Volkswagen Passat 1999Change

Comfort: Good interior design, comfortable to drive and ride in. I have taken many road trips and cannot complain.
Performance: The standard model has no "get-up-and-go". It takes a long time to get up enough RPM's to shift out of an already short first gear. Otherwise it handles decently & is a fairly smooth ride.
Fuel Economy: Driving in city everyday a tank of regular unleaded gasoline usually last 1-2 wks. Once on highway fuel economy decreased significantly.
Interior Design: Poorly thought out dash/radio. Many cracks & gaps for dust, food & dirt to get into. Arm rest poorly designed & not strong enough to withstand minor pressure. Good visibility while driving no need to turn too much to see blind spots.
Exterior Styling: You won't get any second looks driving this car down the road. An unremarkable looking car.
Reliability: If you have lots of money to put into this car then it's great! Within 5 years of ownership the ABS went, water pump, tie rod ends, piston valves, clutch, struts, rear brakes, e-brake all went and needed repair. Repairs totalling over $5000 in 5 yrs of ownership. If you blindly love VW's & have money to endlessly pour into repairs then this car is for you!

This car has been a joy to drive . It handles the roads extremely well and is still as solid as the day I bought it. It has a comfortable ride and has always made me feel safe and secure behind the wheel. Handles well in all weather conditions especially winter driving. I have recently retired and no longer need multiple cars. It has has many years of life left in it.

We bought this second-hand with about 250 000 kms on it and it has treated us well. The only problems we have had with it are electrical which we have heard is a common thing with Volkswagens. But we really cannot complain because it runs so well and it is a very chique car even for being 13 years old. We love our VW!

My family bought the car brand new and we've had it for 12 years now.

Pros:
- Minimalist and timeless exteriors. The car still looks as good as when we first bought it and I love how you can put it beside brand new cars today and it would still look good!
- Ergonomic and attentively designed interiors. I have driven a few cars (both European luxury and Japanese cars) and have noticed how my Passat's interior controls have been intuitively placed and designed in comparison to other cars.
- Excellent suspension. The road handling and suspension is excellent which makes it a fun car to drive especially on the highways.
- Great storage room. The trunk can fit more than what your regular sedan can.

Cons:
- Expensive maintenance. After the warranty period, I found the maintenance to be very expensive despite my diligent twice a year regular scheduled maintenance.

Summary:
- Timeless and stand out car, but at a price.