S and SE models now get manual climate control

[gwernerjr]

No more standard climatronic for 2013 but it does get rear vents on SE and above and rear camera plus 4 years of sirius traffic on SELl and now they all get the trunk hinge cover as well, been there done that ;-)

[ukspice69]

this is a big disappointment, I really wanted the Passat due to bigger and climate control

[siryokohomo]

I have a 2012 TDi SE and find the climate control to be particularly annoying. Probably the most annoying thing about the vehicle! Max AC defaults to the air recycling mode on full blast. You can't turn on max AC on medium--you have to manually adjust it. If you stall the car--it turns back on but still on the default. if you turn off the MAX AC it then immediately goes to 72 degrees on both sides--so if you want it as cold as the max AC but w/out the power you have to manually turn it down again from 72--> "Lo" which is 4 degrees cooler. Its just SUPER annoying while driving....Maybe they are changing it because its safer?

[maf007]

...You can't turn on max AC on medium--you have to manually adjust it.

Maybe that's why it's Max AC

[ukspice69]

i love climate control in my my old Bwm 3

[siryokohomo]

Maybe that's why it's Max AC

The max ac is really only a setting--it REALLY does what it says it does, but it can be adjusted.

[shredX]

I thin the MAX is best used with auto.

Max to cool it off, then tap auto wit the temp at 72 or 74

[BudPytko]

The max ac is really only a setting--it REALLY does what it says it does, but it can be adjusted.

All it does is shut off the outside intake so the inside air simply recirculates.....but YES, MAX is exactly that..... the fullest cold you can get.

[compu_85]

All it does is shut off the outside intake so the inside air simply recirculates.....but YES, MAX is exactly that..... the fullest cold you can get.

And set the temp to minimum and turn the fan up as high as it goes. But yes... as cold as possible.

-J

[TDItimes2]

I have a 2012 TDi SE and find the climate control to be particularly annoying. Probably the most annoying thing about the vehicle!

Yeah that was the only thing that really worried me before buying the car.
I hate it with a passion. Even when not on auto, it automatically adjusts the fan speed when adjusting the temperature. What the ?

Worst system ever.

[WeeeZer14]

Even when not on auto, it automatically adjusts the fan speed when adjusting the temperature.

I'm thinking that all the auto setting does is control which output vents are used (floor/dash/etc). Temperature and fan appears to be always controlled by the computer unless you override it. Think of it like the thermostat in your house -- set it and forget it.

If you adjust the temp, I'd say it makes sense to adjust the fans. You just told the car you want a different temp. If more or less air flow is required to make that happen, then the fan speed SHOULD change.

All that said, yes, a way to manually control everything would of course be nice. But the climatronic system seems to be intended as a set it and forget it system. It is like complaining that a non-triptronic automatic transmission doesn't allow you to control the gears -- it is not designed to do so.

[capclassicv2]

I am baffled at why they stop offering it. Having a $19,995 car with dual climate was a positive for the Passat against it's competitors. (Tho I see they're raising the base price too for 2013).

When I first got my Passat, I was confused by the system, having dealt with VW's Climatic system. From what my understand was, in the B6 and Tiguan manual climate (or Climatic), you turn the temp dial and the system tries to blow that temperature out through a sensor on the interface. But it doesn't adjust anything else. So I was under the assumption that the climatronic, when not in Auto mode, worked like same. You set the temp, and it blows out that air, it's just that you control the direction and speed. But one day, I set it to 3 and after sometime I realized I didn't feel any air and it had lowered to 1. But it wasn't in auto.

Maybe they were getting questions about the system from their new VW buyers about it, and they decided to remove it from the volume models (S and SE).

[mknieri]

I am baffled at why they stop offering it. Having a $19,995 car with dual climate was a positive for the Passat against it's competitors.

Agree with you here. Just about every reviewer who wrote a magazine article or blog post of the 2012 Passat mentioned that feature and how it was included on all trim levels.

[TDItimes2]

I'm thinking that all the auto setting does is control which output vents are used (floor/dash/etc). Temperature and fan appears to be always controlled by the computer unless you override it. Think of it like the thermostat in your house -- set it and forget it.

If you adjust the temp, I'd say it makes sense to adjust the fans. You just told the car you want a different temp. If more or less air flow is required to make that happen, then the fan speed SHOULD change.

All that said, yes, a way to manually control everything would of course be nice. But the climatronic system seems to be intended as a set it and forget it system. It is like complaining that a non-triptronic automatic transmission doesn't allow you to control the gears -- it is not designed to do so.

Yeah I agree with all of the above. I just love the simplicity of how the system works in our 2011 Golf TDI. It's the old fashioned manual system but it works perfectly.

Perhaps I am having control issues as both my cars are TDI's with 6 speed manual transmissions.

[gtaylor0]

I am baffled at why they stop offering it. Having a $19,995 car with dual climate was a positive for the Passat against it's competitors. (Tho I see they're raising the base price too for 2013).

When I first got my Passat, I was confused by the system, having dealt with VW's Climatic system. From what my understand was, in the B6 and Tiguan manual climate (or Climatic), you turn the temp dial and the system tries to blow that temperature out through a sensor on the interface. But it doesn't adjust anything else. So I was under the assumption that the climatronic, when not in Auto mode, worked like same. You set the temp, and it blows out that air, it's just that you control the direction and speed. But one day, I set it to 3 and after sometime I realized I didn't feel any air and it had lowered to 1. But it wasn't in auto.

Maybe they were getting questions about the system from their new VW buyers about it, and they decided to remove it from the volume models (S and SE).

My guess is that something had to give cost-wise given the government's mandate for rear camera's in all vehicles by a certain model year...maybe MY2013...and cutting the auto climate control on their volume leaders made the most sense, per your reasons and perhaps that most people either don't care if it's manual or wouldn't notice the difference.

[compu_85]

Have the same climate system in every car probably made the first year of production easier, too.

-J

[SilverFlash]

I have a 2012 TDi SE and find the climate control to be particularly annoying. Probably the most annoying thing about the vehicle! Max AC defaults to the air recycling mode on full blast. You can't turn on max AC on medium--you have to manually adjust it. If you stall the car--it turns back on but still on the default. if you turn off the MAX AC it then immediately goes to 72 degrees on both sides--so if you want it as cold as the max AC but w/out the power you have to manually turn it down again from 72--> "Lo" which is 4 degrees cooler. Its just SUPER annoying while driving....Maybe they are changing it because its safer?

I agree. First thing I noticed while renting one down in Houston. Seems it could have been designed better.

And overall this is a nice driving and shifting car. The 25 year old Audi 100 engine has to go though. No power about 40 mph. I can't believe they put such a cheap engine in this thing. I also rented in the past 2 weeks and new Kia Optima and '12 Camry. Both engines were quite a bit better than the 2.5 L Passat engine.
The seat controls were difficult to adjust as well.
I also noticed the flimsy outer door panels--that is a bit scary.

And what's up with the car being in the rental fleets? I thought it was selling well.

[But Officer....]

I agree. First thing I noticed while renting one down in Houston. Seems it could have been designed better.


And what's up with the car being in the rental fleets? I thought it was selling well.

Maybe that's why it's selling so well? Ford Taurus and Toyota Camry were top sellers for years because of fleet sales.

[SilverFlash]

Maybe that's why it's selling so well? Ford Taurus and Toyota Camry were top sellers for years because of fleet sales.

That's probably not the case. Fleet sales are a last resort as they aren't profitable--just ask the Big 3. The only reason they dumped them on the market was to keep production going as they had to pay UAW wages regardless whether production was running or not.

Also fleet sales reduce resale value because they are dumped on the market at a cheap price.

Take Honda and Lexus. They do zero fleet sales afik. And who's got the highest resale--Honda and Lexus.

[B6REDHELL]

That's probably not the case. Fleet sales are a last resort as they aren't profitable--just ask the Big 3. The only reason they dumped them on the market was to keep production going as they had to pay UAW wages regardless whether production was running or not.

Also fleet sales reduce resale value because they are dumped on the market at a cheap price.

Take Honda and Lexus. They do zero fleet sales afik. And who's got the highest resale--Honda and Lexus.

Honda accoord is big fleet vehicle. Hertz and Avis have thousands of them even small number of civics.... Working for major airport and seing thousands of fleet vehicles, only audi, bmw and subaru are excluded from fleet..

[SilverFlash]

Honda accoord is big fleet vehicle. Hertz and Avis have thousands of them even small number of civics.... Working for major airport and seing thousands of fleet vehicles, only audi, bmw and subaru are excluded from fleet..

Hmmm....

I rent frequently across the US at major airports and have NEVER seen a Honda Accord. Have seen and rented Civic hybrids but that is it. I was with Avis in Seattle and LAX recently and zero Honda Accords. Occasionally use Hertz and haven't seen any Accords either.
Did rent a Honda S2000 a couple of years ago in Phoenix.
I've also rented Subaru Outbacks.
So Hertz in Nashville has Accords?

Most car makers break down their fleet sales, sometimes not to rentals though, and the Honda Accord is usually a very low #. The Camry however has always been a fleet vehicle in recent years.

[B6REDHELL]

Hmmm....

I rent frequently across the US at major airports and have NEVER seen a Honda Accord. Have seen and rented Civic hybrids but that is it. I was with Avis in Seattle and LAX recently and zero Honda Accords. Occasionally use Hertz and haven't seen any Accords either.
Did rent a Honda S2000 a couple of years ago in Phoenix.
I've also rented Subaru Outbacks.
So Hertz in Nashville has Accords?

Most car makers break down their fleet sales, sometimes not to rentals though, and the Honda Accord is usually a very low #. The Camry however has always been a fleet vehicle in recent years.

My Wife drive '09 Accord lx that we bought on auction from hertz. Price was excellent, couldn't turn down.. Here in Nashville I see accords all the time on rental lots. Other day on Enterprise parking lot couple brand spanking new mercedes c class parked waiting for costumers

[Wagon05]

Agree with you here. Just about every reviewer who wrote a magazine article or blog post of the 2012 Passat mentioned that feature and how it was included on all trim levels.

Not only that - it is a safety feature. With having auto climate and phone/music on the steering wheel, there is no reason to ever take your hands off the wheel . I have had my B7 since November and set the temp to 70 the day I got it and never touched it since. The only time I take a hnd off the wheel is to open or close the roof - but that dosent take your eyes off the road.

[vwbrvr6]

The only thing I don't like about the auto climate is that it never goes below fan speed 3. So I end up having to lower the fan manually to 1 when it gets to cold. If I were to just raise the temp then the air coming out is to hot and it gets uncomfortable.

[compu_85]

If you adjust the fan to speed two and leave it, the system will slow down to that speed once the car cools down. (IE: Driving along you are comfortable, adjust to speed 2. Park, restart... fan is higher because car is hot. Once it cools down it will be at speed 2).

-J