USED Volkswagen Passat Estate (05 - 11)

My car

A good car with few niggles

My car

If you live anywhere it snows, don't bother buying this car or buy the car and get some winter wheels for it. It grinds to a stop on the slighest snowy (<2cm deep) incline (not hill!) and refuses to go anywhere, never mind ESP and the rest. It is without a doubt the worst car I have ever driven in the snow (but has good grip in the dry and is ok in the wet) but I feel the problem is down to the tyres. The car itself is good, the cabin feels well made and dispite the controls for some of the equipment (esp and auto hold buttons are located on the far side of the gear stick) and the radio all being on the wrong side (eg you have to reach across to the far side to change tracks or turn it on) it is generally a nice place to be. The heated windscreen/washer jets are brilliant and well worth the extra £95. The electronic handbrake is a bind and does have a nasty habit of either a) not working or b) not releasing - I would gladly see a less 'futuristic' system. The car cruises well at motorway speeds and eats the miles. Would I have another - unfortunately no, simply because of the winter traction and handbrake problems.

My car

I have owned this car for 10 months and have put 22,000 miles on the clock and so far so good. It drives really well, is comfortable over long journeys and I get about 44 mpg overall (not bad as I drive it pretty hard). I have read all the horror stories about fuel pumps going etc etc and I know I am tempting fate but mine has been perfect.

The only niggle is a persistent rattle/squeak in the glove box area which drives me mad but it goes on the motorway.

My 21,000 mile service was only £150 which I thought was pretty good. The local dealer in Bristol could not have been more helpful.

I was after an Audi A4 but this costs a lot less and has done me proud.

My car

Purchased new on 29/09/08 and was the worst descision i've ever made Having thought we'ed out used our 04 Galaxy i persuaded my wife to change to a VW. In the last 8 weeks its had the park assist fail, the passenger door aand vw badge adjusted, the parking brake lock on and wouldn't relaese ans has spent 4 weeks out of 10 in the garage, since having back the heater goes off, the elec mirrors have a mind iof their own and the widows were all down on my return to the car in a car park on saturday. We actually gave up with it last friday and bought a brand new galaxy to get back into our comfort zone. VW dealers, head office and the SMMT are all useless and don't want to know. Good deal on the Galaxy though £19,750 for the 2 litre TDI Ghia, i wish i could say the same for the trade -in.