Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Associate Editor Erin Mahoney was recently dubbed an "avowed VW lover" by the bossman. Does this mean that you readers are about to be subjected to yet another ballad-like update, detailing yet another editor's euphoric experience in the Passat? Not quite. You see, Erin just had the opportunity to drive a brand-new redesigned 2001.5 Passat, and after comparing the two, she concluded that the last two years have most certainly taken their toll on our "brand-spankin' used" tester.

As Associate Editor Liz Kim noted in the January 2001 update, squat and dive is a bothersome issue in our long-term Passat. Whether this is due to wear and tear, or merely suspension tuning, is hard to say. One thing's certain; this annoyance was all but absent in the updated 2001.5 model. Erin also noticed the new car's improved acceleration thanks to its stronger 1.8-liter turbocharged engine.

Of course, it's not altogether fair to closely compare a two-year-old previous-generation Passat with a nearly untouched redesigned model. Nonetheless, we found the differences worth noting.

Apart from the overly pliant suspension and slower accelerative ability, Erin says our 1999 Passat ain't a bad ride. While it's a decidedly lackluster German marque "standard-bearer" for our long-term fleet when compared to our now departed BMW 328i, it does provide a good value and a pleasurable commuting environment. Erin appreciated the cavernous, all-black interior and felt that the leather upholstery gave off a pleasing aroma. Our test car's darkly tinted windows proved irritating at night, especially when Erin had to execute numerous three-point turns to maneuver her way out of her apartment complex's tightly packed parking lot. The red and blue nighttime illumination, on the other hand, never ceased to delight Ms. Mahoney.

Once she adapted to the spooling of the turbocharged engine and remembered to keep the revs high, she managed to extract enjoyable performance from the Passat, and she had no complaints once she got up to cruising speed.

While one Erin was away on vacation, another took her place in the VeeDub. Contributing Editor Erin Riches made several astute observations during her time in the vehicle:

"Despite my earlier misgivings, I've come to appreciate the Passat's suspension tuning. It's supposed to provide a smooth ride, supposed to keep your passengers happy. (And this is OK, since the Passat is a relatively large car -- family sedan-size anyway -- that will seat four quite comfortably.) But it is also fun to drive. The suspension is firm and responsive, particularly for a car this size -- and there is no excess wallow. Steering response is excellent, and the wheel has optimal weighting. How does this car feel so fast? I personally drive a smaller, lighter car with slightly more horsepower, and my car feels sluggish in comparison. I guess it must be the broad availability of torque in the Passat. Feeding the 1.8T though this five-speed manual must also contribute to sport sedan delusions.

"The clutch and shifter are exceptionally easy to use; although, I could certainly do without the 'last-minute' clutch engagement (by the time the pedal is this high, I want to be done with it already). I don't really like the feel of the shifter; the shifter doesn't feel heavy enough in your hand and seems loose and imprecise, not so much so that it's easy to pick the wrong gear, but to the extent that you're never sure exactly where you're going to put the shifter (i.e., you want third gear, so you push the floppy ball straight toward the center stack and somehow it goes in). While these issues are minor, they would be simple to revise and thereby enhance the rest of the package (that is, sport sedan hiding in family sedan marketing material).

"I love the black, black, black interior -- the leather looks and feels really high-quality, and the seats are quite comfortable (I wouldn't mind sport seat-type side bolsters, though). If only the exterior were black, too. I'm not really satisfied with the aftermarket window tinting. Yes, it cuts down on glare from SUVs that pull up behind the Passat in traffic, but sometimes at night (especially if it's raining), the tinting also causes considerable distortion of the rear view. There's nothing like the interior of a Volkswagen at night -- cool blue and lava. No other manufacturer that I've encountered has managed to create such an appealing nighttime environment. I'm sure this has helped more than a few prospective VW buyers make their final decision."

While Riches' opinions on the suspension tuning and power delivery were markedly different from Mahoney's, our associate editor is inclined to concur with our contributing editor about the sloppy shifter and late clutch engagement. Photo Editor Scott Jacobs also snatched up the Passat for an evening and had this to say:

"I dig the Passat. It encompasses all the things I find important in a car: quality interior materials, functional design, practicality, good looks, reasonable price, good gas mileage, decent performance, a nice tight suspension that isn't too jarring and an all-around cool factor. The car just feels right."

Gee, Jacobs sounds like an avowed VW lover himself, doesn't he? It seems that, for the time being, Mahoney's the only one who concurs wholeheartedly with Liz Kim's assessment of the wallowy suspension. We'll just have to see what next month's driver has to say about the controversial issue.

Current Odometer: 32,571
Best Fuel Economy: 25.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 19.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 25.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None