Used 2002 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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Practical and fun to drive
I moved in to this car from a 1996 Infiniti I-30, primarily for the safety features. Very comfortable right, tight handling, all the features of a luxury vehicle. It stacks up against my brother's BMW wagon for much less money. It's the best wagon in its class.
Super Car!
I bought this car in November of 2001 and am still in love with it. I always back away from it after I lock it up! Very good pickup with some initial lag due to the ASR (just turn it off if you want to squeal the wheels). Incredible acceleration even at highway speeds, but a bit more sluggish with a car full of adults. Outstanding fit and finish. No mechanical problems whatsoever. Only thing that broke was the tape player, which VW fixed for free. Can't get over how comfortable the ride is, and I think all the interior controls are perfectly set up. Bottom line: I highly recommend this car.
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $5,995272 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $3,995597 mi away
- GLS 1.8T WagonMSRP: $4,927629 mi away
Value Packed
We compared the Camry, Accord, and Passat. The VW had it all. Safety, performance, comfort, fit and finish,great looks, and in more recent years reliability. Keep the options to a minimum to maximize value. Couple the 1.8 turbo with the manual tranny for real fun. I feel like Im driving a luxury car-with the others I didnt. one negative-wind and road noise above 80mph.
It's not your old VW
I have to say that before driving this, I was behind the wheel of everything else that is out there in this price range. The cream floated to the top and I still feel after a full year of driving that I bought a bargain basement priced A4. This car has such a quality feel that I am impressed daily. Drive this after getting out of a Camry and you will see what I mean.
It's a great car
I've had my Passat for almost 2 years. Bought it used with 9,000 miles on it. I now have 38,000 miles on it. It's been in the shop 5 - 6 times. All problems (trans, cv boot, rear rotors, seat motor) were repaired by the dealer an no cost to me. It rides great, gets good mpg with no repeat or nagging problems. It's holding great resale value and looking good. I think I'll keep it a while longer.
VW Sold me a Lemon
This has been a very dissapointing car to own. Correction, this car is a nighmare. The engine has blown due to a faulty timing belt along with the breaks and electronics. VW has not stood by the warrenty. They will use the fine print to get around it. Take my advice BY ANY THING ELSE!
Enthusiastic!
The New Passat is just begging for someone to drive it. A pleasure to own. The only negative so far is the gas mileage in city driving. This car loves too be driven and is so spirited that you don't mine using premium gas. A quality auto at a bargain price.
Worth the Wait
I have wanted this car ever since it was re-designed in 2001 but wanted to wait until our trade-in would be paid off. I've had this car for 6 days and I love it more than I even thought I would. It's quiet, comfortable, roomy, handles wonderfully, and the 1.8 liter turbo has more than enough zip while getting better gas mileage than the V6. My husband and I fight over who gets to drive on our 100 mile a day commute. This car is by far the best value in its class for its ride, handling, style and projected resale value. I would highly recommend it.
It's fun to drive again
This car is beautiful. It has some get up and go. I traded in my Outback and have been so much happier. The handling is great. I highly recommend this car.
Passat perfect
biggest 3 features that sold me: Styling Safety Warrenty bought the 1.8T model for the wife, will be buying the W8 model for myself shortly. also, there is an abundance of aftermarket parts for the 1.8T passat.
love this car
Best car I ever drove/owned. The wagon has so much room. Who needs a SUV with all this room? The price is thousands less than a BMW 5-series wagon, and the details are just as nice as my co-worker's Bimmer. In fact the leather seats seem better quality to me, and all the standard equipment that's extra on a BMW really impresses me.
BEWARE BAD BRAKE DESIGN & PERFORMANCE
The '02 Passats have a significant brake problem. My car is 2 years old this month with 22,000 miles and I have been informed that I need new rear brakes! Because of the design, BOTH PADS AND ROTORS MUST BE REPLACED! The rotors cannot be "machined" so they must be replaced when the pads wear, AT A COST OF $700! I have been told by the dealer and VW customer service that this is considered NORMAL WEAR. I have owned many other makes and models of cars and have never had to replace brakes at 22k miles. Worst of all, this will be a recurrent problem every 2 or so years.
STOP LOOKING FOR ANOTHER CAR
I actually have had a number of minor problems with my car.....where do I begin. Front bumber paint peeling. Gas cap did not close. Replaced windshield. 3 burnt out headlights. Faulty trim on drivers door at bottom. Bump in dash, replaced entire dash.Ummmm......what else...replaced window trim on rear passenger window. So why do I love my car? Well it's said that Volkswagon owners (many of them) don't mind the problems because the trade off (for me anyway) is pure driving pleasure for the price. If you really love to drive and feel good when you drive then you can't go wrong. Want more info one on one or advice write to me. Hatstoyou@videotron.ca Afridezaing.
Great car!
I love my Passat. It handles very well and it is comfortable and roomy inside. The interior is beautiful. It has a lot of little things: the rear view mirrors go down when you're backing up (and they're heated!); there are 3 garage door buttons; the driver's seat has memory; the windsheild wipers "know" when it's raining... the list goes on.
SUPER ALTERNATIVE TO SUV
LOADS LIKE AN SUV, HANDLES LIKE A SPORT CAR, STAY AWAY FROM LIGHT CLOTH COLORS
NOT TO FOND
THE CAR IS JUST SIMPLY NO WORTH THE MONEY, FOR THE PRICE OF THIS CAR I WOULD MUCH RATHER DRIVE A MERCEDES OR BMW. BUILD QUALITY IS POOR
Family Sport Vehicle
We traded a '99 Accord in for the Passat, and we have loved every minute of it. As a previous BMW & Honda owner, this is definitely a German built auto. The highway ride is comparable to high dollar luxury sedans. You will cruise at 95 mph, and have virtually no sensation of speed or wind noise. The interior is considerably quieter than our previous Accord. We opted for the 5 spd GLS with everything except leather, and it reminds me very much of the 535i I previously owned.
Do NOT buy a VW
VW of USA customer service is the worst. Dealerships (both I've been to) are the worst. Reliability is not great. A lemon. Can't wait to sell.
Great Car!
Great car. Expected to be underwhelmed, but the car more than met my expectations. On the highway, drives smooth - like butter! Highly recommend.
Routine Maintenance is the Key
Engine sludge? You MUST use full synthetic oil. I've had oil changes done at Jiffy Lube - you don't have to go to the dealer. Is the car perfect? Definitely not. Dashboard buzzing - yes. Flaking interior paint - yes. Turbo lag? Hell yeah. Overall, however, it's a very good car.
Awesome Car!
I hated to become a station wagon mom, but I tell you, I love this car! We have a beetle, too, and I love them both!
Fancy looking cheap build
I think VW earned attention primarily because of fancy looks. The poerformance and build quality are mediocre compared to other vehicles. The interior and exterior scratches easily because of cheap materials used. The car is slow and consumes excessive amounts of premium fuel. It slows down very quickly like a farm tractor as soon as you release the acceleration.
Great car with poor mileage.
Great car, but I am very disappointed in the mileage. I don't get 20 to 21 miles per locally and 26 miles per long distance was the best I ever got. When I am at 250 miles clocked, I keep getting gas messages and beeps.
This car rocks
I love this car. It came with every feature my wife and I wanted, including side air bags. The cloth seats are extremely comfortable, even on day-long rides. It handles well. It is rock solid in nasty rain. I could go on and on. Let's just say that if I were trading my Miata, I would get another Passat Wagon.
What fun!
I've been driving this card just a month and I love it. My husband, who bought a Camry 8 months ago is now jealous. It is a very peppy car to drive. I am afraid I'll get my first speeding ticket. Like anything else, it's not perfect. There isn't much storage space and the gas mileage as well as the cost of premiun gas is also an issue. Nevertheless, it's fun!
Very Happy...
First off, I looked at quite a few cars before deciding on the Passat. I have to say that this is a very fun car, and is quiet at highway speeds, and surprisingly quick and powerful for such a small engine. Make sure you test drive the 1.8t and the V6, as these are two different cars entirely. Both have their strong points and personalities.
Incredible Sports Wagon
I've read some of the reviews for '02 Passats, sounds like a bunch of whining to me. I have an '00 wagon, V6, 5 spd, leather, sunroof. Great looking wagon, very roomy. Yes, it's expensive, if you get repairs done at the dealer. Don't be stupid, use an independent garage. I drive 25K a year, and have put 140K on a car that was a 3 yr old lease trade in with 48K miles. So I'm closing in on 190K. I just had the car checked out by a private mechanic. The check engine light came on about six weeks ago. I've been told that the catalytic converter is failing, but the mechanic said "just keep driving it, the car's in great condition". The car still has the original clutch.
Bang for the Buck!
My wife and I just purchased the Passat. We were comparing it to the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, So far, I can find few flaws with the car. Despite other reviewer's comments on the 1.8T not having power, I have found that to not be the case. While there is a lag in power in a off the line start, when the turbo kicks in, it can throw your head back! Its passing power is excellent. I have one problem though. Having been used to my Toyota Camry, I found myself driving at 85mph when I thought I was going 55. It travels almost too well at high speeds.
Best Car I've Ever Owned!
I bought my 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8T in May 2005 in California and I drove it to Las Vegas NV and I have not done any services such as oil change, tune up etc, etc and ever since I bought it I've had no problems with it. It's fast and has a great fuel economy. When it comes to racing no American car with same engine size ever beats it in take offs or passing. It has excellent response. I have beat the Pontiac Grand Am V6 the Honda Civic and Accord. They were not able to beat me or pass me! The most awesome time was when I beat a Ford Expedition which was V8. I could not believe that a 4-cylinder car had more take off performance than the Expedition. This car is the best. The performance and design make one of a kind.
Do not buy
This car is very attractive and fun to drive. However, it has serious quality issues and is not reliable. I have been stranded twice because of the coils (only to be recalled after I had already been stranded!) After the first two went bad, VW would not replace the other two until they broke (full knowing that they would eventually.) The headlights blow out every 12000 miles, the radio will stop playing (but can be easily fixed by jiggling the fuze). I've had to have the doors adjusted because they were falling off.
Passat - don't own without a warranty
The car is great while under warranty. At about 80k the cars starts to need maintenance and is expensive to repair. If you have this car buy an extended warranty
Great Car
Maybe I've been lucky, but I have put almost 90k on the vehicle since purchasing used in '05 (now 119k miles), and haven't had a single problem. Fun to drive, great mpg w/ the 1.8t and 5-spd. (avg. 33 mpg on the freeway), looks good, unbeatable interior design and looks with the leather seats. Matches or exceeds the '01 Acura TL it replaced in every respect except horsepower, and it has been far more reliable to boot (2 trannys, new dash, other issues w/ '01 Acura).
Best car I have owned!
After doing much research before choosing the Passat, I leased the 1.8T and have never looked back! This is a peppy, fun-to-drive vehicle. I got mine loaded with options and upgrades, which I highly recommend. The top of the line sound system ROCKS and as a person who drives constantly for their work, this is a reliable car that gets excellent gas mileage. It doesn't hurt that it is a sharp car to look at and has turned more than a few heads! I highly recommend this automobile to anyone who enjoys a sporty yet comfortable ride and insists on quality and dependability!
Great Car
I have a little more than 8,000 miles on my 2002 1.8T 5-speed and so far it has been a great car. Great performance and I have been averaging nearly 28 miles per gallon. I also looked at an A-4 but couldn't see spending the extra money for the Audi. I like the Passat's styling and the interior quality is excellent as is the Monsoon sound system . My only complaint is the cost of routine service at the dealer, but there's always Jiffy Lube.
MY VW LEMON
I bought a new 2002 vw passat in April 2002.In August when I was driving with my baby the car started shaking and would not accelarate above 20MPH. My dealership said it was a defective ignition coil, they replaced it. On October 31st the same thing happened again with my baby in the car.Long story short today is November 20 and I still don't have my car back, yesterday they told me it would at least be another 2 weeks they are waiting for a new batch of ignition coils,they are all defective.Also radio had stopped working and front right speaker is cracked. So much for the premium audio package!
Money Drain: $5000.00 in 6 yrs.
I loved this car. I believed the seller: "it might last 12-15 years". Excessively expensive routine- maintenance, + $ thousands for major system failures. In 6 years, they sucked $5,000.00 for: Sensors x 5; Ignition coils; radio; left axle; right axle x 2; gas hood strut; water pump; left rear door lock x 3; motor mounts (1 month before engine failed & replaced under recall); intercooler; heat shields;(recalls) rib belt; timing belt; homelink dropped off...fix cost= $500; tires replaced x2; 'transmission range switch' cleaned ($101.00. Following week: same switch replaced: $1,000.) Upholstery frayed; paint peeling; Disappointing. Stressful. Friends and I will not buy another VW product.
best buy far
I replace my commuter car every two years, and have difficulty finding the right blend of a driver's car, safety, good mileage and comfort, let alone a reasonable price. I've always been torn between Japan's reliability, the German's handling, and the Swede's safety; no more! The 2002 1.8T matched with a slick manual is the finiest blend I've ever owned. Nice work VW!
First love
I purchased the car the first week it was released. It was love at first sight, the changes to the front head light and rear tail light were nothing less than attractive. On the drive home day turned to night and if I thought the interior was a 7, it jumped over to a 12 once I turned of the lights. Blues radiated from the chrome accented dials and reds surrounded me at every angle.
Good performance, poor quality control
Every a/c vent makes a various speaking sound and the guage cluster is constantly making rattling sounds despite attempts by service dept to fix. Interior door pull handles rubber rubbs and peels off. Already had door pull handles replaced twice on drivers side.
A Pleased New Owner - GLS Wagon
I was originally considering the Jetta GLS with the Lux/leather options. Then I drove the Passat and I had to go for it. The base model suits me just fine. I really LOVE this car. The 5 speed is fun to drive and the Monsoon sound is the best. It feels like a much more expensive car. The ride is rock solid. I had an Audi 200 (1990) before this and feel that I traded up to the Passat. The amenities are plentiful. I especially like the lights under the door panels which illuminate upon exit and entry. I obviously, highly recommend this vehicle.
Passat
Fun car with good pick-me-up. Nice family car.
Fun but not worth the money
The car is less than 2500 miles when the engine broke down. It was a manufacture defect, it needs to change all four "coils"!?. The parts was so back up that the dealer only change one. Handling of the car is great, but the initial acceleration is very very slow (even a Hundai Elantra accelerate better) though after 25mph the car pick up speed and has a strong kick. Very nice panal and indicators. But not enough cup holder, even less storage space in front. Imposible to set up cell phone charger since the cigaret lighter is directly infront of the auto shift knob, need more space or move it somewhere else!
German Enginerring...HA!!
I am the original owner a 2002 Passat 1.8 Turbo and while we love the way it drives it has been a money pit! Glove box latch broke, hood strut broke, check engine light comes on at least every 3-4 months and its always a vacuum line or O2 sensor, ignition coils have been replaced twice and now the heater core is clogged and neither the dealer or VWoA will step up and admit its a known problem and fix it. I agree w/ others on this site: do not I repeat, do not by a VW. I also own 2 Honda's and a Toyota and all 3 are very reliable and easy to work on yourself so you don't have to take it to the dealer all the time. Do yourself a favor and stay away from VW!!
Like the ride, hate the repairs
I really enjoy driving the car, it handles well and gets good mpg (ranges from 25-32 mpg) big downfall to this car is terrible reliability, it seems as though I am in the shop every 3 months! purchased the car with 30k on it now it has 105k. in last 75k miles I've had to repair the following: fuel lines from tank to engine, major fuel leak inside engine compartment (got reimbursed due to recall) 3 times replaced cv joints 4 coil modules transmission mounting bracket power window regulator headlights constantly burn out - at least 5 times in last 4 yrs timing belt water pump mass air flow sensor will be trading in soon, tired of dumping $ into repairs!!
VW makes history in bath
This car is a well handleing, great acceleration, easy and fun to drive car. Its low to the ground so it hughs like no outher, the dash makes it feel like your in a world of your own.
VW Passat GLX Wagon
Around town and intstate use is very comfortable. Use it to tow a Kit car and handles it well. Power is more than adequate even with the A/C running all the time. Long interstate trips of more than 800 miles per day I did not get tired and had fun driving the car. Adequate room for all lugage and wifes wheel chair.
Bad news...
I've had several problems with my 2002 Passat GLS. Within the first 5 months of owning it, I brought it back to the dealer 3 times for repairs. I lost power (power windows/locks, interior lights didn't work), grinding, engine shook violently. And now its back in the shop for engine problems....again! This time, the repairs are going to take 2-3weeks. Unbelievable.
If only it would keep running regularly
When VW came out with the 1.8T engine and extended it's warranty to 4yrs/48,000 miles on the Passat in 2002, I had to buy one. In terms of style, comfort, and exterior appearance, the car was a dream come true. It felt solid, quiet, and responsive. Mechanically, however, the car has been a nightmare. It's been recalled four times and has had to go into the shop another three to four times for other problems since I purchased. I realized after driving the car for an extended period that the car's interior appointments weren't as user-friendly as they could be. The storage space up front is minimal at best, and is poorly placed. Also, for people 5' 5" and under, the sun visors are not deep enough to come close to blocking the sun.
VW did well with the redesign...
I've driven the heck out of this car so far, and have had no problems within 25K miles. It is by far the most comfortable car I've ever driven out of three that I've owned (Acura, Cadillac, Chevy). I'm a big fan of the styling and for a base model with some additional packages, I feel like I received an excellent value for what I paid. One beef is with the handling, I wish it weren't so soft. My other drawback is the short warranty (I purchased an extended warranty to take care of that, though). All total (car + warranty) I paid less than $26K. The dealer was a pleasure to work with and their service dept. is the best.
CAn't stop smiling
Moving from 98 Passat to 2001 and 1/2 Passat was a pleasure. More power, outstanding ergonomics, excellent handling.