Overview & Reviews
For 2003, a base GL sedan and wagon are available. Think of the GL as a GLS 1.8T for buyers who don't require any extras like alloy wheels, leather upholstery, seat heaters or a sunroof. Meanwhile, alloy wheels and sunroof are now standard on GLS models. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system will not be offered on GLS V6 models, forcing interested buyers to cross the 30-grand line; however, VW has made stability control (ESP) optional on all Passats (except the W8, which has this standard). Also this year, you'll be able to get W8 sedans and wagons with a six-speed manual transmission and a sport package that includes a firmer suspension and the requisite 17-inch wheels. Lastly, the standard stereo head unit gets backlighting for the buttons.
- Fun to drive, excellent value in GL or GLS trim, roomy interior with upscale feel, outstanding build and materials quality, available all-wheel drive.
User Reviews:
Showing 51 through 60 of 588.00-
Performance and Utility - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Leaseman - May 2 - 2:00 amI test drove this vehicle and was impressed with the refinement and build quality of both the interior and exterior. Every little thing seems to have been thought of, including a little hidden hand crank to open the sun roof in an emergency. The performance and handling were smooth and nicely tuned, with only minor nudges as the gears shifted under acceleration. Its easy to see why people are willing to pay a premium for this car.
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Cranky Transmission - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By leaseman - May 2 - 2:00 amI test drove this vehicle with great anticipation but was terribly disappointed by jerky, hesitating acceleration. The engine is smooth, quiet and plenty powerful, but getting up to speed is not the joyous experience it is in other $40k cars with automatic transmissions. Most everything else was marvelous, from the exterior styling to the look and feel of the interior appointments. My only other gripe was that the seats are so firm that its difficult to find a comfortable setting.
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pass otty - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By matt hew - April 16 - 10:00 amluv the feel and performance, wish the styling were more defined
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Love/Hate Relationship - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By DG - March 9 - 11:06 amI ordered a 2003 VW Passat GLX 4Motion Wagon in 2002, direct from VW. Consumer Reports had written a review that said this was the BEST wagon you could buy, so I believed them and switched from my 20-year relationship with Mazda. At first I LOVED this car, and I especially loved the dealership. Over the years, I have never had a car have so many recalls - and in my case, everything that could break did break prior to the recall - so Ive had to have these things replaced twice!
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Buyer Beware - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By Jennifer Heit - March 3 - 10:00 amI am so disappointed with my gas mileage. I am only getting 15 mpg. Service department says there is nothing they can do. They blame my in town driving, our hot climate, and my heavy use of the ac. Its a nice car and I have no other complaints but with premium gas at over $2.00 a gallon this is not an economical car. The advertised mpg is suppose to be 19 mpg.
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W8 the car youll love to hate - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By zerowheelspin - February 9 - 9:56 amAfter picking up the most grown up car Ive ever owned, I find my self in a Love hate relationship.. I bought it right off lease with 24k on the clock on 4-13-07. The first of the problems was the ac went it the first week right before a trip to the fl. Keys. The roof trim keeps popping up at the rear over the rear window. Window regulator broke, over head interior light stay on, sun roof opens for no reason, trunk lock broke, head light washer non opp, cv boots leaked, trans torque converter replaced, brake booster vac line. The list goes on I just dont have the time or space. By the way as of 8-31-09 this car only has 49,290 miles on the clock.. If you ask me stay clear of VW! All lemons!
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Great Car for the Money - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By CRAIGF - January 9 - 11:03 amI bought my Passat with 20,000 miles on it and have drove it 25,000 flawless miles in the last year. My only complaint is the expensive service. Otherwise it drives similar to my Mercedes 380E. The Passat is a great road car.
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Lemon of all Lemons - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By DanH8VW - December 5 - 1:10 pmJust a warning just dont do VW. I absolutely hate this car, because of poor service and reliability. I dont go anywhere for fear it will break down again. VW service is horrible. I have a door that has never opened, just not safe. I have needed CV boots since the day after I bought the car. This car was a replacement for my 2002 Jetta, which was a death trap. I fear for my safety in this car. I have leaked every fluid since it was new. Dealers and VW state meets specification. I wonder should they be prosecuted for theft. I have paid more in maintenance and repairs than what the car cost. Ontario VW wants $2800 for each CV boot replacement, more than its worth.
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Passat GLX 4 Motion - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By ride0238 - December 2 - 2:00 amThis is the 2nd Passat GLX 4 Motion that I have owned and I hope that it is as good as the first one. I had no problems with the 2000 GLX and this one is just an improved version.
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Best sub-luxury midsize sedan - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
By pashkus - November 22 - 10:03 pmContrary to the established repitation, my Passat has never had any reliability problems. In fact the only issues Ive ever had with it were a pealing door handle and a leak in the driver-side a-pillar, both of which were fixed under warranty. In terms of every-day driving this car is excellent. Sturdy, comfortable, and safe. Every winter I drive up to Canada to go skiing and give the AWD system a bit of a work out. There is never any drama and the car feels composed even on snow and ice. I only wish it got better gas millage (in typical driving, I average 21-22mpg). I definatelly recommend this car for someone looking for a more refined alternative to Camry or Accord.
