Hi Everyone,
After successfully passed the SWISS driving test
I am looking at buying a diesel 2.0 TDI VW Passat, nicely sized and priced
Could you share your feedback how it is ?

some links in the wide world web is scary if you decide to buy one.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...vw_passat.html
http://www.carcomplaints.com/Volkswa...03/index.shtml

any feedback is appreciated very much.

I drive a 2008 Passat Variant CR 4-Motion
I used to drive a 2007 Passat Variant TDI 4-Motion

From 2008 the cars had the Common Rail turbo-diesel engine. Earlier had the older pump nozzle diesel. Common rail is smoother with quieter idle

These cars come in a huge range of equipment level - the top-line model costs 2x the base model. I have the base model. Impossible to compare with the top model

The 3C is a large improvement in style and technology over the 3B passat.

For driving on snow you cannot beat the permanent 4-wheel drive with ABS and DSC. I tried to make the car slide on the snow last week, wasn't easy. Car grips and stays stable in all conditions..

They are good solid reliable cars. We find it a good family car.
The only issue both Passats had: the programmed phone number for the VW Assistance is wrong and doesn't work in Switzerland.
Otherwise, no problems at all on 2 x Passats, 30,000kms of driving over the last 12 months.

Remember: no-one writes internet blogs about how great they find the car. So take what you read on the 'net with a touch of salt.

I don't know about that, the internet is full of fanboys for almost everything. I used to be a member of a VW Golf (mkIV) forum and to almost all its members it was the Jesus car.

Try What car and Carsurvey if you want owner reviews. The difference between owners and motoring journalists is that owners have to live with their cars, day-in and day-out and so soon discover the niggling faults and weaknesses.

The engine is the standard engine that is in all Volkswagen Audi and Skoda's. The pre 2008 standard Turbo Diesel engine is very good. It is one of the best diesel engines I have driven (most of the cars I've had have been diesel). The service intervals of 30,000km is quite good and the fuel efficiency is what I would consider very good.

The common rail engine is as has already been said very smooth. I had a CRD engined van for a few years and it really was not much more noisy then a petrol car. The one downside with the CRD engine that I noticed was that what is quite a small problem in a standard engine can be bigger in the common rail. The fuel rail operates at 1500bar so something like a fuel pump going is actually quite a serious job.

At the moment I drive a 1.9 TDI (old style engine) and if I was buying a car in the morning I would instantly buy the new 2.0TDI engine in a heartbeat... But I would probably get it in the Skoda Octavia rather then The VW Passat.

Agreed on the Skoda over the VW. We were looking to buy a Passat 3 years ago but opted for the Octavia as it was essentially the same car but several thousand Euros less. Not sure if the price difference is the same these days.

Thank you friendlykiwi, Castro, Eire, patxi for the tips...
I Learnt that other than the parking break problems things are pretty fine with Passat.

Also, Like friendly kiwi says, When things are very impressively good no body spends time to write about it.

Well, if the Golf wasn't "the Jesus car" at least it had connections in higher places..