The car is in good shape.
The Passat is a good family car - comfortable for four people.
I have had one serious complaint to make though - which is not related to the mechanics of car as such.
The front panel on which the registration plate is mounted is a standard sort of thing in most cars - ie, You get your registration plates and you screw them on the front bumper.
However, with passat, this is not the case. The car requires a premounted plate from VW which costs $150. When I bought my car, this did not come as a part of the deal and as I didn't have the registration plates then, I didn't realise it. After 3 months, I got my plates and realised I can't mount them - so I called the dealer and he simply refuses to send me the mount.
To me this is same as paying for a car and paying separately for the tyres.
Folks, if you buy a passat - make sure you are not tricked as I was.
I am not an expert, but I do believe that if front license plates are required in the area that you live AND the area you purchased your car, the dealership should have made the vehicle compliant with such laws. (Installing the bracket) Had it just been an oversight prior to the sale of your car, I believe they should have provided you with the bracket upon your having brought the matter to their attention.
It seems to me you did have a below average experience with that dealership, but I hope that this does cause you to think poorly of the manufacturer. It is a benefit too many to make the brackets an option. When a new car is delivered, the bracket is included. The dealership installs the bracket, when required, and will occasionally even leave it off, at the request of the customer. If a license plate is not required, why would one want the empty bracket on the front of their car? It lends to cleaner, more refined lines to leave it off.
So... Volkswagen is trying to do right by everyone, in my estimation, and your dealership was less than adequate in servicing you, as their customer...
Drivers wanted.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed 
is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site