1998 Volkswagen Passat 1.6


Very reliable and low running costs


Not much, just the closing mechanism of the hood broke. Had it repaired for 110 euros (could only be done with the dealer). Fuel gauge had some problems and was fixed for 350 euros. That's all for 50.000 km.

Clutch might need to be replaced, but I thought the same thing when I bought it 4 years ago.

General Comments:

Very reliable and comfortable car. Best for highways. Only slightly underpowered with the 1.6 petrol engine.

Climate control works very well, cruise control is good, and after 220000 km, everything works still as it is supposed to.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 21st March, 2010

2008 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI-DSG Comfortline 2.0 turbo diesel


Best business car with semi automatic built-in chauffeur (ACC)


Very good build quality, so there's not much going wrong.

The only problem was that 1 week after the first maintenance-visit to the dealer, a light came up from the catalyser-system. I went back and they found a fault in a pressure-sensor in the exhaust. This was replaced under guarantee.

The car is extremely reliable and has very long maintenance intervals (30.000 km's). It doesn't use oil, it doesn't eat bulbs, it doesn't eat fuel, and is very economic with an average of 1 liter per 18,5 km's.

General Comments:

This is my company car, and is extremely fit for the task of bringing me to work and customers, in a very economical and comfortable way.

The DSG 6-speed automatic-gearbox is a terrific invention, and works flawlessly and very fast, although I never use the Sport-mode or the flappers on the steering wheel.

The best option is the Adaptive Cruise Control; this system is radar driven and keeps a safe distance to the car in front of you (in any weather) and can brake the car is a sudden stop is needed. It has saved me 1 sure collision by stopping the car when I was distracted and only saw the truck in front of me to late. At that time, the system braked the car in time.

I use this ACC every day, even in the very busy dutch traffic it drives for me for about 70% of the time. I can't live without it any more - for business driving.

The big fuel tank gives the car a big range of 1100 to 1200 km's, the engine is very quiet, seats are fine, stereo is perfect and lots of space (Variant) when needed.

So, the Passat is not pretentious, but there are only a few cars that have a built-in chauffeur driving them most of the way. The engine has a lot of power, and combined with the DSG makes the car very fast. I only use it while accelerating, which is fun, and then it goes on ACC at 130 km/h to prevent me getting tickets and drives the rest of the way while I do phonecalls etc.

BTW, you still have to do the steering yourself, but on the highways that's little work.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd January, 2010

2001 Volkswagen Passat Highline Black Label 1.9 TDI 130 HP

General Comments:

Love it, at the time I purchased it to get transportation for a few months, however the car turned out to be so good and reliable that I will see the half a million kilometer mark.

With a lub oil consumption of 1 liter per 25000 kilometer, long service intervals and nothing going wrong with the electronics.

A very reliable tool.

The only disappointing thing about the car is its handling, it has absolutely no French or Italian roadholding!

Love the heated seats, the cruise control, and the fuel consumption of 5.8 liters per 100 kilometers.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th December, 2008