2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Long-Term Road Test

We drove three friends and their stuff to Las Vegas in the long-term Volkswagen Passat TDI and were very impressed.

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quadricycle

This is going to be where the Passat feels most at home I think. Crushing large highway distances with it's abundant space, storage, range, and reasonable power. As for people slowing down on the highway, its their road too, and as long as they don't slow down to under about 55 or 60mph (what I consider to be minimum safe speed on the highway when traffic is flowing normally) then I think you should be easier on them.

zimtheinvader

10 mph under the speed limit can cause a lot of traffic issues and lead to angry drivers which is quite dangerous itself. It is their road too and I do realize the posted limit is the 'maximum' but like all things in society we have laws and then we have the way we as a group decide to function. When someone is doing 55 in a 65 zone that everyone else is gong 70 in it really isn't safe. Granted they may not have much of a choice between LA and Vegas but the rest of the time if you are going to go that slow then take surface streets and stay off the freeway. --------- I wish more people would either learn to go at a steady pace or use their cruise control. It isn't unusual for me to pass the same car a half dozen times in 30 minutes and not once alter my speed.

quadricycle

Oh please. Here are things that are unsafe while driving: Drinking alcohol, eating, texting, speeding. Yes doing 75 in a 70 is speeding. No, it doesn't matter if everybody else is doing 90. Now here are some safe things to do while driving: FOLLOWING TRAFFIC LAWS, not going past your own limits (if you're not comfortable at 70, then 60 is just fine), slowing down in adverse conditions. You know, I'm tired of this childish mentality that everyone should drive faster than is safe because people have rationalized it to themselves that getting where they going three minutes earlier is more important than posted speeds, acceptable following distances, and ultimately other people's safety and freedom to use the road in a safe, lawful manner.

stovt001_

It never ceases to amaze me that the typical automotive consumer can't manage to safely drive a car without all manner of electronic aids to maintain traction and stability, to assist with visibility, to prevent brake lockup, and even to just stay in the correct lane, but resolutely refuses to use one very helpful aid - cruise control.

stovt001_

@quadri: It isn't the speed itself that's at issue, it is the inability to maintain a consistent speed. Few things are more infuriating on a long road trip than trying to maintain space (while properly using cruise control) behind a car that's constantly

quadricycle

@stovt001: Its not that kind of driving that I'm defending, or going slowly/staying in the fast lane, or going 50 mph on the highway, or any other behavior that tends to disrupt normal traffic flow. I'll definitely agree that unsteady driving speeds lend

agentorange

@quadricycle Given that I-15 crosses the Mojave Desert, there are rarely any issues with road surface conditions or visibility except on rare occasions in winter. The speed up, slow down, left lane campers have absolutely no excuse. I also grew up in Euro

fordson1

Sorry, quadricycle - the original complaint in the post was about people in the LEFT lane, and was about them not holding their speed (not their speed per se). This behavior is an indicator of distracted driving, which you cite as a danger. Also, you stated that as long as someone does not drop below 55 mph in a 70 zone, in the left lane, we should be easier on them - ? Really? You think that's OK and/or safe? Here is what the traffic engineers would tell you: ANYONE who causes a large speed differential in the traffic flow, either by going too far above, or too far beneath, the prevailing traffic speed in their lane OR even on the road in general, is causing a safety hazard. They will also tell you that people who insist upon following the yellow-diamond-shaped "suggested" speed signs on curves, exits and entrance lanes, are a similar danger. And they'll say that as traffic density goes up, this is a larger and larger factor in safety. This is not just my opinion - it's generally-accepted thinking on the subject. And of course this discussion is about a limited-access highway, where there are no scooters, bicyclists, pedestrians, tractors, etc.

pantherman5

Everyone has his/her own opinion of how fast or slow you should drive on fwy, but i think it's irrelevant in this discussion.

This 4 banger diesel engine is capable to kick hybrid's butt any day, fwy or not, and it can haul cooler and luggage and a few big guys with comfort, and retain the feeling of driving a real car.

I'm looking forward to my own long trip. I can't wait to see that 40+mpg figure display in my dash, and be able to brag about how little fuel it sips, yet still able to haul like a full size sedan!

quadricycle

@fordson1: Yes, you're right about what the original complaint was. I misread, and derailed into an entirely different argument. As for the rest, my (attempted) point concerned people driving slower in the correct/right (right as in not left) lane. They'r

metalmania

I've never really considered diesels until now, so it's interesting reading these updates. I hope when the Mazda 6 diesel becomes available Edmunds picks one up for a long term test. I know it won't really be an issue for these guys in California, but is cold weather starting still a problem for modern diesels in cars like this? I live in New England, so we can have a few months per year where temperatures average below freezing.