1986 Volkswagen Passat GL5 2.0 litre 5 cylinder from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Fats, fun and extremely practical, they drive like modern cars too!

Faults:

General wear and tear, needed new clutch, but otherwise trouble free motoring, I bought the car for £100!

General Comments:

What can I say about this car. Its absolutely fantastic. I needded a cheap estate car to transport a few items around at weekends, such as garden refuse and other bits and bobs.

I bought the car for £100 without an MOT. Thankfully it absolutely sailed through the MOT passing first time.

The cars performance was the thing that truly amazed me about this car, it's a wolf in sheep's clothing, an absolute monster infact. The frugal 5 cylinder 2.0 litre engine is extremely powerful. Its fooled boy racers at the lights many times!

The interior is lovely and airy, spacious and generally comfortable.

The seating can be a little firm!

To drive the car feels like a modern car. The steering is suprising! Its very well balanced and direct and the power on tap makes driving much more fun.

The car comes with a cavernous load area and roof bars.

In terms of creature comfort the car has power steering, central locking, electric windows and mirrors.

If you are looking for a cheap load lugger, or indeed another car, you could do far worse that buy one of these they are absolutely wonderful reliable cars.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th August, 2004

8th Aug 2009, 16:44

My boss owned one of these circa 1986 when I was driving a Chevette with a weedy 1.3 engine. The Passat felt like Apollo 5 by comparison. It was an absolute rip-snorter. It felt faster than light! I loved it.

1986 Volkswagen Passat GT Hatchback 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A good all round runner with decent performance :)

Faults:

1994 - Auto choke carb replaced with a Weber 38DMTL.

1996 - New alternator.

1998 - ANOTHER new alternator with a starter motor & solenoid.

1999 - Front passenger side suspension strut, anti-roll bar & wishbone, front wing (crash damage).

General Comments:

This car - even with its original 90bhp block can still rev to 9000 revs and hold it for 5 minutes, it may go wrong but the power and handling are unsurpassed, I've even outrun a BMW M3 in it at top whack.

This car seems to have a personality all of its own - sorta like Herbie :)

Fuel is a bit expensive though (mind you - we live in a country that charges £1 a litre for fuel now).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th October, 2000

15th Oct 2001, 19:29

I myself have a 1986 Passat Estate, 1.8 CL. Although, I seem to have 130hp, and have still beat an M3..was fun. Only problems I have had is the alternator at 148,000 and a new clutch at 150,000. Current milage is over 155,000 and the thing is still going. When I first got it, I thought "What a heap of junk", but after about a week, I fell in love with the thing. Has done me no wrong, and I'm gonna keep it until it has totally gone. When it is gone, I'll probably see if I can get another old passat.