Used 1998 Volkswagen Passat Sedan Consumer Reviews
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German Engineering = Crap!
CapitalismGoneWild, 06/13/2009
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
Purchased a 1998 1.8T passat with a blown engine for $1000 and I rebuilt the engine over the summer. There is a lot of chatter about oil sludge destroying these engines, this is completely false! Oil comes through a metal tube around the back of the engine over the catalytic converter, exhaust manifold and through the turbo charger. Non-synthetic oil cokes (forms hard particles called turbo-turds)inside all of these components. Eventually enough of this coked oil breaks free, clogs the oil sump screen and oil starvation occurs. This is what causes the vast majority of 1.8T engines to fail. Either VW engineers are complete idiots or this is an engine designed to fail.
This Passat treated me well
boyce, 07/01/2008
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
My next car will be a plug in, but in the meanwhile I have few complaints about my manual 98 Passat, or the dealership. Bought new, used only in CA, and still a pleasure to drive. Mileage 25-27 mpg. Things do occasionally go wrong, but mostly they are under warranty. I added up my unexpected repairs over the past 10 years, and found they came to less than $5,000, or $500 per year. New alternator, 2 new batteries, new brakes, a gasket or two, minor suspension repairs, etc., but none of the spine-chilling disasters you can read about elsewhere on this blog. I'm lucky! I plan to keep it until that new plug-in (or 60 mpg diesel) shows up at the dealer. (My other car is a 2004 Prius).
98 Passat --nice while it lasted
pdhorn, 02/20/2009
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
8 of 10 people found this review helpful
Car still drives and handles well but costly electrical problems have developed, forcing me to donate it on the market after 142,000 miles. Sunroof and door locks mysteriously stopped working--costly to repair.
After All, a Nice Car
bogdancea1, 12/04/2006
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought mine used with 84,000 miles on it. It now is 115,000 miles. It has been a fun to drive experience. Its handling and brakes are excellent. The engine is strong and the transmission's fine. It will be a dream car, but has electronic flaws. It seems that the computer is haunted. The check engine light is annoying. It took three visits to fix it, and still no result. After three weeks, it went off by itself. Now it is coming on just from time to time, for no more than five minutes. The sunroof contact bad. Cruise control dead. The only big problem was one with the power engine module which cost $600 to fix. But the way this car handles the curves is impressive. The turbo lag is not very bad if you know how to deal with. Now the CV joints are bad, but is not car's fault. I like to press gas pedal too much in the curves. I'll buy another one in a heartbeat.
Worst Vehicle Ever
BrokenHearted, 12/19/2005
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
First 20,000 miles in my 1998 Volkswagen Passat went fine. Then, the door locks broke, now twice, the cassette broke, the engine light comes on when ever it wants to, the moonroof opens by itself, cruise control works 10% of the time, and I needed a new serpetine belt which cost over $500 because the whole front end has to be removed. Also, the ABS brake system doesn't work, the light is on and the dealer quoted $2,100 to fix it. Finally my car had an oil pump failure and I had to replace the engine and turbo for $7,000. The dealer won't work on cars with over 100,000 miles and the Bosch dealer says all of these problems are common. I can't afford this piece of junk, and don't know how I will ever get rid it.
1.8T]
Dredoggs, 01/16/2004
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The Passat is a very nice car if you treat it right. Everyone at school comments on my car, and my boss wants to steal it!
Never again
JC, 05/12/2007
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this car new in 1998. Will never buy another VW. Electrically unreliable (locks, windows, interior lights, wipers, radio), underpowered and expensive to maintain. The only reason I haven't gotten rid of it is I hate car payments and it's paid for. However, I am considering bailing out soon. Stay away from this car.
Long-Time VW Owner Disgusted!
RKW, 08/25/2006
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I am ready to junk my 1998 VW Passat and am mad at VW's poor reliability and pathetic customer service. I bought my first new VW in 1971 and still have a 1979 VW Campmobile that I bought new. Because of my total dissatisfaction with VW customer service I will never buy another VW and recommend that you don't either. I bought my Passat new and have 90,000 miles on it. I love to drive the car and the economy and performance are great. However, I've had all the fit and finish problems, electrical problems, etc. Over a year ago VW had a recall on lower control arms, which I had checked by a dealer in 12/05. In 6/06 noises lead to a $2,500 estimate from VW for the control arms. VW customer service says sorry. I am gone forever!
Ambivalent
superegoid, 05/18/2008
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Up until I owned my awesome 2007 BMW 335i coupe, there was no car I had more fun driving and showing off than my sporty and sexy white Passat. Guys dug the car and girls dug me (cuz of the car)! But that's not really important. The car looks great. At the time, the design was new and totally original; soon it would be replicated in almost every make on the road. And like most VeeDubs, the interior was modern with lots of new tech. It was comfy to sit in for hours and the drive was gutsy. The turbo, even though with significant lag, gave the engine amazing boost. It made 150 horses feel like 200. So it's too bad that it spent so much time in the shop.
Love My Car!
Need for Speed, 05/04/2006
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new and have loved every minute of driving since I purchased it. I had a problem with a stick going through the radiator that was expensive to fix. Also, the cruise control just died but that is the only other problem I've had. I drive in a "spirited" fashion and the car has always had the energy to respond. I get 28.9 mpg and use regular gas. Based in my experience with this car, I'd buy 5 more. It is such fun to drive -- and has more than enough room for me. It is a versatile car since the split rear seats fold down. I've amazed people with what I've been able to fit in the back. I also do regular maintenance when called for; even my mechanics love to drive my car.
Bad car no bisquet
loucfd, 03/23/2008
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
When we first bought this car we loved it. Then the honeymoon was over. The car got real buggy fast. It has been a relentless pain in the a**. Electrical system problems all you can eat style. Door locks and alarm problems are annoying but the ecu/ecm problems are the real killer. Cha ching bring your checkbook or if it is real bad hope your credit line is impressive. The suspension is a nice drive till you have to fix it, then wow how much did you say that was gonna cost. Do yourself a favor if your wife falls in love with one of these. Promise to let her have another baby or divorce her. Either would be cheaper than owning one of these cars.
Still in Love with '98 Passat
B5Passat, 01/30/2007
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car new and it has been a fantastic. It has a great ride and handling and the engine seems to only get better with age. Mine has the original clutch and exhaust system at 109,000 miles. It has had no problems or major repairs. All of my service has been performed at dealerships. This car is very reliable, comfortable on long drives, and handles and performs well while delivering excellent fuel economy. I fear I may never want to get rid of this car, and may not as I don't want to risk getting an inferior replacement. The exterior looks brand new despite never being garaged.
Lovely, but troubled
leahk, 07/28/2008
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car handled like a dream. It had great pick-up, suspension and was a blast to drive. The honeymoon, however, was short lived. It shortly became a money pit! I was only the second owner and bought it with 17,000 miles on it. The turbo quit at 70,000 miles and required $2000 to fix it in 2003. Then, the spark plug broke and fell into the piston shortly thereafter. That was another small fortune to fix. Then the cruise control worked only once in while. The transmission started cutting up and I sold it.
Mechanical Money Pit
Sorry I Bought It, 02/01/2007
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought it new from the dealer after having a German auto mechanic recommend the V6 over the 1.8L 4 cyl. version. The hidden cost of having a car that essentially shares the same drivetrain as the Audi A4 is huge! Repairs for basic things cost considerably more, because of the performance curve. Plan on comparable maintenance costs to other German models such as BMW 3-Series. The electrical system stinks. Both the cruise control and the door locks shorted out after a few years (post-warranty, of course), with repairs at a ridiculous premium. I probably won't buy VW again.
Great Car Maybe beacuase it's a GLX
Ron H, 02/26/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
I have had this car from the day it came off the boat and have had a great time with it. Minor problems have occurred both nothing more than I have had with other cars. I have read all the complaint of engine and electonic issues but have not experienced any myself. Maybe it the 4 cylinders that have the problems? I would definitely buy another.
be aware
keeton, 10/13/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased my vehicle brand new and have spent thousands of dollars to repair it. Several expensive items to replace are: cadillac convertor from dealership 1,800; rack and pinon streering went out actually covered by warranty. all service done at dealership but cvp joints went bad due I think techs not properly doing their job anded up having to get 2 new axiles. This car may be cute and fun but reparis are mighty expensive. Will never buy another one again!!!
Great car all around
NubianKing, 09/29/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had nothing but fun in my German made Passat and will continue to do so for a long while. I must say the only thing I don't appreciate is the fact that it's hard to work on. Other than that it's a wonderful car!
1998 Passat, V6 four door...
Scott McGarvey, 02/26/2005
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The 1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 Sedan is fun to drive, but requires serious maintance. In other words, you will get to know your VW Customer serice rep by his or her first name. This car seems to get about 20 miles a gallon. No one other than a VW service center wants to touch this car for repairs or maintance. It handles like no other car that I've driven, but because of the reliability issues I do not plan to buy any VW again.
Passat Review
Pittsie, 11/28/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had my Passat for almost 6 years and LOVE it! Handles nicely. Nice design. Continually, I'm complimented on my vehicle.
Real Junk
dray343, 07/21/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been a problem since the day I purchased new. Constant idle problems which resulted in various replacements which still do not work. Shorts in the dash, shorts in the rear lights, cracked windshield, replaced sun roof, and VW of American who care less. Bottom line a nightmare with constant service issues.
Happy I didn't buy an Accord
NYAL, 04/17/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great car. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who knows how to take care of their property. However, if you are accustomed to abusing cars the Passat is not for you. I had someone (not in my family) slam the rear door shut and kill the speakers. You have to baby this car for it to last.
Not a car I would buy again
Slimjim, 06/14/2005
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have owned this car since it was bought brand new. Once the warranty expired, it has been nothing but heartache. There have been over $8000 in repairs done to this car in the past 24 months. Here's a listing of the parts that have gone out: Master Electrical Relay, computer module that controls the firing of the spark plugs, ignition switch, timing belt broke (bent all the rods), the turbo (2x), cruise control, and numerous electrical issues (to many to list here). All work that was done on this vehicle was done at the dealership. I've had it with this car.
Mostly problem free
Velma's Owner, 12/25/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this used car from the dealer in 1999. It had a total of 6,000 miles on it. I've had no major mechanical problems and outside of replacing the brake pads last year, very little in maintenance costs. Of course, buying a VW extended warranty helped as there were some wierd problems with the fuel guage--replaced twice, the trunk light switch, and the mass fuel sensor. But the car is so much fun to drive, I can look the other way at the expenses. BTW- -if you think VWs are expensive to maintain, try SAABs!
New to the Game
Trimaran, 02/26/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have never before owned a VW but I am sure glad I gave this one a chance. 64K miles and the car is beautiful. European feel with American price tag. My only complaint would be that it feels more like a family sedan but looks like it should be a race. Boy do I wish I had a V6 under this hood.
Engineering that pays off.
JPSANTA, 01/23/2004
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Passat because as a new father, safety becomes a higher priority than style. Although the Passats style is subdued with the fine lines of its European ancestry. I now need to replace this car due to a major traffic accident, Airbags deployed, front crumpled, as designed. (It was the other guys fault, he blew through the intersection without stopping, and I hit him.) I stepped from the vehicle without a scratch, in a lesser car I would have been injured.
1998 Passat
Browsekid, 04/21/2006
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The 1998 Volkswagen Passat is a powerful and spacious vehicle. It has a nice music system. Its fuel economy varies from 18 MPG in the city to 28 on interstate. The pick up is great.
Still Going Strong
HNC, 01/30/2005
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my 1998 Volkswagen Passat used with about 40,000 miles on it. I am now at now at 115,000 miles and it is still going strong. I had to have the Tiptronic transmission repaired during my extended warranty period, the tie rod ends later, but otherwise I have not had any major problems with this car. Maintenance on it is expensive ($1,000 for timing belt, etc, etc at 100,000 miles), but I have taken care of it and it has been reliable and comfortable to drive. I am considering getting a TDI Passat to replace it.
Love the Passat
Scott Daigle, 09/24/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Love this vehicle. Best price point of any car in its class. I rank this car right there with the Lexus, Infinity, ect.
One of the Good Ones
JonR, 10/18/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
From reading other reviews of this car, it appears I was lucky enough to find a relatively good one. I bought the car at 48K from a mechanic Reliability has been OK. There have been a few costly quirks in the 50K I've been driving it mostly related to the electrical system. However, my biggest frustration with this car is that I can not get comfortable in it. My manual seats are either too close or too far away from the pedals. The gas pedal is also very steeply angled resulting in cramps in my feet and ankles, which is a shame since I love the performance and handling.
GREAT CAR TO HAVE
GERALD, 05/09/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is a great car, I've done nothing but change the oil, brakes, and tires. It has 41,000 miles, and going strong. only complaint, lack of power. It has a nice solid ride, but I won't buy another Passat until Volkswagen can put some kind of power under the hood.
Whoops I did it again
burned again, 08/06/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After a '92 Passat with constant electrical problems, I STILL went with a slightly used 98. Tons of problems again: electrical, timing belt tensioner at 55k miles, EVERY front end linkage and ball joint. And the Check Engine light comes on every couple of months. Suggested repairs range from Throttle body assembly (3 times) to adjusting the coolant/water ratio (REALLY!!). That worked for a month. Only savior is the extended warranty -- you'd better have one with a $0 deductible. Mine has covered $3000 of work, and counting. Routine repairs are $$$, too.
Oh yeah!!!!
Saint345, 11/18/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is an awesome car to drive. I bought it with over 100,000 miles and still going strong. I had to get a new clutch but that was operator induced ;) I recommend this car to anyone wanting a sporty sedan.
Never again
NoMoVWs, 05/07/2004
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car was great for the first 3-4 years. After that, everything started going wrong. My radio, two windows, sunroof and cruise control all broke within a year. I also had oil leaks in the engine. Thank goodness I bought the extended warranty - that saved me thousands of dollars. Now I'm going to drive it into the ground and get rid of it.
Very Good Car
BDF, 05/14/2005
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Unquestionably the best car I have owned - including more expensive marques. Build quality fantastic and ergonomics great. A bit spartan in interior design, but the quality and feel to the controls is unbeatable. My wife has a Saab 9-3 and the Passat is a far superior car (even she says so). Very reliable, with no major part failures - just keep changing the oil. Quality is what this car is about.
Excellent Car
Mastermind, 10/01/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
For a lower class German car it is a nice ride compared to any Japanese or American car. Nice handling and a smooth Ride. Give it an A+
maybe fun to drive but not fun to own
Pj October, 11/29/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has been a source ot constant stress and aggravation. On the way home from picking it up from the dealer I noticed the cruise control did not work.This was only a sign of what was to come, numerous engine leaks, leaks all over the place. The trunk leaked like crazy, they finally fixed it on the fourth try (it would have been declared a lemon otherwise). Too many problems to mention.The ONLY thing that saved me was the extended warranty (they have paid out over $5000.00).
1998 VW Passat
Rob Biddleman, 05/09/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Car has been been grat with one exception. The sunroof stopped working at about 42000 miles and 3.5 years. The cost to repair is estimated at $1,700. This seems excessive and VW was unwilling to offer any assistance. This is rediculous ofr a part that is used so infrequently. The car gets great gas mileage 30+ on the highway
Don't Buy It
KDW, 12/17/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought in Nov. '02 for my son. Impressed with style and ride but mechanical and body are a piece of junk. Within weeks, the parking light assembly fell out. Then within 6 months and with only 62,000 miles on it, the timing belt tensioner failed and smashed the valves requiring a new cylinder head - total cost near $4000. Research indicates that the tensioner problem is a manufacturer design flaw but VW of America wouldn't admit it or help a nickels worth. We dumped the car at a major loss and wouldn't own another VW under any circumstances.
A Car to Avoid
VWadvisor77, 07/25/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car had its timing belt fail at 70,000 miles and EVERYTHING else has failed also. It has cost $10,000 in repairs. VW overall has performed terrible service on the car also.
When will it stop needing repairs?
Hanzel and Gretel, 11/17/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought a 1998 with manual xmsn brand new and now have 72K miles. Have experienced a lot of mechanical problems but love the look and ride of the car for the price. Mechanical problems experienced: drivers power windows broke twice (warranty), new brakes and rotors at 20K , ignition switch for key , electronic ignition and plugs, rear spoiler came loose twice (warranty), radiator light came on when engine was cold, cruise control still doesn't work, Timing belt tensioner came loose and ruined engine at 62K miles (100K/10 yr factory warranty replaced everything for free and engine runs great!!!), plus normal maintenance items.
An electronic MESS
monobl, 03/23/2004
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Owned since new. Early U.S. car; turbo failure, covered by warranty. Bad turbo lag with replacement unit; claimed 'within spec'. Problem w/ engine seals and coolant smells in cabin. Non-stop electrical bugs. Cabin/trunk lights that work when THEY want to. Dead ABS control module. Door locks that lock when THEY want to. Replaced A/C/vent system. Front bushings failed; PRICEY fix requires replacement of control arms. Bad oem brake rotors; can't remachine ANY warpage, requires REPLACEMENT as only solution. Coccoon-like cabin cozy, but limits outward vision. Outside mirrors too small. So-so factory radio, weak cupholders.
Poor, poor quality
RichW, 07/19/2004
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great to drive but... Really poor quality. Turbo failure at 23,000 miles, 4 control arms, both tie rod ends, two outer CV joint boots, ignition control amplifier, two oil leaks, coolant leak, power steering fluid leak, trunk switch, sunroof no longer works, vacuum leaks. Really a piece of junk. Unfortunately, I also own it's Audi twin - an A4 (though that has been a little better). VW just doesn't care about quality. Read Consumer Reports or a JD Power reliability report if you don't believe me. VW has some of the poorest quality in the industry. I will never buy another VW/Audi product.
Great Alternative to Accord/Camry
banksii, 03/04/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've owned my Passat GLS Sedan since it was new and have since put about 77,000 miles on it. This is an overall great car. Clean/timeless styling, typical high quality German build, good overall gas milage are some of the best features. I paid a little more than I was prepared to for an Accord when I bought it, but it has been worth it especially when you consider that the VW has more standard features.
Passat GLX--a bargain luxo sedan
rbw, 11/19/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Passat new in 1998 with the Audi 30-valve V-6 and the 5-speed manual transmission. The car is a joy to drive on the highway or in town. It's comfortable, stable, fast, and very economical. My mileage has been 28-29 mpg average over the life of the car. I've had to replace two fuel tanks due to filler vent cracks. Fortunately I had purchased an extended warranty with the car which covered both these very expensive ($950 each time) repairs. The lower control arms have also been replaced due to noisy bushings. Driveability, comfort, climate control, sound system, and economy are all great. The big ticket repairs were a pain.
Fun to drive but at a price
Evanstonian, 12/19/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Compared to American and Japanese cars in this price range and above, the interior and exterior styling, performance and overall feel of the Passat are off the charts. That said, this car is breaking my bank account. I'm now on the verge of replacing a second pair of control arms for a cool $1000. There is a serious design flaw in the front suspension that VW will not admit to. Check out the NHTSA website (www.nhtsa.gov) and see how many people have reported the same problem. If your front suspension hasn't been replaced yet, you're driving a ticking time bomb.
High Price Performance for Its Class
corps04, 08/07/2004
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Passat right before Consumer Reports rated it a "best buy" in the Spring of 1998. I had planned to buy an Audi A4 V6 but learned that the Passat had the same drivetrain for ~$3,000 less. I haven't been disappointed. Despite six years and 72,000 miles, I still love it. It's been very reliable and gets about 27.5 MPG on premium fuel. Overall, the car is very well built with high quality components. To this day, the car runs smooth and quiet.
In mourning
ray/rayd, 01/20/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
What I was hoping for and got at first is quickly diminishing. I bought the Passat because I was reading so much about the NEW VOLKSWAGON and the new Passat. Great performance, design and quality the articles said. Well, I got two of the three! The car has not held up well at all. Over 90 days in the shop and big $ out of my pocket due to poor workmanship and poor service.
Superb Car
Passat Lover, 09/01/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car with 17K miles on it after 1 year. Silver with Black Leather. It had 16" Wheels, Leather Package and Heated Seats. Since then it has been nothing but a pleasure. Very fun to Drive, beautiful exterior and very reliable. I have had the 30 K mile service and brake work. Other than this just regular oil changes and a new set of tires. I now have 52K miles and I still smile everday when I get in my car. The look and feel of a European Sedan for the Price of a Camry or an Accord, now that is a deal. I think the few people who have reviewed them here must have gotten lemons or they may not be maintaining them well.
Watch out for your timing belt
MyLastVW, 03/02/2002
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T Turbo 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The owners manual calls for replacing the timing belt at 105,000. Mine broke at 85,000 causing $2000 damages to the engine. VW 1-800 customer service didn't care, offered no assistance and said that the belt probably should have been replaced earlier. Not very good customer service if you ask me.
Hunk of Junk!
Graphoto, 02/05/2003
1998 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love the room and comfort, but that's all I love. Every single part on my VW Passat has broke at some point, esp. the doors and windows which have broke a couple of times each. They aren't lying when they say that German parts are really pricey! When driving it's really hard to see behind you because the back end is so high up and the panels next to the window make a BIG blind spot! To top it off, it sucks up so much gas that I sometimes only get 10 miles a gallon and it only takes premium!
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