Kevin Hayes - VW Passat B5.5 W8.

These are all of our Linx, please check below for the right link to contact, Join or Follow  us:

All of our Useful LinX can be found here:

More Images in Slider Above

Kevin Hayes

VW Passat B5.5 W8.

Instagram: @w8_kef

I work full time as a Mechanical Design Engineer and live in Wakefield. I am married to Jadene Hayes @jaded_hayes with her and her support this car would never happen or have gotten to what it is today. I grew up in South Africa for most of my life before moving to the UK, I then moved around with my family due to work. Norway is one of the places we ended up in whilst working in the Oil and Gas sector.

This is where the hunt started for a VW Passat B5.5 W8. My best friend has had one for many years. I fell in love with this car from the very the first time I got in it. The sound, the feel and that very understated look it has (sleeper). After many years of saving and looking, I finally found my car in Scotland near

Glasgow. After much back and forth and a flight out there, I managed to get the deal done. The car had a list of issues the length of my arm and to most, they would have walked away but me being me, and the support of my close friend, I wanted this car and I was going to make it happen.

I arranged that I and my family would fly home via Manchester and the seller would meet me at the airport with the car and from this point, the journey of building and having fun with the car began for me. Once we got through the very long list of items that needed doing (the main one been the torque converter – engine out the job), I then decided to drive the car back to Norway with my son and best mate Dean Ambler (@deanoquattro007) to enjoy the car. The journey of living and working in Norway came to an end, so we packed the car up and drove my pride and joy across the country from Norway all the way back home - 1307 miles, 3 days of good driving and the Passat could stretch her legs.

Once we got home to the UK I did a load more work on the car and then decided to go on a road trip to the Holy Grail of Motorsports, Germany - the Nürburgring. What fun we had! Let’s say, for a big girl she could hold her own on the track. This car has become part of our family hence my wife now calls the car ‘The Mistress’.

I first got into the car scene with my dad when I was back in South Africa as a young boy going to street meets, track days and physically working on the family cars with my dad. This really pushed my love for cars and the desire to build and have fun with cars.

The Very first car I built was at the age of 16. It was a VW Beetle 1600 SP. My mom purchased this car from my uncle. The problem was he lived in the Drakensburg Mountains (South Africa). The car was to be driven back to my home town of Boksburg (South Africa) in a somewhat sorry state. I then spent a year getting this car running and roadworthy. I would have to say that is what created the love and passion for the VW family today. My first car was a VW Beetle 1600 SP – Canary Yellow, My current daily driver is a VW Passat B7 estate. But my weekend ride is my pride and joy - VW Passat B5.5 W8. I just love VW (VAG)

Car stats,speed,Bhp,0-60

• Cylinders: 8
• Engine Code: BDN
• Fuel: Petrol
• Engine Displacement: 3999 cm3
• Max Power – Output – Horsepower : 275PS or 271 bhp or 202 kW @ 6000 rpm
• Maximum Torque: 370Nm or 272 lb.ft @ 2750 rpm
• Drive train: 4 motion (AWD)
• Transmission: 5 Speed Tiptronic
• Top Speed: 155Mph
• Acceleration (0 to 62 mph): 7.8s

Full Spec List

Wheels:

• 19” Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.3 in custom colour.

Suspension:

• Bilstein Dampers with a set of H& R lowering springs.

Brakes:

• The front system has now got Brembo 8 pot callipers with a set of AP Racing “Float
• in Bell” 2 Piece Ø365 x 34mm.
• The rears are on a set of 4 pot Brembo callipers with a set of Brembo Ø335 x 22mm
• With EBC Yellow stuff pads.
• Rear Pinch Calliper: Is the original rear Calliper converted.

Exhaust:

• Full Stainless Steel system custom made at Stainless Exhaust Specialist

(http://www.stainless-exhaust.com/)

Paint:

• Fully Resprayed to original Inky Blue at Retford Autofinishers

(http://www.autofinishers.co.uk)

Interior:

• The interior is all original except for the Wood Trim been changed out for the Net
• optics trim.

Fundamentally the car is finished but are they ever really finished I say. Most of the work I have done myself however I have had a lot of help from my best mate Dean Ambler (@deanoquattro007). Dean took the engine out of my car to change to a Torque Converter and basically rebuilt every missing or broken part that was needed as there weren't many if any other places that would want to touch this car because it is so unique. The main thing with unique cars is to keep on top of the maintenance, lots of love

and attention – but most of all, drive them! I have always attended car shows since I was a young kid but just as a spectator. It is only the last year that I have had the pleasure of showing my own car at the VW Festival at Harewood House in 2019. My favourite group is the SAVS Owners Club (@SAVSOWNERSCLUB)

Now that my W8 has had the full body spray, I am looking to enter her into more shows and competitions, but the main thing for me is the fun of showing off the car. I love that feeling of standing next to my car and someone walking by and noticing the same things, I love about my car.

My Dream Car would be a Porsche GT3. As the W8 was, the GT3 is a goal and one day I will have it…I just have to convince my wife first

All the Cars in the Online Version of our Magazine will eventually appear in our Fully Printed Magazine, the cars with the most Views, appear sooner, the Magazine is sold the world over through Amazon, making it easier and faster for people around the world to get their copy. UK and Ireland use our store stanceautomag.com

If you would like your Car and Story or Your Business Featured like this, Please

Email: Admin, they would love to hear from you.

Our site contains links to third party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy policies, practices and/or content of these web sites. Their use is at your own risk.