Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
It sounds like you feel that the 4Mo has faster acceleration than the FWD. I was wondering the opposite, if the 4Mo feels slower because of the extra weight. Or did I misunderstand your post?
I wonder if there are any plans in the future for VW to give the V6 Passats more HP than 190. Not only to distinguish them further from the 1.8t (with 170/180? HP) but also to give them a bit more power for their heavier weight, esp the 4Mo. Or maybe that's not an issue.
Have I been hanging around here that long? Oh Man!! You guys aren't going to kick me off the board, are you? ;-) I wish I could trade my car now, but I need to wait a little longer to get a good trade. I plan to be ready with a decision by the time that day comes, hence all my research, etc. right now.
I wish I could just jump right in and when I do, I agree I will deserve the best Passat (or whatever) that my money can buy!
It is also a mystery of how VW can design and engineer a wonderful car like the Passat, that is top rated in every category except reliability. How can it be rated #1, even compared to Camry and Accord, but only have average reliability? Which is not bad, but not great either. When I looked at a Passat, everything seemed so carefully thought out and assembled with quality in mind. Yet there are so many horror stories about things failing, both big and small. I just don't get it. I guess if the Passat had excellent reliability, it would be a perfect car and there's no such thing. But it seems that it could be better in that area. Or maybe I'm expecting too much in a non-luxury vehicle.
Anyone out there have any thoughts or theories on this? Please don't misunderstand, I'm not dogging the Passat, I think it's a great car. I just wish the overall reliability was better and I don't see why it couldn't be.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I have wondered this, also. But in response to your comment "maybe I'm expecting too much in a non-luxury vehicle," I might point out that even many of the top "luxury" vehicles have less than average reliability, including the Audi A6 and the Mercedes Benz S-Class. I stayed away from a BMW partly for this reason (and also that it is expensive to insure and repair). People often think that luxury cars won't have problems, but they do.
I do have this thought. Maybe those who have the means to spend more money on a car (i.e. luxury and near-luxury models) are more demanding that everything work perfectly, have more money to effect repairs, and, therefore, tend to visit dealers more often to get every little thing fixed, whereas someone without such means might not. This would make the higher-end cars appear to be less reliable.
However, my theory is shot to pieces when you look at the Japanese car ratings. Guess who's at the top of the heap? Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infiniti, Toyota/Lexus - great reliability in both their luxury and non-luxury models.
In spite of all this, Consumer Reports ranks the Passat V6's reliability at 5% BETTER than average (not worse), which isn't all that bad. It's better than you'll get from many American-made models! It just looks bad compared to the Japanese. I can live with that when the "consolation" is a great car like the Passat.
It also seems to me that the more "gadgets" you put in a car (heated seats, rain-sensing wipers, "automanual" transmissions, etc.), the more chance there is that SOMETHING will go wrong at some point. But, again, the Japanese disprove this theory. Their cars have these features, and are very reliable.
So much for my theories.
All I know is I got to take my Passat on its first long drive this morning, and it was sheer pleasure. I wasn't the least bit bored like I was in my Japanese-made car. And if something breaks, I am covered for four years. And I'll get to take that nice 40-mile drive to the dealership :-)
Didn't know VW was so generous with unhappy customers.
Perhaps the Japanese cars are more reliable, I have heard horror stories about Hondas and Toyotas and their upmarket cousins -- but I guess just not as many.
Then the postings end with the comments pertaining to the sheer joy of driving the German cars and contrast them with the (generally) bland driving experiences with the Japanese cars.
Sure, I want my German car to be more reliable -- and I believe that the Germans (across the board) are building them better all the time. But, I will take what few problems I have had with my VW and Audi products over a 24 year period (and only complain a little bit) in exchange for the sheer joy and performance of these cars -- especially when contrasted with my friends ES300's, Avalons, Accord LX's and Acura's. These "perfect" Japanese cars are nice -- so is my sofa. These perfect Japanese cars main problem, IMO, is that they are perfect -- they do not engage the driver in ways that their German counterparts do.
And I also don't know what is so bad about VW service. I have taken my car to 3 different dealerships (bought from one, 5K maintenance at one, and serviced for a rattle at one) and they have all been great to me (I am in Maryland). So I don't get it.
I think that sums it up.
I am, in no way trying to doubt the Passat's ratings, I am just trying to state why the Camry and Accord and Altima ratings seem to be so low.
BTW, I think the Passat is the best looking car in it's class. It's styling is still very nice(I love the Altima too.) and the interior uses some of the best materials this side of an Audi A6. Reliability, I hope, will improve. I really really want a 2000 Passat GLX!
seemed more than I needed for the purpose + down here where I live everything gets door-dinged 'n don't need the heartbreak of that right now...So thought okay lets look at Honda, Toyota, Jetta & gad-zooks Hyundai (my neighbor got an XG300L recently & its very very nice) Sonata cuz I liked the styling.
Honda - had several (incl my wifes CR-V), always totally reliable, but the Civic's getting
pricey...and they're just boring (i kno, i kno, i'm looking for a commute car)
Toyota - was never interested in the Corolla but was v interested in ECHO (for watever perverse
reasons!!!) but by the time you add on minimal Middle-Aged-Folks amenities they are not
cheap....+ every dealer tryed to steer me into Corolla anyway
Sonata - well, i don't know about where you live but there just aren't ANY down here where
I live (strike? selling out? combo of both)....besides which I decided it was a little bigger 'n
pricier than I wanted anyhow..also have some issues with long-term reliability altho that is
company that "seems" to have improved quality a whole lot.
Jetta - Love the car (but not as much as the Passat) but my wife doesn't. Also a bit hi-end
pricewise
Ford Escort SE - nice little car, nice competitive price but quite frankly the concatenation of the letters F-O-R-D scares the bejabbers outta me; not quite as scary as the letters G-M but close.
I worked at GM plants when I was a pup 'n witnessed 1st hand the self-inflicted destruction of
the USA auto industry...it was like a industry wide suicide...eyes wide shut....
So am surfing boards including Edmunds & notice that there's just an unbelievable amount
of activity on the Mazda Protege board....a brand I'd never even considered & a car i'd
never even heard of....U just don't see them on the road. Checked out the board....Maniacal
Devotion to the Max....Located a nearby dealer & test drove an ES (& a 5)....outstanding
cars in terms of styling/comfort/price/performance...thousands less than anything in it's class & loaded to the gills....Don't know if will purchase but the previous Zoom-Zoom posts set me off!!!
Actually you Passat drivers are an enviable lot!!!! Who knows maybe I'll end up w/a Passat
(wifey likes'em) or a Jetta (despite wifey) ....but could be content with a zoom-zoom Protege...
I suggest you tell your wife to keep in her opinions in the kitchen where it means something, treat yourself,
Happy Passat owner
Thanks.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
There is one thing concerns me though:
After most drives, When i turn off the engine, I hear a little wheezing noise that sounds like it is coming through the air vents.
Kinda strange.... Then if I need to go back out again soon thereafter, when I crank it, It smells a bit funny.
Has anybody else experienced this?
Maybe I'm just paranoid after hearing all of those horror stories.
916 trouble free miles so far...
Thanks in advance
Is there a way to check for car availability (inventory) in any VW dealer? I'm asking because I don't want to wait 3 months for delivery?
In summary if you don't mind the additional noise or vibration you get with the 1.8T and don't need the extra torque it provides I would go for the 1.8T.
This does not forgive your concerns and problems with VW -- but if the Saab stories I have heard are even 50% accurate, the VW's ARE actually more reliable than Saabs. Have not heard much of anything about BMW's -- all my friends and aquaintences think they are overpriced, hence they don't buy them.
My Volvo owning friend says that his Volvo's have been great, he is on his third. Before that he had a Saab.
To each his own.
About six times in the past week the sunroof has opened about 3 inches all by itself. It is very disconcerting to be driving along in a snow storm and have the sunroof open. Has anyone else had a problem like this?
I guess it is time to call the dealer.
Most likely an electrical (crossed wires) problem. You do need to go to the dealer. It's under warranty.
You're right...the new Altima does look "sexier" than the new Camry, but I must have been one of the few people who hasn't been totally bowled over by the new Altima. It's supposed to be much more powerful than its predecessor and all, but its looks haven't really done that much for me...*shrug* No matter, though...nothing gonna change my mind about getting a Passatt! ;-)
I plan to trade up to a Passat within 2 years or so. I like them alot. But I like the pre-2001.5 models' styling better. Guess I will be picking up a used one then...
Indeed the Passat has a more refined look than the Altima in my opinion as well. I think the Passat will grow "old" very well as it has a classic design to it I believe. The pre-2001.5 Passat are the ones that gave the model a bad rep for reliability I'm afraid. The new model has over 2000 changes geared towards getting past that problem. Hopefully it will pan out. I'll be interested in seeing what the reliability results are at the end of the year for the new Passat. So far, I've had no problems after 7600 miles.
Thanks
natep
If the size you need or a plus Zero size is in the line, I can highly recommend Yokohama AVSdb's check them out on www.tirerack.com. These tires are Ultrahigh performance all season -- very quiet, and they perform very well and seem to have a long tread life.
Plus zero if you can -- it will make your car handle better and you can use your stock wheels!
I have heard that the Jetta will get a redesign for 2003 (autonews.com website). Refresh or redesign? I hate it when I get stuck with the last model year of a body type.