2003 Volkswagen Passat

Pros: powerful, spacious, solid, pretty, great to drive!!

Cons: back seats don't fold down, only single disc CD player

Review: my Passat is black with chrome lining. V6 2.8L, 4 motion. the AWD automatically kicks in when you need it which is great for the snow, and it's got some power and giddy up for the highway. it heats up fast, has lots of features, wood trimming on the...

Pros: Cars drives well and feels solid, handles well at higher speeds (above 80 mph), safety

Cons: Quality of construction, mechanical breakdowns and major safety issues, dealership service non-existent

The Bottom Line: DO NOT buy this car because of mechanical and safety issues; also, dealership washes hands with responsibility.

Review: I bought my 2003 VW Passat GLX in July 2003. I swear that I will never buy another Volkswagen for as long as I live.

It is now April 2006 and I have had the following issues with my car, all before 20000 miles:
1) The brake rotors...

Pros: Interior fit and finish high; nice appearance/design; decent MPG; lots of cargo space

Cons: Reliability mediocre; turbo lag; brakes require constant, expensive maintenance

The Bottom Line: Good comfortable car works best when not driven frequently and must be maintained meticulously. Reliability & maintenance costs a problem. Recommendation: Maybe.

Review: I own a 2003 VW Passat GLS Wagon with 70,000 miles on it which I bought new from a prominent local dealer in NJ. I opted only for the premium Monsoon stereo and automatic transmission; everything else is standard equipment, which is fairly generous...

Pros: Nice design, good power, handles awesome,safety features

Cons: none so far

The Bottom Line: For a mid-sized sedan, this is the best quality and most fun to drive

Review: This car is worth every penny! Its outside styling is very attractive. I have the V6 GLX model so it is completely loaded with every feature I could ever want. It has plenty of power and gets right with it when you need to pass or enter the freeway...

Pros: Exterior styling, night time backlight.

Cons: Plagued with problems, 2 year limited warranty, door upholstery, seatbelt broke, terrible radio.

The Bottom Line: Aesthetically pleasing, however very rough acceleration, tons of problems, and a company that does not stand by its automobiles.

Review: My Car:
2002 PASSAT - Anthracite Blue - Auto Tiptronic / Transmission - Beige Cloth Interior - Non-monsoon system - chrome wheels - window tints -

PLEASE do yourself a favor avoid this car at all costs. Do not be swayed by its...

Pros: A reasonably priced German Driving Machine

Cons: The German way of designing a German Driving Machine

The Bottom Line: If you want an average car, there are cheaper options. If you want a family Driving Machine, this is the car for you.

Review: Depending on what you are looking for, the Passat may or may not be your idea of the ideal family car. To illustrate what you are getting into, I will offer a comparison between the Taurus, the Accord, and the Passat. (I traded in an Accord to buy...

Pros: Gas mileage, Smooth Ride, Upscale Appearance, Manual Transmission, & Turbo!

Cons: Velour seat material in base model GL and reclining the front seats.

The Bottom Line: An unexpectedly sporty, reliable, and affordable "family" sedan that can blend in with it's upscale relatives.

Review: I purchased a new '03 Passat GL 1.8T manual transmission as a compromise with my wife -- I wanted a sports car (or the closest thing I could afford), but she wanted a sensible, family vehicle. I was on the fence between the Passat and the new (at...

Pros: body panels and interior is top quality. very quiet on highway, plenty of juice

Cons: handles worse than our '95 Camry wagon. don't get the five speed

Review: Bought car new, with 5 speed, V6 and GLS package. Didn't test drive car enough, as I find the gearing weird now that I live with the car. It's ok for open road driving and mountains here, but because of the gear ratios, its challenging to drive the...

Pros: Looks good, price, sound system is not bad

Cons: Ride quality doesn't last, too much money in maintenance,

Review: Unfortunately, this car has not been good to me. There's a possibility that I just got the bad one out of the bunch, but the oil pump is needing to be replaced for the 2nd time this year. Right after the oil pump went up they send an extended...

Pros: responsive and grounded driving experience, great space for a family with children

Cons: Abundant mechanical problems paired with expensive repairs- inacceptable for a new car

Review: Only several months into owning a brand new Passat Wagon (GLS), it took several attempts by the dealer to fix a leaking sunroof and to fix the electronic locking system. At the first inspection, we learned that the car had a bent steering column (a...