Road Tests: Long-Term Test

See what our editors think this month.

Back in 1998, when both the redesigned Passat and sensational new New Beetle were introduced to critical acclaim, we had a decision to make. Should we add a Passat to our long-term program, or a New Beetle?

Because the New Beetle was hot, hot, hot, and available with a turbodiesel engine, which we wanted to live with on a daily basis in an effort to prove or disprove our theory that Americans find diesels to be a hassle to own, we selected the reincarnated Bug, in TDI trim and painted a retina-searing lemon yellow. After two years and more than 30,000 miles, we decided we liked both the New Beetle and the TDI engine. But during that period of time, we fielded countless requests for a Passat long-term test from our loyal readers.

Recently, Volkswagen introduced a new certified used vehicle program, which puts pristine used VeeDubs through an inspection and reconditioning process to ensure that buying a pre-owned VW is as confidence-inspiring as buying a new one. We thought this would provide us with a perfect opportunity to add a Passat to the long-term fleet with the added benefit of running it well above 50,000 miles to see if Volkswagen quality has improved since the brand's renaissance a couple of years ago.

Volkswagen will certify clean used cars that are less than 5 years old and with less than 75,000 miles on the clock. If the candidate for certification passes muster in terms of age, mileage and condition, it qualifies to have a 112-point inspection of all major systems conducted. If anything is found amiss, it is repaired or replaced, with the goal of bringing the vehicle as close to "as new" condition as possible. Then, a limited two-year/24,000-mile warranty is added to the mix that covers, among other things, the powertrain, electrical system and air conditioning. Finally, 24-hour roadside assistance is provided for two years to ensure added peace-of-mind.

Our silver, 1999 GLS five-speed is equipped with the turbocharged, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. Optional features include black leather upholstery, heated seats, alloy wheels, a power sunroof, and a trunk-mounted, six-disc CD changer. The only aftermarket addition to our car is dark-tinted windows.

Volkswagen's inspection process produced a car that looks new inside and out, but a funky smell permeates the interior when the air conditioner is operated on "recirculate" mode and our front right wheel rim is bent in a fashion that indicates prior contact with a curb. Also, we discovered within our first week that two floor-mat snaps had pulled free, leaving holes in the carpet, but this could have occurred during our first car wash, and we cannot be sure it was overlooked by VW.

One thing we did take note of was the poor detailing job our car received from the selling dealership, Capistrano Volkswagen in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. For example, the inside of the windshield was streaked and displayed drip marks from glass cleaner, making it hard to see out at night until we took Windex and paper towels to the glass ourselves.

Not surprisingly, initial impressions have been overwhelmingly positive, and during the first three weeks we racked up nearly 2,000 miles with trips from Los Angeles to Phoenix and San Francisco. Our editor-in-chief, Christian Wardlaw, took the Passat on both trips. Following are excerpts from his logbook entries:

"Yummy. I like this car. It looks great, drives great, feels great, and cost us less than $20K. So comfortable, speedy and upscale is the Passat GLS with luxury package that it's easy to overlook numerous minor flaws.

"Like the remote keyless entry fob with nearly indecipherable icons. Like the utterly useless cupholders. Like the fact that the single dash power point is a.) located in the ashtray, b.) constantly hot, meaning I have to unplug or turn off my radar detector every time I exit the car, and c.) cannot be used in conjunction with said useless cupholders, which deploy directly above the power point. Like the lack of steering wheel controls for the sound system. Like the lack of automatic climate control. Like the lack of center console storage space. Like the fact that to turn on or off the stereo you must first hit the power button. Like the location of the sound system, down low in the center stack where it is hard to operate and where the cupholders will block parts of it. Like the sound quality of the system, which is merely adequate despite the existence of A-pillar tweeters. Like the lack of an in-dash CD player. Like the buttons on the sound system, Chiclet-sized, hard to find and displeasing to depress. Like lousy radio reception.

"Ahh, but the soothing comfort of the softly upholstered leather driver's seat, the seat height adjuster, and the tilt/telescoping steering wheel all combine to create peace and harmony. The soft blue and red nighttime dash lighting helps matters tremendously. The rich interior materials and solid structure impart an Audi-like quality and sense of luxury."