2013 Passat buyers guide

[Banshee365]

What in the world is taking everyone so long to get the real deal info on the '13 updates out?! I thought that the board would be flooded since yesterday.

I hear:
-Rear air vents
-Backup camera
-Only VW model without Xenon option WTF!??!!??!!??!

[cnnpress]

If you really need to know at this moment, why not dropping by local VW dealership. They should have info handy.

What in the world is taking everyone so long to get the real deal info on the '13 updates out?! I thought that the board would be flooded since yesterday.

I hear:
-Rear air vents
-Backup camera
-Only VW model without Xenon option WTF!??!!??!!??!

[wutbürger]

2014 Passat?

[mknieri]

2014 Passat?

According to another thread, this is a one off for the chairman.

[av_audi]

What in the world is taking everyone so long to get the real deal info on the '13 updates out?! I thought that the board would be flooded since yesterday.

I hear:
-Rear air vents
-Backup camera
-Only VW model without Xenon option WTF!??!!??!!??!

Here

[mreuro]

yup still no Xenons!!!

[siryokohomo]

do the 2012's have electro-mechanical steering? 2013's have hydraulic.

[racecrmike]

Just saw this from ASKVWSALESGUY - 2013 specs and changes, link: http://askavwsalesguy.com/blog/2012/...d-changes.html

[mknieri]

do the 2012's have electro-mechanical steering? 2013's have hydraulic.

The TDI and V6 models come with electrical mechanical steering. No power steering fluid.

[CCISFORME]

Just saw this from ASKVWSALESGUY - 2013 specs and changes, link: http://askavwsalesguy.com/blog/2012/...d-changes.html

Wouldn't you just KNOW it?? The very next model year after we take the plunge... We have nothing but good things to say about our SEL, but dammit man!!

[Omalley]

Is there any information on the power seats? I see them listed on the "update" link but I'm wondering if the seat bottom will be powered. They seem flat to me and at 6'5" that's the thing keeps me on the fence.

Rgds,

[Maringa]

I'm hoping that by 2014 MY, we have the upgraded diesel TDI engine - 190 HP, or possibly the option for the 2.0T.

[TWinbrook46636]

That would be nice but I think we would be lucky just to get Xenons by then. I have a feeling the new engines are at least a couple years off.

[turboDSG]

feel better knowing the only thing different on my model is rear vents. I don't think I've ever used AC since moving here 5 years ago.

[wutbürger]

feel better knowing the only thing different on my model is rear vents. I don't think I've ever used AC since moving here 5 years ago.

If you lived in 105 degree, 95% humidity St. Louis you would have no choice but to use the AC lest you desire the best case of swampa** you've ever experienced

In all reality though, my Golf TDI had rear vents and it did next to nothing anyways; some air blew out of them, but about the only useful rear vents I've ever experienced are those in the A4/A6 in terms of really cooling off passengers as opposed to just moving a tiny bit of air around.

I'll withhold judgement on the new Passat rear vents until I experience them

[mknieri]

Also if any 2012 owners feel regret about rear vents you can just put your head on the back seat floor and gaze lovely at the rear vents that are under each front seat.

[capclassicv2]

I, for one, am not upset at my purchase. Though part of me hasn't decided if I wanna be upset about the backup camera. I know there was a problem and even models that offered them were shipped out without them. But I don't think I would have waited a year for just that. It's nice to have, but I can parallel park with the best of them, so I'm cool.

And rear air vents? Pfft... They can keep them.

[mreuro]

I, for one, am not upset at my purchase. Though part of me hasn't decided if I wanna be upset about the backup camera. I know there was a problem and even models that offered them were shipped out without them. But I don't think I would have waited a year for just that. It's nice to have, but I can parallel park with the best of them, so I'm cool.

And rear air vents? Pfft... They can keep them.

[wutbürger]

Also if any 2012 owners feel regret about rear vents you can just put your head on the back seat floor and gaze lovely at the rear vents that are under each front seat.

My understanding is that they only blow out air when set to the "defrost/foot" setting- a setting I doubt many people use except to warm the car in the winter as opposed to cooling it off. Maybe I'm mistaken?

Again, I've never found many rear vents that do much anyways...just roll the windows down, drive for a few and circulate some air, then blast the AC; I've survived my entire life on said method

[racecrmike]

I don't own the new Passat yet, but seems to me a vehicle with this much rear space should have rear console vents. Almost the space of a small minivan, and many of those have rear vents.

You really appreciate them if you ride in the back and due to pollen, exhaust, getting better MPG's or whatever, choose not to roll down the windows. It has become a feature that even other car companies have copied, for vehicles that are the same price, or less.

[turboDSG]

If you lived in 105 degree, 95% humidity St. Louis you would have no choice but to use the AC lest you desire the best case of swampa** you've ever experienced

In all reality though, my Golf TDI had rear vents and it did next to nothing anyways; some air blew out of them, but about the only useful rear vents I've ever experienced are those in the A4/A6 in terms of really cooling off passengers as opposed to just moving a tiny bit of air around.

I'll withhold judgement on the new Passat rear vents until I experience them

a Native of Scottsdale , AZ for my first 22 years. I am new to paradise and quite familiar with parking outside and having my car over 115 degrees inside... all said. I'm glad they added them whether I never use the AC or not.. never should have been removed, period!!

[AsianDude]

I ordered my 2013 TDI SEL today (Reflex Silver/Moonrock)

[zpaul]

So what was the price difference with 2012?
How much do they want for Rear View Camera and Vents?

[AsianDude]

No pricing yet...
Hopefully not too much from the '12 models

[cnnpress]

So what was the price difference with 2012?
How much do they want for Rear View Camera and Vents?

An unconfirmed source said 1000 dollars difference...

[AsianDude]

An unconfirmed source said 1000 dollars difference...

I'll cough up the 1K...but give me the low interest finance rate like the Jetta or Touareg TDIs


Also, they should not force the dinamica seats on the SEL...what a piece of crap from the long term wear point of view

[VW_JW]

Also, they should not force the dinamica seats on the SEL...what a piece of crap from the long term wear point of view

Do you have an solid data to back that? From the anecdotal data I've heard they are supposed to wear very well.

[salsaguy]

I agree
I wish I could have gotten all leather on my SEL Premium, as I was able to get on my 2004.5 GLX top of the line car.

Why does the engine you buy dictate what seats you get if you get the top of the line on the car you pick out of the 3 engines? Makes no sense
I am also concerned on how hard it will be to keep these seats clean since its 2 materials and you have to clean the leather part one way and the dynamica another way.
Also dont like that the Dynamica attracts lint and I didnt want the darker interior but got stuck with it since its impossible to find the Moonrock grey anywhere without special ordering and wating for months!

Also, they should not force the dinamica seats on the SEL...what a piece of crap from the long term wear point of view

[salsaguy]

An unconfirmed source said 1000 dollars difference...

sadly I dont think the after mod for the 2012s will be only $1000 to do it after the fact compared to the 2013 which has it built in.

Sad to know the top of the line Passats dont even offer this as an option esp with all the other top safety options it offers. Seriously sad esp since the RNS 510 has all the capabilities to make use of it so its not like its a big deal to offer it as an option. Just makes no sense.
And definitely hurts them when customers compare with the other cars that do offer it Std or as an option.

[redneckracing]

i wonder if the rear vents are like the chinese passat where they get their own controls or its a dumbed down version...

Is the parts catalog for the 2013's out by any chance??

[AsianDude]

Do you have an solid data to back that? From the anecdotal data I've heard they are supposed to wear very well.

Solid data? No.
But from what i can tell about the matting of the dynamica section on the driver seat compared to the passenger seat of the dealer demo car (read as more used), its going to look like old carpet would with daily use.
Its not about wear from stretching, but rather that section aging faster and soiling faster thn the rest of the seat.

[capclassicv2]

i wonder if the rear vents are like the chinese passat where they get their own controls or its a dumbed down version...

For this class of car? I'm 100% sure there are no controls. Remember the Chinese Passat and NA Passat are in different classes, regardless of being the same car.

Why does the engine you buy dictate what seats you get if you get the top of the line on the car you pick out of the 3 engines? Makes no sense

Actually, it's the trim level. SEL trims come with leatherette and SEL Premiums come with leather/dynamica. The thing is, there is only one SEL trim and it's with the 2.5L.

At the time of my purchase, I didn't care about the actual seating surface, more so that I wanted the sport seats because the standard ones are too flat. So far, I don't mind having the leather/dynamica combination. And I have the tan interior too... might get stained over time if I don't keep it clean, but I should be trying to do that anyway.

[McFuzz]

Hrm - What I wonder is whether the rear vents can be swapped onto a 2012... I guess it depends on the ducting that will be done there.

[1FastB5]

2014 Passat?

ugh, i want this. give me an HID option with a manual transmission and i'm sold. honestly, its a big thing holding me back right now!!

[AsianDude]

Does anybody know if the rearview camera has guiding lines that turn with the anticipated projection of the car or are the lines static and just shows a view of the back of the car?
Thanks