Why would you bother doing that? The Passat GT comes with a specifically designed custom dual exhaust that sounds GREAT already, it has a sport tuned suspension with 0.6" drop from a run of the mill Passat and comes with those gorgeous 19" Tornado wheels.
@@waltherppx6314 Wheel gap is still too large for my taste, The stock 19's don't do it for me design wise, and stock exhaust muffles the VR6 noise too much. It's fine if you like factory cars but nah I'd change those three things within 1000 miles of ownership.
@@ryanwreyford9039 Well, the 2018 VWs come with a 6 year/72K bumper-to bumper warranty so I would advise against doing anything to the exhaust or suspension until the factory warranty was up.
@@waltherppx6314 Exhaust and suspension do not Void the factory warranty. Like I said it's fine if you like factory spec cars but nah, even for a daily I'd add some character. Anything else?
5 years in, original owner, 74,800 miles, APR stage 1 tune, Pilot Sport 4S Tires. Super reliable. I still love this car. Smooth, agile when it needs to be, tons of room. The noise in the cabin especially at highway speeds still sucks, I feel like short me is still too night in the driver seat, but the looks of this car keeps getting better. You can't use the OEM stock tire. Throw it away immediately. Sound system is surprisingly good for what it is. Nothing amazing, but still beats a LOT of cars within it's price range and even more expensive cars.
My dad just got this car and we've had it for about a month now and there is no other car on sale that has this good of a sounding exhaust just over 30k imo. I'm shocked how well it sounds given its class. On cold starts u think theres an RS4 parked outside or somethin lol. It even has subtle crackles on down shifts. Its just a nice surprise from the audible dept. Nothing else in its class can come close in terms of sound imo
I have a 2013 Passat vr6 with just under 100k miles. It’s mechanically perfect still. Body is getting dinged up a bit. I have 3 kids that are under 5. It’s my favorite car I’ve ever owned. I really wish it was awd though. It has a ton of power and lots of times just spins the tires.
I’d buy this over any of the competitors just for that VR6 engine and sound. Toss an aftermarket exhaust on that B and people will be like, “WTF is that heavenly sound coming out of?!” ...As they look around confused lol.
James Speer I know there is no turbo where did that come from? And if your looking only for sound why not just do a rear muffler delete? VR6 would sound excellent it’s not like you’ll get power gains off doing a full exhaust anyway unless you plan on getting it tuned
Driveitsideways 1 Well every situation is different. I guess you can start by trying a VR6 without a muffler but my experience is that the best performance even before tuning is in using a straight through muffler but the specs of the muffler chosen can give you exactly the tone and sound you want. The muffler is essentially a tuning mechanism for sound. If all you have is an open pipe then you will usually have too much noise unless a turbo is blocking the path of the noise. Of course your catalytic also blocks the path and drops sound. I hear too many NA musclecars with cat deletes and maybe gutted mufflers that are obnoxious and rude. My Mustang is almost like that except it's all bass so it sets off alarms and gives me a headache so I am changing it soon from the crappy Magnaflow mufflers
James Speer you don’t need to tell me about performance, I know all about it I’ve owned multiple cars with exhausts. And on a car without a tune a exhaust is pointless except for sound. Also a rear muffler delete would barely make the car louder, just give it a decent tone. These cars come equipped with multiple mufflers, deleting one will just slightly beef the tone.
While it does sound outrageous, it makes sense for people who lease( instead of a upfront price, it's broken up). I do think they should just make it a standard for vehicles.
VR6 Passat owner here. Just wanted to throw this out there: if you do not have the budget for the GT and don’t mind missing out on Apple CarPlay, the re-tuned suspension and exhaust, you can get a used 2012-2015 V6 SEL for half the price, and 90% of everything you see in the video. I picked up a 2015 VR6 SEL earlier this year for a shade over $10k and it’s a lot of car for the money. They can easily be had for about $14-$15k with low miles.
Good advice. Car play isn't necessary with a good aux cable and a mount for a phone. Add in some aftermarket suspension and you're on your way (sans warranty of course). ZK
At the end of the day, I'm just a VW guy. IMO, VW's older design language ages (and will continue to age) much better than its overstyled and trendy Asian competition.
Agreed, I have a 99 b5 Passat gls with a 9/10 exterior, sitting on 18" Audi RS rotor clones. And some friends and acossiates have thought it was 10 years newer than it is.
I can't handle the gaudy design of the Japanese makes, Mazda being the exception. I don't like the 'look at me' info tainment screens, either. Passat = understated elegance.
Christopher D agreed, the Mazda 6 is a fantastic looking car with its swooping fenders in the front, and much simpler lines compared to its other competition. I have always found it weird how VW guys like Mazda, every single one I talk to, and I am no exception. I cross shopped the 6 before I bought my 2015 Passat, and also an Audi A4. Got a very good deal on the Passat so that’s what I went with, and I haven’t looked back. Put LED headlights in it because it is a Wolfsburg edition and had halogens, and put Audi A5 wheels on it. It gets a lot of compliments.
The whole VW line in the US used to be more premium in both quality and price, but VW wasn't selling as many cars as they would have liked, especially in such a crowded marketplace, so about 15 years ago they cut costs on the US vehicles in an effort to better compete. Most say it has worked.
This car has been severely overlooked and you can get them for well, well under $30k. If they offered a manual option, I'd be all over it. This with a 6 speed manual would be a PERFECT daddy car.
Geek Therapy Radio I totally agree. DSG's are pitiful sensory wise. They often burp. They break down and are expensive to fix. You are just handing off human labor of clutch control to the new invention but aside from speed of shift, it's inferior and unreliable
Dsg has surpassed manual so long ago. If this was manual it would actually lose sales not gain any. PORSCHE makes the best dual clutch , than bmw, than Audi/vw
Great review. I own a 17 1.8 turbo and it's a fun car especially if one were to do any of the available cheap mods. When you take into account that this car has a longer warranty than the Accord and was easily found for 3k under the sticker I'm taking the Passat every time. I've been over 40k trouble free miles so far.
They haven’t changed much since 2012. One of the oldest sedan designs currently in the new car market. Like yes they’ve updated the headlights and added reflectors to the rear bumper. Added the Turbo 4 instead of the awesome 2.5L inline 5 cylinder engine.
I have this exact car and color and I love it. I liked the driving feel of the Mazda 6 as far as steering and feeling the road. But it's a VW Passat. Just like Audi you can drive it with a fingertip. But the look, interior is really comfortable and doesn't have to much going on inside. Looks great sounds great and feels great to drive. Feels more retro then and less assisted then newer cars, which is what I wanted
Just purchased one this week. It's a fantastic car. It handles well, its fun, its practical, and sounds great stock. This is NOT a track car/something I'd even consider taking to a track. But it's perfect to have sensible fun on back roads. Only nitpicks so far is it has trouble putting down power as a FWD and with the stock tires. Wish they still sold it and refreshed with a larger infotainment and instrument cluster. Still, I'd give it a 8/10 overall and I'd recommend you buy it if you've been contemplating it.
I really like this car! It's a total bargain! Especially with today's money inflation, a car fully loaded with a sunroof and V6 right below $30k is a total steal👍 I'll take it!
I worked for VW as a salesperson for 10 months, and no one called it the VR6. No one other than the mechanics and another car guy salesperson knew what it was. It's not in any sales brochures or dealer booklets. Even in the new Atlas, the 3.0l VR6 is just called a V6. It's like there's a conscious effort by VW corporate to drop the name entirely.
If you want a manual, your only option would still be the Accord sport, which he didn’t mention. The 2.0 accord also comes with a 10 speed automatic but i’m sure the dsg is still the better transmission as far as automatics are concerned.
new GT owner here!! I just bought this car yesterday a few day ago. Now here are a few thing i immediately noticed with just a few days of driving. Pros: VR6 engine and transmission are definitely the highlights and the primary reason i bought this car Trunk space and rear leg room are great since i'll be putting my 2 sons back there Handles fairly well in the corners and is soft for bringing the family around Cons: While the car is soft, it definitely can be a little bit firmer as my wife's mazda6 grand touring handles better and is still compliant for the most part Steering is too light, my wife' mazda6 grand touring has way better steering feel and feedback There is some torque steer at 75 to 100% throttle MPG is definitely not up to par with comparable cars in segment (i.e. accord sport and camry V6) Overall this will be a good addition to our family lineup; and I like the minimalistic VW interior/exterior design, android auto, great interior space, and the engine/transmission. I wasn't a fan of the new accord 2.0T or camry V6. This DSG and NA V6 is simplistic and engaging when you want it to be. I'm really going to enjoy the that 6 year 72k miles bumper to bumper warranty as well.
THANKS! I found this review to be the most informative one on this car that I have found thus far. You answered the questions that are important to me. We have a 2015 and a 2016 Passat and we love them. I’ve always wanted a VR6 engine with a DSG, so since it is not available for 2019, I am buying this model.
I understand that this is a grandpas car but the vr6 exhaust note is one of the most pleasing acoustics..........if it sounds nice i don't understand the obnoxiousness......its not like hes recommending to stright pipe a POS sentra. Borla actually made tastefull exhuast with a collaboration with european car magazine.
Miguel Garcia you just said yourself that it’s a grandpas car so what does a Borla need to be installed for? They did it justice from the factory seeing as how most midsized sedans don’t have any to very little noise from the exhaust unless it’s an expensive luxury sedan with real performance upgrades. It’s still a Passat at the end of the day
My dad just got one and this sound coming from the factory, im shocked. I think he really undersold it in terms of sound. For a mid size sedan, i dont think you'd want it louder. When getting that VR6 engine up in the higher rev ranges with this sport tuned exhaust, I forgot what I was driving a passat lol
I test drove one of these today - loved the VR6 and exhaust note, and the stereo sounded surprisingly good playing a CD! What killed it for me was the lack of steering wheel adjustment and wheel noise - I'd prefer a set of 18s with more sidewall.
These tires are horrid, my winters feel 10x better and you can barely hear them. They are 235 50R17 tires on smaller 17x8" wheels. I kept the width, but added sidewall.
It does, but there's a limited range of motion. I like setting my steering wheel close to perpendicular, but this one didn't go much further than 45 degrees, not unlike the steering wheel on a bus. Nice car, but I couldn't get comfortable.
@@richardcarey6604 I agree and had the same issue with the wheel-doesnt tilt down far enough not to mention it's off center(that doesn't bother me). Strangely I think previous year/older models even as recent as 16 tilted much lower. Mazda 6s new seats are so comfortable and driving position is near perfect. Just wish it had a VR6:)
Just got one as a loaner today, not the GT, but the upper trim with the VR6 (V6) and DSG. Not bad at all, except I couldn't find the T/C off button anywhere. If I were to lease it first thing I'd do is to get a free flowing exhaust, that VR6 sounds glorious.
Excellent reviewer! I like the looks of this car vs Honda Accord! I am a Honda guy but the VW styling even though it's older still looks better than the Honda!!
This guy gets it...most other car evaluators don't. They'll say " if you want sporty , get a sports car" I always need room, love to drive, but don't think I should have to spend $50-70,000 on a depreciating asset/sports sedan!
Love the ones takes Zack!! I've been watching since the beginning, and love ya'lls channel. Matt is awesome at reviewing cars, but I love getting both of ya'lls perspectives on cars. Keep it up man!!
The Passat has so much value tbh. V6 with a dual clutch for $29k new? Woah The interior isn’t impressive but looks pretty good otherwise. Only thing I wish is that I wish cars haven’t gotten so big over the years. This setup in a Jetta or GTI would be amazing lol
DGS transmission is good but in slow city etc. traffic that you move and stop and continue during it; auto gets confused a lot and that fucks up the life of the tranny too. In traffic, you should drive it kind of like manual, 1 st gear and/or 2nd gear to move and stop. Going too slow and keep stopping and moving all the time, something that DGS cannot handle. However, it performs good in normal or fast driving conditions without stooping and going slowly all the time.
Went from a Camry XSE to an Accord Sport 2.0 (I know this video is old, but I am sure someone might look into it) and zack is correct, the accord doesn't feel stuck to the road, its over sprung for its weight, I think the softer EXL felt more planted than the sport, but both felt SOFT AF compared to the Camry XSE whose suspension felt rock solid and gripped everywhere even under extreme conditions. Yes, the camry had a bit more body roll, but it also felt like it had much more grip at the limit.
Rene Rios Comfort-wise I think VW does better but I think the new Accord is hands down more stylish and yet elegant via it's simplicity and roomy cabin space.
Rene Rios No I hear you. I got a 17 Civic and some of it is flimsy and all the dealer says is "lightweight". Sadly true is that most people go with the flow and will not catch defects and problems on the assembly line and that's why where something is made matters so much. Mine was made in the U.K. while your Honda in Ohio I think. Anyways I always enjoy how VW's feel when they are newer and if your wallet is fat enough you can keep it up but mine is not fat so I went back to Honda after a16 years of VW and then two with 2004/2005 Mazdas. Ford ruined Mazdas during that timeframe. I'm thinking about a new Mazda 3. I want more luxury than my Civic has.
James Speer I just like Turbocharged engines and German styling as well as fast transmissions (DSG/S Tronic) I got the accord in a Manual because I couldn’t deal with a CVT that comes standard. VW also suffers from the American made stuff a lot more with the Atlas and Passat being built in Tennessee and selling a lot of lemons. The Mazda’s have caught my attention though now that they are turbocharged.
I just found this video so late on the shirt, but thanks for doing out of your way to help fire victims. I live in Butte County and what happened to Paradise is just beyond believe. Its going to take many years to recover and any help is appreciated.
thanks for telling us the difference on this one. I have a 2017 Passat R-Line and it's a blast to drive,V6 on here is mega strong. I miss also the beefier steering. I have that on my 2010 2.0 TDI Jetta 6-Speed ,Passats feel light and they really need to be driven some distance to appreciate their craftsmanship and driving charasteristics. Super
I think that the stock exhaust sounded real good....I gotta search AWE and see if they made a exhaust video yet,the VR6 engine is the best sounding V6 available today in America in my opinion.
Drove this car today at the ATL Auto Show. I'm sold. Did not think I would leave there loving any VW. The snappiness of the V6 with the DSG is just perfect. Not many cars built like that anymore. I also LOVE that it doesn't have a tablet stuck to the dash. The clean lines of the dash are a thumbs up from me. Don't care about a computer/tablet in my car. Maybe I'm getting old, but tired of seeing that crap in cars today.
The Passat's class always has been a bit difficult to determine. It has the size of an E-Class, a 5 Series or an A6 but is much closer in price to a C-Class, a 3 Series or an A4.
Its not difficult to determine, just difficult to sell. It sits in an in-between "not quite luxury" class all by itself that Merican just don't know what to make of.
VW Passat GT VR6 all day long. Go to the after market go fast parts bin and also the VW parts bin especially the MK5 R32 some parts from the MK5 R32 fit, and you can turn the Passat GT into a proper GT. Hope to pick up a GT soon.
Good review, i currently own a 18' Accord Sport 2.0T with the 10 Speed Auto. Regarding your statements about how magazines get car times.. I believe the Accord is officially rated at 14.1 or 14.2 in the quarter mile, something along those lines via the magazine. However at our local track here I was able to do 13.91 @ 102 MPH in a completely stock accord 2.0T, i ran three times in a row and was consistent each and every time (thanks automatic!) - But yeah, unsure how im getting faster then the magazines, but im doing 13s in mine, full weight, even with spare tire in the trunk still etc - nothing changed
It ist an old Design this is almost the same as the 2005 european Passat. The Euro Version recieved a new trim in the last Generation, that doesn't look old, this Modell ist mostly recycled parts from previous generations. Except the Entertainment System, anders the steering wheel.
upload2014 no GPS at all in the US, as this GT has the Composition Media infotainment as opposed to the upgraded GPS-enabled Discover Media Infotainment, the latter of which is in the top trim Passat and GLI. Discover Media also has the color center dash info screen instead of the monochrome on the GT. Interestingly enough, Canada gets the GT with the upgraded infotainment!
I love vw but here in the U.S. reliability seems to be a problem unlike in Germany where you see them past 200K. At this price point IMO, The Mazda 6 would be my pick.
Depends on the origin of the car some are built in EU/Germany and they seem to hold up well, but the Mexican builds tend to have some random issues. Overall I would take the reliability woes (as they aren't that common and covered on warranty) over the competition when it comes to driving experience. No Asian market car feels as good on the pavement as it's German counterpart IMO.
The Mazda 6 is a darn good car. One of my favorites in the segment. I own a B7 Passat though, I love it. I have the TSi model, test drove a Mazda 6 and cross shopped but got a better deal on a Passat. You can’t go wrong with either tbh. I have owned a B5 Audi A4 and B5.5 VW Passat and both tan extremely well when I sold them at well over 200k, last I knew that Audi is still on the road, and the guy who bought it had one that had almost 400k on it and bought mine as a backup.
I had one before I bought my mk7.5 golf r and it was amazing I straight piped it but fifteen52 wheels on and a roof rack. Miss that car whole heartedly. Definitely a good choice if looking for a fun car with plenty of room.
I don’t get why they don’t market the biggest feature of this car: the VR6! VW used to shout from the rooftops that they had engineered a great compromise between a straight six and a VR6, and now they hardly market it at all. No wonder enthusiasts don’t talk about cars like this anymore.
They're phasing the VR6 out. This will be the last year they put a VR6 in the Passat (and the only year for the GT trim). I'm not sure what other cars they put it in, I know they're using turbo 4s for even their large SUV.
I have this car and while i love the motor, the fuel economy is terrible. I traded in a MK7 GTi which averaged almost 40mpg over the 4 years i owned it. This is averaging closer to 20mpg After checking fuelly, the GTI was actually closer to 35mpg, my mistake
The reason this car handles better which this guy failed to mention is the presence of an LSD diff that the Accord doesn't have which does miracles in terms of handling
You can generally strike a better deal with the Passat vs. the Accord. For just a general idea Carsdirect.com has a target price with their dealerships of $26,000 for the Passat GT. That's a very good price for what you get. The best you can get through them with the Accord Sport T is $30,000. Four grand is a pretty substantial difference.
Review style video suits you well. You can try to put some insider joke before the drive to make the cars you are reviewing more memorable. Hope you do more like that :-) Thumbs Up
And if you walk into a good vw dealer they will slash about $5k off the price pretty quick. So for about $25k this is a hell of a car even if the new 2020 is just around the corner
The more I watched and listened to your video, the more I appreciated my car. After all, to me, the important driving characteristics of a vehicle go on visibility/steering feel/braking/engine performance categorization. As far as that, my 2004 SVT focus so far seems to be a champ in the first 2 categories and a decent performer in the next 2 categories. Sure, I know that 7-7.5 sec 0-60 is nothing to write home abut in modern day and age, neither is 170 ft 70-0 mph braking performance, but there is something about the steering feel and cornering speed of the SVT Focus.
I had two different VWs from different years, and in my lifetime alone an older friend of mine has owned four Passats including one from this generation as well as a 2001 New Beetle and a GTI, never a mechanical or electric problem. My 2012 Beetle had a recall to the power windows. They never stopped working, they were just underpowered and the anti-pinch technology would detect the friction it struggled to overcome as a limb being in the way so the window came back down. These were replaced free of charge. Only problem either of us ever had with a Volkswagen. We put probably close to a million miles on these eight cars.
If VW put the VR6 and a 6spd in the GTI, it would be extremely difficult to not walk into a dealership and get one.
They did, and it was.
@@krane15 best reply ever 😂
There used to be 2.8L VR6 in the Mk4. And then of course R32 (3.2L AWD)
Put a mild catback on it, cool wheels, and a slight drop and i'm all about it. love the VR6 sound.
Why would you bother doing that? The Passat GT comes with a specifically designed custom dual exhaust that sounds GREAT already, it has a sport tuned suspension with 0.6" drop from a run of the mill Passat and comes with those gorgeous 19" Tornado wheels.
@@waltherppx6314 Wheel gap is still too large for my taste, The stock 19's don't do it for me design wise, and stock exhaust muffles the VR6 noise too much. It's fine if you like factory cars but nah I'd change those three things within 1000 miles of ownership.
@@ryanwreyford9039 Well, the 2018 VWs come with a 6 year/72K bumper-to bumper warranty so I would advise against doing anything to the exhaust or suspension until the factory warranty was up.
@@waltherppx6314 Exhaust and suspension do not Void the factory warranty. Like I said it's fine if you like factory spec cars but nah, even for a daily I'd add some character. Anything else?
@@ryanwreyford9039 I'd check with your local VW dealer to confirm that assumption.
5 years in, original owner, 74,800 miles, APR stage 1 tune, Pilot Sport 4S Tires. Super reliable. I still love this car. Smooth, agile when it needs to be, tons of room. The noise in the cabin especially at highway speeds still sucks, I feel like short me is still too night in the driver seat, but the looks of this car keeps getting better. You can't use the OEM stock tire. Throw it away immediately. Sound system is surprisingly good for what it is. Nothing amazing, but still beats a LOT of cars within it's price range and even more expensive cars.
My dad just got this car and we've had it for about a month now and there is no other car on sale that has this good of a sounding exhaust just over 30k imo. I'm shocked how well it sounds given its class. On cold starts u think theres an RS4 parked outside or somethin lol. It even has subtle crackles on down shifts. Its just a nice surprise from the audible dept. Nothing else in its class can come close in terms of sound imo
Thats bc its a VR6 one of the best sounding engines ever, search vr6 exhaust
Hello , I wanted to ask which car do people buy more in your region , is it accord or passat?
I have a 2013 Passat vr6 with just under 100k miles. It’s mechanically perfect still. Body is getting dinged up a bit. I have 3 kids that are under 5. It’s my favorite car I’ve ever owned. I really wish it was awd though. It has a ton of power and lots of times just spins the tires.
AircraftMechanic how about RWD?
Sounds good - thanks for your experience with the Passat.
I’d buy this over any of the competitors just for that VR6 engine and sound. Toss an aftermarket exhaust on that B and people will be like, “WTF is that heavenly sound coming out of?!” ...As they look around confused lol.
Braedon Dowell even just a rear muffler delete would do if your looking for sound
Driveitsideways 1 wrong! There is no turbo. You don't just take mufflers off and call it good unless you're being cheap.
James Speer I know there is no turbo where did that come from? And if your looking only for sound why not just do a rear muffler delete? VR6 would sound excellent it’s not like you’ll get power gains off doing a full exhaust anyway unless you plan on getting it tuned
Driveitsideways 1 Well every situation is different. I guess you can start by trying a VR6 without a muffler but my experience is that the best performance even before tuning is in using a straight through muffler but the specs of the muffler chosen can give you exactly the tone and sound you want. The muffler is essentially a tuning mechanism for sound. If all you have is an open pipe then you will usually have too much noise unless a turbo is blocking the path of the noise. Of course your catalytic also blocks the path and drops sound. I hear too many NA musclecars with cat deletes and maybe gutted mufflers that are obnoxious and rude. My Mustang is almost like that except it's all bass so it sets off alarms and gives me a headache so I am changing it soon from the crappy Magnaflow mufflers
James Speer you don’t need to tell me about performance, I know all about it I’ve owned multiple cars with exhausts. And on a car without a tune a exhaust is pointless except for sound. Also a rear muffler delete would barely make the car louder, just give it a decent tone. These cars come equipped with multiple mufflers, deleting one will just slightly beef the tone.
How tf does BMW charge a subscription fee for Android Auto/Carplay???
It's BMW, that's why.
While it does sound outrageous, it makes sense for people who lease( instead of a upfront price, it's broken up). I do think they should just make it a standard for vehicles.
They actually charge you for doing free ad for them, driving around that oil leak prone vehicle.
BMW is just getting retarded about Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. They will lose a lot of sales until they get with the times.
Demand, and supply at a premium.
VR6 Passat owner here. Just wanted to throw this out there: if you do not have the budget for the GT and don’t mind missing out on Apple CarPlay, the re-tuned suspension and exhaust, you can get a used 2012-2015 V6 SEL for half the price, and 90% of everything you see in the video.
I picked up a 2015 VR6 SEL earlier this year for a shade over $10k and it’s a lot of car for the money. They can easily be had for about $14-$15k with low miles.
Good advice. Car play isn't necessary with a good aux cable and a mount for a phone. Add in some aftermarket suspension and you're on your way (sans warranty of course). ZK
At the end of the day, I'm just a VW guy. IMO, VW's older design language ages (and will continue to age) much better than its overstyled and trendy Asian competition.
Agreed, I have a 99 b5 Passat gls with a 9/10 exterior, sitting on 18" Audi RS rotor clones. And some friends and acossiates have thought it was 10 years newer than it is.
I can't handle the gaudy design of the Japanese makes, Mazda being the exception. I don't like the 'look at me' info tainment screens, either. Passat = understated elegance.
Christopher D agreed, the Mazda 6 is a fantastic looking car with its swooping fenders in the front, and much simpler lines compared to its other competition. I have always found it weird how VW guys like Mazda, every single one I talk to, and I am no exception. I cross shopped the 6 before I bought my 2015 Passat, and also an Audi A4. Got a very good deal on the Passat so that’s what I went with, and I haven’t looked back. Put LED headlights in it because it is a Wolfsburg edition and had halogens, and put Audi A5 wheels on it. It gets a lot of compliments.
Interesting video to watch for Europeans. Our Passat's are very different, more premium both in quality and in price. But we can't get a V6 Passat
Petrolheadish we did get the r36 Passat but don’t think they continued it in the later models
I know, I was obviously talking about the current generation Passat. The Passat B8 is only offered with 4cyl engines in Europe
The V6 is cancelled here too as of 2019. I like this GT trim. Too bad it will end up being 2018 only.
But we get the Passat with the 280hp 2.0tsi which is a slightly detuned Golf R engine. And the glorious Skoda Superb.
The whole VW line in the US used to be more premium in both quality and price, but VW wasn't selling as many cars as they would have liked, especially in such a crowded marketplace, so about 15 years ago they cut costs on the US vehicles in an effort to better compete. Most say it has worked.
This car has been severely overlooked and you can get them for well, well under $30k. If they offered a manual option, I'd be all over it. This with a 6 speed manual would be a PERFECT daddy car.
Geek Therapy Radio u ever drove one with dsg. Transmisión?
@@THEREAL_GZUS Yes. DSG's are faster. Foot down, go fast. A brick will get the same result.
Geek Therapy Radio I totally agree. DSG's are pitiful sensory wise. They often burp. They break down and are expensive to fix. You are just handing off human labor of clutch control to the new invention but aside from speed of shift, it's inferior and unreliable
Dsg has surpassed manual so long ago. If this was manual it would actually lose sales not gain any.
PORSCHE makes the best dual clutch , than bmw, than Audi/vw
Geek Therapy Radio dsg is more complicated than comparing it to just putting the gas to the floor, the technology and engineering is very advanced
Great review. I own a 17 1.8 turbo and it's a fun car especially if one were to do any of the available cheap mods. When you take into account that this car has a longer warranty than the Accord and was easily found for 3k under the sticker I'm taking the Passat every time. I've been over 40k trouble free miles so far.
They haven’t changed much since 2012. One of the oldest sedan designs currently in the new car market. Like yes they’ve updated the headlights and added reflectors to the rear bumper. Added the Turbo 4 instead of the awesome 2.5L inline 5 cylinder engine.
I have this exact car and color and I love it. I liked the driving feel of the Mazda 6 as far as steering and feeling the road. But it's a VW Passat. Just like Audi you can drive it with a fingertip. But the look, interior is really comfortable and doesn't have to much going on inside. Looks great sounds great and feels great to drive. Feels more retro then and less assisted then newer cars, which is what I wanted
Just purchased one this week. It's a fantastic car. It handles well, its fun, its practical, and sounds great stock. This is NOT a track car/something I'd even consider taking to a track. But it's perfect to have sensible fun on back roads. Only nitpicks so far is it has trouble putting down power as a FWD and with the stock tires. Wish they still sold it and refreshed with a larger infotainment and instrument cluster. Still, I'd give it a 8/10 overall and I'd recommend you buy it if you've been contemplating it.
I really like this car! It's a total bargain! Especially with today's money inflation, a car fully loaded with a sunroof and V6 right below $30k is a total steal👍 I'll take it!
Interesting how vw calls it a "v6", they used to proudly advertise when their cars had the vr6 but it doesn't seem like they have in a while
It seems some places it is referred to as VR6 and others as a V6, but the VR6 is just a narrow angle V6, so either way it's a V6 technically ...
I worked for VW as a salesperson for 10 months, and no one called it the VR6. No one other than the mechanics and another car guy salesperson knew what it was. It's not in any sales brochures or dealer booklets. Even in the new Atlas, the 3.0l VR6 is just called a V6. It's like there's a conscious effort by VW corporate to drop the name entirely.
@@joshcorvette Hmm, that's interesting. I wonder why they do that. Thanks for sharing the insight
Deter Pinklage my guess is that it can't inherently be advertised as a benefit so they just call it a V6 as to not scare people
Most people probably dont know what a VR6 is and to not confuse them they just label it a V6 because everybody knows what that is
If you want a manual, your only option would still be the Accord sport, which he didn’t mention. The 2.0 accord also comes with a 10 speed automatic but i’m sure the dsg is still the better transmission as far as automatics are concerned.
Handcuffs by the bed kind of spin off rants is why I love zach. Keep up the amazing work
new GT owner here!!
I just bought this car yesterday a few day ago.
Now here are a few thing i immediately noticed with just a few days of driving.
Pros:
VR6 engine and transmission are definitely the highlights and the primary reason i bought this car
Trunk space and rear leg room are great since i'll be putting my 2 sons back there
Handles fairly well in the corners and is soft for bringing the family around
Cons:
While the car is soft, it definitely can be a little bit firmer as my wife's mazda6 grand touring handles better and is still compliant for the most part
Steering is too light, my wife' mazda6 grand touring has way better steering feel and feedback
There is some torque steer at 75 to 100% throttle
MPG is definitely not up to par with comparable cars in segment (i.e. accord sport and camry V6)
Overall this will be a good addition to our family lineup; and I like the minimalistic VW interior/exterior design, android auto, great interior space, and the engine/transmission. I wasn't a fan of the new accord 2.0T or camry V6. This DSG and NA V6 is simplistic and engaging when you want it to be. I'm really going to enjoy the that 6 year 72k miles bumper to bumper warranty as well.
anyone else getting a creepy Dennis from Always Sunny vibe?
Take her for a ride out in the Angeles Forest Highway, somewhere nice and comfy, where she can't refuse ... you know, because of the implication ;)
Because of the implication...
Real Dennis or sex doll Dennis
The D.E.N.N.I.S. System:
D- Demonstrate Value
E- Engage Physically
N- Nurture Dependence
N- Neglect Emotionally
I- Inspire Hope
S- Separate Entirely
It's about the implication. - ZK
Great review man. You're casual and easy to listen to.
THANKS! I found this review to be the most informative one on this car that I have found thus far. You answered the questions that are important to me. We have a 2015 and a 2016 Passat and we love them. I’ve always wanted a VR6 engine with a DSG, so since it is not available for 2019, I am buying this model.
If you like your Passat's now, then you will LOVE the GT;)
Glad to be of help! ZK
It needs a redesign. Kinda starting to look old to me. I also don’t think it needs to be louder, it’s still a family sedan so it can’t be obnoxious 😂
I understand that this is a grandpas car but the vr6 exhaust note is one of the most pleasing acoustics..........if it sounds nice i don't understand the obnoxiousness......its not like hes recommending to stright pipe a POS sentra. Borla actually made tastefull exhuast with a collaboration with european car magazine.
Typical VW. Design is always kind of conservative.
Miguel Garcia you just said yourself that it’s a grandpas car so what does a Borla need to be installed for? They did it justice from the factory seeing as how most midsized sedans don’t have any to very little noise from the exhaust unless it’s an expensive luxury sedan with real performance upgrades. It’s still a Passat at the end of the day
Wait longer lol, the facelift for the Passat is being held off and they don't plan on remaking the GT
My dad just got one and this sound coming from the factory, im shocked. I think he really undersold it in terms of sound. For a mid size sedan, i dont think you'd want it louder. When getting that VR6 engine up in the higher rev ranges with this sport tuned exhaust, I forgot what I was driving a passat lol
I test drove one of these today - loved the VR6 and exhaust note, and the stereo sounded surprisingly good playing a CD! What killed it for me was the lack of steering wheel adjustment and wheel noise - I'd prefer a set of 18s with more sidewall.
These tires are horrid, my winters feel 10x better and you can barely hear them. They are 235 50R17 tires on smaller 17x8" wheels. I kept the width, but added sidewall.
Richard Carey the steering wheel does not telescope or move up and down???
It does, but there's a limited range of motion. I like setting my steering wheel close to perpendicular, but this one didn't go much further than 45 degrees, not unlike the steering wheel on a bus. Nice car, but I couldn't get comfortable.
@@richardcarey6604 I agree and had the same issue with the wheel-doesnt tilt down far enough not to mention it's off center(that doesn't bother me). Strangely I think previous year/older models even as recent as 16 tilted much lower. Mazda 6s new seats are so comfortable and driving position is near perfect. Just wish it had a VR6:)
"...or maybe some kind of book club."
I lol'd, Zack you're funny dude
Just got one as a loaner today, not the GT, but the upper trim with the VR6 (V6) and DSG. Not bad at all, except I couldn't find the T/C off button anywhere. If I were to lease it first thing I'd do is to get a free flowing exhaust, that VR6 sounds glorious.
I'm telling everybody at the Chattanooga plant where this is built that you said you're, "6 feet with hair." That's a new one lmao
I'm local to SoCal with a 16' Passat R-Line with APR stage 2. You wanna do a comparison with it Zack?
ua-cam.com/video/UFA4DtLRYIY/v-deo.html
Excellent reviewer! I like the looks of this car vs Honda Accord! I am a Honda guy but the VW styling even though it's older still looks better than the Honda!!
This guy gets it...most other car evaluators don't. They'll say " if you want sporty , get a sports car" I always need room, love to drive, but don't think I should have to spend $50-70,000 on a depreciating asset/sports sedan!
zack talks so much shit.... and I love it.
Im glad. He needed to figure out his one take personality
Love the ones takes Zack!! I've been watching since the beginning, and love ya'lls channel. Matt is awesome at reviewing cars, but I love getting both of ya'lls perspectives on cars. Keep it up man!!
Great review, good job Zack!!
The Passat has so much value tbh. V6 with a dual clutch for $29k new? Woah
The interior isn’t impressive but looks pretty good otherwise. Only thing I wish is that I wish cars haven’t gotten so big over the years. This setup in a Jetta or GTI would be amazing lol
bcredeur97 i agree, sounds so good and would be super fast in the Jetta. Less weight
ua-cam.com/video/UFA4DtLRYIY/v-deo.html
Got minds for 27 😋😋 new with 64 miles
DGS transmission is good but in slow city etc. traffic that you move and stop and continue during it; auto gets confused a lot and that fucks up the life of the tranny too. In traffic, you should drive it kind of like manual, 1 st gear and/or 2nd gear to move and stop. Going too slow and keep stopping and moving all the time, something that DGS cannot handle. However, it performs good in normal or fast driving conditions without stooping and going slowly all the time.
im not shitting, my dad used to have a passat back in like 2008 and the interior looked 90% the same, nice progress there, volkswagen
Best review yet. Keep hitting us with the stationary info it suits this style of one take so much more!
Went from a Camry XSE to an Accord Sport 2.0 (I know this video is old, but I am sure someone might look into it) and zack is correct, the accord doesn't feel stuck to the road, its over sprung for its weight, I think the softer EXL felt more planted than the sport, but both felt SOFT AF compared to the Camry XSE whose suspension felt rock solid and gripped everywhere even under extreme conditions. Yes, the camry had a bit more body roll, but it also felt like it had much more grip at the limit.
Really good looking car.....I’m a GM guy, but I’d for sure consider this along with the Buick Regal
Nah bro, the Buick is attractive this is just boring.
Clifford Bradford agreed, especially in GS form the regal is super nice
The regal is considerably smaller inside
I'm a GM guy and I love my Mk5 TDI.
I'm a GM guy, but VW does a REALLY good job on interiors
Zack's got a great sense of humor. Best presenter on UA-cam.
Accord sport is a good looking car but the Passat takes the cake easy in terms of elegance.
Rene Rios Comfort-wise I think VW does better but I think the new Accord is hands down more stylish and yet elegant via it's simplicity and roomy cabin space.
Rene Rios No I hear you. I got a 17 Civic and some of it is flimsy and all the dealer says is "lightweight". Sadly true is that most people go with the flow and will not catch defects and problems on the assembly line and that's why where something is made matters so much. Mine was made in the U.K. while your Honda in Ohio I think. Anyways I always enjoy how VW's feel when they are newer and if your wallet is fat enough you can keep it up but mine is not fat so I went back to Honda after a16 years of VW and then two with 2004/2005 Mazdas. Ford ruined Mazdas during that timeframe. I'm thinking about a new Mazda 3. I want more luxury than my Civic has.
James Speer I just like Turbocharged engines and German styling as well as fast transmissions (DSG/S Tronic) I got the accord in a Manual because I couldn’t deal with a CVT that comes standard. VW also suffers from the American made stuff a lot more with the Atlas and Passat being built in Tennessee and selling a lot of lemons. The Mazda’s have caught my attention though now that they are turbocharged.
Super great content pleeeeaase do more of this kind of reviews, great sense of humor, on point talking all the way... Just perfect
I had a '96 Passast GLX that I loved the hell out of... hearing the engine again really brings back memories. I would get one if I could afford it.
You really know how to do a quality car review dude. Up there with the best. Great job! Keep it up
No mention of the thing that is the selling point of this car? The VR6? Without the bloat of SEL?
I was very surprised at this.
I just found this video so late on the shirt, but thanks for doing out of your way to help fire victims. I live in Butte County and what happened to Paradise is just beyond believe. Its going to take many years to recover and any help is appreciated.
thanks for telling us the difference on this one. I have a 2017 Passat R-Line and it's a blast to drive,V6 on here is mega strong. I miss also the beefier steering. I have that on my 2010 2.0 TDI Jetta 6-Speed ,Passats feel light and they really need to be driven some distance to appreciate their craftsmanship and driving charasteristics. Super
Do you guys in America get the R36 Passat? That's like the ultimate version.
Love that VR6 chewbacca exhaust note.
Is the Passat LWB in America so basically a Skoda Superb? Because that leg room was crazy for a midsize
These reviews are so much better than the one takes
I think that the stock exhaust sounded real good....I gotta search AWE and see if they made a exhaust video yet,the VR6 engine is the best sounding V6 available today in America in my opinion.
Lenwood Cruze of course!
Serious question. Does it require/prefer premium gas like the B6 3.6 passats?
I have this exact car. I love the way it drives. I just wish they could bring back the TDI.
No, because of Watergate.
I like that while you still keep the "one take" format, you create your own style Zack! Keep it up!! =D
Best review yet, IMO. Keep up the good work.
Great job Zack! Enjoyed the extra details
The wookiee sound mmmmm
Vr6! Still alive.
Is there a wagon version?
Drove this car today at the ATL Auto Show. I'm sold. Did not think I would leave there loving any VW. The snappiness of the V6 with the DSG is just perfect. Not many cars built like that anymore. I also LOVE that it doesn't have a tablet stuck to the dash. The clean lines of the dash are a thumbs up from me. Don't care about a computer/tablet in my car. Maybe I'm getting old, but tired of seeing that crap in cars today.
The Passat's class always has been a bit difficult to determine. It has the size of an E-Class, a 5 Series or an A6 but is much closer in price to a C-Class, a 3 Series or an A4.
Its not difficult to determine, just difficult to sell. It sits in an in-between "not quite luxury" class all by itself that Merican just don't know what to make of.
Should be able to somewhat tune the steering using VCDS.
I appreciate the more in depth review of the features, it feels like I know the car better
Table tennis room is definitely a necessity
VW Passat GT VR6 all day long. Go to the after market go fast parts bin and also the VW parts bin especially the MK5 R32 some parts from the MK5 R32 fit, and you can turn the Passat GT into a proper GT. Hope to pick up a GT soon.
Good review, i currently own a 18' Accord Sport 2.0T with the 10 Speed Auto. Regarding your statements about how magazines get car times.. I believe the Accord is officially rated at 14.1 or 14.2 in the quarter mile, something along those lines via the magazine. However at our local track here I was able to do 13.91 @ 102 MPH in a completely stock accord 2.0T, i ran three times in a row and was consistent each and every time (thanks automatic!) - But yeah, unsure how im getting faster then the magazines, but im doing 13s in mine, full weight, even with spare tire in the trunk still etc - nothing changed
temperature, altitude, track surface, .... close enough to not worry I'd say.
Having Apple CarPlay on the center display and hanging the phone right above it. Its not just the red stripes that hint something.
Is there a manual transmission offered?
Yes, in 1985
Was the title intended to use the car names as verbs or is it a typo?
Wait. Bmw charges for apple car play subscription!!!???
I'll have the Accord with a manual...in 10 years when I can afford a 2019 model.
Zack you're on fire! Keep it up
The 1.5 accord has the manual available. Should've tested the 2.0 liter sport 10spd accord vs vr6 passat to compare the trans also.
no mention of the legendary VR6 brought back?
I guess vw isn't calling it a VR6 anymore but it sure sounds like it is - which is to say great.
VW DSG transmissions are usually jerky around town, its completely normal
Exterior and interior looks dated already. The only nice features is the digital gauge cluster with integrated GPS and the interior trim lighting
It ist an old Design this is almost the same as the 2005 european Passat. The Euro Version recieved a new trim in the last Generation, that doesn't look old, this Modell ist mostly recycled parts from previous generations. Except the Entertainment System, anders the steering wheel.
upload2014 no GPS at all in the US, as this GT has the Composition Media infotainment as opposed to the upgraded GPS-enabled Discover Media Infotainment, the latter of which is in the top trim Passat and GLI. Discover Media also has the color center dash info screen instead of the monochrome on the GT. Interestingly enough, Canada gets the GT with the upgraded infotainment!
Sweet back-seat review!
I love vw but here in the U.S. reliability seems to be a problem unlike in Germany where you see them past 200K.
At this price point IMO, The Mazda 6 would be my pick.
Depends on the origin of the car some are built in EU/Germany and they seem to hold up well, but the Mexican builds tend to have some random issues. Overall I would take the reliability woes (as they aren't that common and covered on warranty) over the competition when it comes to driving experience. No Asian market car feels as good on the pavement as it's German counterpart IMO.
Ditto, Mazda comes about close as your going to get to the feel of a German car and for a lot less money.
The Mazda 6 is a darn good car. One of my favorites in the segment. I own a B7 Passat though, I love it. I have the TSi model, test drove a Mazda 6 and cross shopped but got a better deal on a Passat. You can’t go wrong with either tbh. I have owned a B5 Audi A4 and B5.5 VW Passat and both tan extremely well when I sold them at well over 200k, last I knew that Audi is still on the road, and the guy who bought it had one that had almost 400k on it and bought mine as a backup.
I had one before I bought my mk7.5 golf r and it was amazing I straight piped it but fifteen52 wheels on and a roof rack. Miss that car whole heartedly. Definitely a good choice if looking for a fun car with plenty of room.
Why does the US get the old 2005-2010 passat with a facelift and not the the 2014+ model? Really weird..
I don’t get why they don’t market the biggest feature of this car: the VR6! VW used to shout from the rooftops that they had engineered a great compromise between a straight six and a VR6, and now they hardly market it at all. No wonder enthusiasts don’t talk about cars like this anymore.
They're phasing the VR6 out. This will be the last year they put a VR6 in the Passat (and the only year for the GT trim). I'm not sure what other cars they put it in, I know they're using turbo 4s for even their large SUV.
I have this car and while i love the motor, the fuel economy is terrible. I traded in a MK7 GTi which averaged almost 40mpg over the 4 years i owned it. This is averaging closer to 20mpg
After checking fuelly, the GTI was actually closer to 35mpg, my mistake
How do I get my Evo IX on a One Take?
Email thesmokingtire@gmail.com (preferable if you live in/ visit CA)
The reason this car handles better which this guy failed to mention is the presence of an LSD diff that the Accord doesn't have which does miracles in terms of handling
That exhaust note is NICE!
You can generally strike a better deal with the Passat vs. the Accord. For just a general idea Carsdirect.com has a target price with their dealerships of $26,000 for the Passat GT. That's a very good price for what you get. The best you can get through them with the Accord Sport T is $30,000. Four grand is a pretty substantial difference.
Good review Zack, I leaned a lot
Review style video suits you well. You can try to put some insider joke before the drive to make the cars you are reviewing more memorable. Hope you do more like that :-) Thumbs Up
Sounds way better than expected
Retuned?
What engine / hp/trq does that one have
jamie c in europe 300ps @6600rpm and 350nm @ 2400rpm
jamie c Watch the review and listen, he tells you.
I love the sound of the VR6. 👍🏾👍🏾
And if you walk into a good vw dealer they will slash about $5k off the price pretty quick. So for about $25k this is a hell of a car even if the new 2020 is just around the corner
Gosh, I hope he notices the steering column is like off-center.
Mazel Tov! I see you wearing a Moto shirt and remembered that you just got hitched in Hudson.
The more I watched and listened to your video, the more I appreciated my car. After all, to me, the important driving characteristics of a vehicle go on visibility/steering feel/braking/engine performance categorization. As far as that, my 2004 SVT focus so far seems to be a champ in the first 2 categories and a decent performer in the next 2 categories. Sure, I know that 7-7.5 sec 0-60 is nothing to write home abut in modern day and age, neither is 170 ft 70-0 mph braking performance, but there is something about the steering feel and cornering speed of the SVT Focus.
It's their "Sport trim" should have forgone the sunroof for radar cruise control
Nice review....love some Zack humor :)
It’s not a true VW if the check engine light is not on 👍🏽.
Or electrical problems
VW are definitely faster to going back to your dealership for uncertain repairs "Sport".
I had two different VWs from different years, and in my lifetime alone an older friend of mine has owned four Passats including one from this generation as well as a 2001 New Beetle and a GTI, never a mechanical or electric problem. My 2012 Beetle had a recall to the power windows. They never stopped working, they were just underpowered and the anti-pinch technology would detect the friction it struggled to overcome as a limb being in the way so the window came back down. These were replaced free of charge. Only problem either of us ever had with a Volkswagen. We put probably close to a million miles on these eight cars.
@@Oetti
yeah _____________my jetta 200k miles no problems with it
Everyone I know who has owned a VW has regretted it.