2004 Volkswagen Passat from Israel - Comments

So far - nothing (it is brand new). My evaluation is based on my previous Passat - also a 1.8T, but model year 2001. The two cars appear to be identical - the only changes are in the windshield wipers and the floor mats clips.

However, on receipt I noticed that two items that used to come as standard disappeared. Both items are such that I used to show people in order to demonstrate VW's good engineering - and now they are both gone.

Item 1) The trunk lid has a recess and a clip that hold a reflective triangle (the kind you're supposed to put 50m down traffic if you have a breakdown and cannot get off the road). The design is such that the triangle is clearly visible to traffic right from the instant you open your trunk - enhancing your safety for the first few moments while you get organized. In this country it is illegal to travel without such a triangle, so a folding triangle tht does not fit the recess and clip is included with the new car. I would estimate the saving to VW (or their local agents) at around 10 cents. The old style triangle is not available as an extra-cost item at VW dealers.

Item 2) The older Passat had a nice glasses holder above the driver's side door. This was nicely enginnered to mount on the same two screws used to mount the folding handholds on the other three doors.

The glasses holder is no longer there - instead, the driver's side has a folding handhold too! Makes one wonder what it is for - I mean, when you get in a tight situation, do you hold it instead of the steering wheel?

I would estimate the saving to VW (or their local agents) at around 0. However, somebody is making money - glasses - wearing owners who want it can either switch to a Camry, Mondeo etc., or purchase this item from VW for approx. $20. If you do that you're left with a spare left-hand-side handhold (never know when you may need one).

Dealer was never able to get rid of dashboard creaks.

There's a lot of such mean-minded cost cutting in other marques too (Ford Audi and others) frankly, it's an outrage given the increase in prices and the apparent over production in the car market.It's the spirit of the bean-counter wafting through the car world, let's hope it soon goes. Hope too, that your Passat is better than mine (2000 model, pathetic reliability) here in Finland we call them VW PASKAT- er, that means basically something brown and foul-smelling. Best of luck, keep us informed of developments.

Alex Goymer FINLAND.

The only way for VW to eliminate the dashboard creaks is to eliminate the current dashboard design. Although pleasing to the eye, it's a structural disaster.