Faults:

We averaged about $2000US annually on "fixes" for this car until the most recent problems - the timing belt going out at 91000. If I was the original owner, VW would have been responsible for fixing the car (up to 100K miles) - but since I was the second owner - my only recourse was putting a new engine in it at my expense - nice little $5K fix.

General Comments:

I would not purchase a VW in an area that only has once dealership and limited "experts" in the area. As with most German cars, they are great feats of engineering and very fun to drive when they are working - but also very costly to keep them running.

Faults:

Small tube that burst due to wear in the engine, caused the "Check Engine" light to go on. $80 dollar repair for a plastic tube about 6 cm long.

Headlight beam is off, headlights not very powerful overall.

Faulty dash lights.

5/8 speakers actually work.

General Comments:

Car is very comfortable, has very good suspension.

The very basic dashboard has everything I could possibly want on it, and it is very easy to find what you're looking for without being distracted.

1.8 turbo engine may be slightly underpowered, however it has more than enough for highway+city driving. Tiptronic also helps.

Attention to detail is nice, metal door handles and every occupant has his/her own headrest, reading lamp.

Heated front seats and has four standard airbags.

Speakers sound great, even if only 5 out of 8 actually work.

Some dash lights don't work, I don't really mind.

Multi-function trip computer comes in use, shows instant consumption, average consumption, average speed, driving time, driving distance, outside temperature, and gives warnings as well.

Faults:

Our 2000 VW Passat has 96,000 miles and the engine just blew. We always took care of it and brought it in for regular maintenance and tune-ups. Of course, VW won't stand behind their engine.

We highly recommend staying away from this vehicle!

Faults:

The emission workshop popped out when my transmission wasn't working well. I've already got it fixed but the light (emission workshop!) is still on... will my car break down sooner or later?

The rear right brake has problems... the brake is loose.. How do I tighten it? Do I have to take it to a shop or I can do by myself?

General Comments:

It's pretty fast.

Faults:

Emission Workshop... Secondary air pump.

General Comments:

I think the 1.8T engine is the best engine I have ever seen. Great power and torque. The handling is super nice, comfort is OK, The electronics in the car are the weak point. Generally tho, I've put over 70.000 KMS on this car and I'm sure I will get another one after this one dies. Also I think the Tiptronic 5spd automatic is a great transmission. If fuel prices weren't so high I'd stick with this forever but I'm looking for a diesel one now.

Faults:

Sunroof stopped working 2 months after I got the car.

After I got my oil changed, my car leaked oil everywhere.

O2 sensors, MAF sensor, plugs, and other misc. belts are complete garbage.

General Comments:

So I bought this car as a first car for myself in 2007. It was a beautiful car. 2000 Model year, 1.8T GLS, sunroof, heated leather seats, monsoon sound, tiptronic tranny, etc. All the "bells and whistles," but let me tell you, this car was anything but that.

I got it in May of 2007, just in time for the summer. I loved everything for the first couple of weeks I had the car. The sunroof. The quickness of the car. Heck, even the key was sweet (switchblade key).

However, towards the beginning of June, I noticed my sunroof was starting to rarely open. Then it just stopped opening. So now I have to open it up manually. Thought it was the switch ($70), nope. Thought it was the motor ($400), nope. It's the whole thing. Linkage and motor (1k!!!).

Then I got my synthetic oil change. Oh great. Got it done then the car started leaking oil. Took it to my local VW dealership and they charged me $80 to check it out, then another $220 to "fix" it. Then, it leaked... again. Luckily this time they put dye in the oil to pinpoint where it was coming from. Another $600 later, they wanted to "fix" it again. I yelled at them, talked to the manager who was so kind to lower the price $100.

Then, the ever so infamous check emissions light comes on whenever it pleases. Got that checked out. Car needed new plugs, new O2 sensors, pretty much new everything, and now it may need a new CC, which may run me another $700 or so.

My brother has an Audi and I loved it. I thought my VW was going to be like that. I was wrong. Very wrong. So now $1100 or so later, I am just feeling the burn in my wallet, with more to come.

This car is a nice car, if you have money to spend on it. The Tiptronic trans is nice, but since it's a VW, supposedly everything costs more because it's foreign. Which is understandable, but when a 4 cylinder cars' tuneup costs $400+, that's just terrible. Not to mention that the car takes Premium (93) gas too!