In the realm of desirable German cars, the Volkswagen Passat scores remarkably low – undermining what a great car it truly is. There have been a few generations now, some based upon Audis and some based upon modified Golf platforms. Each platform has it’s own stars; the B2 saw the Audi Quattro-based GL5 Synro. For B3 fans, the 16V G60 Syncro Variant turned things up a notch, even if it wasn’t available in the U.S.. And the B5.5 saw the development version of the “W” engine platform, with one of the most highly sought after Passats in the form of the W8 4Motion Variant 6-speed manual. But while the B4 had no such enthusiast notables, there were two very competent versions of the mid-90s Passats available. First was the sporty VR6 model, especially desirable in Variant form since we didn’t receive the 4-door GTi or Golf Variant on these shores. But for the budget-minded mega-milers, one of the true hidden gems of the water-cooled community was produced – the TDi Variant. Available only for a short time and in limited numbers, these cars are easily capable of a Prius-crushing 50 m.p.g. and have room for the family. Like many of the Audi/Volkswagen products, they have a loyal community that follows them and enthusiastically cares for them, no matter how many miles pop up. Recently we saw one of these TDi Variants top $13,000 in similar condition – about as strong as money gets for any of the pre-2000 watercooled Volkswagen products outside of the camper vans:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1996 Volkswagen Passat TDi Variant on eBay
Year: 1996
Model: Passat TDi Variant
Engine: 1.9 liter turbocharged inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 260,000 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction
“The B4V-TDI Wagons were only built in 1996 and early 1997, with a total production of only 1400 wagons, with only 980 of those sold in the US. High survival rate due to passionate responsible ownership. There were also around 3800 of the 1996 Passat TDI SEDANS sold in the US in 1996.The Passat B4-TDI Sedan and Wagons, largest VWs ever made. Higher quality, more interior room and better mileage than newer TDIs And they get 45 to 55 MPG, 1000 -1300 miles a tank! And they appreciate in Value! All 1996-97 Passat TDIs built in Germany. Hands-on “Wolfsburg Edition” (most newer VWs now built in South America/Mexico)â€
Just completed an engine/trans swap with ones that had only 25,000 miles on them (I bought these about 5 years ago for a TDI swapout that never happened & since I know how rare it is to find low mileage drivetrains for this car I have stored it in my dry storage container since then knowing that one day I would find a good use for them) I used all the “proper” fluids & necessary accessories & belts when doing the swap. Everything else about the car is functional. For those of you in the know about B4V you’ll realize how rare it is to find one that doesn’t have at least something that is not working properly. The only known issue is the lft frnt window regulator if you hold your finger on the switch after the window is up it will click. Other then that it works perfectly as all the other windows do. The exterior has the typical wear & tear of an almost 20 yr old car w/a quarter million miles on it. I should mention at this point that theere are two small spots on the hood where the clear coat is just starting to peel a bit (see attached photos).There is absolutely no rust or corrosion anywhere, no dents or body damage, glass is unscathed, tires have about %80 tread left. The interior is in excellent clean condition w/no stains tears or rips in any of the upholstery. I have the sliding rear compartment cover & tracks stored in my container & will happily include those if you would like (I’ve never used it)I will also include service records from the previous owner (see photos)I have the original owners manual as well as several keys. The car runs amazingly well for the miles, suspension is tight & the low mileage drive train purrs like a champ. It’s for sale locally in Portland OR & I’d be happy to show it there this next week till the end of the auction. Just noticed that the Autocheck that was automatically printed as part of my ad lists 5 owners & I’m not sure where this came from as there has only been two. There were two minor accidents reported both involving incidents w/deer. Repaired correctly w/no evidence visible or otherwise. I’m happy to share a copy of the carfax if anyone so desires just contact me about it!
Generally speaking, a 260,000 mile Passat wagon that’s slow and maroon wouldn’t be too exciting, but these really are pretty hard packages to come by these days. Of note is the line stuck in the middle of the description; even amongst other Volkswagen products B4s aren’t known for being the pinnacle of reliability especially when it comes to electronics, so having one with everything functioning is a bit of a cause for celebration. Overall condition is very good considering the miles covered and the engine swap to lower miles should provide another quarter million miles or so of frugal driving. For someone who really racks up daily driver miles, this car could be a great cost-savings answer to what to buy; it won’t be a Prius with a warranty, and for some that’s a good thing. I especially love how diesel owners tout how many miles and miles per gallon their cars have achieved rather than how few miles and how quick to 60 miles per and hour they are. This car oozes character similar to the old W123 Benz diesels, and has longevity to match them.
-Carter
