29th Jan 2007, 11:26

The Passat is in no way a "sporty car". VW errs on the side of a luxury ride vs. a sporty one, just like Lexus does. Ths is not a knock against the car, but simply stating what the Passat is.

And given Passats are outrageously priced (you can easily reach nearly $40K for a loaded one), there is a lot more interesting and better competition to be had.

11th Feb 2007, 21:44

It's been a year, and my 2006 Passat continues to exceed my expectations. This is a great car... one that has been completely trouble free and fun to drive. I can't say enough good things about my awesome 2006 Passat.

22nd Feb 2007, 03:04

Passats are not "outrageously priced." Becuase VW has elected to seek an upscale market, they provide luxurious options on all of their cars that, indeed, price them well out of their intended market.

However, when you consider what you get for a base-model passat, for example, the picture becomes much clearer.

-Finish: The Passat's finish, inside and out, is impeccable, with a minimum of "orange peel" paint, carefully detailed head and tail lighting, and, most importantly, a stylish and quality interior.

-engineering: A base model passat provides a direct-injection 2 liter turbo, which is vastly more powerful and flexible than most of the base 4 cylinder engines available from competitors. It requires premium fuel, which is something that potential buyers should definately considerl--and It's also not as efficient as competing, less powerful 4 cyliner sedans. It's a tradeoff (for power) that buyers must be aware of.

-Safety: The new camry offers a new level of safety, what with its knee bags and such. But the Passat is certainly up there, with standard bags for front, side, head, and the same for rear passengers. traction control, electronic brake distribution, and electronic stability control is also standard, which is nothing to sneeze at.

-the drive: Sorry, but nothing japanese, as much as I love toyotas and Hondas, can touch a VW for the feeling of solidity, especially at hight speed. While this might not apply to potential buyers who only ever drive in city traffic, it's a major bonus to those to even occasionally ventur onto highways and interstates.

I am not a VW employee, or even a VW diehard fan. But people reading these forums should know that the VW passat, past and present, is a car that DOES represent value, IF the buyer values a driving experience beyond that of an appliance. It's no secret that VW passats need attentive care, and careful maintenance, but given that, they will perform and satisfy a discriminating driver far more than the competition. Do they cost more? Not really, A new Passat lists, base (with equipment explained above) for about 24K. If this is "expensive," then consider what it costs to equipe a comparable sedan. Anyone will find that Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota are similarly priced, but lack something, whether it's refinement, equipment, or performance.

22nd Feb 2007, 23:22

I got a great deal on a 2006 Passat 2.0T with package #1 for $21,900 plus tax & lic. After 4 months and 3000 miles, it drives beautifully, with excellent power and handling. I had been looking at the Acura TSX, which is a great car, but more expensive. The Passat is larger for passengers and driver, with more low-end torque. After driving the wagon while my car was having the recall items taken care of, I realized how there was the same driving experience. I love the look of the sedan, but the wagon would have been more practical in the long run. I've gotten 36 mpg on the highway, but city driving only @ 23... I've never had a VW and am wary of the reliability issue, but since I don't keep a car beyond the warranty period I'm not too concerned -I do think VW should have given me a loaner when I had to bring it in for the recall, though. (But at least my dealer rents VWs).

22nd Feb 2007, 23:26

I forgot... one gripe I do have... WIND NOISE!

Once I get to 70mph, it sounds like the windshield or moonroof is ready to come apart.

Anyone else notice this?

1st Mar 2007, 05:42

I don't no what you are talking about my 2.0L Sport is very very quiet especially when you hit 70. 70 and beyond it starts to get noisy, you should try testing its top speed, it does get there 145mph on a German autobahn!

20th May 2007, 23:42

I'm still getting a huge amount of wind noise, and now, with 5600 miles, the back end makes a creaking noise now and then.

Also, the Auto-Hold feature doesn't work... it starts creeping ahead when at a stop light. Grr... have to take it in again.

21st May 2007, 13:23

Did you press the Auto Hold button? The Auto Hold function isn't always on, you have to turn it on.

26th May 2007, 15:34

Yes, of course I did turn on the Auto Hold. I brought it in the dealer -they said the brakes were "soft" and bled the brake system. They also said they fixed the noise coming from the back end (a sharp popping or creaking, like a rock was hitting the underside) by securing some heat flange near the muffler.

While driving home, the noise was louder than before, and the Auto Hold still doesn't hold... the brakes creak while at a stop, and eventually the car moves forward a bit. The idle rpm has always seemed high to me (900-1000) -perhaps that is the culprit?

I'll have to bring it in again... what a pain.

29th Dec 2007, 23:11

Update: the creaking noise was caused by a bad weld in the section directly between the rear seats and the trunk... they ultimately had to replace the entire section, re-weld and paint.. took about a week. It's been noise-free since, but the tech guy told me they had another passat with the same problem which they couldn't fix and they had to buy it back. The service at this dealer has been excellent. While I really liked my sedan, I've now traded the it in for an '08 wagon.. so far, it's fantastic.

18th Jan 2009, 12:45

I own a 2006 Passat with 75,000 on it.

First, to have to spend a lot of time at the dealership is ridiculous. That's not how you baby a car, that is unneeded work! To have a car blow its catalytic converter this early in its life stage is poor build quality, along with a failed starting system, battery and computer issues.

The interior: Let's start with the premature degradation of the poor interior materials.

My lock buttons and door handles have all been replaced thanks to a call to the VW complaint center because my dealership are such kind and caring people. Not to mention the constant rattles and noise wind.

With a almost $40,000 price tag I have decided to kick this car to the curb and I urge anybody thinking of stepping into a Passat to walk away. It's unreliable and overpriced!

My 2006 Mustang hasn't given me a bit of trouble and it only goes in for its scheduled appointments. That car is spoiled in the right way with enjoyable washings, waxes, and road trips knowing you are going to get to your destination. And when I return there are no trips to the dealership to get its "tune ups" just so it make its next trip to the dealership.