USED Volkswagen Passat Estate (99 - 05)

My car

I have just covered 7000 miles in six weeks in my 2005 130PD trendline estate at an average of 48mpg.

It has never faultered and throughout has provided strong performance and comfort with all the required equipment (CD Climate,Cruise,big boot) needed but a budget price. The only disappoinmtent is the alloys which are 16 inch jobs, but they look too small in the wheel arches and although the high profile tyres help the smooth ride and low noise, they get a little wallowy around roundabouts, though not as much as the Laguna and Vectras I have had before.

Overall, I am quietly impressed and surprised that this car has been slated by the press over the last few years. If you watch for these on the motorway you will see just how popular it is.

My car

Only problem I've had with the car has been a recurring failure of the rear wash wipe over the winter months.

The pipes have been coming adrift, cauising water ingress into various areas within the boot.

Although these issues have been fixed under warranty, the attitude of the service reception staff at the VW dealership I used has been somewhat disappointing.

Their main advice to prevent the problem occurring was ' don't use the rear wash wipe when it's cold!!! ', hardly the most inspiring comment, especially as the back window seems to attract dirt! Other than that, it's been a great car to own, comfortable, spacious and economical for such a big, powerful car.

I'm just waiting until I can scrape enough money together to replace it with the New Passat.

My car

Performance - startling - surprised the odd Nissan Skyline driver!

Roadholding - beyond belief! My occupation means that I have to keep going under all weather circumstances. On the rare occasions that we have had snow or ice to contend with since I've had the car, I have been completely gobsmacked by the car's ability to keep going in the direction that I've pointed it - for example going down 1:4 hills on sheet ice, on a foot of snow etc.

Bearing in mind that I've owned five Subarus over the years (the last one being a Forester turbo automatic) I am more than satisfied with the all-weather capability of this car.

Even more than the Subarus, it combines practicality with superb build quality and super-car performance (and it withstands car park dents!)

It is very much an under-appreciated entity (the ultimate Q-car) - what a shame they stopped making it.

Expensive? I suppose so, but then again I took advantage of VW's 0% finance offer, so when I compared the cost with a "special offer" lease arrangement for a Freelander, it costs me less and I own the car at the end of three years!

Following my experiences with a Discovery, there is now way I'd buy a Land Rover again - three clutches in three years and a new steering column required before I could even sell it!

Looks like I shall stick to VW from here on in!

My car

This is a great car, which sticks to the road like glue. It's good in the snow. I have a new one as a company car and think it's fantastic.