Is 160k a high mileage for a 1998 VW Passat TDi Auto?

Question 1
Is 160k a high mileage for a 1998 VW Passat TDi Auto?...  Ive seen a 1998 VW Passat estate for sale. Its a 1.9 TDi Auto with 160k on the clock. It has full VW service history (cambelt changed recently) and appears in good condition. I was wondering whether 160k is alot on these cars and whether the engine and auto transmissions would still be OK. Im looking to use this type of car as a run around doing around 6k a year. I dont mind doing some work myself if needed.

Answers
1)   Alot would depend on if it was highway miles or not. If not then it would have had more strain on the transmission. But all and all 160k is not so bad. Hell. My work truck was a 2006 and had 300k on it! LOL. All my miles too. - Stephanie R

2)   At that age and miles it will be a lottery and even a good one will probably need a bit of work.
Age is also a factor as rubber and plastics deteriorate with age so things like hoses can start to leak etc.

I can see you are looking for some reassurance but sadly no one on here can see the car let alone see under the skin to even begin to estimate whether it will last 60 miles or another 60000.

Good luck with that anyway - Timbo is here

3)   VW passats are generally good cars, i bought one with 172000 on the clock just as a work horse, all service history was there, i used it untill it was well about 200,000 on the clock and only needed to change a few hoses but nothing major, so i would say if its cheap and does the job for a while, go for it, check to see if turbo has been changed first tho and any othe expensive parts etc if u know how but yea i have seen VW cars with 500,000 plus on the road - steven

4)   If the Engine was well cared for Oil Changed..ect they can be built proof but it all depends on how good the previous owners took care of it. - veedub514

5)   The engine might last a while...the rest of the car will nickel and dime you to death. - alfredb1979

6)   the miles are very impt. i suggest you look for another car with less miles 160 might be too much. save the problems. - pixie310

7)   It is quite high, but as It's nothing for a Diesel Engine, as Diesel cars can drive way over 200.000 miles. Check if the car has a good Service history and regular timing belt changes (60000 miles,120.000 miles). - Rastaman


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Question 2
How reliable are Volkswagen Golf's?...  I'm considering trading in my 2001 Chevrolet Blazer for a 2000 - 2002 Volkswagen Golf but I'm getting mixed singles with the Golf.

From some I hear the car handles well and is very reliable but others I hear that they fall apart just shy of 100,000 KM.
All of the Golf's that I have inquired about are running at 120,000 to 165,000 KM.
Just wondering if anyone knows some further details about this?

And also, does a 5 speed transmission vs. a manual transmission have anything to do with it?

Answers
1)   Golfs are great....the last very long and they are fast.
manual transmissions are better than automatic!!! - Euroballer

2)   if your going to buy a vw get a bora or a passat. golfs are notorious for having bad electrics and the door locks start to fail one by one through time., my friend has to open and close his golf via the key hole in the boot!!! - snarf

3)   Well unfortunately it is a hit and miss. They made the MK4 jettas and Golfs/GTI's in Mexico or Brazil for North America. Which for some reason caused alot of quality problems for VW. They do have some electrical problems but not all of them the best thing to do is get a carfax and see if anything has been replaced more than once that would indicate a problem car usually... also starting in 06 they started making VW's back in germany so the reliability has improved dramatically...also i would prefer the manual trans alot more fun in a vw - veedub514

4)   Everyone who answered is wrong especially the guy who is a machanic(stop hating on the mexicans). (They still have to build it from standards from the german factories) As long as you take care of the car it will run fine. I have a 2001 golf with 250K on it. runs strong. It has original clutch and transmition, engine, and suspention. As long as you do oil changes, every so often check the timing, and go easy on the transmition). I'd go for the manual transmition. A little more power/torque and better MPG. - Andre

5)   they're great cars, and you wont regret it. but just make sure to check it over carefully before buying it. even a great car can be a pile of **** if the wrong person owned it before you. and yes to your second question a manual transmission usually will hold up better over the years, besides auto is annoying to drive. - skittlz

6)   My sister's 2000 Golf has 160,000 reliable fun to drive miles on it.
The only part she has replaced is a timing belt at 80,000 miles. This was purely a preventative maintenance precaution.
The car is automatic trans with no problems there either.
She calls it her Eveready Rabbit; it just keeps going and going and..... - fenton


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Question 3
Looking at buying a 2006 Volkswagen Touraeg. They recommend premium gas but can I use regular?...  Can I use 87 if it recommends 91? The current owner has been using 8 for the last 30,000 miles. It seems to run fine with 87...any thoughts?

Answers
1)   I highly doubt it. Most of the time when you have to use a higher octane it is because of the ratio of gas to air molecules. Sometimes the car "bucks" when you use a lower octage since you are technically making the engine "starve"

Premium is not that much of a difference.

Example: Say you drive 15k/yr (current average) and premium is .30 cents more and mpg is 20.

15,000 miles/20Mpg=750 gal

750gal x .30cents= $225

Are you willing to save $225 a year or $18.75/mo and sacrifice your engine/car?

Just use premium. - maximus20895

2)   disagree with u man 87 is fine they recommend premium to get better fuel economy but it will run fine on 87 just a little less MPG! - luke

3)   I don't think you'd be happy with the performance using regular fuel;
The Touraeg is one of the few VW's that still REQUIRE premium fuel.
In my experience at the dealership level, people who have swithched to regular fuel on a Touraeg, go back to premium fuel. The performance suffers a lot on regular fuel, especially in the V6 versions.

In theory, you can run any grade of gasolene fuel in it. The knock sensors and other sensors will adjust timing and valve train to the fuel being used. Having said this, every customer I know that has done this is unhappy with the performance they received on regular fuel. The Touraeg weighs too much for the standard V6 motor and its performance with it is marginal at best (given the price point) and even the V8 is no hot rod. Almost every other SUV in its original price class can out run the Touraeg...

Besides that fact, you'd have increased maintanance by using regular fuel. Carbon build up is more likely with usuage of regular fuel; carbon build up is considered to be an abuse of the motor and is NOT covered by warranty.

Since the current owner is so frugal, has he/she been using the correct synthenic oil in the motor? In the long run, trying to save a few dollars per fill up will cost more in the long run. It's still a case of pay me now or pay me later... I suggest checking to making sure all the maintanance has been done on time and with the correct fluids and having a vehicle inspection done by someone who knows VW;s before buying this vehicle.

Hope this helps, a car nut. - a car nut

4)   You should also consider that such a car may be expensive to insure. Check your insurance rates before buying one, for example here - carinsurance.yoll.net - Victor

5)   Do what the manufactures says. I have Always run PREMIUM in my engines I have a 1988 ford ranger I drove for years now I use it to back up U Haul Trailers and go get them, (I am an Authorized U Haul Dealer that's why I go get them and back them up a lot) And with 200 thousand miles running great - Old School MC Service


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Question 4
How many Mexicans can fit into Volkswagen Beetle? My brother says 15, but I say 11.?...  I'm not racist, just curious.

Answers
1)   its 11
but bharis of bihar (india) can be fitted upto 20 - Indermohan

2)   Depending upon which model you use, the 1960's VB could hold 9 full grown adults and 1 child under ten, seatbelts would be shared. The newer models can hold an extra 3 people in the trunk. - jeremy

3)   I'd say split the difference at 13.

You know why only 5.000 Mexicans attacked the Alamo?
-They only had two chevy station wagons! - Polar Bear

4)   id rather see them pile into a squareback, then it would be like 50 of them, a whole little army! - skittlz


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Question 5
Thinking of buying a jetta 2001 or 2000 .Are they good cars? Reliable?...  

Answers
1)   They get good mileage, but if they need to be fixed watch out. Everything in the engine and car is hooked together, so you have to take a lot apart to fix one thing. It can get very expensive if you have to pay someone to do it. - Mom of 2

2)   I still have my 2001 jetta wolsburg and it has 250K on it and it still runs strong. it has original clutch, transition, and engine. As long as you take care of the car(oil changes, timing belts, tune ups) They'll run forever. only problem on the Jetta is the back brake pads run out faster than other cars. those are cheap though. - ?

3)   I had a 2001 Jetta and 2003 1.8T Jetta. Both were great cars, but the 2001 was always going in for recalls. If the 2001 you are looking at has the paperwork to show the recall work was done, thats fine. If they cannot be sure everything was fixed while covered by warranty/recall then pass on that car. The 2003 was relatively problem free. Most issues had been corrected by the third year of that style Jetta.

Good Luck - Walt B

4)   My sister has a 2000 Golf [same as Jetta only without a trunk] that has over 160,000 reliable miles on it . She calls it her Eveready Rabbit, cause it just keeps going and going and.......
Five years ago her car was underwater for 5 hours [the water level was up to her doorhandles] due to a flood in her neighborhood.
No water invaded her interior. Her engine was inspected and found to be ok. 50,000 miles later, she's still motoring along! - fenton


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