13th Mar 2020, 12:36
The newer Passat platform is different and altogether cheaper than the solid older B6 one from 1997–2006. THAT was a real Passat before VW cut the prices. That Passat was gliding on the highway, a true highway car, comfortable and just 'sliding' down the road. It was however clumsy in city driving because of its wheel base; the car was designed for cruising speeds. Great seat comfort and space to the steering and pedals for people 6ft tall and over, it had that great ergonomic position for the driver that VW was so good to design back then - something very, very rare in most other car brands. Only downside is the seats were low to the floor - typical for that time. The car had an overall solid and well put together feeling due to the stiff platform and solid cabin materials (except for the infamous mirror knobs).
29th Jun 2018, 22:43
Yes I think I recall the convo, I've been looking at this site for years as well, and many other car review sites.
I think the key to getting the best out of reviews is to look for patterns - if something is consistently bad or good then that's a good gauge. But generally people with older cars complained most about minor problems like interior trim peeling and door locks being sticky in winter, as you'll know older cars didn't have remote locking so had more wear and tear on locks. Bigger problems were things like rust, and the odd serious engine problem like head gaskets, but only at a very high mileage.
So my biggest problem with modern cars is although they are a bit tougher and more durable, the smaller electronic stuff and environmental legally required things like DPF on diesels and the subsequent larger dual mass flywheels and stronger injectors, all cost a fortune to put right at a relatively low age and mileage. This simply was not the case for older cars. I'd also still argue used beats new for value for money in the long run.