Any Passat drivers?

[NewJersey]

Starting to think about new cars and I'd to test drive a Passat (love the new model!), a Camry, and Prius.

Any Passat drivers? If so, how do you like it? Does it cause a lot of problems? And are you driving the new model?

Thanks!

 

[TimeforMe]

We have a 2002 Passat wagon and I LOVE it. I, too, like the new models and DH is dying to get one, but I like not having car payments. We have never had any problems whatsoever with it. If you haven't already, take one for a ride--I guarantee you'll love it, too.

 

[DisneyTeacher]

We have a 2003 Passat and love it. I want a new one but I really love my 2003 so I'm holding out for a year or two. We haven't had any problems since we got it, it's been every bit as good as my Accords.

 

[Ginamarie]

My best friend has a 2003 Passat, which he loves. It's a really cute car, but only a couple of years old and he's already had two big mechanical issues.

I bought my Mercury Mountaineer about a month before he bought his car and I haven't had any trouble with it. My maintenance expenses are also a lot cheaper (parts for brakes, tires, etc.). Just MHO, but after seeing what he's gone through I wouldn't want to buy one.

 

[mudnuri]

The biggest thing to think about is who is going to work on it.

A VW is not built the same as any other car, their are plenty of quirky things in the car that make it a must for a VW tech to work on. Thankfully I have a tech who worked for years at a VW dealership and opened his own shop, so thats where my Passat goes- its a B4, not a new model but I love it.

I frequest a VW message board, and did so before I bought the car to see what the normal problems were. Sure enough, what they said- is what I've had happen. But because of that board, I knew what the fix's were, and how much they would cost before they happened. Thankfully!

The only problem I have with mine is that it goes too fast. It handles as well as our Cadi STS did, and rides just as smooth at 85 as it does at 55. Thank god for my radar detector!

I love the new model, but do not have car payments so I'll keep this one till next spring, then it's off to a van. Which has nothing to do with the VW brand etc... it's just time for a van.

Brandy

 

[NewJersey]

Thanks for the responses! I've read online about how the parts are different so they are more expensive to replace/work on. I'll have to check out that message board, and keep these things in mind when I'm shopping around in December.

Thank you again!!

 

[Hedy]

I don't own one, so this is secondhand, but a family friend had an 02 Passat and hated it. It was constantly having problems, plus it required premium gas.
I love our 04 Camry, however.

 

[luv2crash]

Love, Love, Love my 05. It handles great and is super fun to drive. You will feel like you are going about 50 and look down and your doing 85!

We looked at the 06 model back in the summer and they seem to have a little more room. If you haven't already, go test drive one and take it on the open road-fun, fun, fun.

 

[CEDmom]

We looked at the Passat a few years ago and really liked it but the premium fuel was a turn off. Have they changed that? If so, it's a great car.