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2003 Volkswagen Passat Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Owner Pros and Cons by jamvan1

A member in Minnesota, United States

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Reviewed: 2003 Volkswagen Passat

4dr Sedan 270-horsepower 4.0L W8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Why the 2003 Volkswagen Passat?

Powertrain performance

The limited production W8 is a dream to drive and incredibly smooth with nary a vibration coming from the engine bay. The 4Motion all wheel drive has kept the car planted firmly on the road and the Tiptronic 5 speed tranny is 1 gear short of perfect.

Why Not the 2003 Volkswagen Passat?

Reliability & durability

The W8 is a unique beast in that it was a limited run Passat/Engine combo and it needs to be serviced by the dealer. Quality has never been job one with Volkswagen and having to have it serviced at the dealership raises your total cost of ownership.

Fuel economy

As an 8 cylinder engine, the overall fuel economy is not as good as the Passat 6 or 4 cylinder versions. Expect, on average, to get 18 mpg city and 22 mpg highway with a mixed of around 19-20mpg. 21 Gallon tank can be quite expensive to fill.

Insurance cost

Because they are expensive to repair, you will pay premium premiums for your insurance. In addition, because the W8 did not sell well, the depreciation was dramatic. $40K+ new in 2003 sell for around $15K today.

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