Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Want to truly appreciate how good (or bad) a slightly used car is? Drive the newest version and see how well the used model stacks up. Of course, this option doesn't work for every car out there. Those wishing to evaluate their 1981 DeLorean will be hard-pressed to compare it to the new model, since that car, and company, died long ago.

With our 1999 Passat, however, it's relatively easy to compare its performance with that of the new 2001.5 model. In fact, our editor-in-chief, Karl Brauer, got the opportunity to do just that when a brand-new Passat migrated through our test fleet during his month in our '99 version.

Before driving the latest Passat, Mr. Brauer spent several weeks with our 1999 model and discovered several items of delight and dismay. Within moments of sliding inside the silver VW, Karl was again reminded of how far off the floor our Passat's clutch pedal must be before the front wheels engage. As he noted months earlier, this would indicate a clutch that is highly worn and in need of replacement in most other vehicles. However, after driving the 2001.5 Passat, Karl realized that this trait must be normal, as the new Passat's clutch felt almost identical.

The same situation occurred with our long-term car's exterior mirror motors. When he adjusted the mirrors on the '99, Mr. Brauer thought they moved erratically while making a "slow death" grind. But then he adjusted the mirrors on the 2001.5 version and, sure enough, they were just as noisy and erratic.

Mr. Brauer was pleased to learn that our 1999 Passat is behaving as designed, reducing his fears of impending clutch or exterior mirror malfunction. But then he remembered that just because something is designed to perform a certain way doesn't mean it's a great design. Volkswagen might want to look into a more progressive clutch design and quieter, smoother mirror operation.

One thing that has changed from 1999 to 2001.5 is the Passat's cupholder design. Gone is the flimsy plastic shelf that deploys from the bottom of the center stack on our long-term car. Now the Passat has BMW-like cupholders that conveniently reside in the center console and feature spring-loaded tabs to hold drinks securely. Sad to say, but for the majority of American drivers, this is probably the most significant upgrade for the new Passat.

Mr. Brauer does appreciate the many premium touches on our Volkswagen, including the one-touch up and down windows and the automatic door locks that unlock when the key is removed from the ignition. He also likes the "retained accessory power" feature that keeps the radio going when you pull the key from the ignition until a door is opened. Even the feature that lowers every window automatically when you twist the key in the door lock is cool, despite how Volkswagen portrays it in its commercials. Finally, Mr. Brauer says the seats have to be some of the most comfortable automotive chairs ever produced.

When considering the purchase of a new 2001.5 Passat versus an older version, Mr. Brauer states, "I don't know if I would suggest the newer version of the Passat to a potential buyer. While the car is improved, I would rate most improvements as subtle rather than substantial (except for the cupholder design). The 20 horsepower increase for the 1.8T engine is not readily apparent, and the suspension tuning still allows for plenty of body roll. These are my two main gripes with our long-term car (a lack of torque compared to that of V6 Passats and excessively squishy suspension). While each trait is somewhat addressed by the newer model, the changes are too slight to warrant a 'must-have' rating. If you can find a great deal on a used '98-'00, or even a leftover 2001, take it — and don't worry about not getting the latest version."

Karl does feel the Passat is one of the better values on the market. In his words, "The Accord may be the best-selling car in America, with the Camry coming in a close second, but the Passat should be the benchmark sedan for Americans. I'm sure it would be if more people knew what they were missing. The lack of compromises when driving this vehicle, combined with its exceptional feature content and value, makes this the modern-day peoples' car."

Current Odometer: 37,218
Best Fuel Economy: 28.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 21.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 25.5 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None