2001 Volkswagen Passat Highline Variant (estate) review from UK and Ireland

Rain leaks into footwell.

Interior trim flimsy.

Air mass meter x 2.

Red coating inside rear lights crazing.

Tailgate catch not latching very well.

Centre console cubby hole lid mechanism broken.

After a Vauxhall Omega, this car is a huge disappointment. It's a triumph of marketing over engineering.

I have had problems with rainwater leaking in, which is a pollen filter housing design fault, and a loss of power, which after five trips to the VW dealer, have left the car much worse and £160 worse off.

The road noise at speed is very bad, tyre roar and wind noise much louder than my Vauxhall Omega. The interior trim makes a chorus of protest over harsh bumps such as road humps, it doesn't feel sturdily screwed together (glovebox, cubby holes etc.. all flexible and sound cheap when tapped or scratched) thin cheap carpets.

Thin window glass which is distorted and chips easily (typical Saint Gobain Sekurit).

The car handles OK, but is harsh over poor road surfaces unless the tyre pressures are reduced, and it's very hard to get comfortable in due to shallow footwells, and when seat is raised, the squab tilts forward with no seperate adjustment, and the lumbar adjustment isn't where lumbar should be (too high)