Used 2000 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
213500 miles and still hauls A**
I baught this car a year ago with 202k i have put a VERY hard 11k on her i mean racing hard i have owend many cars and none of them could handle me till i got this V6 5s manual passat for 1750 the only issue it has is the ABS system but it doesnt effect what im after. this car seriously exceeds 140 with over 213k... on the track of course! And the only mods on it is a comp chip to over ride the govern, and muffler delete so it sounds like a racer! this car is a great comfortable family car on the road and an absolute beast on the track it is without a doubt the best 1750 i ever spent! Update, at 215k miles the ABS fault caused the front driver side wheel to lock up on the freeway when applying the brakes spinning the car into the freeway divider. This issue should have been a recall as comon as it was for these years. I was able to drive the car home but the frame was bent and it was no longer safe for family. I sold it for $500 and it is back on the road still racking up miles for the guy that baught it. I miss it but would not buy another without upgraded ABS system. overall my passat experience was good. Just be aware of ABS
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Sounds Good on Paper
The Volkswagen Passat is really fun to drive, however VW makes sure that to keep any of their cars on the road you have to spend a ton of money. In the last two years I've had four oxygen sensors replaced and had to pay for three of them. VW insists that this is not abnormal and would not pay for the expense (~$450 each time). I've found that VWs are either really good or really bad from car to car, good luck with this one...I miss my '89 Jetta.
- GLX V6 SedanMSRP: $4,295673 mi away
- GLX V6 SedanMSRP: $9951,618 mi away
VW Passat GLS V6 wagon (140K miles)
It is a great car for everyday use. I have mine for 6 years and I drove around 55K miles and it runs like a champ. These V6 engines are strong and hard to kill. The only thing I changed besides suspension, is timing ( which is normal every car, so is the oil), gaskets, thermostat, and water pump. Yes these are expensive parts, if you buy original like you should. I am a mechanic so every part I buy, I change it myself. This car is great for hauling cargo inside. So if you're looking for a first car and know something about how change little things and have budget limit to 5K, I suggest you get this car. Now it depends on a person, if you're planning on modifying like boosting, get a 1.8T, if not and want to have the car as a daily drive, get a V6. Why a V6 for a daily drive, because turbos are very expensive to replace, and you never know what the car went through with previous owner. You may also ask how is the mpg, well it's not perfect. After I changed the fuel pump and the filter, I started getting 13-15 in city, and 25-30 on highway at steady 60-70 mph, on premium 93 (recommended)
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Consumer Reports Top Pick?
Two weeks after we bought the car, we were smelling oil. It took the dealer two weeks to fix all the leaks, they had to redo the top half of the motor. We later found out it was the second time these repairs were made in 40,000 miles - luckily all under warranty. It needed a new air sensor, two new air pumps, new a/c hoses, and new rotors. Both the front blinker assemblies fell out while driving the car (within eight months of each other). The parts man at the VW dealer said this happens frequently. All of these problems in 50,000 miles. Now it needs over $1,000 in preventative maintenance. What do you think?
One headache after another
Don't get me wrong here... VW's are excellent cars when they are running 100%. The problem is 99% of the time they are not running properly. Case in point here is my 2000 Passat 1.8T. After 5 years of ownership, I drowned thousands of dollars into repairs. Blown turbo, oil cooler cracked, brakes went soft early on too. The list goes on and on. Sludge had built up in the engine and finally, after 83k miles, the heater core broke. I will NEVER buy a VW again. This is the worst car I've ever dealt with and I don't know why I kept it for so long.