liter engine.
Test Drive Volkswagen Passat B7 2012-2013: driving the 7th version is a pleasure, the suspension is tuned to the border of comfort and handling. The chassis and steering, on the one hand, allow you not to notice even large potholes, and on the other hand, you can take turns with filigree precision. True pleasure comes from operating a car on a highway with high-quality road surface; like a long-distance express train, it is ready to “devour” hundreds of kilometers of highway.
What is the price: the price of a 2013 Volkswagen Passat B7 sedan in Russia for sale in car dealerships starts at 932,000 rubles. You can buy a new Passat Variant B7 2013 at a price starting from 1,004.00 rubles.
Since the Volkswagen Passat 7 version is a high-tech car, it is better to entrust issues such as purchase, diagnostics, tuning and repair to an official dealer, who will provide further service for the car. It is cheaper and easier to buy covers, mats and other accessories for the Passat B7, as well as spare parts for repairs and tuning, either at specialized retail outlets or in online stores.
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