What should an early current shape Passat be like?

I'm thinking of buying a 2005 1.9 TDI Volkswagen Passat (new shape). Is there anything I should particularly look out for and is it reliable?

Roy Malone (Dublin)

May 2014 Filed under: reliability

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Expert answer

Hi Roy,

The Passat is a good, solid car that with just a few points to check. Some of the early 2.0-litre TDI engines had some fragility in the turbo and injector departments, so have any of those cars checked carefully. The 1.6 FSI petrol engine is pretty solid but bear in mind that in a car of the Passat's size, it will have been thrashed pretty hard to keep up with traffic. Have a close look and listen to the suspension for any noises or clonks, and make sure the power steering feels consistent and precise as that system can give trouble too. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe