USED Volkswagen Passat Saloon (05 - 11)

My car

I have had VW Passat over 6 months. This is the best car I have had.

I have got for the automatic 1.8 TSI highline with front and rear parking sensors. The sensors proved their worth on the first day - detecting a small wooden stake in the garden as I was trying to reverse into a small space.

The new Passat highline is a lot quieter than the previous version and the difference is quite startling. The road handling is Excellent.

As for the automatic gearbox, it makes driving so much easier in built up areas. Parking break and auto-hold functions are Excellent.

Very pleased overall. A smart car that is also smart looking. My friend has a 3-series diesel, but he prefers the new VW Passat! well done VW excellent product.

My car

I own Passat 140 tdi SE for an year. Very nice car. Drive smooth. Very powerful engine. Economy as well very good. Service costs a bit of disapointment. On the other side car need servicing only every 20 k miles. Had before Mondeo 56 plated, service every 12500 miles (160 £), so in all not cheaper. The other thing is cheap plastic in dashboard which rattles. During last service guy put some foam - now seems ok. In general good car for the money.

My car

Recently returned 05 spec to lease co after 96k miles of reliable & comfortable commuting ~150 miles/day on fast A roads & motorways. Overall, rate as good value for money/tax liability. Averaged 48.7 mpg actual(computer 49.9mpg) Driven carefully achieved > 50mpg actual per tank. Excellent ventilational/heating system (far better than new Audi A4 3 zone system!) However, experience spolit by VW main agent servicing. Returned scratched/dented. Incapable of even changing lube oil without major overfills, request to service brakes ignored nearly resulting in major RTA. (Be warned brake service inspection apparently means looking at outboard disc pads through wheel spoke, in my case an inboard pad was all but down to steel backing!) Considered replacing with another Passat Sport but VW would not explain why same spec car (pre CR engine)weighs a massive 200kg less? Test drive in a current Passat 170 Sport felt "bendy" / interior creaked and rattled. Great pity because the 05 built car was good!

My car

The engine/DSG gearbox is superb but the "beautifully engineered" Passat's build quality - and especially interior is not.

Buy one if you want to hear creaking dashboard, crashing over bad road surfaces and lack of the old fashioned VW 'solid' feel. I've owned 6 Golfs and wish I still had one of these instead...

Hope the CC coupe is much better!