Volkswagen Passat Saloon (2005 - 2010) 1.9 SE TDI 4d (2008/57) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
-
Summary
What does this car say about you?
Couldn't afford a BMW or an Audi - plus it's Silver and the most common colour of Passat on the road.
What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?
My wife wants a car with a 'proper' handbrake!!! Have to say I agree - still cannot get used to the handbrake 'button' on the dash.
Would you buy this car again and why?
No - it's a good,reliable family saloon but unexciting to drive. Also expensive to run and insure - was fortuante to get free servicing for first 30k miles via VW finance but proved ££££££ afterwards.
What are you likely to buy next?
Already got it - gone back to a Mazda 6 2.0 petrol. Had it 4 days and driving is exciting and a pleasure again!
-
Buying experience
Type of dealer you bought from?
Franchised
Did you buy this car new?
No
What price did you pay?
£10,000
When did you buy the car?
January 2011
Did you get a good deal and why?
Not really - paid usual dealer price and a very poor trade in on my 5 year old Mazda 6 2.0TS2.
Is there any special reason why you bought this car?
Wanted a reliable and comfortable car to replace my Mazda 6.
What was the dealer like?
Very good - better than most dealers. Very professional and helpful.
-
Driving it
What's it like to drive?
Have had enough after two years and gone back to a 2.0 Mazda 6 - at least the Mazda is pleasant to drive. Cruises up and down the motorways all day, quietly and smoothly - have done 40k miles in 2 years.
What's it like to park?
A real pain!!! A high boot line means reversing and parking is not easy. Power steering quite unresponsive when trying to park/low speeds.
-
Living with it
Have you had any problems with the car?
Nothing at all in the two years except for a complete new set of tyres - which were not cheap!!!! Audio system is abysmal - CD's only pay when CD player has warmed up after about 20 miles of driving - been back to VW but can find nothing wrong. It's been reliable but a boring car - after owning a Mazda 6 2.0 TS2 for 3 years/100k miles, the Passat was the replacement - wish I hadn't bothered (and so does my wife!). Before I bought this VW was going to get another Mazda - wish I had!
What's most practical about your car?
Big boot. That's about it - it does everything reasonably well but nothing exciting at all.
Favourite gadget, option or accessory?
Nothing - seats are comfy on a long drive, 50mpg average fuel consumption meaning 700+miles on a tank of diesel, which is great for me doing 20k+ miles p.a.
