The Passat is not very flashy, but it will age well in terms of its design, and you appreciate how it is not very complicated. All of the controls are logical. The only options ours has are the automatic transmission (thankfully not DSG) and a navigation system. The 5-cylinder engine is powerful enough (9 seconds 0-60, if that matters to you), and has a sound that sets it apart from other 4-cylinder rivals. The fuel economy is not awesome, but it is still better in real world driving than my friend's new Ford Fusion or my parents' Toyotas, averaging around 26 mpg.

The car, overall, had a lot of issues, especially with the A/C unit and with the engine, but it ran, and it got me where I needed to go. I got this car for my first car, and it was very cheap, at under $2000, so I took it. I do not regret the purchase, but I will no longer be buying Volkswagen cars from here on out. There are much better options for cars, and the Passat had too many issues for me to trouble myself with again. I have other friends who drive newer versions of this same car, and they have similar issues with the engine, along with dozens of other unique problems.