2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX 2.8T V6 from North America

Summary:

The best model VW ever built

Faults:

Outer CV Boots.

General Comments:

Reflex silver exterior, black leather interior. The best car I have ever owned. The fit and finish is excellent, probably the best interior ever built for a non-luxury vehicle. The quality of the construction is unbelievable, right down to the reflection of light off the paint to the difference in how it feels to close a door or a trunk or open a storage compartment vs. other cars. The styling is classic beautiful German, the V6 is adequate, but certainly not nearly as performing as a Nissan Altima. It is so quiet to drive, handling is above average. Bought as a certified pre-owned off lease. Leather seats and moonroof make it all the better. The new 2006 B6 has one advantage only and that is a powerful stock 2.0L engine, otherwise if the other things are important vs. power, buy a used B5.5.

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

Review Date: 14th November, 2005

2002 Volkswagen Passat Sport TDI 1.9 TDI PD 130PS from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great car ruined by poor engineering and reliability

Faults:

Turbo pipework has split twice.

Was letting water into the cabin via the pollen filter seal.

Two central locking faults.

Computer display died requiring a complete replacement unit. The function selector button on the end of the stalk is also seriously temperamental.

Gearbox oil leak left puddles on the drive at 35,000 miles.

Clutch failed at 49k (judder and "grabbing"). No clutches anywhere in the UK for 3 weeks due to "exceptional demand". A common fault in other words. Had to argue to get VW to pay up - they were trying to charge me £1,150 as it apparently damaged the flywheel too.

Water getting into both front footwells in heavy downpours (still not fixed)

Power steering fluid dropping mysteriously every couple of weeks (still not fixed)

ABS warning light comes on intermittently (still not fixed)

General Comments:

Good to drive, but I will be glad to see the back of it.

Cannot fault the engine. It gives excellent performance and even better economy. 55 mpg can be achieved on a motorway run at 70-80 mph in 6th. Pulls hard from nothing - near zero turbo lag. Better than many of the more modern common rail units.

Seats good on first acquaintance, but not great on long stints. Too flat and hard. Good refinement and interior quality.

Appalling reliability and dealer backup. Colleagues have Mondeos, Vectras and even Rover 75's which have had nothing like these problems. VW need to sort out their dealer's attitude too. The onus is always on me to prove the car has a fault. Almost like they refuse to accept that a VW can break down.

Had I not had these problems, I would be ina new Passat by now, but I'm not prepared to risk it at the moment.

Very disappointed with the car, and with VW.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th October, 2005

27th Oct 2005, 08:33

I too had the clutch judder except that the dealership was refusing to do anything about it unless they dismantled the car first, sent the clutch away for "independent inspection" and then would negotiate with VW based on the outcome as to what proportion of it, if any, they would contribute.

That was all well and good, but in the meantime that left me without a car, and with mine in bits. This meant I wouldn't have a leg to stand on if they decided to chuck me a bill for "about a grand" which they initially quoted. They also wouldn't provide a courtesy car for the entire duration. Considering the car was only 18 months old and had 41,000 miles on it I found this disgusting.

I have since learned this is not an uncommon problem with the 130PS TDI Passats and Audi A4s.

As the finance period on the car was half up I cut my losses and after using up all bar the last dregs of fuel in the tank, parked it up outside my house and told the finance company to come and collect it. There were other silly little problems, but they paled into insignificance next to the clutch.

There are far better built and more reliable cars out there. I suggest you get rid of it and move on.

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