Note: This now has a full MOT which is now reflected in the revised price. Sensible offers will be considered.
Welcome to my advert for this Volkswagen Passat. It needs to go because we have three cars and only need two for our 70-mile round trip commutes (hence the mileage on the Passat). It’s listed here on Retrorides, as I’d like to see it go to a good home.
The car is a stock B5 model with the 1.8 Turbo AEB 20 valve (5 valves per cylinder). It drives really well and still smooth. On long motorway journeys over 40 mpg is possible. On average expect 36-37 mpg which is great considering the official combined figure is supposed to be 34 mpg. Oil consumption on the 1.8Ts are not unusual but not horrific, unlike the newer VAG TFSI engines. To give you a decent idea, every two weeks or so (equivalent to 700-800 miles) it gets topped up with about 250ml of oil.
Features include climate control, Sony CD and radio (not original but works perfectly with excellent sound), one touch electric windows, wood veneer inlays, a large boot with split folding rear seats, centre armrest, and a handy mini sunshade that hides the sun behind the rear view mirror. The glovebox also has a neat little switch to open a vent to let cold air in from the air conditioning. Like other VWs of this vintage the dash lights up at night with blue dials.
I’ve been the sort of keeper who has been meticulous at keeping the car clean inside and out. If you look at the images below you will see that the condition of the inside defies the age and mileage. It’s almost immaculate. I have included images of the seats and bolsters (notice how you never see this on car ads to hide the foam spilling out of the holes?) The seats have very little sign of wear. The gearbox cover is still good. The only thing really could be better are the luxury grey mats which would benefit from a good carpet shampoo to make them clean again. In all of its late 90’s repmobile goodness it still has a Nokia handsfree holster and I have the Nokia phone that fits, which the buyer can have if they would like it.
Exterior-wise, it still looks good for the age and mileage. The one negative is a patch of rust on the wheel arches, typical of most B5 / B5.5 Passats. Elsewhere the rear wings have some slight bubbling on the edges of the rear arches but these have not deteriorated since they first appeared a few years ago, due to the galvanised body. The paintwork otherwise has a lot of shine from being regularly polished and waxed over the years. Every wash has been done by me and by hand, involving the two bucket method, and finished either with Meguiars wax, or spray waxed using a 50/50 blend of Meguiars Synthetic Express Spray Wax and Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer.
The alloys (not original) need cosmetic TLC but importantly they are sound, airtight and the tyres still have reasonable tread. With a bit of attention, the wheels could be refurbished through a good rub-down and paint.
Here are the pics:
I have a lot of paperwork with the car, recording servicing, MOTs and other work done over the last 15 years, mostly by D&S Motors in Sunderland, but more recently Automotive Engineering in Northampton – both VAG specialists. Of all things done, some of the key elements include:
• Brake discs and pads have been replaced all round
• ABS Module was replaced in January 2017 with a salvaged part
• New alternator was fitted two years ago
• New blower motor was fitted by me two years ago
• Timing Belt was done at 213,912 miles in April 2015
• MAF was replaced in July 2014
• The gearbox was refurbished at 189,905 miles in 2014 to fix a crunch in first and second gear and a new clutch a flywheel was fitted to replace the original items.
• In 2008 the original VAG foam pollen filter seal, responsible for the water ingress issue suffered by B5s, was replaced with VAG sealing cord to provide a proper gasket against any water entering the cabin. The rubber grommet drains at the bottom of the plenum chambers were removed as the same time to avoid blocked drains – another common Passat fault.
Throughout its life it’s been fully serviced, always using 5w40 fully synthetic oil. This was to prevent any engine sludge issues that other 1.8T engines suffered because they used mineral oil. I think 280,000 is testament to putting good oil in the car.
It now has a fresh MOT with advisories which include:
• Offside Front (wheel arch corroded)
• Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Nearside Front (rear arm)
• Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Offside Front Inner (tie rod)
• Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Central Box (outer skin corroded)
There are some other non-advisory niggles that are worth mentioning.
• The passenger door micro-switch (switches the interior light on when you get in) doesn’t work, it also means that the car will lock itself if you unlock the car and open and close the passenger side door only
• The Climate Control air conditioning is works fine – nice and cold, but the electric fan that cools the condenser does not work. All this means is that when the car is stationary in hot weather the system will cut in and out but the car still remains cool in hot weather.
• The blade on the spare remote central locking key snapped – this will come with the identical fully functioning remote central locking key and the master key (a full set that came with the car)
It’s due a minor service – the cost of which will as little as a new oil and filter for the DIY mechanic.
So overall, we have a car that will easily provide at least a year or so of low cost motoring. It would be ideal for a DIY mechanic who could keep it going longer more without any massive spend. Much of the big cost items have been addressed.
Although there are still quite a few Passat about the early B5s are now becoming rare. For those into a potential retro repmobile project it could be a future classic.
Now it has a new MOT, and the price is now £395.00. Reasonable (i.e. not silly) offers will be invited.
Please PM me if you’re interested.
Thanks for looking!
Welcome to my advert for this Volkswagen Passat. It needs to go because we have three cars and only need two for our 70-mile round trip commutes (hence the mileage on the Passat). It’s listed here on Retrorides, as I’d like to see it go to a good home.
The car is a stock B5 model with the 1.8 Turbo AEB 20 valve (5 valves per cylinder). It drives really well and still smooth. On long motorway journeys over 40 mpg is possible. On average expect 36-37 mpg which is great considering the official combined figure is supposed to be 34 mpg. Oil consumption on the 1.8Ts are not unusual but not horrific, unlike the newer VAG TFSI engines. To give you a decent idea, every two weeks or so (equivalent to 700-800 miles) it gets topped up with about 250ml of oil.
Features include climate control, Sony CD and radio (not original but works perfectly with excellent sound), one touch electric windows, wood veneer inlays, a large boot with split folding rear seats, centre armrest, and a handy mini sunshade that hides the sun behind the rear view mirror. The glovebox also has a neat little switch to open a vent to let cold air in from the air conditioning. Like other VWs of this vintage the dash lights up at night with blue dials.
I’ve been the sort of keeper who has been meticulous at keeping the car clean inside and out. If you look at the images below you will see that the condition of the inside defies the age and mileage. It’s almost immaculate. I have included images of the seats and bolsters (notice how you never see this on car ads to hide the foam spilling out of the holes?) The seats have very little sign of wear. The gearbox cover is still good. The only thing really could be better are the luxury grey mats which would benefit from a good carpet shampoo to make them clean again. In all of its late 90’s repmobile goodness it still has a Nokia handsfree holster and I have the Nokia phone that fits, which the buyer can have if they would like it.
Exterior-wise, it still looks good for the age and mileage. The one negative is a patch of rust on the wheel arches, typical of most B5 / B5.5 Passats. Elsewhere the rear wings have some slight bubbling on the edges of the rear arches but these have not deteriorated since they first appeared a few years ago, due to the galvanised body. The paintwork otherwise has a lot of shine from being regularly polished and waxed over the years. Every wash has been done by me and by hand, involving the two bucket method, and finished either with Meguiars wax, or spray waxed using a 50/50 blend of Meguiars Synthetic Express Spray Wax and Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer.
The alloys (not original) need cosmetic TLC but importantly they are sound, airtight and the tyres still have reasonable tread. With a bit of attention, the wheels could be refurbished through a good rub-down and paint.
Here are the pics:
I have a lot of paperwork with the car, recording servicing, MOTs and other work done over the last 15 years, mostly by D&S Motors in Sunderland, but more recently Automotive Engineering in Northampton – both VAG specialists. Of all things done, some of the key elements include:
• Brake discs and pads have been replaced all round
• ABS Module was replaced in January 2017 with a salvaged part
• New alternator was fitted two years ago
• New blower motor was fitted by me two years ago
• Timing Belt was done at 213,912 miles in April 2015
• MAF was replaced in July 2014
• The gearbox was refurbished at 189,905 miles in 2014 to fix a crunch in first and second gear and a new clutch a flywheel was fitted to replace the original items.
• In 2008 the original VAG foam pollen filter seal, responsible for the water ingress issue suffered by B5s, was replaced with VAG sealing cord to provide a proper gasket against any water entering the cabin. The rubber grommet drains at the bottom of the plenum chambers were removed as the same time to avoid blocked drains – another common Passat fault.
Throughout its life it’s been fully serviced, always using 5w40 fully synthetic oil. This was to prevent any engine sludge issues that other 1.8T engines suffered because they used mineral oil. I think 280,000 is testament to putting good oil in the car.
It now has a fresh MOT with advisories which include:
• Offside Front (wheel arch corroded)
• Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Nearside Front (rear arm)
• Steering linkage ball joint has slight play Offside Front Inner (tie rod)
• Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Central Box (outer skin corroded)
There are some other non-advisory niggles that are worth mentioning.
• The passenger door micro-switch (switches the interior light on when you get in) doesn’t work, it also means that the car will lock itself if you unlock the car and open and close the passenger side door only
• The Climate Control air conditioning is works fine – nice and cold, but the electric fan that cools the condenser does not work. All this means is that when the car is stationary in hot weather the system will cut in and out but the car still remains cool in hot weather.
• The blade on the spare remote central locking key snapped – this will come with the identical fully functioning remote central locking key and the master key (a full set that came with the car)
It’s due a minor service – the cost of which will as little as a new oil and filter for the DIY mechanic.
So overall, we have a car that will easily provide at least a year or so of low cost motoring. It would be ideal for a DIY mechanic who could keep it going longer more without any massive spend. Much of the big cost items have been addressed.
Although there are still quite a few Passat about the early B5s are now becoming rare. For those into a potential retro repmobile project it could be a future classic.
Now it has a new MOT, and the price is now £395.00. Reasonable (i.e. not silly) offers will be invited.
Please PM me if you’re interested.
Thanks for looking!