non-E30 content: new VW daily = possible lemon?

[funcrew]

I was forced by family circumstances to buy a 2007 Passat with 15K on it. Original owner is deceased. The web user-review sites have a lot of horror stories about this year/model, but it's hard to tell whether those are isolated cases, or maybe the car is destined be a lemon. I'm tempted to flip it ASAP before it bankrupts me. Car is immaculate with all service records, but now out of warranty.

Anybody have experience with late-model Passats and their reliability?

[Julien]

if it's FSI keep an eye out on the high pressure fuel pump follower. It's a $70 part that rides on the camshaft and can wear out. When it does you are out for cam, HPFP, and installation (~2k).. Other than that they are ok cars, just get an APR chip for it ;)

[nando]

fuel pump follower?

I thought mechanical fuel pump stuff went out with the dinosaurs in 1967 :p

[Julien]

fuel pump follower?

I thought mechanical fuel pump stuff went out with the dinosaurs in 1967 :p

high pressure fuel pump for the fuel stratified injection runs off the intake cam on the fsi motors

[tjts1]

Most DI engines use a mechanical fuel pump on the cam and piezo injectors. They run at 150 bar. All the fuel has to be injected in a fraction of the compression stroke.

[funcrew]

I picked up the car this weekend and drove it back in the rain from Pasadena to Las Vegas. It's a wagon, 4cyl turbo with all-wheel-drive and the DSG (twin-clutch automatic) trans. Seems like a smooth & comfy highway cruiser, and the hatch area is cavernous. My son spent 2 hours reading the owner's manual and figuring out all the many electronic gimmicks. The VW lacks much of the "character" <cough> of an E30, but at least my kids don't taunt me when riding in the VW. There's a month left on the factory warranty, so I have to take it in for the dealer to do the cam follower TSB on VW's nickel (hopefully).

Now I'm having to spend valuable R3V time over on the Passat forum so I can get familiar with the eccentricities of that marque.

Anyway, thank to all for your input.