2003 Volkswagen PASSAT W8

First registered on the 12th of June 2003, this VW Passat W8 comes to us via a self-confessed W8 enthusiast. Finished in the launch colour of Petrol Pearl Blue, it sits on a set of genuine BBS alloy wheels and a matching set of Avon winter tyres.

Freshly serviced, including the hard-to-reach sparkplugs and the automatic gearbox that almost no-one else ever bothers servicing, he tells us that it drives very well.

Offered with no reserve, this is your opportunity to buy a staggeringly capable, hugely quick car that’s been recently fettled and is guaranteed to unlock Legend Status for not a lot of money…

The Petrol Pearl Blue bodywork is very good with no serious dents, dinks, or other damage and only a few stonechips mar what is otherwise an impressive finish.

The panel alignment is still very good, as are the shutlines and trim; this was, you will remember, a very expensive car when it was new and it has weathered the intervening years with impressive aplomb.

The BBS alloy wheels are genuine rather than the sort of knock-offs that non-car people fit and they are in good shape with no signs of kerbing or other damage. They are also shod with matching Avon Ice Touring tyres – the solitary Goodyear Eagle F1 tyre you might have spotted in the photos is being replaced.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you an insight into their attitude towards maintenance.

Problems? Well, the vendor tells us there is a little rust on the nearside front wheelarch lip but that could be caught easily and cheaply.

The black leather interior is lightly patinated. The worst creasing is, of course, on the driver’s seat but even that isn’t bad at all and the resulting wear patterns are reassuring rather than concerning; after all, if it’s covered 114,000 miles to date then it’s unlikely to go bang on your shift, is it?

The wooden trim still looks great, as do the door cards, headlining, carpets and dashboard. There’s also a high-power sound system in there plus a 6-CD multi-changer.

The vendor tells us that everything works, including the air-conditioning following a new pressure switch and a charge of gas.

The boot carpet appears, let’s be honest, a bit grubby. But, the boot itself is solid and free of rust and home to the space-saver spare wheel, tool kit, and warning triangle.

The engine bay is very clean indeed, and the underside looks to be strong and solid. It certainly hasn’t come to the attention of any of the MOT testers who’ve examined the car since 2006. 

We are told that the servicing regimen is as impressive as the rest of the car, comprising a full suite of main dealer service stamps bar the last one.

But that last one was quite a service because it included new spark plugs and rocker gaskets plus the automatic gearbox service that no-one bothers doing; have we mentioned the vendor is a W8 enthusiast?

You will have noticed, perhaps, that its MOT certificate expires shortly, running out on the 29th of August 2020. Fear not though because the vendor has agreed to pop a new one on for you.

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus some old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it. It also still has its original owner’s handbook and storage wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Look, we know there can be no rational justification for buying a W8-powered VW Passat. Okay, it’s got a fabulous 275bhp engine and the sure-footed 4Motion four-wheel-drive chassis but its complexity and fuel economy rightly rule it out as sensible transport for most folk.

But then we aren’t most folk, are we? After all, classic cars make little sense to most people and yet they dominate our thoughts, dreams and conversations - and we all spend far too much money indulging ourselves with them.

Which is exactly why we adore this Passat. Gloriously over-the-top, it ticks an awful lot of boxes and it’s not as if it is going to cost you a lot; with no reserve and an estimate of somewhere between £3000 and £6000, unlocking your inner icon has never been more affordable.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the seller near Manchester; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.