2000 Volkswagen Passat GLS review from North America
"Practical, economical, fun, and, to date, very reliable"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
None of my problems are attributable to the manufacturer. So far, the car itself has been delightful.
At the 24-month service, the dealer dropped a pollen filter clip into the air intake, and it was sucked into the ventilation fan. The same mechanic failed to secure the nut at the front of the plastic shield under the engine, causing the shield to come loose during high-speed motoring.
General comments?
The plastic shield under the engine makes routine maintenance very awkward and time-consuming.
Unfortunately, there are very few choices in the small mid-size station wagon market. We liked the Passat better than the two low-bidders (Subaru Legacy and Saturn LW), and as well as its more expensive European competitors. The car looks great, runs great, and handles nicely.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8T Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 10 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 269 miles |
| Most recent distance | 11147 miles |
| Previous car | Dodge Aries |
| Date of Entry | 4th April, 2003 |