Dream Car or NIGHTMARE? Here’s What It’s Really Like Owning The Ultimate Sleeper!

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#VW #w8

[@fritty9927]

Sounds like Andre needs a little more time in manual transmission driving.

[@mcnuggetapple]

to be fair he almost never drives manuals lol, he 100% only reviews trucks and EVs

[@MlLKMAN]

I was thinking the same, that poor clutch

[@kevonwalker8392]

He needs way more practice

[@regsparkes6507]

@@kevonwalker8392 So it would seem.

[@740GLE]

Pour one out for that clutch 😔

[@jaywhite1850]

And now you need to replace the clutch. ANDRE!!!!

[@noneyabizz8337]

Wow, that's some bad shifting

[@bldontmatter5319]

Makes no sense how a Russian person (all Russian cars are manuals pretty much) who's driven dozens of manual cars, shifted so bad

[@gcanada3005]

That’s being polite. He should be banned from ever driving standard again. Sad when “reviewers” can’t even drive standard

[@Lambdarevolution86]

im surprised he didnt call it out.

[@bliglum]

I cringed with every single shift. Poor clutch..

[@kustu]

It is, but actually worse than that is breaking with the clutch which many people do.

[@juichiwakisaka8944]

Those gear changes with the slipping clutch due to revs being too high was painful to hear.

[@martinsvensson6884]

It doesnt slip because the revs are too high. It slips because he doesnt let go of the clutch pedal enough before hitting the gas again.

[@juichiwakisaka8944]

@@martinsvensson6884 yes but the revs are still high. I know it's the timing but still it's slipping into gear.

[@martinsvensson6884]

@@juichiwakisaka8944 Yes but not because something is slipping. He's stepping on the gas with the clutch down. Of course you instead want to rev match it as much as possible.

[@juichiwakisaka8944]

@@martinsvensson6884 he is slipping the clutch during those specific gear changes for what ever the reason is. I know it is him doing it whether intentional or unintentionally. I thought that was self explanatory. I just didn't explain how it was slipping. I just kept my original comment simple and didn't go into detail because I thought it was self explanatory based on the video itself.

[@martinsvensson6884]

@@juichiwakisaka8944 I dont think he's slipping it very mutch. It was just the original comment your wrote that that the clutch was "slipping due to revs being too high". But its just slipping because he doesnt let go of the clutch pedal in time. The slipping doesnt happen because revs are too high... But maybe you just meant that the reason you could hear it "slipping" was the high revs..... then I read it the wrong way.

[@Cloud30000]

Maybe instead of keeping 10 hoopty cars in poor condition, you can sell one and then perform minimal repairs on the other 9 so they are in decent condition :p

[@damilolaakanni]

Sell 8 and keep 2, one as a car you use for summer and spring, and the other one for winter.

[@kokocostanza2036]

Glad someone else said it. Hard to say there's a lack of money when you have ten cars, as humble as they may be.

[@danielstanleywilkin]

Sounds amazing!! Better work on you clutch technique or you’re going to need a new one 🤣

[@williamegler8771]

I bought a 1997 VW Passat GLX wagon with the VR6 and a 5spd manual brand new. I had a love/hate relationship with it. The engine and transmission were bulletproof over the 225k miles I drove but practically everything else broke. Often multiple times. The most problematic things were the power windows door locks sunroof motors and the A/C. I loved driving it when it was running properly and everything was working. To its credit, although it had A LOT of issues, it never failed to start and was only towed once when the fuel pump failed at 215k.

[@OvertravelX]

My Mk4 GTI was the same. Loved the car, but good grief...

[@fastinradfordable]

The tdi makes the same torque but gets 3x the mpg. If you drove that one maybe u coulda afforded to fix it. Imagine that. Having 75% of your $$$ from fuel from every gas station visit you spent

[@rallyeo75]

Even with the bad shifting, that thing sounds glorious

[@scrappyjackalope9558]

If Andre drives it much longer it will need a clutch.

[@johndonohoe9807]

I have a 2003 Jetta Wagon TDI 1.9 liter with 406000 thousand miles. I have owned it since new, January 2003. None of those switches or light switches around the sunroof have failed. The door lock on the driver's side just recently failed and I replaced it. The EGR valve failed, and the intake manifold plugged up with carbon, all because of American EPA requirements to sell the TDI in USA. Those sold else ware did not have that stuff and never had carbon build up in the intake manifold, and no egr valve at all. I still have the original brake pads, about 1/3 of ware left. It has been the most reliable car I have ever owned in my 61 years of driving. I do regular oil changes and maintenance, coolant changes, timing belt etc. I rebuilt the suspension at around 385000 thousand miles, and several sets of tires, about 6 sets over the years. Your Passat has had a hard live, and been left outside, ergo the water stains around the sunroof, and maybe the cause of the switch problems. When you changed the window lift, did you remember to snap the door release cable back into the snap mechanism on the back of the door card? That may be why your inside door release handle is not working.

[@steveng93]

That poor clutch oh gahd 😅

[@brettalfero6245]

Wow we didn’t get those in South Africa I don’t think… hope your clutch is okay after that drive lol

[@bldontmatter5319]

You don't get a lot of things in south Africa. Even electricity half the time.

[@curtisj2165]

​@@bldontmatter5319 that's not a nice thing to say

[@brettalfero6245]

@@bldontmatter5319 lucky we have solar 😜

[@brettalfero6245]

@@curtisj2165😊 ah water off a ducks back man… some people just clueless… thanks anyways

[@E_tiBEAMERBOY]

Hahahah wtf

[@pauljayvlogs489]

Brenden. If you ever decide to sell. Please let me know. As a vw enthusiast i know it matters to you that the next owner would cherish this vehicle and do right by it :) cheers man. Paul.

[@keithdosik]

Fun fact, my first car was a Passat W8 and I had it for a total of 24 hours. It had a bad torque converter and we had to give it back to the dealer lol Also please give us a fleet update Brenden!

[@jefferysmith3930]

He’s a brave man. I’ve had a few B5 Passats. I think that exact sunroof switch/map light is similar but slightly different to all other B5 Passats for a reason only known to VW. I worked at a VW dealer when these were new. I think the biggest money RO I ever had was replacing an engine on a W8 wagon…and it was a warranty ticket!

[@ronnymb67]

432 six speeds in 2003 and 2004 combined. 96 of those were wagons. My 2003 was one of the first to delivered on the East Coast. Pacific Blue over gray. All the problems you have with it were common to every VW of the era. Window regulators. Door handles/linkage. Sunroof switch assembly. Control arms. The chip I had installed in the ECU did away with that pesky 130 moh speed limiter. 168 gps verified - in Mexico of course 😏 I have to say it was one of the most fun cars I've ever owned and regret letting it go. An awesome highway cruiser and deceptively quick with the six-speed, especially about 60 mph. I had no problem pulling away from 4.6 ltr Mustangs and 350Zs of the era. I had a custom Magnaflow exhaust setup with the factory quad tips welded on, H&R Sports springs and BBS wheels.

[@JFSteinman]

I had a W8, brand new. Great car except it ate brake pads like there was no tomorrow! Dealership had 1 wagon and 1 sedan. I bought the sedan. Mine was a sea foam green color.

[@antoniomeirelles4299]

I love the w8 manual, one of my dream cars. I had a 2002 passat 4motion wagon which was awesome!

[@angusnz7910]

I drove a mates dad w8 about 15 years ago and loved it so brought one as an oddball fun car (A8 was my main car). Absolutely loved the W8, very underrated and while I only done 40,000km in it before selling it to my sister it treated me well. She had it 8 years before she sold it and other than servicing and a set of front end bushes it was perfect for her too. Guess like any car you can have the odd lemon, but can honestly say mine was brilliant

[@rustbeltrobclassic2512]

My friend had one in college, we referred to it as the pieceofshiot instead of passat, because everything broke.. eventually had the same radio issue and caught fire..

[@Heffelz8]

I had an 03 W8 wagon with an automatic. I LOVED that car. But it was a huge money pit. I couldn’t stay ahead of repairs and upkeep. I would buy a brand new version of that car if I ever could. It’s the most fun car I’ve ever driven.

[@BAHENA666ROCKSTAR]

i currently have a 2003 vw passat w8 wagon and currently at 263k miles original power train no major issues just regular maintenance has keep it running great

[@Von_RX]

Love his enthusiasm for the w8 beast!

[@Central_Valley_Rust]

Just sold my 6 speed wagon in December (already have a daily and multiple neglected projects.) I miss it and wont hesitate to get another once I have more room. It was a bucket list car and a thrill to drive.

[@aznetglobal4036]

I had a 2002 variant (wagon) with the 1.8 turbo. Absolutely one of the most fun cars I've ever had, and so practical. What I wouldn't give for a manual W8 version!!

[@MegaRetr]

Hey Brenden awesome Passat 😊 thanks for this video

[@markhavelka4924]

When I met my wife in 2002 she was driving an ‘01 Cabrio. That thing was a pile of garbage. Interior knobs and surfaces melted, window regulator issues, the ball/bushing thing for the shifter disintegrated, etc. At 69k miles the ring gear separated from the carrier, causing the transmission housing to crack. No more VW’s for us.

[@reneec6141]

The safety pins 😂😂 This may be one of my favorite-sounding 8-cyl's ever

[@Flyleafrocksfan]

My first car was a manual 2001.5 Passat with a V6. Same color interior with a green exterior. That car taught me I’d never own another VW unless I leased it. I remember have to rip apart the whole front end so we could change out the alternator. I also had to put a quart of oil in every fill up cuz it would burn it. To this day when I smell burning oil I think about that car. That thing would fly when you would actually get all 6 cylinders running. Most of the time you got 3-4 or 5 of them. Ah the first car memories 😂

[@JB-mk4ry]

5:56 It's actually sunshine beige, and they're rare because the mk4 kids retrofit them for the red LEDs that shine on the console at night.

[@damilolaakanni]

The B5 Passat was the only other Passat that was based on an Audi platform, the first one being the B2. That meant the engines were mounted longitudinally, despite all B2s and some B5s being front wheel drive.

[@kristoffer3000]

Also why it's so ridiculously nose heavy and understeers so easily

[@hitchedtohorsepower]

I test drove a W8 manual wagon when it was new from the VW dealer in Reno, NV. I loved it but ended up deciding I could be completely impractical and got a 911SC. I thought about buying when you auctioned it last time but I'm in Maryland and wasn't sure about making the trip out to get it at the time. Keep it as long as possible!!!

[@wmalden]

Summer 2002 I factory ordered a 2003 Passat GLX V6 wagon with the 5 speed manual. I would have ordered it with 4 Motion, but that option was not available with the 5 speed manual on that model. I drove the car for 18 years and 104k miles. When I sold it, it still looked brand new inside and out. The new owner couldn’t believe it was 18 years old.

[@shiftmotorsports9803]

You should take it on a road trip to "Wookies in the woods" and drive it on the "Tail of the dragon"

[@axe2grind244]

I wanna go so bad but it’s a little too far. Looks so fun.

[@gqami]

A car battery isn't a lot of money. Love VeeDub's!! I miss my 2005.5 New Jetta MKV, 5 speed...lots of fun! They don't make em like they used to! Great video guys!

[@mds2465]

As for the headliner that may be sagging and/or falling apart over by the sunroof shade, that can be easily reupholstered. Any good upholstery shop should be able to source the original VW beige/champagne colored fabric. I think that most European cars these days are going with the alcantara type fabric, which is honestly a lot better quality material compared to what they use from the factory. If you do decide to get the headliner reupholstered and/or replaced then I would highly recommend going with something like that. You can still get it in the same beige/champaigne colored upholstery with a better colored material. Which would look awesome in this car!

[@clonexradio]

have mercy... those shifts! legit enthusiast grade passat with the according basketcase of issues

[@kevincraftsbcs4488]

Sounds amazing! I wonder how it would do on the TFL slip test.

[@ChatMotorsport]

I want one of these so badly, in the UK I think the estate (wagon) is more common.. they sound Amazing!

[@JanisBalodisJB]

VW Passat, if I remember correctly, is A6, not A4

[@JanisBalodisJB]

A4 and A3 is Golf

[@christianglaude6659]

Love the sound though!

[@wcsoblake85]

That has to be the best-sounding Volkswagen I have ever heard!

[@pmkstudios]

good to hear it is running well. who needs more than one door that opens. hope it lasts 4 you

[@muthaflaco75]

My buddy has a black on black w8 wagon in maual and awd. It's so choice.

[@elcaminomant]

Had a Fresco Green '04 GLS 1.8T bought new. Absolutely loved that car, until right at 150k miles the heater core let go. Replaced it with a '13 CC Sport

[@bradleysargent9803]

I loved my 01 Passat Wagon with 5spd manual and the VR6. One of my favorite cars I have owned. I would love to get another one and make a new VW mechanic friend.

[@vwR32mja]

Hate to break it to you it’s not a VR6. It is an Audi derived V6 30V

[@michaelsaindon4394]

Wife and I both had A Passat W8 at one time! Loved 'em except the Lambourghini priced engine prices for service and parts. Wife had a sedan I had a wagon-that wagon might've been the fastest car I've owned!

[@MavadoKen]

Such a cool passat, definitely one to keep an eye out for. Sounds a lot like the mk4/5 R32s.

[@dennismichaels7843]

I agree, a very cool car. Had one for 4+ years and the only problem I had was replacing the thermostat ( electronic) embedded in the middle of the engine. Also , for the dreaded camshaft adjuster code, there is a well known fix on line called the “shock treatment “ using a 9 volt battery.

[@give_me_my_nick_back]

It's a legend, I think the US got quite a lot of them, in Europe they are super rare and people are willing to pay a lot for one. But I think superb W8 is even more epic

[@HerculeanPearl]

To me, the engine sounds kinda like a really guttural V6 at the lower end and maybe slightly more like a V8 at high end RPMs. Sounds awesome!

[@shaunvoid7615]

Thanks for creating W8 content! When I graduated college back in '03 and got my first "real" job, I custom-ordered an '03 W8 Sedan Tiptronic. Kept it for 8 years with METICULOUS maintenance (10-quart synthetic oil changes every 1-3K miles) everything by the book. Just under 53K miles, it started idling rough and the CEL illuminated. Turned out to be the dreaded camshaft adjuster code which the dealership quoted me $8K to fix out of warranty. Shockingly, the CEL went out and it was running fine for several weeks thereafter. I started car shopping immediately and traded it in on a bulletproof Acura TL SH-AWD which I still have 13 years later. However, the W8 craftsmanship and driving experience is unmatched to any other car. I loved having something unique - I believe only about 4,900 W8's were manufactured globally over it's 3-year run and mine was one of just 20 produced in the Blue Silver/Gray combination.

[@bidenisgod6978]

E39 is vastly superior to the w8

[@Steve-on6fu]

I had a 2004 W8 wagon for 4 years until the dreaded cam adjuster CEL reared it’s ugly head. Probably my favorite car I ever owned. I had an aftermarket warranty and they refused to cover the repairs. My dealership even called them to argue in my favor and they hung up on them. Still miss it.

[@markspence3750]

I have a 2006 VW Touareg 4.2L V8 and the battery drained all the time. Took it to a mechanic and did a voltage drop test. It came to the headlights wiring being degraded. It now has no problems. Cost $1000 to find that problem. Spent another $2000 on timing belt replacement.

[@Manu-Official]

I changed the two batteries on my two cars as soon as they needed changing. Sticker residue on windows is a sign of no care given, electrical issues on top of the battery is a fire waiting to happen.

[@thebigguy8306]

🤔As with many cars, maintenance is the key and gets out of hand quickly. A dead battery is an indication. Brendon has 10 cars and not a lot of money, sounds like a first-world problem. I drove a 96 A6, 10 years 350k, regular maint (timing belt water pump every 100k, brakes yearly) great quattro for MN winters, think quattro was 70/30 then

[@bruceklassen8261]

That car sounds goooooood

[@aussie2uGA]

Had a Phaeton, can relate.

[@johnpalmer5131]

Was thinking that basically a Phaeton without all the frills.

[@konradhittner4668]

Andre’s just used to shifting and clutching in old, Eastern Block army trucks.

[@jonas852]

i have had 2 of the last year of the golf gti mk4 2003 that did get some extra stuff. and one of them had the same problem with the passange door. its a common problem

[@Happymali10]

A lot of them have quite high miles back home because people bought them as long-distance autobahn cars. Also why most of them were automatics over ehre.

[@M.G.jun.]

This is a beautiful, special and rare car. I really hope you get it right.

[@CorneliusMegadook]

Man I had a 99 beetle with a 2.0l and had a borla exhaust system they created specifically for it. The exhaust shop that installed it thought it was so cool he only charged me 20 bucks to install it!

[@Detroit6V92TA]

Buy a dang AGM battery. Flooded batteries are obsolete. My daily came with a mysterious power draw that fried a battery every 12-18 months. I replaced it 5 times before I switched to AGM. Since switching to AGM, I've been using the same battery since 2017. This AGM battery also lasted through 2 alternators.

[@gastypm]

I love this car

[@bruces4459]

I would sell one of your other 9 cars to fix this one up like you did for your 8.1L Yukon. Nice car and worth fixing up(at least get a new battery)

[@MetalZoned]

At the end he says he is selling some of them to be able to repair the others

[@mehrshadvr4]

That car sounds great. Its like a vr6 but better.

[@svpracer98]

Any limited import, us spec car is a total pain in the ass to own. I had a 08 Saturn Astra (import from Belgium) and a replacement bumper took a solid month to materialize after a severe rear end collision took out the bumper and taillight (somehow completely missed the hatch).

[@zkiller195]

The A4 now starts at ~41k (pretty close to this car's price way back in 2003). Back then,, you could buy an A6 Quattro (sedan or wagon) for less than this 40k Passat W8.

[@BiffTannenBTTF]

I had no idea they made a w8 Passat. Cool stuff

[@lunabouch]

We VW people are loyalists. Thanks for that drive and review.

[@MlLKMAN]

The W8 sound is cool, but if I had to pick B5.5, I would rather have a 4motion manual wagon with a nodded 1.8t.

[@danielreigada1542]

Maybe the upside down front license plate was a subtle protest against being required to have one.

[@marcoserbach3848]

The Passat uses the A6 platform actually.

[@Wojciech940]

10 cars, all hoopties (allegedly) This one has a special place in his heart yet he can`t - replace a battery in it - fix the radio wiring - fix the sunroof fob - fix the god damn door knob Get it together, man

[@czarnykurczak]

Are there any parts available for this car? I mean parts specific for W8.

[@M1chlos]

Pretty good for half-Veyron

[@DirtE30]

I’m sure that alternator will be cheap and easy when it dies trying to constantly keep a dead battery charged. Lol

[@jrit2865]

I would still own this as well!

[@joshc606]

I like it lol I can’t help myself. It sounds good.

[@cageordie]

It's built on an A6 platform, not an A4 platform. I don't fit well in the A4 and I drove a b5.5 Passat v6 wagon 207,000 miles. Same color too. On the original clutch, because I didn't drive like this, thank God!

[@YungEagle3k]

I had this video in the background and man that guy cannot drive a manual like at all, that poor poor clutch

[@garretlewis4103]

Ahhh……the TDI. I loved my 2000 Jetta TDI.

[@jimmypena2442]

Sounds like me when i was learning to drive lol

[@probot6]

I would worry that if my mechanic didn't notice he put my plate on upside down, did he miss anything really important?

[@chrispurzer9461]

Imagine the local police and highway patrol will be amused, too...

[@Flies2FLL]

So this woman at this duplex about 1/2 mile from my home had a W8 Passat. And it wasn't any Passat, it was a "Variant" or station wagon. MANUAL transmission. And it was light green! I tried to buy the thing from the woman several times but she wouldn't sell to me. Trust me folks, these cars in decent condition will be collectors items in 20 years-

[@axe2grind244]

I have a GTI 24v VR6 that also sounds similar to Chewbacca lol.

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

I have a 2003... Camry 6cyl. Everything (and I mean E V E R Y T H I N G) works.

[@7477238]

Is the clutch slipping on the car or is it Andre's driving?

[@dallasyule3557]

No snow no jackets. When was this filmed?

[@markweatherford9233]

You should learn to park on a slight hill with a manual, then you can just roll backwards and pop the clutch and not have to jump it at every stop.

[@Rick-vg2pz]

I like the videos with cheap junk cars that are still going. Exhaust sounds great rather have this than a new car

[@robervin9107]

Brendan sell this get a nice Highlander as a daily. I’m being serious. Sell your other cars. And just keep the money. So this emotional scene never happens again. 3:43 Broke my heart

[@brandonbolden2276]

Kinda surprised the glovebox and headliner aren’t sagging lol

[@d0rk4ge]

If a Passat with W8 badges is a VW sleeper, what does that make my K04 Tiguan with 80+ more HP?

[@fastzenner]

You don’t need to slip the clutch in every gear just when your taking off in first

[@paulsandvig6961]

Is that the w8 you bought from auction that u were gonna daily drive lol

[@zak182006]

hard video to watch with that shifting. Yikes. Cool car!

[@joelness]

These videos simultaneously make me really want, and stay as far away as possible from, a W8 6-speed Passat.

[@RiC3R69]

W8 is one of the Best Sounding 8 Cylinders Ever

[@benjamindacunha6974]

Real question: how does Brendan afford to have 10 cars? Do you insure all of them? Do you pay to register all of them or are you running temporary dealer tags on them? Insuring, inspecting and registering 10 cars sounds crazy!

[@hitchedtohorsepower]

I've had as many as 23 cars at once and I'm not rich. It's not cheap but the insurance isn't nearly as bad as you'd think. The insurance company's mostly care about how much the cars are driven and they know that people that collect cars on average don't drive any more than people with one or two cars. I have State Farm for my "normal" cars and Hagerty for the collector stuff. I started out with two cars on the Hagerty policy and when I added a third the policy went down by $25 a year! No it didn't keep doing that but there's a lot of discounts when you start to get lots of cars on a policy. Biggest thing is buying cars that don't depreciate. I can't afford to buy a really expensive car that's going to lose a massive amount of it's value but cars there's lots of cars that will stay at what I paid or go up a little. Brendan is buying at dealer auctions so he's usually making money on each one after keeping them for a while. I have somewhat come to my senses, I only have 12 cars now haha.

[@benjamindacunha6974]

@@hitchedtohorsepower sheesh. 12 cars is nuts still. Do you just have a huge garage or what? And what are some examples of cars to get that hold or gain value? Besides a Toyota lol

[@hitchedtohorsepower]

@benjamindacunha6974 yes I have a 80' by 40' detached garage and a double deep 2 car wide attached garage. The easiest cars to do that with are classic cars. I've have a couple 65 Mustangs, a 67 Lincoln Convertible, 2002 and e30 BMWs. For the most part things like that won't fluctuate much in value. In 2020 I got a 2001 Porsche 911 C4 Cab with 39k miles. Paid $17,500 all in and now if I went to sell it it would bring between $25k and $30k. I've also done it with new cars. You have to order them so you're paying MSRP. I've had a Ford F-450 Platinum that I drove for 6 months and 19k miles and sold it for $5000 more than I paid with taxes and tags included. Also a 2021 Mustang GT500 Carbon Track Pack that I kept for a while then made a little. Going back to when I was 17 I talked my dad into the S2000 when it first came out. Paid sticker, kept it about a year and about 10k miles, and sold it a few thousand more than we had in it. I'm looking into a early 2000s Saab 9-3 Convertible. You can get a really clean low mileage one for $7,000 to $10,000 and chances are going forward because there's not a ton of them out there so as long as it's kept nice it will probably stay right around that.