What type of engine should I get in a Volkswagen?

I have been looking at a used Volkswagen Passat and I am not sure whether to get one with a 4 cylinder engine of 6 cylinder engine. I don't want to spend a ton of money, but I would like the car to be worth the money and not be in the shop all the time. What should I get?|||I would stay AWAY from Passats. Unless you like repairing your car constantly. Valve cover gaskets, CV boots, Upper links, and Tie rod ends fail all the time. And they are more expensive to do maintainence on...To do the Timing belt - The whole front bumper has to come off the car and it has to be put in SERVICE position.





Jetta / GTI 2.0 - slow, realible


Jetta / GTI 1.8T - upgradable power, more problems than 2.0


Jetta / GTI VR6 - Fast bone stock, barely any problems if maintained.|||if it is 2006- present, the 4 cylinder 2.0T engine is purely brilliant. It is a award winning that is commended around the world for being both incredibly powerful, while also being reliable and fuel efficient. Its used across the Volkswagen in some Jetta's, all GTi's, most Eos's, most passat's, and even the Tiguan. Audi also uses it in their A3 and A4.





My 2007 GTi has it, and i couldnt be happier. The engine is so fast and peppy, yet i can easily get over 30mpg if i want. If i go the speed limit, especially on the highway, i get 35mpg.|||I had a Jetta which the engine is the same as a passat. Def. go wit the 4 cylinder since its a lot easier to fix up if u r into that kinda stuff. Better on gas and if u want quicker acceleration get the 1.8l Turbo engine. I had a 1.8l 4 cylinder turbo for the jetta and i got it up to 300 hp wit a non-expensive budget, may it rest in peace :*(|||The four cylider...for the reasons previously mentioned...1.8t or newer 2.0t...the v6 is horrible and the VR6 wont give any respectable mileage|||the four cylinder is easier to get parts for and cheaper to get parts for. Easier on gas also|||Kia|||There are a lot of differences in the different years of Passats. I've owned mine since '95, so I'll pretend I'm an expert.





If you are talking '95 - '97 Passats, the only choice is a diesel 4-cylinder or a VR6. The gas 4-cylinder ones were pretty slow. My VR6 gets over 30mpg on the highway - up to about 33.





Evil O is frustrated by Passats because he has been working on '98 to '2004 Passats. They kinda suck. The handling is too soft, the car is too heavy, and the reliability was way off. Mine's not the poster child of reliability, but the '98's on up were pretty bad. In that car, the engines were much different. The 4-cylinder turbo 1.8t is a great engine. The 2.8L V6 (not a VR6) had problems with oil leaks and other stuff, and didn't make much more power than the 1.8t. No reason to get the 2.8V6. A gently modified 1.8t engine can walk all over it.





The new Passats are much nicer cars. They continue to get bigger a bit, but the suspension feel is much better than the previous cars. The engines continue to evolve. The 2.0T is even better than the 1.8T was, and makes for as fast a car as my V6. I haven't driven the new VR6, but I bet I'd cheer for it, too. The difference with the new cars is as much in trim levels as anyhing else. You can't get automatic windshield wipers and other nice stuff with the 2.0T, last I checked. The cars are more divided by features than by engines.





I understand Evil's frustration, but really, I can have the front of my car off in about 20 minutes. That's a lot if you do it every day, but hardly a reason to not buy the car, as an owner. Besides, no matter what car its in, I'll bet the bumper is the least of your worries when it is time to change the timing chain in a VR6 (not that you need that for a good 13 years or so (knock on wood)).