Used 2001 Volkswagen Passat Wagon Consumer Reviews
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The Audi A4 of VW's
James Monro, 10/06/2015
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
It drives, smell, looks like its Audi A4 cousin, and just as expensive to run and maintain. It is a great running car, with very good handling characteristics, it has an absolute classic style that I think will never get old. The interior although nice, is made of very poor quality. At the expensive of soft touch and expensive looking coverings, all of that starts to degrade, crack and rub off over time. There are rattles and squeaks happening that I notice does not happen on other cars of this year. The car has great gas mileage, but then its off set by the 1.8 T requires premium gas. It has great space for 5 and loads of head room. It's a great European car if it wasn't for the unreliability, cost of ownership, and expensive fill-ups. You could literally spend $1500 dollars on this car one month and in two months have another bill for 2K. I've had my VW experience so this will probably be the last VW product I purchase, and there is more to life than spending money on fixing a car..lol I rather bite the bullet and buy a Honda.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
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- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
good for small family, icy roads
acahalan, 05/19/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Unlike the typical 4wd/awd vehicle, this is one that always smoothly applies power to all 4 wheels. It doesn't rely on a slow-responding multi-plate clutch ("computer" systems) or viscous fluid. The even power split prevents slipping from starting, and recovery is easy. Getting a 4-wheel alignment makes a huge difference with this car. The back is roomy. Visibility is great but for the rear head rests sticking up.
2001 Volkswagen Passat for sale near you
Showing 3 of 4 listings
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $5,500592 mi away
- GLS 1.8T Sedan (Midyear)MSRP: $6,4951,179 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $3,9901,446 mi away
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144,000 miles and counting
txsaggie1, 11/26/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought this car as it looks cool inside and outdoor with super comfy seats. Overall, I have been pleased and I plan on driving it until it dies. Get the V6 engine! Much more reliable than V4. (I've also never used Premium gas. 87 octane works fine.) Interior and exterior has worn well. Seats are comfy. Ride is quite and comfortable. Paint looks great. But I've had electrical issues similar to others: Headlights burn out often, dashboard and panel lights go out. Repairs are expensive, and some maintenance can only be done at dealerships. If you are buying a used one, make sure you are aware of the VW timing belt/water pump replacement at 105,000 mile-- it's $1300.
A stretch A4 Audi for less
Davehg, 03/04/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Bigger than the A4, roomy, great avg gas mileage (27mpg with auto). Turbo is responsive; feels like a V6, no lag.
Worst car ever!
tina, 08/09/2010
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
This car has been nothing but a major headache. I bought it brand new and within 3 weeks the alternator died and had to be replaced. It was still under warranty so I didn't think much about it. The last 4 years I have spent more on repairs then the car is worth and now the catalytic converters are about to go. Last time I went to my mechanic everyone else waiting for their car owned a 2001 passat and we all shared our horror stories. Recently the drains for the sunroof leaked into the car flooding the electronic brain. Another $2,000 repair. I will never own another VW.
Just the Facts
Descartes, 08/03/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
On July 10, 2006, I took my 2001 Volkswagon Passat wagon to the dealer for a safety recall replacement of of an item related to the right rear wheel. I had called one week earlier to make an appointment, however after showing up, they said that they did not have the part. Today (8/3/06), the same thing happened again! I had even called the day before to confirm that the part was in and that they could do the replacement! Other problems include: 1) a drive train axle broke 18 months after the purchase, 2) none of the cup holders work (they broke off or are stuck closed) and 3) I had to glue the glove compartment shut after months of trying to fix it.
Happy with the purchase
PassatWagon01.5, 06/27/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We bought the GLS V6 after weeks of research on family wagons. It all came down to this car and the Volvo V70. The Volvo V70 had very cheap interior, weaker engine, less performance, and very uncomfortable seats for $7K more!! The decesion was an easy one. We feel we got a lot more car for the money we spent. This car is bordering on luxury auto for $24K. It handles great. The engine is very responsive. It has tons of room if you fold the back seats down. The only problems we have had have been minor electrical issues. The fron headlight ($50!!! at the dealer), and the remote transmitter (warranty) had to be replaced.
Lotta luxury for little money
Jolene, 07/31/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased used as my primary vehicle. I haul a lot of furniture in my business and wanted the roomy rear section without going for an SUV. It filled the bill more than perfectly. I love the handling, German-engineering, and roomy, comfortable leather seats. We always take this car on road trips and enjoy the luxury and comfort. I have had absolutely no problems with this gem!
Avoid VW 4cyl. Turbo Engine
Michael, 10/04/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Engine poor. Once motor reached 100 miles, motor needed constant repair. Have spent over $3k on major engine repair. The wagon was intended for family with two children, but has proven to be very unreliable. Wife, toddler and infant have been towed several times from side of freeway. Mechanically, the engine is poor and unreliable, asked master mechanic "Would you drive this car?", he answered, "Me? No. The motor is no good, we see 'em all the time".
Dependable Winter Car with handles.
TDotten, 12/02/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have only owned the car for about 8 months, but I absolutely love it. I bought the car from a guy who was meticulous in his maintenance and it has been extremely reliable. The guy also upgraded the suspension with Kuni springs and Eibach struts (plus UHP tires), so it handles ridiculously well. It is more fun to drive than any car I have ever owned and it's a station wagon! We also have a 100 Lb lab/Great dane, and he fits well in the back due to the largest trunk in it's class. I couldn't be happier with the car and it is an absolute pleasure to drive.
Money pit
learnedmylesson, 02/09/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This was my first "new" car. Had been driving a 93 Buick LeSabre with 100k+ miles that never gave me a problem. Bought the wagon in May '07 for $10,900 w/ 62k miles and spent $4,815.04 in 2008 on repairs ($391 so far in '09). I've lost track of all the issues I've had. Every time I go to the mechanic I ask "what am I doing wrong" the answer is always "it's not you it's the car, it's a VW." To name a few: Catalytic converter, 3 recalls, front pipe leak, and after a day of heavy rain the electrical unit died.
Love/hate relationship with this $-pit
Jeanne, 04/20/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love everything aesthetically and performance-wise about this car. But I HATE the repair bills. Last year it cost me $4K in total repairs, and more this year. I've always been good about oil changes and general maintenance, but man o man it got expensive after 100K miles. Tie rods, ball joints, brakes, O2 sensors (and there are a lot of them), catalytic converter. Engine light NEVER goes off. Now it won't pass inspection without $1800 more in repairs and I'd rather spend money on a newer car than old, so I'm saying good bye (and sadly, good riddance) to the first car I ever truly loved. Must say I'm getting a decent trade in allowance from a VW dealer. No one else wants to touch it!
Never again
Tang, 06/21/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car was brought brand new, driven with great care, never been in accident, oil changed every 4000-5000 miles. But it died twice and had to be towed in 3 years, same problem - the secondary air pump filled with water! The drive train was covered 100K / 10 years, but that pump was part of the "emission system" so I had to pay $750 each time to have that fixed. The second time it happened I traded it in for a new Toyota 2 days later and never will walk into a VW dealer again.
Not worth it.
John, 08/12/2009
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have owned my used Passat for less than a year. I bought it with 70k miles, and it currently has 85k. In that time I spent $4000 maintaining this car. Engine leaks from everywhere, bad coils, and some preventative maintenance changing the timing belt and water pump. There are still issues with it I simply can't afford to fix. I really wanted to love this car. I really wanted a reliable car. This wasn't the right choice.
Love this car
Brentkate, 02/13/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have owned three Volkswagens and loved all of them. The Passat wagon is fun to drive, great on long trips and comfortable for our family of four day to day, not to mention it looks great. It has been in the shop several for various things such as the brake sensors going out, replacing tie-rod ends and cracked oil pan. It developed the typical oil leaks around 80,000 miles and sometimes we still get a whif of oil smell well after it was repaired. It is great to drive and easy to maintain. Find a mechanic who knows Passats inside and out, they have helped us anticipate several things before they became costly. There have been some issues, but I would by another one tomorrow
Best Value In Its Class
slax, 12/27/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I researched cars for months and everything consistantly pointed me back to the Passat. For the money, I dare anyone to try and find a car that gives you more value, safety and performance. This car is essentially an Audi with a VW badge. I drove the V6 model also, but the 1.8T has plenty of pep, better milage and saves you a couple grand to boot.
a first class LEMON
rnm442aol.com, 08/19/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Broke down (lost power) the day I bought it brand new. Was in the shop for 2 weeks..replaced entire electrical system. Lost power 6 times since then..oil system problems...tensioner..I feel TOTALLY UNSAFE in this car. VW will do nothing. I'll never buy another VW Worst car I ever had Dick MArshall Pittsburgh
A Great Station Wagon
szakal, 08/26/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The moon roof is so loud when open that we could not enjoy the ride with it at all. So I went out to buy the wind deflector for it. It does a great job, but then, when the window is closed it generates a lot of extra noise. I still don't know if I liked with or without it better.
Best in it's class
SF, 09/02/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The main problem with the car is a lag on the transmission - when you step on the gas, you wait & then it engages. I have also taken it to the dealer 3 times to fix another transmission issue, when coming to a full stop, often I hear a 'clunk' which sounds as if the transmission is moving forwards. Dealer tells me that it's nothing.. hmmmm.
Beware
iajtapmas, 09/15/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Ungaraged, the car looks fabulous. However, my problems started before the first scheduled maintenance, and went on and on. Had to miss work quite a lot. What option do you have when you have invested over 33K on a car. For details on what happenned please visit my posting on http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotiv e/vw_smoke.html. This manufacturer is nothing but problems. Please review thoroughly before you make a decision to buy this car. The reviewers give high marks to this car. Unfortunately, reliability is not one of their criteria.
'01 GLX wagon: a beauty
famdoc, 09/30/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
never had any repairs or waranty work. did have an accident and getting parts for it through the VW network was very poor. i love this car, but the parts issue really dampened my enthusiasm.
Passat Sedan
PassatOwnerDavid, 10/06/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive. But not reliable. Very difficult to deal with dealer. Customer service are not too helpful. Repair can be very frustrating.
Better than an SUV
ShrinerMonkey, 10/19/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great looking and equiped car for the money, basically an Audi but for thousands less. However, the build quality leaves a lot to be desired, squeeks and rattles abound and are very hard to fix. The turbo lag of the 1.8T is annoying and the engine is noisy. The MAF sensor went out at 32,000 miles ($500 to replace). The rear seats are a major hassle to fold down and the glove box and cup holders are a joke. The headlights are also dangerously underpowered on their low beam setting. Overall a good car, but disappointing build quality and reliabilty.
VW Customer Care doesn't give a care!
loathevw, 10/21/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
On the surface, this roomy and well appointed wagon was a pleasant surprise. The problem with VW on the whole is not with their product (although my 1.8T was flawed) but with poor customer service, starting with the dealer and continuing up through this misnamed Customer Care office. Worst auto delivery experience ever from any dealer. Service dept. is suspect. I'll not touch another VW product with a 10 foot pole! Anyone interested in a used Passat wagon?
I love this car!
madagan, 03/02/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Truth be told, I bought this car for my dog... My 98 VW GTI VR6 wasn't quite big enough for all of our stuff for all of our adventures. After much research and forethought, we upgraded. The car is essentially an Audi A6 Avant in street clothes. I had it all... it was sexy, practical, and drives like a sports car [not quite as zippy as the GTI VR6, but still quite zippy!]. It's been two years now, and after several road trips [even took to sleeping in it rather than hassle with the tent!], snowboarding trips, home depot shopping safaris, and the occassional [I wish] commute, I'm happy to report I would make the same choice all over again. It's a fabulous car all around.
Stay Away
Duane Kimball, 12/07/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We have had this car 3 years. Bought it new. The steering column has frozen twice and had to be replaced. The tires were bald after 23,000 miles. The rotors went at 40,000 miles and the rear calipers froze at the same time. VW's warranty had expired and they didn't even offer sympathy. This car is unreliable.
I might be unlucky...
UnluckyWithPassat, 01/06/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I might be unlucky with this car... My Passat became a whole trouble starting right after the first oil change: for those two and a half years that I owned it, I fixed about 10 different defects under warranty and from my pocket. Plus not yet fixed but persisting problem with rough idle and vibration. So, I decided to get rid from it untill the problems get worse because for $26000 I could have anticipated something more reliable...
Jury's Still Out
Sandown, 03/17/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car, used, as a certified car from a VW dealership. It had 51k miles on it, but was very clean. The brakes were brand new (metallic pads). Now, 6,000 miles later, the rotors are starting to warp. We just got back from a trip into the mountains, and the upper rpm power is not very impressive. The 22.5 mpg average fuel consumption is a little lower than expected for an auto in mixed driving, especially with the price of premium. I live in Phoenix, and I bought the car in December. Now that it is getting warmer (low 90s), the AC pull-down time is longer than expected.
Practical but Troublesome
ShrinerMonkey, 06/03/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Passat's excellent driving dynamics and a premium cabin cannot make up for its horrible reliability and incredibly poor dealer service. Even with regular maintenance which is extremely expensive because of synthetic and proprietary fluid requirements and expensive parts, this car has still had numerous part failures in only 60,000 pampered miles of driving. I love European cars but they are too expensive to own.
Roomy & fun!
Deutschmobilers, 04/26/2004
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The wagon replaced an Audi A4, to better lug around 2 kids & their hockey gear. We gave up a scant amount of interior luxury, and an imperceptible amount of performance, for more room & lots of fun. The engine burned a bit of oil irregularly, for which we got the "measure it again" run-around, and the electrical system needed tweaking, but it was a minor nuisance overall. This car went to 65000 miles in 2.5 years, and we traded it in for the 2004 model.
why poor value?
batcycle, 07/28/2005
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the most reliable car I have ever had. It has all the bells and whistles and then some (besides the lack of a cup holder), great comfort, great gas mileage (30+mpg), and now 63000 miles and counting. Why is it not retaining its value when it is so well rated?
2001 Passat Still Drives Great.
Hope Garrett, 11/08/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We've owned this car for more than six years now. It has been so reliable and very inexpensive to maintain. It's a great car and always fit everything I tried to cram into it. The only problem is that it's hard to fit three booster seats in the back and impossible to fit three car seats.
67,000 Miles and Needs a NEW ENGINE?! Save Your Money
never again VW, 11/16/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought our Passat new, have always taken care of it, and up until recently we enjoyed it. Taking it into the shop this last time we JUST now found that out there is an OIL SLUDGE issue (which they have KNOWN about but didn't tell consumers!!) - to the tune of $1,500 to "maybe" fix the problem?!! If that doesn't work than they're saying it needs a new ENGINE for $8,500! The car is STILL under warranty, but VW won't cover the repairs because we don't have all our receipts for oil changes! Talk about undermining on the edge of criminal. I will NEVER again buy a Volkswagen again! I guess folks are right : buy a Honda or Toyota and you won't get screwed!
Not Perfect, but Still Going Strong!
Elly, 12/11/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Passat 4Motion is a "mystery wrapped in an enigma" when it comes to the panels and sensors. However, I've had the (used) car for three years now, and aside from a few electrical issues, it's been pretty reliable. And I love the combination of driving pleasure and practicality. The engine is still quite peppy, it handles very well and has a great turning radius. It was more comfortable than any other midsize wagon/small SUV I test-drove, and can carry everything from a 9 ft. long 2x4, to three kids in car seats, to a fully constructed hutch from Ikea. As a mother, investment property owner, and part-time teacher, I'm very happy with my all-purpose wagon.
Save Yourself a Headache
Lemon Gurl, 03/13/2007
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Please save yourself a headache and a lot of money. I have had a 2001 VW Passat for almost six years. This car has to be the most poorly made, overpriced, unreliable car that I have ever owned. Everything is ridiculous - you spend so much money just to own the car, then (starting at 20,000 miles) I was having problems with the vehicle. Every dealership I have dealt with was NOT customer helpful, didn't care about the buyer, and VW does everything it can to rip off it's owner's. Get something more reliable with your money! STAY AWAY from Volkswagen!
Great used Value
2LtRyan, 03/27/2007
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car drives extremely well. You are basically buying an Audi A6 Quattro, with less to fix. The car handles and stops amazingly well. Instrumentation is great, the cup holders stink and that is fixed in later models. Fit and finish is excellent. The V6 is much better than the 4cyl - less problems. Car runs and looks like new - now I have 160,000 miles! Oil leaks and the cost of parts is a bugger, but if you are religious with the maint enance schedule you shouldn't have any issues. Amazing value for the money. More bells and whistles than other cars for way less.
Best all round car I've ever owned
allen, 08/06/2007
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
2001 Passat GLS 1.8T wagon, 5 speed. A few mods, VW sport springs, wider wheels and tires, rear sway bar. To my surprise this has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. Almost 70,000 miles, driven pretty hard by several people. No major problems yet and only a handful of minor ones. All fixed at home. Changed the oil religiously with Mobil 1 synthetic, upgraded brake rotors and pads. Great car. Just got lucky I guess.
Up in smoke
iajtapmas, 06/15/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4Motion AWD 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car brand new from the dealership. After two and a half years during which i spent almost 2K in maintenance, the car went up in smoke last week as i was driving. For details look for my posting on http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotiv e/vw_smoke.html. New and used car buyers please be very careful before deciding to buy cars from VW
Caution Germans don't do Electronics
Gene, 03/17/2008
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Over $6000 in repairs, thank goodness I bought an extended warranty. Mostly electronic, including power seat, heated seat, heated seat control, dash instruments, check engine light, climate control temp electronics, cv boots, leaking camshaft seal. Would buy again if it came with a 100K warranty, otherwise forget it. Really a shame because it looks good, rides good, handles good, has plenty of power.
Sludge
ugh, 12/09/2007
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I loved this car until the sludge set in. The dealer indicates that there is sludge ruining the engine of this car (and thousands of others like it). It is outrageous that VW will not remedy this problem. It is clearly a design flaw that is costing VW customers thousands of dollars. Also, I have had to replace the O2 sensor several times.
Ticking box
Sidney Kurtz, 12/05/2018
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLX V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Have a good vibe you found a well made Car
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2001 wagon, 5 speed man. trans. 4cil. turbo, wh/gr
R. Nypaver, 07/26/2021
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Her name is little bird. Made in Germany, waited months to arrive. I love this car. .Goes to the best mechanic in town once a year to drive and fix everything likely to need fixing until another year is past. Has never broken down. Repeat, has never broken down. I WILL say that one day this year (2021) I went to start the car and the dash lot up with “problem/problem”. Worried until I read the manual and discovered that the battery in the key had died. I had no idea the car would tell me that…..
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B5 Passat wagon: best-sized, best-configured car
John E, 09/23/2021
updated 07/22/2024
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Our B5 generation Passat wagon remains the best car we have ever owned. Reliability reduces our rating from 5 stars to 4, but with proper care and maintenance and selection of vital fluids, these can provide years of great service. Cargo volume and rear/side visibility are unmatched, and road manners/handling are superior to those of an SUV or even a crossover. There is a good reason that station wagons built on sport sedan platforms remain so popular in Europe, and it is regrettable that they struggle to maintain a toehold in the North American market. Update March 2023: For the second time in its history, passing California smog test took a bit of work. In 2016 the ABS module prevented the smog station from scanning the engine control unit. A used replacement ABS module for well under $100 fixed the problem. This year the secondary air injection system, which gives it the ULEV emissions rating by forcing fresh air into the catalytic converter during warmup, failed because of a small $70 vacuum control solenoid tucked under the intake manifold. Again, owning VCDS scanning software from Ross-Tech, along with my helpful pals at PassatWorld.com, saved me a lot of time and money. It passed inspection easily after I replaced the part and cleared all of the emission readiness monitors in a 10-mile drive that included a couple of 45-55mph stretches and some idling. Update: 21 years old and still going strong, serving us well. The ceiling headliner is propped up with handy spiral push pins designed for the application, but otherwise it looks great. The clean, simple interior and external styling have aged well, as have the cloth seats. Still the best car we have ever owned. UPDATE: The car is now 23 years old (built in Emden, Germany in September 2020), and is starting to show its age. Repairs this year have been inexpensive DIYs ($60 secondary air injection solenoid valve, $30 combi valve, $6 plastic window regulator clip, $7 cooling system o-ring), but labor costs would have run into a few hundred dollars if I had not done the work myself. I do not expect to own it past the 25-year mark, solely for age-related deterioration of rubber and plastic parts and eventual concerns about being stranded with a breakdown. Otherwise, I would have kept it indefinitely. UPDATE: This is simply the best-sized, best-configured car ever offered on the North American market. It provides the versatility and cargo handling of an SUV and the road manners and driving experience of the sport sedan on which it is built. My wife and I bought it new in January 2001, and I currently still plan to keep as long as practicable. The only downsides are acceleration, which is not bad, but could be a bit better, and reliability. Fortunately, I am active in the PassatWorld discussion website, and advice from fellow members has saved me a lot of time and money over the years. I have never had a serious problem, and the engine and transmission have been solid, but rubber and electrical parts are showing their age. Some of my fellow B5/B5.5 Passat owners write about their "love-hate" relationships with their cars. Almost 24 years after purchase, I still consider this car a "keeper."
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The worst second-hand car.
IvanSS, 11/27/2023
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My old Passat from 2001, a V6 2.8, was one of my first cars. While I get that a 2001 car in the 2020s can have issues due to its age, this one was a real headache. Seriously, even though it was fun with its manual transmission, it fell apart at the slightest problem. I spent a month and a half with the car just to change suspension parts. And let me tell you, it's still costly to maintain, the parts are tough to find, and when you do find them, they're expensive. Definitely wouldn't recommend it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love-hate relationship
glxauto, 03/05/2010
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon (2.8L 6cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I chose the Passat wagon over the A6 wagon, because the Passat's ride is superior and it has more interior space. In an attempt to protect myself against the VW's poor reliability reputation, I bought a certified pre-owned Passat *and* an extended warranty. Looking back, that was a smart move. However, now that all the warranties have expired, the Passat is breaking down with a vengeance. Every visit to the mechanic costs an arm and a leg, with the most recent visit (alternator + battery) costing me $1500! And it is only March! I am sad the Passat and I have to part ways now, because it is truly a safe and comfortable car. But I love my wallet more.
SUV/minivan alternative
Texas Greg, 09/17/2002
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my wife's car but I wish it were mine. I love driving it on weekends. I bought this car because I think its the safest car for the money. It has side airbags and head curtains standard plus ABS and traction control. It scored very well in crash tests (best in class). We (4 of us) drove this car from Dallas to Toronto and it performed flawlessly. Very smooth and comfortable. I drove 8 hours per day but did not feel tired at the end of the day. I was amazed at what we packed into the back of this wagon AND still could use the privacy screen.
Read the Fine Print!
Guil_4D, 09/29/2003
2001 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Pay close attention to VW's warranty and document all of your service visits (maitain complete records of all scheduled and non- scheduled maintenance). My failure to do so taught me an expensive lesson. At 39,000 miles my wagon's cam shaft siezed. VW voided the powertrain warranty because I was unable to provide documentation of 30K and 35K service. Factory rebuilt engines cost $6,100 installed. OUCH!
Service to Death!
Marj, 01/12/2006
2001 Volkswagen Passat New GLS 1.8T 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl Turbo 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Let me start by saying I love my Passat, but my husband hates it (he's a loyal Toyota fan). I dig the performance drive. I can overlook little things, but the number of times I have taken this car to the shop is insane! Repairs range between $300 and $1,500 each, even the little things. I never use anything but synthetic for oil changes, which are $50. Last week the power door lock on the driver's door stopped working, its a $400 repair. I also need tie rods and an alignment. I am considering ditching this fun to drive wagon for a vanilla vehicle. Can VW say low maintenance?