2004 Volkswagen Passat Highline review from UK and Ireland
"Perfect reliability and build quality"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing wrong in 3 years/76,000 miles.
General comments?
This is not my car, but a car in the fleet that I manage. It stood out as the most reliable car we have, requiring nothing other than standard servicing.
The car is a pleasure to drive, quiet and comfortable with a very high spec. The build quality is very high, and the fit and finish is pretty much perfect.
The only let down with the car is the TDi 100 engine is underpowered for a large heavy car like this. The TDi 130 would be a better choice, but the 100 was cheaper for a company to run, and provided the driver with a lower tax burden. Also, second gear seems trickier to engage then other gears.
MPG is good at 43-47, but considerably lower than the lighter Golfs that achieve 49-54 on our fleet.
The only other problem with the brand is that the local main dealer is absolutly SHOCKINGLY bad customer service. I would continue to purchase VW's for the fleet, but we will use independent VW specialists in the future.
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| Given the choice I would have kept this car |
All 2004 Volkswagen Passat reviews
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2004 |
| First year of ownership | 2004 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9 TDi 100 Manual |
| Performance marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 10 miles |
| Most recent distance | 76000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Passat |
| Date of Entry | 18th August, 2006 |