End of the Passat

[TDIBone]

Another victim of the SUV craze.

Volkswagen Passat Passes Away

The final Volkswagen Passat has rolled off the assembly line in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ending the model’s extended run on the North American market.Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and introduced in 1973 using the VW/Audi B1 platform, the Passat arrived in the United States as the Dasher and was...

www.thetruthaboutcars.com

I often thought the TDI was the only thing the Passat had over its competition, but I'm biased.

 

[TurboABA]

I loved my '92 gasser sedan... and it was a POS.... and it was still super enjoyable to drive compared to that era of comparable vehicles

 

[atc98002]

I had an '03 with the 1.8T gasser and a '14 TDI. Both cars served us well, and the only reason I sold the TDI back to VW was because the offer was too good to pass up. But I also have to say that at 67 years old, I prefer the higher seating position of the smaller CUVs. It's hell getting in and out of my daughter's GTI.

 

[taleAwaggin]

I've not driven the earlier ones, but I can two cent the last one. The late model was great driver with the fiver manual and the ea888. I think that combo ended 6 years ago. Sight lines are much better than some of the other late model sedans. I get in a lot of late model sedans and they feel like a cave. Changing lanes on the highway is relatively a pleasure in the Passat. Power to MPG is up there with the best too. It was rated at "170" but it drove like a car that had more than that. Some others makes drive like they have less than their rated power.

For a car that drove like it had 50 horse more than its rating it did very well on highway fuel use. Trunk space excellent. Rear legroom unbeatable. Curb weight for its chassis size was extremely low. The only downsides on my drives were the suspension tuning and over active traction control. Both of which prevent too much fun from being had. Minor gripes for a cruiser commuter. That uncannily flat torque curve is so nice for a road car, not something easily found elsewhere. Understated styling is probably a negative to most new car buyers, but I like that about it. The some would call it "blah" styling is probably what did it in.

Long live the Passat.