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2001 Volkswagen Passat Owner Ratings & Reviews

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3.0
Overall
2 Reviews

2001 Volkswagen Passat - Solid drive, unintuitive controls, bad A/C.

Passat Owner
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Overall
4.0
Value
2.0
Performance
4.0
Style
3.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
1.0
Reliability
2.0
I like that my vehicle is a manual transmission. It has a solid feel to it when it drives, and I have a feeling that if I were to get into a minor to moderate accident severity-wise that the vehicle itself would be alright. I really enjoy the way I feel when I drive the car, and the fact that it doesn't look to shabby for a 17 year old car. I do not like that the A/C is nearly non existent no matter what anyone does to it, not me, not the mechanic. On a hot day, you better hope you start the car early on a cooler day or your best bet it the windows open. The center console is also unintuitive and it took me a very long time to be able to safely use it without looking while driving. Even when I have a passenger use the center console, it often takes them a while to find what they need t... (more)
Story
I remember noticing that driving stick shift had finally clicked for my partner while driving. I was very proud of them.
Pros
I feel very connected to the car and to the pavement when I drive. I learned how to drive a manual transmission on this car, and two other people learned how to, and I think that speaks for itself on how this car is a good first vehicle to learn how to drive stick shift. As mentioned earlier, I like how solid the Passat feels. I've driven other cars and have found that they almost don't feel like cars. This is not true for this car. Additionally, the steering is tight, a feature that I think any driver can appreciate. The car itself isn't so big that it takes up too much space, it isn't an... (more)
Cons
The car does not get good mileage. The highest I have ever gotten was 31 miles per gallon. I average 24 - 26 miles per gallon on a highway drive without traffic. With traffic, which is common in my area, it usually ends up 17 - 22 miles per gallon. Additionally, the air conditioning in the car is not adequate for a summer where it gets above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The center console does not make a lot of sense to the average human being. The very first time I drove this car on my own, I nearly ran down the battery overnight because I left a light on. I could not find the light switch to t... (more)

2001 Volkswagen Passat - Very expensive and hard to work on.

Merry
Kentwood, Louisiana
Overall
2.0
Value
1.0
Performance
1.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Fuel Economy
5.0
Reliability
1.0
The body style of the car is gorgeous. It's sleek and sporty looking. The gas mileage (30+mpg) is hard to beat, as well. The car rides well, also. The power sunroof that mine came equipped with is very nice as well. With premium heated leather seats, just sitting in the car is a joy. The dash is all digital and lights up beautifully at night. It tells you how many miles per gallon you can get with the gas in your tank, how many miles you have left to go with your remaining gas, and if you're experiencing any electrical or engine problems. On the downside, the car is very expensive to work on. If something goes wrong, it's hard to diagnose the problem. Often times little things create big problems (fuse, etc.) Just to replace the thermostat on the car (which is usually a quick, simple j... (more)
Pros
My favorite thing about this vehicle is how roomy the interior is. The seats are well-made and very comfortable (and heated!) The power sunroof is also nice sized and a very nice feature to have. The body style of the car is gorgeous. The placement of front + side airbags is very nice too. The car also has excellent pick-up, in the turbo model at least.
Cons
It isn't reliable at all. You never know when you're going to hear the warning beeps and see the blinking lights on the dash that let you know something is broken. Sometimes, even placing the diagnostic machine on the car doesn't diagnose the problems. Parts are expensive and the labor required to do even the simplest of repairs is very expensive.

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