2006 Volkswagen Passat Variant SE review from Australia and New Zealand
"Great car new, but be careful if buying used"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Paintwork felt rough on delivery; dealer rectified this by applying another layer of clear coat.
Electronic parking brake sticks occasionally when engaging park into reverse mode.
Brakes turn to mush then suddenly grab when driving quickly down hills & coming up to slow down or stop. Apparently it is a fault with the ESP sensor. This does not occur when I have switched the ESP off.
DSG gearbox is slow to engage during parking manoeuvres & also at slower speeds. DSG is clonky around town, but much better out on the open roads.
Tyre pressure monitor occasionally signals even though pressures are OK.
General comments?
Great touring car - comfortable, fast enough, easy to drive, well spec'd for the money.
Comprehensive safety features & very practical; load space close to 1700 litres.
Some cheap touches in/on the dash & doors, but they seem solid enough.
Lots of gadgets on board, but the question mark remains as to their reliability.
Recommended reviews
| One of the best cars around with a strong family ties |
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| Real world performance economy and refinement |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 2006 |
| First year of ownership | 2006 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.2V6 DSG 4motion Semi-Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 2000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 16000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Audi A4 |
| Date of Entry | 2nd July, 2007 |