Is a 2005 Passat Wagon TDI a good choice?

[s4josh]

We just had a new baby a week ago and have a problem.  We own two cars a 2001 Audi S4 6sp and a 2004 Jetta TDI tip.  The S4 is my car and the Jetta is my wifes car.  

I took the Jetta by the local firestation to get the infant seat checked for correct fit and placement.  I noticed when I installed the seat that it was touching the back of my head rest even with the seat up as far as I could get it without the airbags shuting off and me being able to sit comfortably, plus I couldn't lock the carring handle in the down position.  The fire fighter that was inspecting the installation said this was dangerous, so he tired installing it in the middle postion, but the front seats are to close together to fit correctly.  The solution was to install the seat on the passenger side rear and move the front passenger seat almost all the way forward.  No-one can sit in the front passenger seat now.

I know my S4 dosn't have a ton of rear leg room, but I know the seat backs are spaced futher apart between the front and back seats than the Jetta's.  I am wondering if the Passat's has more cabin room than the A4/S4 design or if they are the same?

What it comes down to is we need a bigger car thats a wagon that rear facing infant seats fit correctly in the middle and allow a front passenger to ride in the car

I have been looking at alot of cars, and I think the Passat Wagon TDI would be a good choice, but I would like to get some feed back from people that own Passats and even Passat Wagons.  Do you like them or would you have chosen another car?

Does anyone here own a B5.5 Passat TDI?

I am lacking in the sleep area and have alot of stuff going on, so I applogize for how this is written ahead of time

[shummer]

B5 and/or B5.5 Passat definitely has more room than the B5 S4 and/or Jetta in terms of rear leg room/car seat space. I've got the 00 Passat sedan and my bro has an 02 S4 sedan. He picked us (me, wife, and daughter) up from the airport once in his car...once. If I remember right, the car seat (forward facing medium size) only fit in the middle position and we're all < 6' tall.

[s4josh]

Heres a silly question...

What is your favorite VW dealer to buy a new car at within 100 miles of denver  (your as in everyone)

[shummer]

McDonald VW and talk to Tom Plemer - pronounced plee-mer. He's in the fleet department. In fact, talk to Tom if you are interested in any of McDonald's cars - Volvo, Mazda, Audi, VW, Hyundai.

[jayryan]

Hans at McDonald...he's cool. Tell him I sent you and he'll be really nice

It looks like when/if my wife and I have a baby, we'll be selling our GLI  Oh well.
The Passat has infintately more interior room than the Jetta. You shouldn't have any problem. The only thing I would have done differently is get AWD. My next car will be faster though, but that's way's off.

It think you'll be very happy with the TDI wagon.

[shummer]

It'd be interesting to see the price difference between Hans and Tom. Give them a call Josh.

[jayryan]

It'd be interesting to see the price difference between Hans and Tom. Give them a call Josh.

Don't forget Gabe at Lithia....I bought my Passat from Hans and my Jetta from Gabe...Hans was a little more laid back as Gabe was very business like and serious. Cool, but serious.

[Spicoli]

McDonald is  great place to buy, but I would NOT take my car to their service or repair shop.


If you tell Hans Jack Ham sent you... he should send me $100, if he does, I'll split it with you.  He has a referral program.

[jayryan]

Tell Hans Jack AND JR sent you That'd just be funny.

[aowhaus]

Try Mountain States VW in Glendale.
Very nice people there.  I've talked to a lady by the name of Pat and we had a very nice conversation on VWs and cars in general when I was there test driving the new Jetta.

[speedpro]

I have an 01 S4 and my wife has an 04 Passat wagon.  The Passat has a lot more room in the back than the S4.  You can actually sit 4 people in the passat comfortably.  It is a good baby totting car.

[s4josh]

I have an 01 S4 and my wife has an 04 Passat wagon.  The Passat has a lot more room in the back than the S4.  You can actually sit 4 people in the passat comfortably.  It is a good baby totting car.

We are going to have the same set of cars! :lol:  Well you have an S4 Avant and I have the sedan.

I am going to go test drive one today to see how the wagon TDI performs.  

I was very impressed by our 04 Jetta TDI-PD.  They are not under powered at all!  I actually pull away from 2.0L Jetta/Golfs on the highway.  Going over the divide on I-70 I never get past 1/2 throttle averaging 75 mph.  I would suggest the TDI-PD's to anyone.

[shummer]

Let us know what kind of numbers you get from the various dealers and contacts.

[gragravar]

Passat Wagon is probably a good choice.  Another to consider is the route I took with the same dilemma.  Allroad has much more room than the S4, and still gives good power too.  

[speedpro]

We didn't get the passat wagon TDI because we wanted the 4motion.  I think they are coming out with TDi 4motion soon.  That will be awesome.  The Passat is very smooth and quiet.  My 9 month prego wife doesn't like riding in the S4 because she says its too rough.  We have the Passat with Tip and it works awesome when going over Berthoud Pass.  I am not a fan of the automatic setting when I am driving over the pass because the car is in the wrong gear coming out of corners and it has to downshit but by then it too late.

Have fun with the test drive.  Save the world by using Bio-Diesel #2...and get better torque.

[s4josh]

Passat Wagon is probably a good choice.  Another to consider is the route I took with the same dilemma.  Allroad has much more room than the S4, and still gives good power too.  

I would love to have an allroad, but with the options I would want, it would be $49k where I can get a completely loaded Passat Wagon GLS TDI for $29k, so the allroad would be $20k more and wouldn't get 32 mpg in the city plus requires premium unleaded which will soon hit $3 bucks a gallon!  My wife would be happy driving a honda accord (which is what I made her sell before we got married ).  The Passat Wagon GLS is a far far nicer car than any honda!

[s4josh]

We didn't get the passat wagon TDI because we wanted the 4motion.  I think they are coming out with TDi 4motion soon.  That will be awesome.  The Passat is very smooth and quiet.  My 9 month prego wife doesn't like riding in the S4 because she says its too rough.  We have the Passat with Tip and it works awesome when going over Berthoud Pass.  I am not a fan of the automatic setting when I am driving over the pass because the car is in the wrong gear coming out of corners and it has to downshit but by then it too late.

Have fun with the test drive.  Save the world by using Bio-Diesel #2...and get better torque.

4motion is a nice option, but I am not to worried about it on my wifes car.  I drive her around when the weather is bad anyways, so she doesn't really need it.  I run Vredestein WinTrac XL tires on my S4 during the winter, so I don't have any problems get threw the snow.

You know a place(s) to get Bio-Diesel #2 here in Denver?  If so I would use it!

[speedpro]

I can get 28 m/g in the S4 if I drive super chill from Boulder to Denver or under 24 m/g if I'm on it pretty hard.  My wifes 1.8T Passat wagon gets over 30 m/g when driven chill, which is the only way she likes to drive.

[s4josh]

I can get 28 m/g in the S4 if I drive super chill from Boulder to Denver or under 24 m/g if I'm on it pretty hard.  My wifes 1.8T Passat wagon gets over 30 m/g when driven chill, which is the only way she likes to drive.

I don't drive chill  

Thats impressive getting 30 mpg in the passat wagon on the highway!

My wife and I take a route threw the city to get to work from chatfield area (south-west unincorprated jeffco) to the DTC.  I am not afraid to use the throttle on the Jetta while trying to get to work and I still get 36 mpg.  If I drive the Jetta nice on the highway (60-70 mph) I get 46 mpg.  On long road trips to Phoenix I average 42 mpg driving 85 mph.  When my wife is driving it she gets around 40 mpg combined driving.  One night driving the S4 home using my city route I was able to get 27 mpg by shifting before 2200 rpm and using very light throttle.  The S4 for me averages 21/23/28 mpg city/combined/highway driving on my winter tyres and 19/21/27 mpg on my summer tyres.

[speedpro]

I only know of a place in Boulder on 28th and Valmont for Bio-Diesel #2.

[s4josh]

Well I am an 2 x B5 owner now! Picked up a new Black on Beige leather 2005 Passat Wagon GLS TDI-PD last night.  It was the only one in colorado with that color combo fully loaded.  My wifes conditions were that it was black and had an automatic; black on beige looks awseome IMO.  All the chrome strips they added in 2004 actually make the passat look way classy.  I did not like the way it looked on our 04' Jetta.  I am actually proud to drive this car

I emailed all the dealerships in the metro area and worked out invoice pricing and what kind of deals they would do on accessories and tint.  Also checked all the dealers status with the BBB.  I only use dealers that are members with the BBB.  About half of the VW dealers here in the metro area are not members, so beware!

I needed the metal cargo dog seperator to keep my dogs away from my new baby (things are freaking $493 bucks!), the gorrila mat with those velcro cargo organizers, the chrome sill protector for the rear bumper, and 28% tint all around.  They threw in everything besides the cargo dog sperator, so I was happy with that.

I bought it at Mountain States VW for $27,150 which was about $130 over the invoice price, plus my accessories and Jetta trade in. MSRP was $29,814.

The Passat is so so much nicer than the Jetta its not even funny  :cry:

[gragravar]

Congrats on the purchase.  Sounds like it will be a great car and a great deal.  

Trim around the rear hatch in the passat wagon is similar to the allroad, so do your dogs a favor and put a bathmat over the latch when they load up.   don't want your dogs to have to go through what mine did:

http://forums.audiworld.com/allroad/msgs/77734.phtml

Oh, and might I suggest the Elmo Mod.  It is good for at least 5 hp.

[jayryan]

...coming out of corners and it has to downshit...

HAHA you said "down"  :lol:

Congrats Josh! Enjoy the drive! I would have to say I like my '99 Passat better than my wife's '04 Jetta (GLI) even though her seats are way rad.

[s4josh]

Trim around the rear hatch in the passat wagon is similar to the allroad, so do your dogs a favor and put a bathmat over the latch when they load up.   don't want your dogs to have to go through what mine did:


Oh, and might I suggest the Elmo Mod.  It is good for at least 5 hp.

Thanks for the warning!  I would have never thought about that!  I am sorry your dog lost its toe and I hope he is doing well now!

Where can I find more info on the Elmo mod?  That may have to be the first mod I do!

[gragravar]

Trim around the rear hatch in the passat wagon is similar to the allroad, so do your dogs a favor and put a bathmat over the latch when they load up.   don't want your dogs to have to go through what mine did:


Oh, and might I suggest the Elmo Mod.  It is good for at least 5 hp.

Thanks for the warning!  I would have never thought about that!  I am sorry your dog lost its toe and I hope he is doing well now!

Where can I find more info on the Elmo mod?  That may have to be the first mod I do!

Dog is fine now - doesn't even know the toe is missing.

I think you can aquire the elmo mod parts at Babies R Us or someplace simiar.      I just reinstalled mine a couple of weeks ago with the arrival of our 2nd.

[speedpro]

Sweet...We have almost the same set up...we also got the cargo mat and the dog gate.  I still can't believe how much they charge for the accesories, but its really nice to have the ones that fit the car right.

I'll keep that in mind about the dog toes...I did catch a tail once but it bent back into shape after the dog stopped yelping... :?