2003 Volkswagen Passat TDI Highline review from Germany
"A reliable and sturdy rep mobile - does what is says on the can!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
- Door opening joints becoming loose and weak.
- At -8°C a click can be heard from the rear right, possibly handbrake seizure - not sure!
Apart from the two minor irritations, the car has performed reliably over the past 20,000 km's.
General comments?
Driving position is not to my liking, I am 6ft3, I like to sit high - if I do, my knees are in the way of the wheel. If I sit low I feel very short and my sight is impaired (slightly)...the leather seats are very uncomfortable, the lower back region is very hard - even lumbar adjust does not correct this - a pain as I travel a lot.
The car is not quick, it only has the smaller 100ps TDI engine, but to be fair it feels well planted on the motorway at 140km/h, more so than the new 06 edition VW Passat with 150ps I recently hired.
The steering is a bit vague compared to the Mondeo I hired too, at 180km/h (vmax) it feels a bit light and and floaty - but at that speeds I would guess the suspension geometry would also need changing to accommodate.
Recommended Reviews:
  | Very reliable car, fun to drive |
| Volkswagen has really, really slipped |
All 2003 Volkswagen Passat reviews
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 TDI Don't Know |
| Performance marks | 4/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 3/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Distance when acquired | 70000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 90000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 23rd February, 2006 |