15k: One Owner: 2003 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion Wagon
It may be a bit late for Syncro de Mayo, but it is never a bad time to post up a 4Motion equipped, 8-cylinder powered, low-mile Volkswagen Wagon. The B5 generation Passat was remodeled in late 2000 (known internally as the B5.5 generation) and recieved updated headlights, chrome trim and optional W8 engine. Find this 2003 Volkswagen Passat W8 4Motion Wagon
offered for $14,950 on ebay from a dealer in Feasterville-Trevose, PA with 13 days to go. Tip from IgnatiusReilly who says “Hola! Still hangin’ after too much Patron so tardy in submitting for the syncro featurette.”
Introduced in 1997 on a shared platform with the Audi A4, the B5/B5.5 generation Passat sold in huge numbers when new and offered Audi level of quality and refinement in a cheap package. Unfortunately the 1.8T model developed oil sludging issues that tarnished its reputation and all VW engines from the era ate coil packs like Rob Ford eats crack cocaine filled Cadbury eggs on Easter. This writers personal B5 Passat ownership experience consisted of years of pleasant driving experience interrupted by stumbling engines, CELs, monthly coil pack recall campaigns and threatening letters from the dealer saying you’ll get no warranty if you don’t use this list of approved synthetic oils.
No need to worry about sludging on this engine, because it is the W8, which is essentially two VR4 engines mounted on a common crankshaft…more of a VV than a W. Regardless, the 4.0 liter engine puts out 270 horsepower and 273 ft-lbs of torque is mated to an automatic transmission and Torsen based 4Motion system that puts power to all four wheels.
The B5/B5.5 interior are very nice and age well, this one with only 35k miles on the odometer looks great. The B5.5 remodel added some chrome accent rings around the gauges and the upscale models had lame looking faux wood splashed needlessly around the cabin.
See a cooler VV8 powered VVagon? tips@dailyturismo.com
This car temps me, but I'm almost put off by the information contained in the copy of the CarFax included in the Ebay listing. This car has only been driven 2,042 miles since Oct '06. During that same time/mile interval, it was taken in for maintenance 7 times, with the oil having been changed during four of those visits.
In one instance, the car was only driven 45 miles between oil changes and that mileage interval included a round-trip to Pep Boys for a new battery. That's about one day's commute for most people.
After all those years of babied attention, I wonder how it would hold up under my whip? (Beef vs. Veal)
Ooooh yeah, these things were tempermental. I love the eccentricity, and the manual wagons w/sport package are VERY rare (not that this one has either). It sounds cool, too. But when you consider a 4.0L W8 was making 270hp, that's none too impressive even for that time. A 3.5L V6 was making 280hp, as were some 3.2's. It was an engineering exercise they unleashed on the public. But you pay the price for being so odd.
Don't think the wood is faux. I have the same era A4, and have taken the trim off. Can confirm that it is genuine fragile wood veneer under there, albeit covered in such a thick coat of epoxy resign as to seem faux.