VW Passat .... if you ever consider owning one ....

[canadawest]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

What is VW's warrantee up to these days? Didn't they just "double" it to a whopping two years? When just about every other manufacturer is more like 4 years or up, forgive my cynicism, but doesn't that say something? Maybe I'm just soured right now.

All VW's now (2002+) come with a standard 4 Years/80,000kms bumper to bumper warranty (wear and tear items and adjustments excluded after the first 12 months/20,000kms) + 5 years/100,000kms Powertrain warranty + 12 year/unlimited kms corrosion warranty (nobody else offers this) They have dropped the 2 years/40,000kms "no pay scheduled maintenance warranty".

Seems like a pretty comprehensive warranty that meets or exceeds every other manufacturer. And sure is a far cry from the 2 year/40,000km warranty that our '99 Jetta came with, even if it did include all the regularily scheduled maintenance during that period.

Hell, Ford and GM still only offer 3 years/60,000kms warranties on their vehicles, which is the same as when I bought my '96 Explorer in '96. I don't know why the domestics just don't get with the program? In addition Honda, Toyota and Mazda also only offer a 3 year/60,000kms basic warranty on their vehicles, so VW has raised the benchmark to match the other German automakers like BMW, Audi and Mercedes and their better warranties.

I still much prefer to make a lease payment every month and know that I have a new, reliable, fun, technologically advanced vehicle that I will have no breakdown costs with for the next 4 years! When you calculate the total cost of ownership over 4 years when compared to a vehicle of lesser value but high maintenance costs, it is a no-brainer.

Only other choice is to buy a used vehicle that has good fuel economy, cheap parts, and a good service record, and they are hard to find.