Hi. I am thinking of buying a the new VW Passat and am interested in getting some feedback from anyone here who just bought one recently. I'd be grateful to get some feedback from you about any experience you've had so far with the after sales service, performance of the car, actual fuel efficiency achieved, and whether you'd make the same choice today. As I am limited to buying CKD cars, I'm also considering the Camry too.

Many thanks in advance. Ken.

If me I wouldnt consider camry at all. Assuming you consider the highest spec camry

Camry only comes with 6 speed AT - Passat using 7 speed DSG gearbox!
Camry only comes with 4 airbags - Passat comes with 6 airbags!
Camry only have ABS, EBD and BA - passat comes with ABS,EBD,BA and electronic stability control
2.5 180hp - 231nm@4100rpm - passat 1.8TSI 160hp - 250nm@1500-4200rpm
RM 180000 - RM 170000

In terms of spec, passat win over camry

I always read at volkswagen malaysia facebook page, mostly vw polo owner complaining, very rare to see passat owner complain about their car

Wait for the real owner to give you comment, ive been ride in both cars and I love passat acceleration

However, I've noticed the Camry is a bit more spacious over Camry. Also, for the Passat, I feel that the backbone (don't know what you call it >_<), that is located at the feet of the rear seat's middle passenger is quite high and intrusive.

Aside that however, Passats interior is very nice! I especially like the analog clock at the center console!

I am actually contemplating a CKD Passat as well, against an Optima!

It's a nice car. There's just a few problems so far

1. There's no electric seats or electric fold mirrors unless its the Passat Sport, which is 25k more expensive compared to the CKD version
2. There is some rattling sound from odd places on certain roads, it comes and goes but is less frequent if your car has been tinted
3. DVD-navi, reverse camera and dynaudio speakers are not an option unless you retrofit it at certain sources or decide to get rid of the default audio. Small issue unless you're a audiophile.

4. DSG mechatronic reliability - it's a hit and miss here really. Most of the major complaints come from the reliability of the gearbox. There is a suddenly loss of power with juddering then the error code comes up and you can't drive it anymore. Particularly affected models are: The Polo TSi, Golf TSi, Jetta TSi, Scirocco Tsi. There has been some cases reported about the Passat and Passat CC units as well but atm, it's more rare to hear of it. This particular issue is still dogging VW but supposedly there are fewer reported cases since the software update earlier this year. The gearbox is entirely replaced by VW when failure occurs under their warranty scheme but it's a huge inconvenience.

I've done past my first 5k and did my first 1L engine oil topup (DIY) using Amsoil. The drive has unexpectedly become extremely smooth after the 1st 5k and I'm happy so far. Service interval is set at 15k but it is suggested that you check engine oil levels every 5k. Fuel efficiency is listed in my sig (it won't appear if you are viewing this post in your mobile phone), I drive 65 to 70% city and 25 to 30% highway.

Bro, please take that rubbish Camry off your list. Only those who know nothing about cars and are only bothered about resale value will buy a Camry. There are many better cars in the market now for that similar price range. The Passat is one of them.

But if u want honest replies, u should tell ppl your criteria & budget or else ure gonna get everybody coming in here with their own choice of cars. In the end ull get about 20 choices but ull be no closer to deciding.

General criteria in choosing a car:

1) Price
2) Safety
3) Specs & value for money
4) Design
5) Interior space
6) Build quality / durability
7) Ride, handling, power
8) After sales service
9) Maintenance costs
10) Warranty

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Added on October 9, 2012, 8:44 amSpec wise the Optima wins by a small margin. Also has the wow factor in terms of design but to each their own taste. The Optima also has more interior legroom. The Passat is better than the Optima in terms of engine (since its a Turbo), transmission and handling. But the DSG gearbox does have its fair share of issues just like Zweimmk has mentioned.

So if you want a more powerful engine and better ride & handling and if ure prepared to pay about 34K extra for it, then go for the Passat CKD.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Oct 9 2012, 08:44 AM

zweimmk is spot on! Its a nice car to drive, just to add
4) no bluetooth.. to add aftermarket is around 2k.
5) My battery died after 2 months, luckily replaced under warranty..
6) My rattling issue is resolved in a stone age way.. shoved a touch n go card under the dashboard..

However, after driving it you'll probably forget the issues ;-P

Some plus:
1) Fuel consumption is not bad.. From Semantan -> Duke -> MRR2 -> Ampang can get around 9.5l/100km compared to my old Korean
2) Ginormous boot space and interior space.. Can fit 2 stroller and weekend luggage no issue

Go to vwclubmalaysia.. a lot of similar queries being answered there!

I have to reluctantly agree. The KIA Optima K5 is indeed a car that offers much better value for money for the amount of features given. However, both cars are distinct enough in their own ways and the only way to know which car you prefer more is to go for an actual test drive yourself.

Forum input is a good place to learn about these cars and what to expect from them but the ultimate test still comes in the test drive with you and your family. Don't be afraid to do it at least 3 or 4 times to get a good feel of both cars.

any thots for pug 508gt?

Or maybe 9 times?

Overly excessive but of course all within your consumer rights I think by the 4th time, a serious buyer would already have a good feel and idea of what they want in a car and whether or not the test car meets their expectations.

Thanks for all the suggestions and responses, and zweimmk in particular. The Kia Optima (and Pug) is a nice looking car indeed, but I am limited to CKD models only because it is a requirement of the REP programme. While I agree that the new Camry isn't very appealing, it is one of the few recent CKD cars in this segment and I have very good first hand experience with this model. My father's 7 year old Camry is still running well with no problems since the day he bought it. Interior noise is still low despite several minor knocks and scrapes here and there. I guess it is hard to know how these new generation of engines with turbo will perform in the long run (after warranty expires) with Malaysian fuel. zweimmk - Were you able to find any information on this potential issue?

This post has been edited by okyjace: Oct 9 2012, 12:03 PM

Yeah, the Passat's pickup and agility is better than the Optima IMO. The paddle shift was very responsive where as I noticed a small short hesitation from the Optima. That being said, the Passat is in turn, felt a bit sluggish compared to the Golf TSI. I suppose its the weight of the car itself?

The Optima feels huge when I drove it. The leg room was much better than Passat at the rear. And I was pleasantly surprised that when I started the engine, the driver seat slid to the front automatically (and vice versa when I stopped the car)!

I was a bit intimidated by it's size actually. Upon returning from the test drive, I had to side park in front of the show room, so scared I'd scratch it. SA also smiled >_<.

The GT version = diesel engine right? I was under the impression that our diesel grade is still pretty bad for now. And the car is priced higher than the Passat even I believe. Unless you compare the normal 508 (with the 1.6T engine).

Dont forget that under the REP, when u do decide to sell your car, you can only sell it using the purchase price as a benchmark not the normal selling price.

But since ure enjoying the benefits of the REP, dont bother with any Jap or Korean. U can easily go for the BMW 320i CKD or the 320d CKD. It would be silly to consider the Camry especially when ull be getting about 30K discount.

U need to understand that Toyotas back then were a good choice. But lately Toyota has stagnated. The new Camry was a real disappointment. When u buy a car u should look at all the criterias i mentioned above. The Camry fails in most of the criteria above. Build quality now is not the same as before. Both Zweimmk and myself were ex Toyota users and both had good experiences. But we still left Toyota.

Now when u buy a car you should focus on value for money. Are you getting your money's worth? Resale value should not be a priority. Many other car manufacturers have improved alot over the last few years. 5 years ago how many Korean makes did you see on the road? The same with VW. They have made cars more affordable in Malaysia which has resulted in a significant jump in ownership. More and more ppl are realising that Toyota isnt worth it anymore. Imagine paying >150K to get a car with a 10 yr old engine and 4 speed GB with basic safety features only.

Please take the Camry off your list.

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Added on October 9, 2012, 1:13 pmActually i too was initially worried bout parking the Optima. But with the rear camera and smaller turning radius, its now become quite a breeze. Even my wife finds it quite easy to park the Optima. U dont really have the 'big car' effect when parking. But Kia should have done better and put front parking sensors. At 143K+ (OTR) and with all spec on offer, its quite a good buy i must say.

Are you seriously looking for a D segment as well?

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Oct 9 2012, 01:14 PM

Just wondering, if you know, what about pre-registered cars? Assuming I buy a pre-reg Passat at say, 160k instead of 170k, I understand on the car registration card, my name will be second. But lets say I sell it out, how would they know how much my purchase price is?

Unfortunately, no, there's no information on how reliable VW engine is after many years of use. Especially since cars aren't built like they were used to back in the day.

What little information I can tell you is this:

1. Up until now, I have never come across VW engine failure in any of their Passat, Golf, Polo, Scirocco models, not for any of the cars in Singapore or Malaysia at least. The most notorious problem is with the DSG mechatronics but aside from the obvious inconvenience, you are well covered by the 5 year warranty program. Btw, the current Passat engine is the same engine found in the pre FL Audi A4, I believe the engine code is EA888 (2nd gen?), 1.8L 118kW model.

2. As far as petrol is concerned, I use RON95 and there are no issues. The car still runs well and especially after I topped up my engine oil past the 1st 5k, it is especially silky smooth to drive now. At this point, I wonder if its because the engine has broken in or is it because of the Amsoil engine oil I'm using. Either way, I'm satisfied.

3. Interior cabin noise is around 66 ~ 71dBA on the highway at speeds of 110km/hr? I actually did a reading between the Passat and the Mercedes C200 before, the C200 actually measures at approximately 62dBA ~ 66dBA running at the same speed. In layman's terms, it's definitely as quiet if not more quiet than the Camry. For the first time in years, I can actually enjoy the audio in my car thanks to the premium audio and quietness of the car. In my old car (current generation Corolla Altis), I used to just keep the radio off because I found both the audio and the road noise annoying.

4. The latest Camry will probably still carry on the same traditions of being a reliable and easy to maintain car. I have no doubts on that. If resale value, trouble free ownership and service network are your priority, just go with the Camry. It's a buy, drive and don't look back car. It's lack of features means you can always throw in aftermarket gadgets and stuff to spice things up.

5. The Passat comes with Continental Sports Contact 5 tires. I've been told it has some self sealing technology if you run over a nail. A 3rd party tire manufacturer told me that when I pumped in Nitrogen gas for my tires. According to him, it will seal itself up if the puncture is minor nail types but it will not protect against side scrapes type of puncture. It's hard to put into words but it's a nice little piece of information to know.

Hope that helps

This post has been edited by zweimmk: Oct 9 2012, 01:41 PM

I think under the REP program, there is some mention on your registration card. Plus its also mentioned on the JPJ system so anybody trying to register your car later will also come to know. Not easy to cover up.

But under the REP, ure only entitled to buy new cars right?

Oh, I am not buying under REP. TS is. I'll likely grab a pre-reg Passat. Just wondering what are the disadvantages other than your name being the second one on the car registration card.

The terms and conditions of the approval pack does not specifically mention whether the car has to be new or not. However, this is implied by the procedures I will have to go through to enjoy the benefit (won't bore you with details). FYI, there is no requirement when selling the car to price it below market. Rather, if the car is sold within XX years after purchase, then I will have to make good the taxes initially saved. Basically, the way I see this incentive working is that I will be able to cover much of the cost of depreciation of whichever car purchased, be it a Passat, Camry, or BMW. Just sharing my own perspective, I think that luxury cars draw too much attention to one's self in Malaysia as compared to Europe or America. So as I prefer to let others have the attention, I am unlikely to pick a luxury car before I start living in a big bungalow.

If you have the budget, you can consider the BMW X1 20d xDrive which is also CKD. It is priced similar to the lower end 3 series but comes with more features.

There is a requirement to use your current purchase price as a benchmark to sell the car in future. I know cuz i did detailed research on this. I also have the complete list of cars which qualify under this program but it may be a bit outdated now. So u will still need to deal with depreciation just like everybody else.

Its nothing about the attention. Its about value for money. Ure already limited by the CKD requirement so choose a car that satisfies most of the criteria. Dont base your judgement on 1 or 2 points only.

Yeah, I am. Just tumpang this thread >_< Hope TS doesn't mind. By the way, does anyone know if there will be another NAP to be released this year that will affect car prices somewhat?

You can also consider the Skoda Superb if you want more space than the Passat (and can spend a bit more). It is at least as good as the Passat, or any D segment car, and in terms of size etc. it is sitting a class above.

Thanks for the heads up and sharing your research findings. So what car did you pick in the end with your REP incentive?

Well everybody is waiting for a revamped NAP but nobody is sure if its gonna have any good news about excise duties.

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Added on October 10, 2012, 7:49 amI didnt. I did it for a friend. He finally chose a Volve S40 last year which i didnt think was a good choice considering the options available.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Oct 10 2012, 07:49 AM

Carried out a test drive of the Passat today. I'm pleased to report that the car is pleasant to drive and acceleration is good. For me, I was a little let down by the CKD model not coming with GPS and Bluetooth. Seems rather pointless to have a big touchscreen for just radio functions, though I understand the intention to keep costs down. There is also no keyless feature, but that's not a big deal for me. Looking forward to doing a test drive on the Camry next.

With the huge discount you're getting under the REP, if u end up choosing the Camry, many of us would be

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Oct 12 2012, 08:28 AM

You can always add on the GPS and bluetooth functionality later on as well

But with added cost of course

This.

I don't think you will like the driving feel and pressure of Camry after being poisoned by the driving feel of 1.8l Turbo Engine, compare to Camry's 2.0l/2.5l NA engine.

Agreed, especially when I got a friend who bought a Passat (pre-reg unit) for RM153k.

I can live without the GPS or Bluetooth although it would nicer to have them rather than not.

1. 3rd party GPS system will always have faster map updates
2. I rather not use the BTHF System found in the car as I really dislike people listening into my conversation. Particularly if the conversation is sensitive in nature and you so happen to have a passenger.

A DVD video in motion system would be much better though, that and a reverse camera although the optical parking system is really quite good.

How about Citroen C5?

Haha. Noted.

Can you tell us the OTR prices (minus the taxes) of the various CKD models you have researched?

Not sure how far uve gone with your REP research, but i must warn you to expect some hurdles. There are many car manufacturers which arent very keen on selling cars through the REP program. Some dealers even cheat on the prices. So once u have shortlisted a few cars, best you check with the respective HQ's on the final pricing. Dont depend on the dealers.

C5 is also interesting, yes. Especially if comfort is very important for you.

@zweimmk: I always thought the VW RNS 510 was quite pleasant to use. It's a good unit. However I would indeed be a bit worried about maps in Malaysia. Basically I would only use a Garmin over here.

kadajawi - Thanks for your suggestions. From my brief research online, it appears the C5 is a CBU car. So, I have to rule it out as my benefit is restricted to CKD cars only. That's a shame because the C5 is indeed a nice car from what I see.

cybermaster98 - Happy to share the limited information that I have. Le tme dig up and post later. Generally, the Sales and Excise duties seem to comprise about a third of the listed sales price for CKD models. However, the price quoted for the VW Passat was only 15% less, which surprised me. I didn't pursue the matter at the time as I haven't decided yet on the car.

So far, I haven't come across any unpleasantness from the dealers I have visited: VW, BMW, Honda and Kia. They've been professional and courteous. Appreciate your heads up that the experience might change once I decide which model to go for.

So whats your preference now? I suppose uve done a few test drives.

This thread might be of interest:
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2530579

Indeed it is, but I listen to a fair share of Mandarin, Japanese and Korean music alongside with my regular English mix and the RNS510 cannot display Asian fonts, I'd really wish they would update the firmware of their RCD510/RNS510 so that it would also support Asian fonts. Aside from that, updated maps would be an issue to contend with as well.

It's a very minor issue, but it's still a minor annoyance.

IMO, the Passat B7 is a worth continental to drive on. I am between B7 and waiting for the new launch new camry 1 month ago. Finally i decided B7. If the new camry sell at RM130k, i will consider. Local assembly new camry price at Rm150k, really cant convince me to take up.

In matter of time, toyota will follow the crowd to include those technology for their coming models. VW, Peugeot, Mazda and Kia is increase the PIE of the automotive market.

Ure expecting a D segment Camry to be priced cheaper than the 2L Civic and Altis?

Camry big and spacious and executive feel and many nice servis centre free wifi and drinks friendly.sa friendly sc.pretty recep

The big and spacious tag has been matched equally by other cars. Executive feel was the previous model not this one. I dont see how anybody could feel 'executive' surrounded by cheapo plastics and a worse design than the outgoing model. The only thing i see as a clear positive is the refinement of the engine and gearbox (2.5V model).

hmmm...trying to hint the new camry does not worth Rm150k by ignore civic and altis exists...

Size of camry and passat not much difference...

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Added on October 16, 2012, 1:29 pm
Own an altis 2006. The late model of all toyotas model give feel plastic surgery interior which can find in hyundai cars. But of course, different ppl have differ taste of car of choice...

This post has been edited by Gary1981: Oct 16 2012, 01:29 PM

Well ure right. The Camry isnt worth its price tag. The plasticky interior is also found in current models. Check out the door panels of the Camry 2.0 and ull see. Even the mid section of the dashboard is cheapo materials. Same goes for the new Civic. That dash has gotta be among the worst ive seen to date.

Toyota and honda still got time to rethink their strategy, due to have strong 3S service. I believe VW, Peugeot and Mazda will look into 3S service once their car volume achieved similiar par to japanese car which currently seeing the peak of these model of car....

Below are the prices I have received so far before any further negotiations.

Camry 2.5L 125K
Passat 1.8L 142K
BMW 320d 170K
BMW 520d 242K
Merc C180 154K
Merc E200 259K

Haven't managed to test drive the 5-series or E-class yet. But for me the 3-series and C-class are just a little too small after having a very close look at them today. In terms of interior space, I'd say they're more comparable to a Civic/Altis. It's the kind of cars I would consider if I already had a big SUV as the main family car - or if I was in my mid-20s with cash to burn.

At 125k, I won't mind buying the Camry 2.5L for the offered performance, safety, reliability and features. It's till 17k worth of savings minimal compared to the Passat.

For 17k less

You have 2 less airbags
No Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control System
No Cornering lights
No Rain sensing wipers

Overall, I would consider the Camry a good buy and arguably best bang for the buck at that price point and ONLY if it's at that price or less.

How is it that the Passat price is 20K more than the Camry since the original price of the Passat is about 6K cheaper?

Are these OTR prices for CKD models?

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Oct 18 2012, 08:33 AM

I wonder if he typed it up wrongly but nevertheless, at 125k - it's a no brainer. Nevermind if it has less safety, it's arguably still a good deal.

Yup, I found that strange myself. But I didn't pursue the matter with the agent as I am not particularly keen on the car (no sense wasting time). The prices quoted exclude insurance. I was told by some agents that the insurance is based on the selling price, so the annual premium might be lower in my case. However, I haven't tried to get a quote to confirm that.

Im quite sure thr's something wrong. I think the error could be with the Passat price. But this is the problem which i was refering to the other day. These car dealers dont actually reveal the exact excise duty. Assuming the excise duty is 40K, they only reduce by 30K so the balance 10K goes into their pocket. Which is why you need to get official prices from the respective HQ's.

Test drove the Peugeot 508 yesterday which I learnt is also CKD, however, I came away feeling quite unimpressed by the experience. The lack of storage space makes the car less practical for me. Hardly any space for things like coins, spare glasses, Smarttag, etc. Although the car is priced quite keenly, it's such a waste to know that I'd be paying for useless heated seats and a built in GPS that cannot be enabled. Turbo lag was quite noticeable.

And here's what I think about the Passat:

http://www.kensomuse.com/the-volkswagen-passat-sedan/

Don't entirely agree with certain parts of your review and personal style too overboard for my taste but still a decent write up nevertheless.

So in the end what car you went for with the REP incentive?

Did you find out what is the price they offered for Pug 508 with the incentive?

no worry about DSG issue in VW cars?

Sorry for the long silence and inactivity. I have been busy with buying a place to stay and renovation work, so I put the car purchase on hold. But happy to say that I've finally done the admin stuff with Talentcorp and am planning to pick a car very soon. In case anyone is interested, I have found out that there will be some taxes to pay when I sell the car. However, these taxes willl be based on its second hand value at the time. So the savings with the REP incentive is still significant, but not as great as it could be. It seems that the longer I keep the car, the greater the value of the REP incentive. The best price I have received so far is a myr10K discount on the 2.5L Camry, if I go with a 2012 make car. Hence for an upfront cost of myr115K, I'm sorely tempted. Will probably go check out the Passat again.

There are rumours online of CKD versions of the Mazda6 and CX5 coming. Anyone here has a firmer idea of the timeline for this?

CKD Mazda CX5 is set to launch middle of the year. Don't think Mazda 6 will be CKD but I think there will be a new version of Mazda 3 that will be CKD towards end of the year. You can check out this thread where some of us who applied for REP shared the details

but i saw the price of bmw 2013, min 3 series rm241k.. how come yours so cheap one? recond ke?

REP or MM2H programme entitled to no excise duty for CKD cars...

sorry what is REP?

but how can malaysian get into mm2h leh

As a Malaysian you can't get into mm2h but he is under REP. Returning Expert Programme is an incentive for Malaysians working abroad to come back and work in Malaysia.

This post has been edited by sleepwalker: Feb 7 2013, 10:28 AM

I read that some models of Kia/Hyundai/Peugeot were suggested to TS. I just want to share that the tax saving discounts (actually it's only sales tax and excise duties) for these few models under the REP purchase are very minimal. It may make you wonder for that RM10k-15k discount, does it worth the hassle to restrict your choice to CKD models only. At times the year end promotion discount for some CBU models could be as high as the tax savings, and not forget the various approval processes that u need to go through for the REP purchase.

aiyo unfair lo, like that i am none either category

Not sure if you still can get 2012 passat? They have huge discounts I heard. About RM15 k

saw newspaper jetta 2013 starts from rm149k... like more expensive leh? how come?

actually i am curious, vw jetta .. the backseat is less spacious than honda civic 2013 right? i think so but i forgot about this when i tested drive.

Yes no complain about Passat because its a well oiled German machine. It beats Camry hands down.

Thats until you get into an accident (touch wood), your car parts and bumpers will take 3 weeks to arrive. Till then, you have to borrow your mechanic's 18 year old Saga for use.

Downside on VW, spare parts expensive and hard to get.

VW Passat is 170k OTR without insurance

Nevermind mah, as long as got Gaya is enough

Ok nak gaya tapi nanti jangan merangut tentang bil servis kereta.

Only have to worry about its DSG Gearbox and annoying rattle/tickling sound on the cabin

that's why i am not going for VW hehe, but it's over budget for me too.

nope. that's the original price.

some engineers driving vw alwayd keep saying, make surehave a tow truck in standby if wanna drive vw

Presently whatever problem they got with the DSG has been rectified.

As I said, spare parts are major problem for VW.

Touch wood, if your car accident, you would need to wait for weeks before the car body parts come. Even Singapore don't have the parts.

Maybe wait for 2 or 3 years for supply chain of VW to improve, then should consider to buy VW.

Hi Guy,

I thinking to get a passat for my family. Currently I have 2 option. 1. Is 2013 brand new passat. 2. Is 2012 pre-reg passat. Any different between this 2 about( I mean feature and outlook). Price is around 20k different.

Thanks.

Take the new one, my mum got her passat in late 2012, also got near 20k discount that time... They should offer u more if they wanna sell the 2012 versiom

Thanks bro. Meaning that car for 2012 and 2013 have the exactly same feature and design? Thx

Totally the same

its already near end 2013. you hsould be able to squeeze for at least 30-40k discount for pre-reg if taken into account the depreciation value is 20k per annum?

DSG issue has been rectified? i read a lot article and comment from forum and google. there are plenty of bad feedback for this even now. since i not yet a Volkswagen owner but maybe soon. i still a bit worry passat still the right choice for me?

plan to get a passat coz all the newly released japs d-segment are disappointing...

is vw plan to release a new model for passat? coz the current one is pretty outdated..

what's the current OTR price with discount? anybody know?

before rebate is 175K.

I was offered 10k discount when I approached them last month, net around 164k otr. The only drawback I had during the test drive is the space for rear passengers.

This post has been edited by wiraone: Oct 17 2013, 08:49 AM

Passat is quite narrow, but the legroom is pretty good, about on par with camry, still the accord is the king of space

This month started rebate 20k.

20k? wow ! i thought the passat was selling well ?

Bro can you help post your info onto this year end car sale thread ?

any new passat owner have complain regarding dsg issues?

No issues but my battery went konk, they replaced a new battery for me within 2 days (old: Moll, new: Varta) because my car was also sent in for servicing as well - FA Wagen Glenmarie is really slow and I wouldn't go there again.

Another annoying issue is the rattling in the rear of the car. It's the plastic board behind the rear seats and the cables, get some guy to tape up the cables and add a piece of sound deadening mat to the rear plastic piece and rattling issue will be resolved.

Yes, almost 20k off. Was in a VW showroom a few days ago. Bad news for those wanting to sell their Passat now.

Initially i thought only the DSG jerking in stop and go was the only thing owners would have to bear, but a colleague of mine testified that there is gear engagement problem as well during stop and go. Like the gearbox hangs in neutral for a while before switching from 1st to 2nd gear successfully. Until today he has yet to get the clutch replaced for warranty.

You might wanna test this out in a test drive before signing the papers.

Discount applicable for the Passat CBU Sport model also? or only CKD model?
How reliable is the 7 DSG Gear box for the current Passat & VW CC, considering these two models but a bit reluctant due to the gear box issues.

It has happened once or twice, but this rarely occurs in my experience. And I've had my car over a year now.

so no complain at all after having the car for a year?
because the comments on dsg has been really bad in the facebook.

still considering on getting the passat.

Me also has narrow down to Passat .... but after read all the comments in FB, now need to think very5 carefully

This post has been edited by geniuz: Nov 7 2013, 09:33 PM

What is the net otr price after 20k rebate?

I'm happy with my car so far. Even done some soundproofing to the car so that makes me even happier.

DSG jerkiness and drag will always be there, it's the characteristic of the gearbox but so far I'm okay with it. Surely an automatic transmission will feel smoother no doubt but the quick shifts of the DSG makes it all worth it.

The service center is kind of crap, but I figured since I just drop of the car. My dealings with them is minimal. And I usually book about a month in advance and triple confirmed 2 weeks before and a week before the actual service date.

so the dsg is not the same with auto transmission?

no problem at all with auto transmission?

This post has been edited by syedakmal: Nov 9 2013, 02:10 AM

It's an automated manual transmission.

I have no issues so far, aside from the typical jerkiness and drag in heavy traffic every now and then.