Home » Good Wagon Hunting: 1996 Toyota Camry vs 2003 VW Passat

Good Wagon Hunting: 1996 Toyota Camry vs 2003 VW Passat

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Good morning! Today we’re headed northeast to Boston, Massachusetts to look at a couple of station wagons, for no other reason than I don’t think I’ve ever looked for cars there before. Before we do that, let’s take a look at yesterday’s results:

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Huh. Well, you’re wrong, of course. But then, I already have a British sports car, and wouldn’t mind a personal luxury coupe to commute in. But you’re still wrong; the answer is never TR7. Maybe TR8 is sometimes the answer.

You know what’s strange? I’ve owned 32 cars, and regularly driven maybe 20 others owned by significant others, and not one of them has ever been a proper station wagon. I’ve had quite a few hatchbacks, and a couple of SUVs that met the wagon criteria, but nothing the marketing department would have called a wagon. You’d think there would have been an Olds Cutlass Cruiser or a Honda Civic Wagovan or something in there, but no. It’s especially weird because I’ve always liked wagons. I’ve just somehow never had one.

Anyway, we’ve got two of them today, fresh from a lifetime of battle on the mean streets of Boston. One German, one Japanese, both well-used.

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1996 Toyota Camry – $2,000

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Engine/drivetrain: 2.2 liter DOHC inline 4, 4 speed automatic, FWD

Location: Boston, MA

Odometer reading: 168,000 miles

Runs/drives? Yep, but lots of other things are broken, it sounds like

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There isn’t a day that goes by writing this feature that I don’t pass over at least half a dozen Camrys. They’re everywhere, they’re just fine, and they’re boring. I’ve included a few here and there, but honestly, I don’t have much to say about them.

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But this one is different. Not only does it have a really long roof, not only do the rear side windows look like they’re upside-down – it has two, count’em two, tiny rear window wipers. That’s twice the gunk-clearing power of the leading brand of rear wiper assembly!

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From the middle of the roof forward, it’s bog-standard Camry: a dead-reliable four, an overdrive automatic, excellent ergonomics… you know the drill. Camrys are like that kid in school who always got good grades, never got in trouble, and somehow everybody liked anyway. This one runs and drives, of course; it’s hard to keep these things from doing that. But the HVAC system is non-operational, the windshield is cracked, and it has been bonked in the nose a bit.

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The seller says they were going to restore this car but lost interest. That’s not surprising – the double rear wipers are literally the most interesting thing about this car. Let’s move on, shall we?

2003 Volkswagen Passat – $2,200

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Engine/drivetrain: Turbocharged 1.8 liter DOHC inline 4, 5 speed manual, FWD

Location: Arlington, MA

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Odometer reading: 158,000 miles

Runs/drives? Sure does

The B5 generation VW Passat is one of those cars I’ve admired since it came out, but have never been brave enough to buy. I’ve driven them, and I really like them, but reports of reliability problems and high maintenance needs have put me off. (I can hear Mercedes now saying “Just do it! They’re not that bad!”) If I were ever to take the plunge, this wouldn’t be a bad spec: 1.8t wagon with a manual.

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But looking at this one makes me glad I’d be car-hunting on the west coast. The seller says this car has just two little rust spots behind the front wheels. But those aren’t just “rust spots,” sadly:

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That’s a hole. The bottoms of the front fenders are rusted through from the inside. For those of you who live in sunny climes and have never seen such a thing, that’s bad. There’s nothing holding that plastic cladding in place but a little paint and good luck. And I can only imagine the horror show behind it. Rocker panels? What are those?

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The seller says it runs and drives well, but for Volkswagens of this age, maintenance is king. I’d want to see records of what has been done and when before deciding. The interior “just needing a little cleaning” makes me nervous as well. But it is a stickshift wagon for cheap, and as long as the rust hasn’t progressed to the structural level, it could be a decent beater if everything checks out.

So that’s Thursday for you: a pair of imperfect wagons. Either one could be a decent runabout, both have their drawbacks, but for this price you have to expect some flaws. Which one are you more willing to put up with?

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(Image credits: Craigslist sellahs)

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beachbumberry
beachbumberry
1 year ago

How in name of all things holy has nobody mentioned the Camry’s real party trick? Watching the 2 rear wipers from the REAR FACING THIRD ROW!!!! We had one of these (with a v6) in burgundy when I was first learning to drive. Great way to get a bunch of teenagers in trouble in a small town!

https://images.app.goo.gl/SCF1cQixx1nxVJff6

Jeff Gillio
Jeff Gillio
1 year ago

The Camry is the sensible choice. I like the VW better, but there are too many negatives.

ChefCJ
ChefCJ
1 year ago

Man, even though I currently drive a manual VW wagon, I can’t recommend a Passat of that generation having owned one already. The timing chain broke and grenaded the engine, and that was only after about 80k miles. Not to mention all of the other issues that poor thing had. It was my wife’s car, and she loved it, even after the auto trans went out (Mercedes is correct abut the paper construction of those things), the alternator lasted about 40k miles. They’re just timebombs

BunkyTheMelon
BunkyTheMelon
1 year ago

Hmmmm….Toyota reliability or a VAG product? The Camry will still be going long after that VW has been sold for parts at the scrapyard.

JDE
JDE
1 year ago

no brainer, if it were say a 2.5 5 cylinder with a manual trans I might say different, but not likely. Ask torch about the wonderful world of VW TSI motors.

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
1 year ago

Yeah, the Camry. Never want to deal with rust, especially on a car that doesn’t otherwise interest me. And as much as I like driving a stick, I don’t necessarily feel the need to do so in a wagon. I’ve owned three wagons in my life (’78 Mercury Zephyr, ’93 Caprice, ’97 Volvo 960) and they were all swell for their purpose (even lost my virginity in the Mercury!), but the fun aspect of driving a stick is something I don’t mind having in other body styles than wagons.

Brockstar
Brockstar
1 year ago

The Camry has two wipers and steelies. How is this even a question!? Give it a bit of a lift and some different shoes and it’s as much an Overlanding rig as anything else, plus tons of space to sleep in. Plus, anywhere you go will have parts for it on the rare chance that something simple actually breaks.

Faik Akir
Faik Akir
1 year ago

I was SO READY to vote for the Passat despite it reputation for unreliability because it was newer, had a manual, and looked cleaner, then saw that rust hole and it just got even worse from there. I’ll take the Toyota, thanks.

05LGT
05LGT
1 year ago

The most correct answer is to buy both. Then you get to have fun driving the Passat when it works and you have a working wagon to get the “lots of parts” (quoted from Mercedes) that the evil fucker will need on even numbered months when it stops working.

05LGT
05LGT
1 year ago
Reply to  05LGT

Edit button please. “plenty of parts”.

Nsane In The MembraNe
Nsane In The MembraNe
1 year ago

When it comes to appliances I go Toyota over VW every single time and you should too

8th--Note
8th--Note
1 year ago

I bought a used 02 BMW 325i wagon about 15 yrs ago when my oldest daughter was born. Had it for a couple years (my wife at the time drove it mostly) and it was awsome. But it was maintenance intensive. That being said, Germans dont scare me. Id take my chances on the Passat.

GreatFallsGreen
GreatFallsGreen
1 year ago

No interior pics for either, level playing field. Camry having a sunroof is mildly interesting to have that option on an otherwise plain 4-cylinder LE.

Camry, at the least for parts if it’s in worse shape than they say in the ad. Or, without the badge on front, employ it for use as one of those “Anycarmobiles” in insurance ads.

MaximillianMeen
MaximillianMeen
1 year ago

Sorry, folks, but the correct answer for today is the losing Buick Riviera from yesterday.

Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
1 year ago

If I were recommending a car for someone who wants a reliable way to get around, I’d go with the Camry every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

But if it were me buying a car for myself, I’d have to go with the VW.
Here’s why: Yes, the rust is eating through the bodywork to the point of the whole thing falling apart. Yes, there’s not even a picture of the interior, and there’s an ominous warning about how it “just needs a cleaning”. Yes, that generation of VW is known for mechanical issues, and the fact that it’s exceeded 100k miles means that it’s running on borrowed time already.
But what really appeals to me is the manual transmission. I have never had the opportunity to learn to drive a stick, and I have often fantasized about buying a cheap car off of Craigslist to use as a learning tool. I’d want to get something that’s nearing the end of its life so that I wouldn’t feel bad about the inevitable wear I’d put on it as I figure out how to operate it. Then when I’m done, either scrap it or sell it cheap again.
The days of the $500 running car appear to be over, so something like this seems to be my best option for a vehicle that could be used to learn to drive a manual transmission without fear or ruining it.
But to be fair, that’s a dumb reason to buy a car, and I’d be better served making friends with someone who drives a manual who might let me learn on his car. Either that or signing up for some type of driving school that offers manuals (if such a thing exists).

Arrest-me Red
Arrest-me Red
1 year ago

The VW was close but the “minor” rust lost it. If they are willing to lie about that, what else is there?

For a couple hundred less I would live with the Toyanda Beige.

Tristan Hixon
Tristan Hixon
1 year ago
Reply to  Arrest-me Red

To be fair, here in MA that *is* considered minor rust.

Arrest-me Red
Arrest-me Red
1 year ago
Reply to  Tristan Hixon

I am not that far away, still saying minor rust and seeing through the fender is bad 🙂

Tristan Hixon
Tristan Hixon
1 year ago
Reply to  Arrest-me Red

I don’t know about where you live, but I’ve lived in MA my entire life, and rot holes in panels are common. A twenty year old car with only small rot holes like that is minor rust. Hell, my twelve year old car has worse rust than that.

Arrest-me Red
Arrest-me Red
1 year ago
Reply to  Tristan Hixon

Just north of you. The rust is not the problem. The “it’s fine, minor rust” is the problem. If you can see your hand on the other side of the fender, that is not minor.

Rjs2005
Rjs2005
1 year ago

The common sense answer is of course the Camry because well, Camry. Thing is though, I never choose the common sense answer- see my profile pic and notice the FC RX-7. For that reason, I’d choose the Passat. I’ve always liked the B5 (B5.5, whatever) platform, reliability issues be damned, which seem to be centered around the awful automatic. Heck, for $2200 or how much less one could bargain down to, it would make for a nice drive to work beater. Gimme the VW.

IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
1 year ago

I thought the VW would run away with this one until I saw those rust holes. Now I’m running away from the dead wagon driving and straight into the comfort of that Toyota’s non-rusted arms. It’s a shitbox, but a damn near indestructible shitbox.

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 year ago

Once upon a time I ignored the sage advice I’d given to many friends. I went and bought a used German car. It was a GTI and it was glorious! When it ran. I owned it for 10 months, in which time the crankshaft position sensor died. 3 times! Add that experience to rusted through body panels, and it’s a Camry for me.

But oh when that GTI ran…

Chris Stevenson
Chris Stevenson
1 year ago

Dat Camry D-pillar!

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
1 year ago

Manual > Auto
No rust > any rust

Not sure. I think I’d go with VW?

David Fernandez
David Fernandez
1 year ago

The passat is automatic CP

Tristan Hixon
Tristan Hixon
1 year ago

What makes you say that?

Alexander Moore
Alexander Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Tristan Hixon

Piech-era VW

Dogisbadob
Dogisbadob
1 year ago

DUH!!!! Whot he fuck would choose a Passat over a fucking Camry? The 3rd gen Camry is the best car ever made 😀

This wagon has two rear wipers and a third seat too. The 5S-FE is an awesome engine that is reliable and will last a long time with no problems. It has a timing belt, but is a non-interference engine.

If you want more, you can always swap in a 3S-GTE or just use the GTE top end on the stock block and make a 5S-GTE

Mr. Canoehead
Mr. Canoehead
1 year ago
Reply to  Dogisbadob

I did because the Camry is automotive Valium. Life is too short to drive a Camry.

Mercedes Streeter
Mercedes Streeter
1 year ago

That Passat is actually a B5.5, and normally I’d tell people to run away, because the auto transmissions in them might as well be made of paper. I’ve owned four of them, three of them automatic, and none of the auto boxes worked quite right. And one of them (my current one) had a fresh transmission installed a year before I bought it. And guess what? Fourth gear is already being weird. I plan to have my mechanic manual swap my Passat TDI before the current transmission gives up on life.

But this? This is good. It already has a manual, and the engine is a proven unit with plenty of parts out there. As far as rust goes, it’s probably pretty clean (or at the very least, no holes) behind the fenders. The fenders on these things seem to rot long before everything else does. So, find some new fenders in a junkyard (shouldn’t be a problem, as people sometimes scrap them when the transmission dies) and Bob’s your uncle, or whatever the kids say.

Biggest thing with this one is to watch out for water leaks. The car’s drains can clog, and leave you with a damp interior. One of my Passats was constantly wet, even after I took care of the sunroof drains.

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 year ago

One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. That being said, the more poor automotive decisions you make, the more content I get to read. Keep up the good work Mercedes!

Mercedes Streeter
Mercedes Streeter
1 year ago
Reply to  MATTinMKE

If I keep buying the same VW, eventually one of them will be reliable, right? lol

Speed Racer
Speed Racer
1 year ago

Older VW Passat. All I can think of is Geena Davis in “The Fly” saying “Be afraid. Be very afraid”.

Cam.man67
Cam.man67
1 year ago

No brainer, the Camry.

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