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1997 Volkswagen Passat

Blue Book® Suggested Retail Value

$3,863 - $3,971

Fuel Economy (city/hwy)

18 - 38 / 25 - 47 mpg

What's New

The 1997 Volkswagen Passat 4-door sedan is available in two models: TDI and GLX. Standard safety equipment includes dual airbags, daytime running lights, side-impact protection and child safety locks. An anti-lock brake system (ABS) is optional on the TDI and standard on the GLX. A fuel-efficient 1.9-liter 90-horsepower Turbo Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine powers the TDI, while the GLX sports a more powerful 172-horsepower V6 engine. Standard features on both models include a rear window defroster, power windows and door locks, an AM/FM stereo cassette, air conditioning and cruise control. The GLX adds fog lights, alloy wheels, a traction control system and a trip computer.

Quick Facts

Engine: 90 - 172 horsepower
Seating: 5 passengers
Driving Range: 333 - 870 miles

Drive: Front-Wheel Drive
Cargo Capacity: 14.4 cu. ft.

More Specs

User Reviews

The community thinks...

Overall Rating

7.5

Styling8.2
Performance8.4
Interior8.2
Quality6.7
Recommendation7.0

Owner

Overall Rating4.7
Styling7.0
Performance8.0
Interior6.0
Quality2.0
Recommendation3.0

Not the ultimate VW; maybe the next gen is better by Dukeboy22 on 11/19/2008. Trim: 1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX, Owned more than 10 years.

Pros: Nice handling, decent acceleration, and a quite good highway feel. The car definitely stays staight on the highway at speeds of 75 mph.

Cons: CONSTANT EXPENSIVE REPAIRS: Windows, just plain and simple, do not work. Either the motor/regulator is bad, and the track is off. They simply do not close properly, wonderful for bad weather. 2nd, the turn signal by the headlights are falling out. Yes, they do not stay attached to the car. AC problem. $1,500. Check Engine Light: Has never turned off. Yes, it has been looked at by VW on numerous occasions. Transmission: It will stck until you get it 'serviced'. Mind you, the tranny fluid cannot ever be changed. The tranny case has no hole for it.

Overall review: Nice looking car that drives well, I would NOT recommend anyone ever to get this. The maintenance is just too much for what you pay. We bought this car brand new, off the lot, in 1997, for my father, with the 100k warranty. Outside of the smooth ride, the car just seemed to fall apart after 50k miles. I would not recommend this car.

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