USED Volkswagen Passat Saloon (05 - 11)

My car

Had this car for 90k from new. A 56 plate. In over 2,000,000 miles driven this one has broken down the most of any car I have had. DO NOT get a 2.0 tdi PD engine. Go for the CR one. Based on the dealers comments and the recovery drivers they seem to know about the PD engine.

It is a lovely comefortable motorway cruiser with a big cabin and a cavernous boot. Great vehicle with lovely touches. Lockable rear seats so have a nice secure boot. Coin draws at a sensible location to grab toll money from. Comfortable, if slightly narrow, seats. Reasonable handling. Just pray not a hot summer as the air con is VERY underpowered even from new. Had it checked and they said was right, but it could not cool the cabin and if anyone was in the rear then the windows had to be opened on a hot day.

The cons...the reliability. 3 injectors failed - one after another. 1st one at 86k and sat in dealers for over a week. No warning just cuts out and you are left with extremely heavy and unassisted brakes and stearing. VW not interested but know it is an issue according to all 4 local dealers. 1 turbo failed at about 50k Hand brake switch broke so brake would not come off Hand brake wiring loom failed with same result as above Rear boot would not shut as catch failed with less than 2k on the clock Front suspension struts and stearing rack replaced under warranty Rear window switches replaced both on passenger door and drivers door at seperate times.

There is more but you get the idea!

My car

Coming to the end of my 3 year lease on this car and so sad to give it up. It's been v.reliable not a thing wrong in over 50k miles. still looks stunning (when clean!) and agree with previous entry that for your money you'll have to go along way to get better. Engine is wonderful, could listen to it all day and with 140ps there's the right amount of power all the way through the range without giving you whiplash. It's making my new car extremely had to find.

My car

I had a 2.0 TDI 140 Highline (non-common rail engine) as a loan car for 2000 miles.

The engine is awful, sounds like a tractor on start up and clattery on the motorway. Power delivery; nothing until 2000rpm at which point all 320Nm is dumped onto the poor tyres who cant cope, there is frantic wheel spin for a while and then suddenly all the power is gone. The engine is breathless at high rpms and returned a miserable 39mpg in my hands. Feels nippy around town but I think that’s because of its low gearing rather than the engine.

The ride is perfectly ok but it doesn't settle in the same way as my Peugeot 407 at high speed. Grip levels are average at best and on the limit handling is biased to understeer; factor in the totally lifeless steering and that on/off power delivery and on the country lanes near my work it was a job to keep the thing out of the hedges. Overall a totally un-inspiring car to punt down a twisty B road and an average cruiser.

There is no doubting the build quality of this car; the doors shut with a re-assuring thunk and the interior feels like it would withstand a small civil war. However; i found the interior dull to the point of being oppressive. The auto hand brake is a pain and has a tendency to jump on too soon as you roll up to junctions resulting in snapped necks all round and the ignition key/push to start is a pain if the engine doesn't fire 1st time. Don't be fooled by the highline's leather, its spec is really rather basic.

My car

bought car sept 2007. done 19000miles to date. very accomplished car. takes everything in its stride. well pleased with car.had a few niggles with steering and gearbox, but dealer sorted no probs. goes like a dream. 28-35 mg urban, dependin how you drive of course, 40-50 on a run. always brings smiles per mile everytime i drive it.