My wife and I are looking for Passat TDI's. FOund one at a dealer in this area, and it looks good from the pictures, but they don't always tell the story.

I am looking for someone to stop by take a look at the car and let me know what the actual shape is inside and out and hear it run.

These cars from the factory had a chain driven oil pump. That chain fails and, well you can imagine what an engine does without oil. Anyway, I think you can hear the clanking of a chain if it's not been changed, from inside the car or outside. But the chain is no longer available because VW replaced them with gears.

If you listen closely here, you can hear the resonating swoosh of the chain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD08uhsWg9E

Here's a better one at :25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En7WGnaJjoU

Here's what they should sound - nice and tight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTQIaK-cwD4

I can swing by on my way home from work, what's the dealer's name?

I thought you were headed overseas to Germany? If you are looking for a second car or even a primary car I'd buy a good used German spec car upon your arrival. There is a huge market for them around the US bases. My wife and I picked up an older BMW Alpine M5 wagon our last time there, it was a great 2nd car for us. It'd do 275 km/h on the unrestricted sections of the autobahn, when we left we sold it for what we paid for it.

We'd love to do that. Our issue is that we'd like to have a car there waiting for us when we arrive. With everything else we need to do when we arrive, buying a car will just add stress. Originally, we thought we were shipping the LR3, but the two buyers I had there fell thru, so we don't want a risk having to keep a 15mpg SUV while we are there. And I don't trust our current commuter car to be reliable for our 3-4 year stint (2000 Focus). The other cool thing is that when we come back, we can bring this Passat with us and it'll make a great commuter car.

We do plan to buy a second car while we are there tho. Looking at some 320d's You have any experience with European Diesel sedans/wagon?

BTW - don't expect you to do it for free. I'd buy you a 6-pk of your favorite beer or something.

They close at 6pm on the weekdays. You can tell him you are coming to look at it for me so he doesn't think there's another interested party. I plan to barter with him a bit and more interest means less flexibility. I did tell him my cousin was coming by, but found out he doesn't get off work until 6. So he may think you're my cousin. Also, no huge hurry. If it gets sold, it wasn't meant to be. So don't rearrange your plans. But let me know when you plan to go and I'll do what I can to make sure the car is ready.

Link to the ad:
http://www.autodepotdealerdenver.com/ve ... =143196839