Essential buying guide for used Volkswagen Passat

The Passat is extremely popular in the fleet market, but private buyers are also keen to buy them thanks to residuals which are typically stronger than for more mainstream rivals. It’s not just the financial aspects which are so appealing though; the Passat also has a classy cabin and is great to drive, while it’s generally very reliable too.

While buying any used car, you can get a car that’s almost as good as a brand-new one without paying for the depreciation that wallops new car buyers as soon as they drive the car off the lot. Even cars that are only a year old are 20-30 percent cheaper than brand-new cars. So you have made a smart decision.

Here is a comprehensive guide to the used Passat car buying process.

1. Check the used Passat’s history
You absolutely must get the used VW Passat Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and have a mechanic inspect the car on a lift.

2. Test drive the used Passat
Test-driving a used Volkswagen Passat helps you decide if it is the right car for you and also if this particular car is in good condition. Once you get behind the wheel, ask yourself if it is a good fit for your requirements. Here are few noticeable things about Passat.

•    Exterior Looks –
The most radical part of the Passat’s design are its sides, which feature a curving arch between the front and rear windscreen pillars and give the car its sleek looks. While the front is typically Volkswagen, albeit with a bolder grille and badge, the rear is a new departure for VW, with its unusually-shaped light clusters.

•    Interior Looks & Practicality –
The Passat CC marks a change for Volkswagen, with the trademark blue and red illumination replaced by white lights. The rear houses just two seats, separated by an armrest and storage space, and are very comfortable, and can be heated. The boot measures a useful 532 litres which is impressive, especially as there’s a full-sized spare wheel hidden underneath the carpet.

•    Performance –
The engine options available are three petrol and two diesel engines – a 1.8, 2-litre and 3.6-litre V6 petrol and a pair of 2-litre diesels.

•    Running cost –
Emissions of 153g/km place both diesels in tax band D, which currently costs £144 per year, while emissions of 180, 193 and 242g/km place the petrol engined 1.8, 2-litre and 3.6 in bands E (£170), F (£210) and G (£400) respectively.

•    Safety & Reliability –
It is built with proven technology and should raise little cause for concern. The standard Volkswagen Passat scored a full five star rating for adult occupant protection in the EuroNCAP crash tests. Standard safety equipment includes ABS with brake assist and brake force distribution, driver, passenger, front side and curtain airbags, ESP and whiplash reducing headrests.

3. Used VW Passat Valuation
The value of a used Volkswagen Passat is based on its condition, mileage, reliability, performance and popularity.

4. Visiting the seller
Always visit the seller at their home address. If possible, make this appointment during the day so you can see the car in the daylight and more accurately determine its condition.

5. Documents to check
Don’t buy the used Passat without a V5 (registration document or log book). Check that the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) quoted on the V5 matches those on the MOT certificate and the Passat car: look at the VIN plate on the engine, on the chassis – usually under the carpet to the right of the driver’s seat – and any numbers etched on the windows.

6. Coming to a decision
Before making the final decision, make sure you have done price comparison of various used Volkswagen Passat models available .  Auto Trader has around 3,977 used Volkswagen Passat cars for sale when I searched locally.

Check for other used Volkswagen cars on Volkswagen hub

 

Factors to consider while Buying A Car

Car Reviews

Few basic things to know about THAT car you are buying…

• What’s your Budget?
• What features are you looking for?
• What Type of car?
• Eco-friendly – how much CO2 emitted?

Let’s look at the above factors one by one.

Budget – It’s very important to decide on your budget first. With so many popular car manufacturers competing, it might be difficult to eliminate the options. So, it important to know how much you would be willing to spend to buy a worthy car.

Features – Choose wisely and figure out what features are more important and does your car match them –

1. Passenger capacity: Most of the vehicles have the capacity to seat five individuals. It would be ideal for a small family or small group of friends. If you have a larger family then its worth considering a seven or eight seater MPV. Single & sporty motorists usually go for two or four seater cars.

1. Size: Depending on the passenger capacity and luggage room you can decide upon the size of your car. It’s good to ask yourself how much of Boot utilization would you require. If you have bulky equipments to carry think of going for a family hatchback with a roof rack.

1. Appearance: This is the first thing that comes into mind when you decide to buy a car. The appearance of the car is what others will see – so be careful. Would you go for something bright or dark, curvy or less curvy, small or long or sleek? Consider extras like metallic paint, modified body kits etc. The interior look and feel of the car is another vital thing to think of.

1. Safety: Sometimes this feature is neglected – but this in fact is the first factor to be taken into consideration. Ensure the number of airbags it has and always check the Euro NCAP’s star rating for each car before you buy.

1. Performance: If you are a frequent motorways user then an acceleration time between 0 to 60mph may be crucial. Also would be the brake horse power. Evaluate your engine size depending on your insurance budget. Higher the performance, higher is the engine cost.

Type of car – Yet another important fact you ought to know. Is it Hatchback, Supermini or Sports?

Type of Cars in detail

Eco-friendly – The more the CO2 the car emits, higher is the car tax. So, make sure you calculate how many miles to the gallon your car burns. If you are looking for an eco-friendly vehicle you may choose electric, bioethanol or hybrid cars.

Six of the best Tax – Free cars.

 

Complete Motorists’ Guide 2009

As the crisis facing the world’s Automotive Industry deepens, last few months has seen an increasing rise in car tax and new and used car prices. What next for car buyers? Some helpful tips you need to know before buying used or new cars in 2009.

The road tax prices are set to rise by £5 on April 1, for cars registered after March 2001 and are expected to rise for vehicles registered from April 2010. The petrol price is expected to rise as the crisis continues in the first half of 2009. With this the obvious question arises, when would be the right time to buy? On the contrary, this time can be supposedly green for many car dealers trying to sell used and new cars. It can turn out to be a sweet season for car buying bargains with many car dealers subsidising on the used and new car rates. Motorists have seen plenty of offers in the past few months, including half-price cars, buy one get one free deals and VAT-free cars.

Interesting to know, which would be the cars featuring 2009? Some massive UK car releases for this year include Volkswagen Golf, Ford KA, Nissan GT-R, Aston Martin One-77, Ford Focus RS. Whereas the ones already in demand are Toyota Corolla, Nissan Altima, Audi A4. Amongst the Sports cars, the ones on top include Ford Shelby GT500, Ford Mustang, BMW 1 series and Chevrolet Camarao. The value for money car goes to Mercedes Benz C Class. There is an anticipation of more green and eco-friendly cars being launched in the coming years.

On the Insurance front, some things worthwhile considering are how to get best deals on car insurance and pay minimum premiums. If its a low value car, you can choose third party cover. Its worth trying the insurance comparison tool to get an instant quote from over variety of car insurance sellers. You might build up your no claims bonus – accident-free motorists can receive discounts of up to 70 per cent. Most importantly; avoid modifying your car.

Buying a car is the biggest investment you’ll make, so it pays to make sure your purchase is as safe as possible. Beware of whole range of scams such as false escrow services and clocking, so you can stay safe with when buying a car.

View the UK’s cheapest cars to insure