As we all know, Americans don’t buy wagons. They don’t buy manual transmissions. They tend not to buy new or odd engine configurations and they tend not to pay much for Volkswagens. With that in mind, this W8 4Motion Passat Wagon with a six-speed manual shouldn’t even exist.
The S4 Avant is awesome, but knowing the crowd we attract, its luxury marquee image might be a bit of a turnoff. That, or the $200 dealer-only maintenance. What you really want is a people’s car, with none of that extra frippery and cost. For a mere $15,450 you could be the proud owner of this automotive singularity. You get all the room of the S4 Avant, a few less HP (270 Vs 340) and no fewer gears or cylinders.
Given VW’s reliability reputation and the unique nature of this car’s drivetrain, your wariness is justified. It seems you wouldn’t be alone, as this car has been on Autotrader basically forever. Here’s a post (tipped by yours truly) at Autofiends about it from back in March. If I recall correctly, it was old then.
The crazy thing is, there was actually a second identically configured Passat Wagon on AutoTrader, but it sold before we could get this written up (only sedans now). Rest assured, this isn’t going to be the All-Volkswagen-Auto-Group-All-The-Time Channel, it just so happened to be that we had a pile of Audis and VWs backlogged in the “dude, check this out” folder.
Get it while it’s—ah, nevermind it’ll be around forever: 2003 VW Passat Wagon on AutoTrader
W8. AWD. Manual Transmission. Passat Wagon.
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37 responses to “W8. AWD. Manual Transmission. Passat Wagon.”
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I WANT IT.
When this blogging gig pays off… it will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
And… wait, not All-Volkswagen-Auto-Group-All-The-Time? Well then what am I here for?-
You have some time until that happens…
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Its going to need some new tires if the owner isn’t driving it. That lot rot sets in quick. So for the price with a stick and a new set of tires, I’ll take it.
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I found one of these on eBay once. It made me very excited, but my fiancée didn’t get it. It forced us to have “the talk” (about wagons). She still doesn’t get it, but as long as she doesn’t object, we’re ok for now.
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I’ve been having that conversation since I showed her a manufacturer plated CTS wagon. She still doesn’t understand either. But she knows to keep quiet during commercials.
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I told my wife that I was considering a wagon for my next car. She gave me a funny look. I also said I liked the CTS Wagon and she made some snide comment about it being a station wagon. She doesn’t get it. Fortunately, we have an agreement that we each get the car we want within reason. That means I can get a wagon if I damn well please and she can keep getting her Ford Escapes.
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My wife doesn’t understand the love for wagons, either. Now that there are some suitable choices out there, hopefully there will be quite a few turning up on the used market when I’m ready to dump my current ride. The CTS wagon looks very tempting, and I know the sedan is pretty damn good, so I’ll be looking…
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Women dissing wagons? I wonder if it’s soccer mom backlash. Or if they like riding tall in the SUVs. (I’m short, so I have an excuse…really!) But I’ll pass on anything Vdub. I’m a bit set in my ways and need reliable regular transportation, and the project car would have to be more interesting to sell the hubby on the idea. Now a sirocco I could get into.
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Now Posted For trade: 2005 Ford Freeestyle SEL (Soul-Eviscerating Lamemobile).
Why oh WHY did none of these turn up when we were hastiily shopping in ’07? Oh wait, it doesn’t exist. Who cares if it’s a veedub, an 8-cylinder sleeper wagon is the car I want! /for shame, Freestyle. For shame. -
I’ve never had a thing for wagons, on the other hand I’ve always had a thing for hatchbacks. But now, I’m starting to love AWD wagons. Been looking at s4 avants for some time trying to imagine making enough money to get one (impossible I say) but this is also a beautiful classy yet looks-fun-to-drive car too (i frankly just recently discovered W8s and never thought of a passat wagon since i never seen one).. 270 ponies is still something, and i don’t care WHAT you say..
ohhh.. and this hooniverse interwebz thing is a-ok…-
A potential alternative (although might still be a bit more expensive) is the Volvo V70R: AWD + 300HP.
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I’m thinking 2005ish Subaru Legacy GT wagon. 250hp from the factory, but its EJ255 is the same block as the 300hp EJ257. Plus, the giant sunroof is perfect for rigging up an ejector seat if the spawn ever get on your nerves.
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I’m torn: In theory, I’d love the concept. In reality, having known so many people who’ve spent more time than advisable by physicians on the VW Maintenance ring of Dante’s concentric circles, I’d have problems actually pulling the trigger.
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I showed this ad to my vdub fanatic brother in-law… his only reply “don’t walk, run away…”
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id love to see you try to work on a w8
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hey! I changed the oil and removed a guibo the other day…
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your not allowed multiple identities!!!
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also, change a head and ill stop poking.
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This is my first visit here and the second post I read is a W8 Passat wagon with a manual transmission. I had no idea such a white whale existed. This is my kind of intertubepageweb.
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I had no idea that the W8 was available in a manual!! Amazing. Honda, are you listening? Manual + V6 shouldn’t be too hard.
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Dammit, Mad_Science, you’ve blown the lid off my dream sleeper, this baby Phaeton estate with a proper manual transmission. I am EXACTLY the guy who needs this car: young family, needing to trade in the Miata, refuses to buy an SUV, already has one VW in the fleet and is acquainted with “the drill.”
BUT, not THIS car. Too many red flags. Been for sale forever? Check. No photos of the actual car in the ad? Check. “Small problems?” Big fat check. Maybe worst of all, it’s located in the 90035 zip code. I lived there for a few years, and let me tell you: it ain’t Beverly Hills. I once had to call the police because I witnessed an intentional hit-and-run of a pedestrian on my street, and the responding officer told me that I was the first caller in the area he’d ever encountered without a criminal record. -
Buying that car would be like marrying a supermodel with a gambling addiction: Loads of fun, right up to the point it bankrupts you.
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I once spent three weeks looking for one of these on eBay. As you can imagine, I had no such luck.
Now there is one and I’m still broke.-
I believe this one has been on AutoTrader for awhile…
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I’m still broke, though. And I hate that the blue book on my car is a cool two grand less than the price on that car.
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“W8. AWD. Manual Transmission. Passat Wagon.”
Ah! So Unicorns do exist. -
Oh my god! I heard of w8 Passats but never thought there would be a wagon of it.
Dumb me I should’ve known the would’ve. VW makes all the awesome wagons but they never bring them here.
RELATED THREADJACK: On my way to school I saw a beige TDI VW JETTA wagon, but it had the front end of the new golfs?!?!
I even checked again and there it was the new gold frontend. I even checked their website and did not see it their either.
Was this facotry? Or just and awesome front job-
I believe the 2010 Jetta Sportwagens have the new frontend.
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Oh then my bad. I looked over the VW website and all I saw was the new golf gti and diesel.
The new front works on the Sportwagen surprisingly well, even in Toyota beige.-
For what it’s worth, in Canada, the wagon is switching over to the Golf line for 2010 (and is up on vw.ca).
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In the entire rest of the world, the Jetta Wagon is sold as the Golf Estate. VW decided that they would just sell it like that, as the Jetta Sportwagon, rather than bothering re-nosing it with the appropriate Jetta front end.
Interestingly, it’s an extremely popular modification in the VW world to create either a Getta or a Jolf by swapping the nose on two MkIV cars. Two friends with same-colour Golf and Jetta cars can swap the noses on a weekend afternoon.
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Mmmm V8 Manual Transmission AWD Wagon goodness. Although from what I recall the W8 Passat wasn't all that fast, and just overly complicated and expensive. I wouldn't say no to one, in fact I still want one, but when it comes to fast wagons from the same time period. I want a V70R Six Speed, Daytona Blue, Gloss Black wheels, Natural Tan/Brown interior, a very, very, very hot soccer mom from around where I live drives one. Both her, and the car are lust worthy.
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You absolutely outdid yourself with this. Great work
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I never in a million years would’ve considered at things this way. This should make my life a lot easier.
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