Advantages: BUILD QUALITY, RELIABILITY,VALUE FOR MONEY
Disadvantages: Near side lower ball joints don't last due to the state of our AMAZING ROADS

...BEST CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED I bought my VW Passat 20v Turbo Sport some 2 +years ago 2nd hand , the car was originally bought by a leasing company from new. Fully dealer serviced and looked after, the person that ordered it had all the usual extras fitted , so I benefited from their good taste without being out of pocket!! AMAZING PERFORMANCE! EXCELLENT ROAD HOLDING, but only with NEW REAR SHOCKS FITTED as they wear out gradually and you don't notice this until they are renewed. TURBO is constantly ON as is the AIR CON and so usually NEVER ANY PROBLEMS. Power steering is precise , I was recommended to have Brigestone Turanza ER300's, this really improved the front end handling and ride, road noise ETC. (£50 a corner) DON'T BUY BUDGET TYRES AS THEY ARE A FALSE ECONOMY, THEY DON'T LAST and CAUSE BAD HANDLING. I generally keep my cars... Read review

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Advantages: Great build quality, strong performer
Disadvantages: Harsh low speed ride, Rain sensor wipers.

...I've own this 2001 Y reg VW passat estate 1.8T Sport for just over 8 months and it is the most versatile car I have owned. It has good performance from the 1.8T, which is tuned to 150 bhp, it may not be the fastest car but swift progress is made with ease and the acceleration is linear with little turbo lag. The Passat has bucket loads of space, I'm 6'3" and you can still get a six footer behind me without being cramped. The boot is also large with a flat low loading entrance and with the seats down it will swallow most house hold items, I've had a full sized tumble dryer in it. In the rear of the boot it has got two 12V power points which will always come in handy when your away for the day. The interior may not be for all tastes, mine is like a charcoal black, which can seem a little dull but you cannot fault the fit and finish... Read review

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Advantages: Great Engine, Great Body, Great Car
Disadvantages: Slightly soft suspension.

...Its with great regret that I prepare to say goodbye to my Passat 1.8T Sport. I chose it as a company car two years ago when my work required me to do endless long journeys, and it was perfect for that job. VW based the Passat on the same platform as the group's Audi A4 and A6. The A4 is slightly smaller than the Passat and the A6 slightly larger, but both are more expensive than the Passat. Some may prefer the Audi badge, but in terms of value for money, the VW is a clear winner. For me the 1.8T engine is the best feature of this car. The Passat version produces 150bhp, though the same engine is easily tweaked to 180 or even 225bhp in the Audi TT, so it clearly isn't performing under too much stress in the Passat. More importantly it produces torque across its entire rev range so the engine doesn't need to be thrashed to get... Read review

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Advantages: Solid, best bits of VW and Audi
Disadvantages: Drive can be bland at times

...I love this car. It's basically the best bits of Audi and VW, but at a VW price. I have the full leather seats in mine, which is why the price shown here is above RRP. The body is based on the same B5 platform as the Audi A4 and A6, and is sized mid-way between the two. The 1.8T engine can be found right across the Audi/VW/Seat/Skoda range, and boy does it go when you put your foot down! The AirCon (or should I say 'Climate Control') is VW, which is great, since the VW unit is better than the Audi equivalent! The drive is a funny mixture of boring and fun. It's great in a straight line (good accelleration) but boring on cornering. Actually, that's wrong - it's bland rather than boring. It gets a zero rather than a minus score. You only notice there's a problem when you start looking. Best thing to do is just sit back and anjoy the car... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic Engine, Build Quality, Comfort, Space.
Disadvantages: Overly Soft Suspension, Not as fun to drive as rivals (Mondeo)

...My car is a 2000 'W' Reg VW Passat 1.8T Sport Saloon in Dragon Green. This car is absolutely fantastic. I am 6ft 4 and have a really comfy driving position, also when i have my seat in position there is still a vast amount of space behind. The engine remarkable. This is my first car and i don't have any other experience driving other cars but one thing is for sure, the engine is extremely powerful. You get power right through the rev range, and you really feel the turbo kick in at 2,000 rpm. I get over 30mpg even when i thrash it so its quite economical as well. The interior is the best thing about this car. The build quality is miles better than anything else similar cars have to offer. You also get plenty of toys. The climate control is great although you only really get extremely cold or too hot no in between. It also has a CD... Read review

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Advantages: Economical, Reliable, Great ride quality, Good motorway cruiser
Disadvantages: Not hugely quick

...did about 4 trips with some extra things in the Passat; you can get a huge amount in; the rear seats fold down, unusual for a salon car, so that the already cavernous boot is transformed into an almost estate like space. Space in the back for passengers is almost limo like, and they don't mind sitting there all day either. You get the famous VW build quality; our car has now done 120,000 miles and you would never know, there are no rattles inside and that great diesel engine runs as strongly as ever. No wonder VW did not change the design much for the facelifted model. The car was still class leading when it was upgraded. If I was to change the Passat I would go for a newer Passat - maybe the estate version this time!... Read review

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Advantages: Spacious, frugal, good performance.
Disadvantages: Looks aren't very exciting.

...I drive a 2002 (52 plate) VW Passat 1.9 TDi 130bhp for work and it has been very reliable and dependable. The engine is by far the best bit about this car - over 40mpg even when driving swiftly and very quiet whether cruising on the motorway or driving around town. The model i drive is reasonably well equipped - it has a good air conditioning system, electric mirrors, windows, sunroof etc. The only extra i would have added is a factory CD player. The seats are comfortable on long motorway drives and the road holding is good for a car of this size and weight. Interior is spacious enough to accomodate 4 adults comfortably - 5 at a push. The boot is also very spacious. I have also driven the 115bhp model and would thoroughly recommend buying the 130bhp model insead. The fuel economy isn't noticably different yet the 130bhp model is far... Read review

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Advantages: Big boot, Good motorway cruise missile, suprised in how cheap parts are.
Disadvantages: A bit thirsty, ride quality a bit soft. keep grouding on speed humps.

...'ve not had a single problem with the engine since i got it (Touch Wood). But do make sure before you buy it has service history and a recent timing belt change Parts are Quite cheap which was a surprise. i needed a new top wish bone on the front suspension Which looked expensive, but came out at £45 inc fitting, but brake discs can be costly so shop around for these. i tend to find VW garages are cheaper than high street parts shop The only problems i have had with the passat is some electric problems on one of the rear passenger door , it wont open and the electric window don't work, but this was traced back to a faulty plug. In conclusion the passat is a all round... Read review

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Advantages: Reliable, excellent handling, cool gadgets and good fuel consumption
Disadvantages: Not as spacious as the Passat

...An excellent all rounder. We have been using it as a family car and although their are a few complaints regarding the shortage of space at the back, the car is virtually faultless. The best thing about the Bora, as any other Bora owner will tell you, is the smooth drive. Its like your on a plane. Anyone who has driven a smaller or older car will tell you that once they got into the Bora, it was like they were driving on a velvet carpet - well nearly. In terms of size and price, the Bora comes in between the VW Golf and the VW Passat and has the best of both worlds - the smoothness of the drive and the stature of the car. Inside, the car feels and looks modern, especially with the many gadgets and tools. You find new gadgets every now and again which you never thought existed. Only a short while ago, after many years of ownership, I... Read review

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Advantages: Easy Layout
Disadvantages: Slow download for New Passat

...The VW site is quite easy to use. If you are looking at the new Passat they've got a flash site that takes quite a while to load and shows a number of features on the Passat. You can order a test drive and brochures on-line. I don't know how often they check the brochure orders but I'm still waiting for a brochure on the new Passat ordered on-line at least two weeks ago! As for ordering a test drive I cannot comment as I have not ordered a test drive on-line. I must say the VW Ireland site in my opinion is better if you want to look at the features each model has as you can 'Design' your car on-line and view the different colours and upholstery. If you are looking for used VW cars this is a relatively simple task. Type in your Postcode, nationwide or local search, car type, and a list appears showing firstly your closest dealers... Read review

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