Look
Decent power

Poor workmanship
Reliability

Love and hate this car. I must admit I was first obsessed by its external appeal, and to be frank, it drives great. But couldn't really figure out why VW could do so bad with electricals and the non-consumable parts! I share the frustrations of many here who have had more or less my problems with the Passat. The list is countless, and though those are not items related to safety, it is extremely frustrating and afterall, very very expensive to fix, because they repeat themselves after a short while!

Have read wonderful comments of the very latest model, but let time tell whether VW is doing justice to its own name.

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Lexus, BMW, Ford

I test drove an audi A4 and fell in love with it, and I was going to buy it despite the small back seat. Then I found out that it cost $34000. I was dissapointed, but the dealer told me to drive this other car that looked a little bit bigger. I reluctatly said ok. I get into the car and say is this an audi? He said no it's a volkswagen. I drove this car and fell it love with the german engineering. Drive's like silk.

absolutley nothing

Buy this car if you want a Bmw or audi feel for half the price. Just drive it, you'll love it.

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all suv's audi's bmw's

I love the design, I think it is incredibly sexy and sophisticated. It also comes with all the bells and whistles you can imagine.

Where to begin? This is the most expensive car in the family (we have 5 total) when it comes to purchase price, repairs, maintanence and gas. This car has had one thing after the other go wrong with it and we are currently trying to sell it while it still has over 3,000 dollars worth of repairs on it. To begin there is another leak in the head gasket (the fourth one to date), the air conditioning motor broke, the passenger side mirror no longer responds to electrical buttons, needs new shocks and struts etc.the list goes on! Whatever you do, don't buy this car, especially this year and model- you will regret it!

Way too expensive to maintain, can get much better value in Japanese auto for the same price!

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Ford Ranger(much less expensive), Mercury Sable(good deal), Toyota Corollo (still running strong at 200,000mi. with less than $1,000 in repairs in the last 5 years.

peppy, solid, amazing brakes (specs show faster than a Porche 911 and I believe it!)

it arrived with a bad transmission :( but a dealer replaced it. I would have liked VW to apologize but they never did.

Coffee cup holder sucks but I guess you're supposed to be driving the car not drinking coffee right?

Very solid car. Drives well, has lots of capacity, and looks good too! I would buy one again.

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previous car was a 1996 Toyota Celica which handled better but was not as peppy.

Steering Handling, AC system, roomy

Noisy automatic door locks, small and improperly located cup holders.

Great handling, typical German technology.
The moonson system could use a subwoofer. So, it is not worth paying the extra money for the radio system.
The cup holders can't be used if using a phone charger at the cigarrete lighter output.
Overall the car is good. Although VW calls it a TURBO car, it is only an entry level TURBO. The turbo could be better.

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Everything

Few

***Safety Review*** I actually submitted a review when we first purchased the car in January 1998 but I guess it dropped off. The car held up beautifully, until I got hit by a Lexus LS400 on the passenger rear quarter while making a turn across traffic.
The police estimated the Lexus, not a light car, was traveling around 65mph ( not uncommon for Dallas ) when they crested the hill and hit us. Spun the VW around two and a half times, ripped off the entire rear axle ( wheels attached ) and sent it into a parking lot 20 yards away, punctured the gas tank and obliterated the trunk. The body torqued enough to break the headlights and "unmount" the engine. It was a hell of a hit.
My two-year old son was in the back, in his car seat in the center. We walked out with my broken wrist and a little seat belt rash on his shoulder. Thats it. The body deformed the way it should and the passenger cell was moved in around the passenger rear about 2 inches.
Obviously the car was totalled. After looking at the car the next day, we picked out another and I traded in my Intrigue on the spot. We now have two, red and green, Passats in the garage.
All the options and power and good value are strong enough selling points for this car. The safety is a clincher.

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Very Well

Feel of German luxury instead of wagon-style SUV, but has the most reliable AWD feel I have driven (w/possible exception of much more expensive Audi). Tracked well in the worst snowstorm I've ever driven in, defrosting mirrors and rear window, fog lights invaluable. Beautiful dash at night! V6 has fewer horses but more torque than the Subaru 6 and very perky. Tiptronic tranny not only a cool toy but also great for passing, on ramp, and hilly terrain. Larger backseat than its competitors.

Trade off for luxury/passenger car feel is lower clearance (probably won't take off road). Crappy cupholders! Stereo more average than hoped for such a nice Euro feel. Not rated for towing.

Would recommend unequivocally, particularly in snow country. Sticks in the corners, accelerates smoothly, quiet on the highway. No SUV can offer that classy, smooth sporty feel. Recommend to those who like but can't afford the european luxury sport wagons (Volvo, BMW, Audi) or who want something more unique than Subaru (the ubiquitous Outback makes no impression here in Colo). Not for those who need truck-like suspension for serious offroading.

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Styling
Engine
Tiptronic transmission (removes any second thoughths of getting 5 speed)
Leather seats are very comfortable(heated too, nice)
Steering is great
Braking
Little things(steering wheel audio controls, simple sunroof adjustments)
The Dash! Bright blueish-violet with red accents, easy on the eyes.
All scheduled maintenance, even oil changes, are free for two years.
Monsoon Stereo. I got the in dash CD player added. The sound is great, crisp highs and deep, powerful, accurate bass. No need to upgrade, unless you are a fanatical moron and insist on your car stereo doubling as a full body massager. (Save that for Mustangs and Camaros).
Wheels (5 spoke alloys add a nice touch to GLX and are easy to clean).

Size of cup-holders (hey, I'm american)
Lack of Xenon headlights (they look cool)
Brake dust builds up quick, like BMW. (may just be because it's so new)

If you are considering a Passat, buy the GLX. It's worth the extra money. Simply the best car for the price that I have ever been in. I love it. I find myself making excuses to run to the store, just to see the dash lights. This car handles beautifully and is quick and responsive. The ride is extremely solid and you just feel like you are surrounded by quality. You can feel the road, but it doesn't bump around, perfect balance. By far the best car I have ever owned.

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Mazda Millenia S Passat's handling kills Mazda
BMW 328 Very similar, Passat has more room and much less expensive.

Great handling, very German feel, lot's of options, very affordable, lots of room in back seats, responsive engine & auto transmission. Really cool nightime dash illumination....on par with a Lear Jet!!! Slighty pricey.

2 year warranty, 18 MPG around town, Sound system could use a sub-woofer and the Monsoon sounds OK, but not GREAT.

I kicked around going for a MB C Class, an Audi A-4, BMW 3 series, but when it came down to buying I opted for the Passat. The C-Class, BMW, and the Audio are all very nice vehicles and respected entry level luxury sedans, but I wanted something affordable (under 30K)without giving up too much in the handling, engine, and option department. The Passat did not disappoint me. If you had priced even the entry level C-Class, you can't get out of the dealership for less than $38K, give or take a few dollars plus tax. I know the warranty is better, and it probably has a higher resale value, but I just didn't want to take on a $40K car.

I have only just 300 miles on my Passat since delivery, but I have been very happy with my purchase. I like the solid handling, and chassis set up. I sat in many cars to find comfortable seats, and the Passat's 8 way drivers seat that is tied to your remote entry (each remote re-sets the seats and the mirrors for that driver) is really cool. My wife is 5' and I'm 6' so adjusting the seats was always a hassle....just push the Unlock on your specific remote and you get your programmed seat and mirror memory.
Also, it was nice that the passenger seat was an 8 way also, so when I get to be navigator, I can get the seat just the way I like it.

OK, so you say, what are the downsides...well there are a few. First of all the NEW Passat will be out in early Spring. Many new features, and a report that the chassis will be stiffer than a BMW 5 series....and based on today's car, I believer them. So if you opt to buy today (December '00) you're getting the 2001 not the 2001.5. The warranty supplied, 2 years is rather cheap, considering everyone else in the $30K range give you at least 3 and as much as 4 years bumber to bumper. You have to buy the VW extended warranty for $691(VW's Platinum) to get to 4 years B to B. Gas milleage so far around town only has been OK, but not great, about 18 MPG. I'll reserve my opinion on the gas mileage for a few months until I get it broken in and travel a few more highways. And the last complaint, the sound system (GLX comes with the upgraded (????) amplified sound system). I'm an audio guy, and I give it a 6 out of 10. Really needs a sub woofer and some better speakers. Yeah they give you an amplifier in the trunk, but I don't know if the speakers are upgraded from the standard ones.....even if they are, they are OK at best. The Bose in the MB C-Class sounded MUCH better.

Every salesguy has a close....they usually don't work on me (I'm a salesguy too) but without knowing it, we get into the car at night....he turns on the dash lights....BINGO...OK where do I sign? The blue and amber lights are spectacular!!!!!!! Everthing is lit up, locks, window controls, radio, climate control, air vents, trunk release, gas release, everthing, including the back door switches.

If you can afford it....buy it. Even Comsumer Reports rated it #1.

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Acura Legend, MB 300E, Lexus LS400, BMW 325, Porsche 944 (2X) ....the list goes on.....

every bit a german engineered car - feeling of being connected to the road, something none of the japanese competitors ever come close to. excellent ride and steering. 5 speed manual not as crisp as BMW's but still better than others. exterior is not run of the mill and interior
is of high quality feel. blue dash lights, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, lighted switches on every door, convenience up/down feature on windows and sunroof, excellent audio system even on base model, lights on bottom of doors when open, silicone damped grab handles, excellent seats with infinite adjustments for both driver and front passenger, "unique looking keys", "organized" engine compartment, fully lined trunk, variable knob sunroof control, hushed interior - engine/road/tire noise are at minimum - comparable to cars twice its price. and did i mention that everything is standard on this car - 4 wheel discs, abs, traction control, power everything, security alarm, 8 speaker stereo...and the list goes on.

weak engine (turbocharged 1.8L engine produces 150bhp), wimpy plastic wheel covers, tall tires, too much lean during spirited cornering AND disappointing reliability.
in the 2 and a half years that i have owned the car, i've had nothing but problems. sure they were all done under warranty (i even purchased an extended warranty), but i hated having to bring it in to service and waiting in the shop for the car to be repaired. my right rear door won't open, my left rear door won't lock, my engine had oil leak in the gasket on the engine valve cover, my power switches on the driver's door don't always work, the a/c panel lights don't always turn on, the keyless remote failed, the trunk won't open, the alarms go off unnecessarily, and everything else in between.

i've owned a 95 civic ex coupe, a 96 galant s, and have driven several hondas, toyotas, mitsubishis, and nissans. (too bad the only bmw and mercedes that i've driven were from test drives). i must say this VW is by far the best car i've driven. the ride is supreme compared to all the others. and all the "extras" (see strengths) made the car more appealing.
it was truly a JOY to drive this VW. but however enjoyable the driving experience was, it could not make up for the host of problems that i experienced in the 2 and a half years that i owned it. i ended up selling the car...

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honda accord, toyota camry, nissan maxima, mitsubishi galant - the passat is definitely better engineered than any of these cars if only reliability was as good.