Passat'll do nicely! (VW Passat 1.8 SE 20V Turbo Saloon)

Member Name: ferd

Product:	VW Passat 1.8 SE 20V Turbo Saloon
Date:	08/11/01 (4601 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good engine, lots of extras, typical deutsch build quality

Disadvantages: slightly soft suspension, quite a high rounded cabin, Niggling, expensive faults can occur!

Having a need to sell my car, a few weeks back, I was faced with the difficult choice of choosing a worthy replacement. Originally I had an old (9 years) BMW 320, so I wanted something of simlar performance and build quality. As it was mainly for the wife to drive, I also wanted improved safety features. My original dream choice was the Nissan 200SX (not the safest car I'll admit, but I got sucked in by the japanese reliability, and that 200bhp figure!), and after having taken a few for a test drive, really wanted to get one. I was shot down however, soon after when I called to get an insurance quote for it; £1200 for the both of us....ah well, good while it lasted. Also being rear wheel drive and so powerful, I would worry a little about damp roundabouts!
This forced me to 'get real' and consider a more normal car, which in my view left me with the Volkswagen Passat, Peugeot 406, or Ford Mondeo. The 406 is a great looker and handler, but the engines need to be large to get good performance, hence they are thirsty. Also having had a Citroen many years ago, I was a little suspicious of French build quality! The Mondeo is an always improving car (even to the point of looking like an Audi/Volkswagen in its newest incarnation!), but at the age range I could afford, they were looking kind of common, and didnt really appeal to me. Then it was the Passats turn. I knew of their safety, build quality and reliability through reputation really, and having taken one for a test drive, I was surprised at how good they were to drive too! After checking through WhatCar, I reckoned the 1.8 Turbo was the one I was after, as it had the same 150hp as my old car, and better fuel consumption at 34mpg overall. The same engine is used in the Audi A4 and A6, and even in the Audi TT although its tuned higher though. Its a very eager engine and feels more eager to drag you past the speed limit (although it doesnt sound as nice, being a four cylinder). Build quality is high, wi

th a sturdy dash and upholstery. Safety is also good, with twin airbags, and a solid body (of which I've heard a few stories of them coming out practically unscathed from road acidents). The car shape itself is a little 'bulbous', leaving shorter people with a little too much hairspace, but thats minor foible. Handling is good and assured if a little softer than what I'm used to - makes the roads in south London a little better though! Overall a lovely car with good performance, quality, and safety!


UPDATE! - Have recently sold the car after several years of good service. Disappointed however with certain faults of the VW/Audi parts. Namely, the front shock absorbing rubber bushes have a tendency to give out. Once this happens, an annoying squeak occurs. If trusted to VW to fix, this would cost many hundreds of pounds as they would want to replace all 12 or so bushes, and the control arm (all this for a little squeak!) per side. Minor electrical faults started to kick in at about 90,000 miles, amongst other irritating problems. As a result have traded in and gone back to my old favourite, Nissan. Review coming shortly!

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