1995 Volkswagen Passat VR6 review from North America
"Poor man's BMW"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Car came with a manufacturer's pre-owned car two year warranty.
Car has had some electrical problems. For example, neither the power trunk release nor the cruise control didn't work when we picked it up. These were fixed for free under the warranty and have stayed fixed.
Another more difficult to diagnose electrical problem has had to do with the front passenger-side power window controller. On occasion, this window opens by itself and then refuses to close. During New England winters, this has been a problem. Have already had dealer take a look at this problem, which is sometimes impossible to reproduce. It appears that turning on the radio can sometimes cause it to happen.
Be forewarned, the V-6 in this car uses a special oil filter that some quickie oil change shops, such as Jiffy Lube, can't remove or replace.
Be forewarned, the V-6 rarely gets more than 28 miles per gallon on the highway and can average in the low 20s for combined driving. This information is readily available through the vehicle's electronic display.
General comments?
Overall, aside from the electrical problems, we've been pleased with the car, its level of comfort, and its general driving performance.
Recommended reviews
| Sport, performance and utility |
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| A curse against man |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | V6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 6 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 45000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 66000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Passat |
| Date of Entry | 29th January, 2002 |