Used 2003 Volkswagen Passat Consumer Reviews
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This is a Bug Mobile
This car replaces the Beetle as the new BUG, as it is so buggy. The electric seats stopped working a week after I bought the damn this. Now the fuel gauge also gave out. What junk.
Fun to drive
Great car in general. Superior build quality and use of materials.
- GLX 4Motion WagonMSRP: $4,695636 mi away
- GLS 1.8T SedanMSRP: $4,995819 mi away
- GLS 1.8T SedanMSRP: $2,499870 mi away
CUSTOMERS BEWARE!!!
I did all my homework before I bought this car and also read message boards to make sure I did not miss anything, well I did. Everyone who has great reviews has relatively few miles on their car (<10,000). I've had nothing but ignition coil problems with this vehicle. It seems that all 1.8T engines in VW and Audi have this problem and nothing has been done to fix it. They just repair it which typically takes 2-3 weeks and tell you that "there's a 90% chance the others will go." On top of that the computer board malfunctions and causes check engine light to come on. DON'T let the exterior and interior attractive design fool you.
Overall a great car
After studying this and other publications, we came to the decision that the Passat was the car for us. We choose the GLS 1.8 for its fuel economy and added the Luxury Package. The side curatin airbags and traction control weighed heavily in the protection of our children. We have had two fit and finish errors. First of all the child lockout for the power windows didn't depress. Secondly, the dashboard had two small indentations where the dash cover wasn't properly adhered to the underlayment. Both were fixed without any trouble. We absolutely love the car and are looking foward to remaining VW customers.
Stylish and Practical
Up to 1200 miles and having fun. Minor little transmission problem that fixed itself. This is my first German car so I'm a little worried about reliability, but it sure is more fun than my Toyota. Great safety features for the price.
Great car if VW would allow it
The automatic transmission offered with the 1.8 is one of the worst cases of engine castration available. This engine needs a clutch to get anything but a lethargic launch. With the manual this is the best value and the most fun to drive combination of Passats. Too bad VW doesn't offer a sport package or the fantastic 4Motion with the 1.8. There are other manufacturers making forced induction cars with AWD, but if you value fit and finish, design, and a first class interior then you can't really beat the Passat. Don't tell VW, but it makes one of the best sleeper-tuner cars around. I wish they could get my dash to stop squeeking though. Do you hear me VW?
Great, except for seat comfort!
Great car!
Love It!!!
Wasn't sure if I was going to like a 4 Cylinder after having a Loaded GLX VR6 for 7 Years, but I love it. The Tiptronic transmission is smoother and more responsive than the one in my wife's C Class Mercedes. All the extra space is awesome, especially with a new baby. The safety features are very comforting.4 Wheel, ABS, Traction Control,Electronic Stabilization/ Front, side and curtain airbags all for $23,000. The rear seatbelt locks and there are tether hooks on the backs of the seat and anchors underneath them, making car seat installation a breeze.
2003 Volkswagen Passat 1,8T
We bought this passat brand new, fun to drive, looks very sharp but kinda noisy and very poorly built, we got 5 recalls within a 2 years- fuel p pump, brake light switch, heated seats burned that was recall, factory heat shield had a recall stating it could start a fire in the engine, the stereo system read "error" within the first months of purchase (warranty), brakes needed replacing around 20k. Transmission doesn't feel reliable, got an oil change guy told me I had engine sludge building up ($120) to clean, water pump+thermostat replaced at 36k, last night I was driving then the check engine light started blinking and car started shaking (misfire?) and noise at 42,500 I think its done.
Good Stuff
We love our Passat, my wife and I always argue on who gets to drive instead of who gets to ride. My favorite car of all time was the 1984 Audi 4000 Quattro...all of those feelings are rushing back. The Passat has a great look, ride, and feel with the German engineering. This car is an excellent value for the price.
A satisfied owner
More power than most small 8 cylinders; standard equipment is better than most luxury cars. I've own BMW, Mercedes, several Lexus cars, but this is the most fun car I've ever had.
Great family sedan
This is a very solid car. I have the AWD version, which is slow, even with the V6, but a great handler a very luxurious. That said, the AWD is an incredible safety feature in rain, snow, and around corners and it makes for a very safe car. (In fact, all of my cars will be AWD from now on). If you can sacrifice some power, this is the best midsize car on the market.
Awsome...
1.8T engine which provides plenty of power for everyday driving, combines with classy exterior/interior design and quiet, supple ride... 4 months driving this car and still in love with it. The honeymoon ain't over yet.
VW service sucks!!!
VW Passat is a cheap version of the BMW or Audi. And this is what prompts most buyers to go for a VW and brag about their German engineered automobile.Its a very sporty and fun to drive car with a lot of safety features and classy interiors.The internal and exterior design and the body build is very good and this fools most people.They have cheap but "premium" Monsoon sterio system, too many electrical faults, fog lights and wipers that dont work.Too many reported problems about their ignition coils.And nothing to beat the horrible service!!!
NEVER BUY A VW !!!!
I bought vw passat 03 as certified used and had a very bad experience. The only reason I bought the car was because of its sexy interior and exterior(silver). Last 4 yrs, I had nothing but bad experience, done every service regularly, almost every time the vw dealer finds some problem costing anywhere from $300.00 to $1500.00 for that repair or this repair. I was driving probably about 50 miles a month as I had a Honda Civic. After about 3 yrs of use, I was worried and purchased a top vw platinum warranty, but the problems didn't stop nor was any part/problem covered by this worthless warranty - i paid about $2000 for this warranty. NEVER BUYING A VW AGAIN.
Can't go wrong with this car!!
This car walks talks and acts like one that is much more expensive. From the cool night-time lighting to all the thoughful touches, to the cool trip computer, to the steering wheel controls. Did I mention the leather - not like the cheap hides on a nissan/infiniti. This car is an Audi without the dual zone climate control and four rings. 1.8 w/ five speed is great, still breaking in but it can move the car with some authority, always asked if its a 6 cyl.
I love driving this car
I have purchased my Passat a month ago, and I just cannot stop admiring all of its wonderful features. I got leather package, Monsoon surround sound system, EPS extras and, of course, manual transmission. The handling of the car is breath taking. I would definitely recommend this car to anyone who truly enjoys and appreciates driving a high quality vehicle.
Such A Shame...
Ride, comfort and interior is exceptional. Over the past year, however, we've had it in the shop several times...engine coils. An engine coil seems to go bad and the "Emissions" light will go on. We also had to have the driver's side seat belt replaced (it wouldn't release after button pressed). Now, there is a burnt rubber smell coming from under the hood and it is very noticeable when the heater is on...it is going back to the shop. We love this car soo much, however, the constant problems have persuaded us to replace it...Such a shame. Oh yeah...the Emissions light came on again today (1/28/03).
midsize for $25000
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and performance of this car.
Reliability - Long Term in Question.
Two topis of concern are the paint finish and the transmission. To start off,the paint has oxidized in some places and scratches too easily. The other more troubling area is the transmission which has just been replaced by VW. The question I have is this car a lemon or what else is going to go wrong. This car is too new for this kind of trouble to happen.
Low profile, low cost ownership
I've owned this midsized sedan for almost two and half years now. I bought it used with 40K miles on the ODO. At 52 K miles I've replaced a CV joint from an aftermarket parts supplier. The cost was far cheaper than dealership prices. Parts the were replaced under VW warranty were: the VW engine cover emblem, rear trunk struts, side blinker lights & rear ashtray. This car corners well with the right type of tires installed. I replaced the cheap tires that came with this car from the dealership and the difference was noticeable. Parts are best bought from online suppliers to save on cost if you plan to keep this vehicle for at least 10 years.
put the honda and toyota rumors to rest
i was totally fixed on my mom's accord and her old camry, but this car puts them in the dust. buttery smooth describes everything about the car, and the styling is simply brilliant.
Best Looking Wagon on the Road
We love our Wagon. It's a great value with a ton of safety and standard features for less than $25K. The 1.8t has plenty of pull through most the gears-especially while using the tiptronic feature (Then you can add a chip for even more power). There's plenty of room for a couple who are just starting a family. The perfect car for those of us who don't want a minivan nor an SUV.
A Great Car
The car drives better than I ever expected it to. The 4 cylinder gets very good milage (up to 30 mpg) and still has unbelievable pep. Passing on the freeway is almost too easy. It's basically an Audi A4 at a great price
I love this car!
I tell my wife at least once a week, "I love this car" whether I'm driving or riding. Since we brought our Passat home, it has been nothing but a joy to drive. Smooth handling, clean lines, stylish interior lighting, it's a dream to drive. The 190hp is plenty. We came from a 160hp Prelude. The Passat still has quick acceleration and is much quieter. My wife says she's going to need a radar detector because it gets up to speed so quick. Haggle on the price. You can get the V6 for a little over their invoice, around $27,000. It will be well worth it. The dealers will get enough suckers to pay MSRP.
2003 Volkswagen Passat GLX
I've test driven and researched Audi, BMW, Lexus, Acura and Volkswagen and found the best pricing and best value for the money in the Passat GLX Automatic.
My new passat
Great experience, great materials, lot of fun to drive.
very nice
What can I say, this is one wonderful car. The road noise is next to nothing, it goes great in the snow, the ride is ultra smooth. This car has the feel of any top notch luxury car. The only grip is the fuel economy. I get about 22 miles per gallon average, wish it were better.
Beautiful, but electronic nightmare
As a longtime Honda and Nissan owner, I'm accustomed to hassle-free operation. Despite its good looks and fun to drive personality, my Passat has had the malfunction indicator lamp illuminate five times in two months and the Monsoon stereo stopped working! A review of VW forums shows I'm not alone.
So far, so good
My wife and I compared Altima, Camry, Accord and Passat. See my posting in the appropriate discussion group for results. We chose Passat because of warranty (hopefully we don't need it), exterior styling, safety features, interior quality. We have 2200 miles on our Passat now, and we still get in and tell each other "I love this car." There was an annoying buzz at around 2800 rpm that was driving us crazy, but it turned out to be the tilt/telescope lever under the steering wheel. I re-locked it and buzz went away and stayed away.
Passat 4motion 6cyl
We only have the car for a week. Put in about a couple of hundred miles. So not sure yet about long term reliability. So far, we love its handling and its 4motion traction. Love its ability to take sharp corner and also great accelaration.
Love the car
Love the car. It is a dream to drive. We had a 98 Honda Accord and compared to what we were driving , I really love this car. Its so far my favorite in price you can't go wrong.
Passat
This is my second passat, I have never needed to use a tow truck with this car
Stay away
I've had this car for almost 6 years now and while it was fun during the warranty period, lately it has been a real drain on my finances to keep it running. Problem after problem keeps showing up from sensors, coils, thermostat. If you like to be punished then go out and buy one, otherwise stay away. This car is very unreliable and very, very expensive to fix.
First VW and will not be last!
I personally did not have enough moola to upgrade into the higher models, but needed more room than the Jetta. The Passat GL was the perfect car for me. It had everything I needed and even more! The power is kind of weak, but for the price and the budget I was completely satisfied. I was also comparing it against the new Honda Accord and Camry but those look boring! I also want to add that the dealership I would highly recommend you guys to goto Lithia Volkswagen in Concord and meet up with Hoang. The didnt pressure me into any other models, and were really nice. So if your in the Bay Area, California go take a look at these guys.
VW Passat GLX Wagon
I've had this vehicle for over 8 months now and love it. I don't regret the purchase at all. The rear cargo area is amble and the gas milege is good. The safety ratings by the insurance industry and government are excellent. This wagon has been the perfect alternative to an SUV. I overlooked this car for a long time because of the image of a "wagon" and because of its price. But this vehicle is about as sporty as it gets for a wagon, and it's worth the price because of the quality.
the best
I love this car!!! I almost bought an Avalon and I'm glad I didn't. It's got plenty of power, and enough leather to kill a PETA member!
Never again
My Passat was purchased used w/ 17k miles. It now has 66k miles. The driver power window failed immediately and required 3 dealer visits. The fuel pump failed at 40k in traffic. It eats tires. It eats rear brakes. Maintenance and repair costs are ridiculous. Handles wonderfully, is fast, and has beautiful exterior lines but I consider it unreliable enough to not use for long road trips. I've never been to the dealership when there was not at least one person yelling about a failure or bill. Runs poorly below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Monsoon stereo is awesome.
2003 GLX great car!
Impressive car to drive, smooth, quiet and fast. Lots of very nice touches. Better than the Jaguars, lincolns, and other expensive cars I test drove. Love the layout inside the car, love the firm but smooth ride, the silky smooth v6 and auto trans are tops. Loads of nice options on the GLX.
VW Quality
I had 6 japanese cars prior to the Passat, the Passat does not come remotely close in regards to reliability. First 5 months had to go for repair of Homelink twice, Tire had a slow leak due to counterweight installed to close to valve stem. last weekend got stuck 250 miles from home with a problem known to VW for a while, had to be towed and repair took 6 hours to replace a defective coil. There is a VW advisory out on these coils, but they still refused to replace the other 3 in my car. the comment from the Corporate office is that I have to break down again for the second time before they replace the remaining defective parts.
Its ok with a W8
Yea I read a lot of the complaints that these cars have but have you ever noticed that the complaints are only about the 1.8T? We have a 03 W8 passat and were the type that takes a car anywhere. Are passat goes through a lot of abuse because where we live has a lot of rough roads and unpredictable weather and it still runs ok. So if you are going to get one these cars get a W8 with 4motion because these cars are very heavy and do need the extra power and the 1.8T may do the job but stresses the engine to much causing parts to wear faster.
A Super Car!
This car is really a kick to drive. I actually look foeward to my commute to and from work since I bought the Passat.
I love it!
Love it! Nissan tried to copy the Passat and failed. Drove the Mazda6 , a nice car, and the Passat before choosing the VW. The 6 is nice, the Passat is much more well equipped than the Mazda 6i. I wanted ABS, not standard on the Mazda. Can't get it without every package, which adds over $4000 to the cost. VW introduced the GL, I drove it and decided this is the car I wanted. The car the others failed trying to copy. It's fun, roomy, gets great gas mileage. Better interior than the Altima, Mazda, and Accord. The best car in it's class.
exactly what i expected
it took me quite awhile to find one of these things at the right price but i have thoroughly enjoyed the experience thus far. i kind of prepared myself for the inevitable freak repair but in my case it was simply the stereo going dead at the 10000 mile mark. if you know how to drive a manual, definitely go that route with this car. this was a great trade-up from my jetta and i look forward to seeing what they come up with next.
Great Car - Poor Gas Mileage
I've been driving my Passat for 6 months now and really enjoy it. The Passat is quiet and has adequate pick up. I have experienced no quality or mechanical problems at all. I test drove the Volvo V70 and Audi A6 & A4 wagon and it was clear to me then, as it is now, that the best value amongst these is the VW. My only complaint is below - Gas Mileage.
Don't buy if you drive a lot
I got exactly what I wanted with this car. Comfort and good quality. It's quiet as well, and designed well inside. From the outside it's boring (which is fine with me, but bad if you drive to impress). But the build quality is excellent. The finish resists minor bumps and scratches. I had a minor fender bender and it didn't even scratch the bumper. It has three really bad points, though. First, it has terrible mileage (14 miles/gallon around town, which gets pricey when you also have to use 91 octane fuel ). Second, the fuel tank is small, so I only get 190 miles per tank. Last, the steering wheel takes a lot of effort to turn. That's fine with me, but my wife won't drive it.
I'm Hooked
Just turned in my 99 Passat for a 2003. I love this car! Why spend the extra money for an Audi? Hondas can't compare. Smooth ride, excellent handling, excellent braking, safety - bar none, looks and feels like a luxury car.
sub audi
The Passat is as well built as his richer brother Audi, and the GLX on which everything is "standard" is a bargain whereas BMW or Audi would cost me 40k with same options. No brainer.
Comfy!!
Wow! What a nice Car! I like it. It's Comfy and Solid. I'm having so much fun driving my Passat. The feeling of Luxury in affordable and reasonable price.
Great so far :)
So far running great..all of 5 days old