Message Forums

I've just sold my 2007 Passat Sport TDi Estate (40k miles) which was always rock steady when towing my previous Bailey Ranger 550/6.  I recently changed it for a 2005 Passat Sport TDi Saloon (55k miles) and found it wasn't as solid towing the Ranger for the half-term trip.  It seems much more susceptible to side winds and when lorries etc overtake I got a distinctive 'wobble' as they passed by which I didn't on the estate.  Incidentally the car is 5kg heavier than the newer estate according to the DVLA log book details so other than now being a saloon is a like-for-like comparison.

Do any of you out there tow on a 55 plate 'ish Passat saloon of similar or greater mileage and experience similar?  I presume as it is 5 years old and has more miles on it that something in the suspension has worn causing the difference?  We've just picked up our new Olympus 504 and on its first trip recently it also felt less sure footed than the estate.  Keen to hear what other Passat owners have found or indeed any others who have found worn out suspension bits needed replacing as their car got older affecting the towing stability as I'm keen to get back to the fabulous towing stability of the previous car!   

Thanks for your post Neil but I am referring to the current shape Passat which I have always heard good reviews of and as mentioned was the experience I had with my previous Passat.

Do any you have high'ish i.e. 55k + miles on your Passat saloon on a 55 plate or newer and had similar experience?  I've booked it into a specialist for a suspension check on Friday to be sure so if I don't get any feedback in the meantime I will post their findings then.

Andrew

I have a 57 plate Passat Sport TDi (140Hp) saloon, with just over 60K on the clock. No problems from a stability point of view pulling our Pageant Bretagne (MTLP of 1420kg from memory). It will sometimes 'pitch' (front to back) a little though over motorway speed dips (due to length of car?). And I do feel it is fairly sensitive to changes in noseweight.

Is the saloon a B5.5 or new shape B6? It's not clear.

My 2003 V6 4Motion estate (1860kg) has always been rock solid despite having the 'luxury' suspension package which in my opinion is way too soft. I recently tried some rubber 'spring assisters' as an interim solution and found that they worked very well even solo.

You might consider getting some shocks fitted to the van which I found was a big improvement even for our (1700kg MTPLM) twin axle. I would expect them to work even better on a single axle - they are a bargain price and can be DIY fitted. They eliminated the 'motorway' front to rear pitching and side sway from high sided 'white-van man' is greatly reduced.

I might add that our previous Vanroyce 520ET was far less stable by virtue of having one less axle. A slightly heavier twin axle will always be inherently more stable than a lighter single axle of any given weight (but just try manouvering them by hand - impossible)