1999 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T sport estate 1.8 20 valve turbo

Summary:

Blindingly quick and comfy estate car!

Faults:

Absolutely nothing,This car just won't break down!

4 sets of tyres and 2 sets of brakes along with the usual servicing.

General Comments:

If you need to shift a grandfather clock in a hurry then this is the car for you!!

Estate cars shouldn't be made to go this quick and this isn't even the top model in terms of engine size!! God only knows how quick the 4.0 W8 engined 4motion estates like!!

I've managed to see the speedo reach round to where the 14 has a zero on the end of it (on a track of course) and it still averages 30 M.P.G.

Very comfortable with all the toys inside and the cruise control is great on long journeys, Just sit back and devour the miles in comfort and safety.

Very comfortable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th December, 2005

10th Apr 2006, 16:48

You have been lucky mate. Mine gave lots of bother.

1999 Volkswagen Passat Trendline 1.9Tdi 110

Summary:

A Miser on diesel, but elevated additional service costs

Faults:

Air intake flow meter replaced.

Front Suspension link arms are consistently requiring replacement. Have probably replaced six at this stage. Am currently getting better results from non VW replacements.

Track rod ends on both sides at least twice.

Coolant hoses leaks.

Fuel line leaks.

Door handles failures.

Electric window switch has developed a problem and only works if repeatedly pressed.

General Comments:

The front suspension in these cars is constantly requiring attention. I don’t do much motorway driving, but I reckon that all the suspension was designed for.

I have NEVER brought this car in for a service that it didn't need extra work for rattles in the front.

The guy in the auto electric shop who replaced the air intake meter said that 25% of his work was modern VW cars.

Admittedly it is economical and drives/handles well. This however is outweighed by the constant elevated service costs.

Having previously owned both a 1986 Jetta diesel & a 1989 Golf diesel I had high expectations from this car and unfortunately it hasn’t come close.. VW need to go back to what they were once excellent at... Solid Reliable Basic Motors that went and went and went, you only brought them for a service when you felt guilty!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 16th November, 2005

6th Sep 2011, 20:33

My 1999 1.9 TDI Passat will travel for miles on a small suck of diesel.

1999 Volkswagen Passat tdi 110

Summary:

I shouldn't have listened to the hype.

Faults:

Diesel pump replaced soon after buying the car. This was very expensive as the pump timing has to be reset on Volkswagen diagnostic machine. Six out of eight front suspension link arms needed replaced at 75 thousand miles (very common). Blower motor needed replaced. Central locking has failed on three of the doors at different times. Two exterior door handles replaced. Rear door catch mechanism failed on a frosty morning. Frame on driver's seat replaced, no I'm not overweight. Engine management light has come on and off as long as I've had the car. Door weather seals at windows have all bubbled due to corrosion. Bonnet catch broke in motorway services after topping up screen wash.

General Comments:

Being a mechanic I've carried out most repairs myself. I can hardly believe that so many things have failed on this car. I would have been the first to recommend a VW to anyone, but now I no longer beleive the motoring press. I repair VW's all the time with similar faults. These cars feel and look expensive, but the materials they are built with are substandard. Avoid at all costs.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 5th August, 2005

8th Aug 2005, 03:42

If you read the motoring press, you won't find too many complimentary remarks about the reliability of more recent VW's, particularly the Golf and Passat models, and the list of known faults has been well documented.

Check www.reliabilityindex.co.uk and you'll see nearly half of all Passats have had some kind of suspension problem, more than 15% have had electrical faults, and more than 10% have had fuel system faults. According to the overall reliability index, the Passat is less reliable not only than the Japanese competition, but also the Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Mondeo and Peugeot 406. Strange for a manufacturer which people still seem to think represents engineering excellence, and which commands residual values to match, although if it's any consolation, the more expensive Audi A4 fares even worse. The JD Power survey wasn't much more complimentary.

My brother bought a 2 year old "VW Approved Used" Passat TDI PD 130 from a main dealer two years ago, and although it's a great drive, reliability wise it's been a nightmare. Two water leaks into the passenger footwell, leaking air conditioning, a mysterious tappet noise, failed central locking, split turbo pipework, and it's recently developed a clutch judder, which will cost the best part of £1,000 to put right (the parts alone are £600!). The car has a full VW service history, and has not yet done 50,000 miles! The repair costs in year 2, without the clutch, have totalled almost £700. I know someone with a 1986 Ferrari 328 GTB who doesn't spend that much on maintenance!

On the evidence of these surveys and my brother's experience, I wouldn't touch a modern VW.

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