Passat Options

[Alpha]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking of purchasing a 2008 or latter VW Passat at the end of the year or start of next year. I have no idea of the model, but most likely a 118TSI or 121TDI DSG.

I have ~$35,000 to spend.

Whilst I do have a dozen questions to ask, I would quickly like to ask a few quick questions regarding Passat options.

First off regarding Park Assist.

I believe that Park Assist is a factory option? But is it also a dealer option? (Seeing as I am buying a used car?)

Looking at YouTube videos and the like, I gather that the Park Assist option helps you with parallel parking only?

Does the system help you reverse park?

Also, would I be mistaken to believe that the Park Assist option contains front and reverse parking sensors?

Now the terminology is quite confusing in my preemptive stage of buying my first VW, but I would also like to get the Media Device Interface (MDI), a Sunroof, SatNav and a Reversing Camera (RVC??)

What are the model numbers or name of these systems that would suit a 2007, 2008 or 2009 Passat?

Am I right in presuming that the options listed in the VW website will fit into the 2007-2009 Passats given they are the B6 (current) model?

On a unrelated note, diesel or petrol?

I will definitely ask the dealers these questions (especially the last one because I am completely clueless about diesel engines), but I would like some non-biased advice

Thanks for your help.

P.S If anyone has any tips or advice in purchasing a used Passat etc please feel free to comment.

Edit - Also, what about reliability? I'm planning on keeping the car for 6 years.

Please Note: I refrained from posting these questions in the specific threads that came up in the search because they more then likely would would become off-topic and deviate from the OP. However moderators please feel free to move it etc Thanks

[Passat CC]

Park assist is only a factory option and is only for parallel parking (will not reverse park some of those you tube videos are crap). The system does use front and rear sensors. MDI is an absolute must to fully intergrate your device and control everything from the head unit, the hard drive can be a bit dodgy on the RNS 500 I've had problems with mine so stick with the MDI its awesome especially with iPod (this can be dealer fitted). I love the sat Nav and the sunroof and would not buy a car without them but that's just personal preference, the reverse camera I could do without as the parking system and sensors are fantastic on the passat. After owning both turbo petrol and turbo diesel Volkswagens I would definitely stick with the diesel no questions asked, the 125 TDI engine is fantastic, good get up and go, extremely quiet and you'll get a 1000km of a 68 litre tank. My Jetta is lucky to get 450 km. My only complaint with the diesel would be the little bit of lag on take off but that's expected with diesel, I would still pick it over petrol. Hopefully this will be eliminated when I do my ecu remap

[tryingavw]

dont bother with park assist. we had it and never used it.

[Passat CC]

Your right, it's just a bit of wank to show off to your friends but the novelty wears off. It does work well though

[Alpha]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Yeah, the Park Assist is probably just a gimmick, but from reports saying that it works well, it is defiantly a well groomed gimmick.

It is a shame that it is a factory option only though...

But with the SatNav, the dealer can fit it can't they? It will probably cost way too much though. I was thinking of just purchasing an official VW SatNav and then having someone install it for me?

Would the dealer do this, or would I be better off going somewhere else? (Any recommendations?)

What about the RVC?

I would want to purchase the SatNav with the camera...

Does any one have a price on the SatNav and RVC?

I gather that the Sunroof is also a factory option?

Passat CC, so am I correct to assume that the SatNav I am looking for is the RNS 500?

I love the sat Nav and the sunroof and would not buy a car without them but that's just personal preference, the reverse camera I could do without as the parking system and sensors are fantastic on the passat.

I agree with you there, whilst being a want, I really need the Sunroof and maybe the SatNav as well.

Regarding the RVC, is the parking system and sensors standard on the 2007-2009 Passat TSI/TDI? All the cars I have seen so far have them but I am not sure.

Final query, is the VW website showing and giving information on the Passats from 2007-2009, considering it is the same model?

i.e Has there been a lot of revised changes? Or are all the options, specifications and standard equipment the same?

If so, it will make my understanding much clearer.


Hmmm, in a perfect world I might be able to snag a Passat with SatNav, RVC, Sunroof, Leather, MDI and maybe Park Assist already fitted

[Passat CC]

Sunroof is factory but you can fit a good quality after market for about 2k. The sat Nav is an RNS 500 with you can install from VW for about 3k. I'm pretty sure the parking sensors are standard they were on my CC. 2006 - 2010 are the same shape the equipment has just slightly changed but nothing major all the specs are the same. MDI about 300 through VW. I don't know about the RVC but if I was buying the car I'll be looking for one with factory sat nav and sunroof. You can buy a RNS 500 off eBay for about 900. If you can be patient I'm sure you can get everything for the price you want. Go TDI for sure

[Alpha]

Cheers Passat CC,

Your advice is defiantly helpful. Much appreciated.

I am not surprised at the pricing from VW but the $900 SatNav from eBay sounds appealing.

The TDI is also quite appealing. I have never owned or driven a diesel before, but I will for sure check them out at the dealers.

I initially was looking at buying a VW Golf GTI, but circumstances have changed a bit so now looking at a Passat, but I want to start looking now and start comparing different cars for the my perfect car considering I am going to keep it for around 5-6 years.

As you say, hopefully I will be able to get everything I want the price I want to pay.

Cheers again,

Alpha

P.S The only thing swaying me towards the GTI now is because I will be working in the city and am quite worried about the tight parking spaces etc

Despite you having a CC, how do you find visibility? Any other readers like to comment?

Also when backing up/reversing, the reverse sensors will initiate right? But will the front sensors work whilst reversing? Or do they only work whilst you are in D?

Finally (yeah I have a lot of questions ), with the Sat Nav will it display the animated car notifying you which sensors are detecting that you are close to a wall?

Sorry for the wording, but I do not know what the technology is called, but I saw it with the Ford G6E Turbo.

[Passat CC]

As soon as you put it in reverse the front and rear sensors activate, there is also a button to active the sensors whilst you are in drive. The head unit also shows a display of the car and shows which areas you are closest to, that's why I didn't go for the RVC it's a good and accurate system

[Alpha]

Awesome!!! Exactly what I wanted to hear. Might not need the reversing camera after all. If I do need it, can I buy the RVC afterwards?

Hows the visibility like in the car? Blind spots etc?

Hmmm, really liking the look of the CC

[Passat CC]

Visibility is good no problems but the CC would be different to the regular passat