It's 'Initial Quality'. My answer is 'She's tip top'.
Further, its not a survey that takes into account the horrible quality of US fuel that is the cause of occasional 'stumbling'. I've switched to BioD and have had no issues since. I don't expect a 'patch' anytime soon, nor do I want one given that the fuel it runs on will change in 2006. It happens rarely, and only on deceleration If you're reporting issues you arent sure you have, and everyone has a cow about this, the end result will be an end to importation of a car that is very successful elsewhere in the world, and possibly a reputation of 'that model year had lotsa problems' with subsequent plummeting resale. The car's been on the road less than 60 days, first hunt down good quality fuel, drive 2 tanks with cetane boost, and take a deep breath.
I think the only people you're hurting by telling JDPower your Passat TDI stinks are those who already own one in the US....B5 has been around and well reviewed since '98, B6 on the horizon, no problems in the 1.9, i don't see VW responding to bad initial quality surveys with an update to the ECM. Just an opinion.
