Overall I really really like our Passat wagon. Fuel mileage has more than lived up to my expectations, performance and handling is very enjoyable. I really like driving it, and errands in town are fun now. We can take trips without fuel killing us. My wife now looks at me and says, “don’t’ even think about selling my car!”
I could see someone who is not into working on cars being really disappointed. I can handle and deal with it. More disappointed in VW and how they are going about things than the car. Issues can crop up, but VWs attitude is bad, and no follow up to work it out with the customer to see what it would take to resolved.
Downside is the nagging issues. PCV valve and manifold crud. Smoking issue has only be resolved by additive (I am ok with the additive, but I think the DOC is messed up, but they won’t look at it without smoking, and it won’t smoke when its there).
The latest sensor issue is annoying. They said they had codes for the N75 valve, but while the code is gone (it went way by itself), it went into limp mode again.
The engine is going fine, trany and all the equipment works just fine. So, I am not even close to being at wits end or anything, but not happy either.
Dealer is fine, but they seem to be on a choke chin with VW. They cannot look at anything VW does not approve. VW won’t approve anything past the very end of their nose.
The only thing they will have going for them is that the Japanese do not build handling into their every day cars, they are good econo boxes. They will do the rest better, and VW is going to suffer badly, most people just need transportation.
