First Official B6 Passat Pictures

[Grip Driver]

[Strictly Gravy]

Looks like the Phaeton got some lovin from a Malibu. Is the VW chief of Design either dating the Chevy chief of design or the ex Chevy CoD? Just toss this on the list of another reason why VW is going down the drain and why I am getting out of the VAG game.

[ryang60]

I kinda like it... but I seem to be 'okay' with all VWs recent models. (Not in love, but dont have a problem with) Why is it Passat photos typically show a stick shift? That has to represent about 2% of Passat sales, right?

[Grip Driver]

Looks like the Phaeton got some lovin from a Malibu. Is the VW chief of Design either dating the Chevy chief of design or the ex Chevy CoD? Just toss this on the list of another reason why VW is going down the drain and why I am getting out of the VAG game.

BLA BLA BLA BLA

[Trevor57]

Better than the GTI

[schuferr]

BLA BLA BLA BLA

[Strictly Gravy]

[VWPassenger]

In my opinion, a US state plate is going to look really funny on that giant grille. Good thing Kenny's mom bought a B5 already...

[GTiV]

I like this one. Better than the Jetta. I like the swept back interior door panels. The dash reminds me of an Acura TSX/TL but nice.I still can't understand why manufacturers need to make all their models look similar. I understand brand unification but they forget that what unifies the brand is the VW logo on the car...not that they share taillight circles or headlight cutouts. I hope they can make one for under $30K. Modified by GTiV at 8:35 AM 12/16/2004

[FABINHO]

I like it

[Strictly Gravy]

From the Car Lounge:"ok, someone needs to break into VAG and steel the general motors playbook back." I whole heartedly agree

[Grip Driver]

Half the people on the Car Lounge also think the new 5 and 7 series look good

[Strictly Gravy]

Thats prolly the same 50 percent that think the Enzo is a dumb car. SO that leaves another 50% who are somewhat knowledgeable and respectable.Take a look at this and tell me its no similar: Backdoor rear glass shape, Door handles, Front lower bumper, Windshield line, headlights to an extent.......come on We also know that VWoA enjoys screwing us so we will be getting a 4x4 like that one too. Dont belive me, ask Jamie for the picture of the European spec R32 side by side with the US one.

[Grip Driver]

Greg, you can really b*** all you want but since you won't be buying one anytime soon, what difference does it make to you anyways. Besides, you think a 928 with a 350 sticking out of the hood looks good

[Strictly Gravy]

I thought this was an internet forum in a country that lives by freedom of speech Since you are not buying one either, you cannot b*** that i don't like it.

[Grip Driver]

Actually, I'm considering it so I can b*** if I please

[Strictly Gravy]

Ok even if i am not considering it, i have a right to b*** for two reasons:1. Its my god given right to b*** as an American2. I am a VW enthusiast, which means i happen to like the VW brand name and somewhat care about the designs and the slow spiral downards the company is taking for the past few years. -Greg

[Grip Driver]

In case you haven't noticed, most companies are having a hard time selling cars, not just VW. Also, given the fact that VW has gotten plenty of bad press in the not too distant past isn't helping them. And while I'm on the subject, let's not forget the less than great reliability of the current generation cars either. It's not just the design of the car, its the car as a whole and the company behind it. I have been a VW loyalist for a great many years, probably while you where still in grade school, getting beat up for your lunch money so don't preach to me about enthusiasm for the brand, etc, etc. VW as a company is making some great strides in design and engineering, comparing the Passat to a Malibu thats not even at the same price point just shows your ignorance. Its just like saying the MKIV Golf looks like the Civic Si. It may have some similarities in shape, but that where it stops.

[Trevor57]

You just got cvOWNED!

[Strictly Gravy]

Vw is known for bringing out new 'engineering feats" w/o much R&D. (hate to say it but...) The corrado G60, then tossing the Vr in there with little R&D. Hell, the Corrado didnt sell well, they took a humongous hit on it. Mk3's also have their problems, dont kno what they are exactly, but they have them. Then, there is the glorious Mk4 chassis. Hmm, coilpacks, window regulators, and (my favorite)heated seats catching on fire. Hell, you sold your Mk4 bc u said u were tired of it being in the shop, and bought a miata. Why doesnt VW see what the enthusiasts really want and do something like that. 5000 R32's and there are still quite a few sitting on lots last i checked. Then there is the glorious W8 Passat and the Phaeton. IMHO, its gonna take alot longer than the Mk5 chassis for Vw to get back on its feet. Once they can combine all of these great over-engineered and under-thought cars into something that is worthy of being called a VW, maybe ill think about one again. Ever since the OBD2 swap over, VW has been going down the tubes. I know it was federally regulated, but they can at least put some logical thought and R&D into their cars. Vw has fixed the mk4 problems, but there are bound to be more, just as extreme, in the MK5 chassis. And you kno it just as well as i do. Why do u think Vw is always high on the list for the car companies that have the most dealership visits after a new car purchase? And, if you want to go in to the age thing, thats fine. Go ahead. Most will agree, though that for the less than 2 years I have been in the CVO, my knowledge of the entire Vw scene and company as a whole has grown in leaps and bounds thanks to people like you. I have not forgotten, nor will i ever forget that. VW is a good company, and its enthusiasts are awesome. Yeah, i know im "getting out of the game," but i do know that I will always be a VW enthusiast at heart. Yeah, there cars are not the fastest, and never will be. Nor will their cars be the best handling or most tuneable, but the VW scene will always be my home away from home. -Gregps, are the b7 passats and mk5 jettas also gonna have a fully independent rear?

[Grip Driver]

pic of the new key, smart key technology I'm assuming will be an option

[KO-R32]

Owners can use that to light their smokes too.

[Eric Kuhns]

Thats prolly the same 50 percent that think the Enzo is a dumb car. SO that leaves another 50% who are somewhat knowledgeable and respectable.Take a look at this and tell me its no similar: Backdoor rear glass shape, Door handles, Front lower bumper, Windshield line, headlights to an extent.......come on We also know that VWoA enjoys screwing us so we will be getting a 4x4 like that one too. Dont belive me, ask Jamie for the picture of the European spec R32 side by side with the US one.

Any cars with similar mission are going to have some similarity. It's the details that differ that make the design complete, like the lack of the Mailbu's clumsy rear fender design, and the sharp hard lines on the sides of the car. The Jetta shape has had some mixed reviews, though generally thought highly of in person. The reaction to the Passat on the Vortex has been overwhelmingly positive, so you are clearly in the minority here, Greg. Besides, have you even considered the interior and their differences. While VW's have been "spiralling down," they have made great strides in the marketplace from the low point at the end of the MkII/beginning of MkIII era, when there was a question if VW would survive at all. Vw has done very well with the MIV's and B5's, setting sales records. These models have grown long in the tooth, all around the same time, leaving VW in a tight spot. I predict VW will enter another boom period when the new generations arrive, as early reviews have had remarkable praise, especially for the handling characteristics. They can't come too soon, though.

[FVGNGN 1]

Vw is known for bringing out new 'engineering feats" w/o much R&D. (hate to say it but...) The corrado G60, then tossing the Vr in there with little R&D. Hell, the Corrado didnt sell well, they took a humongous hit on it.

The Corrado didn't sell well because it was way too expensive in our market, and because VW had an overall bad position in the market. The VR6 was developed under the hood of Sciroccos and Golfs in the late 1980s, not sure how it turned out ot be underdeveloped for the Corrado. IMO the biggest problem the Corrado ever had was the 2nd 3rd and 4th owners who could not afford to properly maintain them, giving them quite a reputation for poor reliability.

Mk3's also have their problems, dont kno what they are exactly, but they have them.

As do all cars. No revelation here.

Then, there is the glorious Mk4 chassis. Hmm, coilpacks, window regulators, and (my favorite)heated seats catching on fire.

OK. Coilpacks were an issue for every VW,Audi,Seat,Skoda with a 1.8t that received parts from a bad production run by a VW supplier. Hardley a Mk4 specific issue. Amazingly unfortunate for VW for a component that is used in their most popular engine four times to have such a problem - just no way to make enough replacements fast enough at that volume. While it was not OK, it could have happened to any company.

Why doesnt VW see what the enthusiasts really want and do something like that.

Sorry to break it to you but the enthusiasts don't have a chance in hell of keeping a company like VW in the black. They need to cater to the general American market if they want to grow and succeed. I think they DO need to improve on this front (too much is still decreed from Germany for our market without enough input from / about our market), but the guys in Auburn hills are fighting this battle hard.

5000 R32's and there are still quite a few sitting on lots last i checked.

How many exactly were on the lots 'last you checked', and when was that? I have been told (no I didn't check) that there are about 200 left. Sounds like 5000 was just the right amount, although I never expected it (I thought 3000 max would be the right number).

Then there is the glorious W8 Passat

Yep. See earlier comments about Germany dictating to the US market, rather than listening to it. This is an excellent example of that problem.

and the Phaeton.

I don't know that this has been a bad project for them. It is not and will never be a big seller, but it does not have to be. It is being received as an honest to goodness player in the luxury sedan market by the media, which is exactly what VW wants. The Touareg was a great step in the right direction, the Mk V will continue to move to a premium position in the compact car market and the B6 is again approaching $40k, but this time with an established (regarless how recently) perception of VW as a premium brand. Heck the 3.6 VR will be more powerful than the W8

IMHO, its gonna take alot longer than the Mk5 chassis for Vw to get back on its feet.

We will have to wait and see.

Once they can combine all of these great over-engineered and under-thought cars into something that is worthy of being called a VW, maybe ill think about one again.

Quite a blanket statement. Your opinion too, so I can accept it as such.

Ever since the OBD2 swap over, VW has been going down the tubes. I know it was federally regulated, but they can at least put some logical thought and R&D into their cars.

This makes absolutely no sense. Is there a documented problem with the VW/Bosch OBD2 engine management systems? Is there any information that you are privy to that suggests that these systems were developed on a whim and without logical thought and R&D? 1. They were developed by engineers, who are by nature logical in their methodology 2. They were developed by Germans who are widely regarded as detail oriented, logic driven people. 3. VW owns and operates one of the most expansive R&D facilities in the industry. This statement does not seem to have much more than emotion supporting it.

Vw has fixed the mk4 problems, but there are bound to be more, just as extreme, in the MK5 chassis. And you kno it just as well as i do.

I don't know this, but we will find out in the next few years.

Why do u think Vw is always high on the list for the car companies that have the most dealership visits after a new car purchase?

At least part of this is because of the dealership network itself. There are some great dealers out there, but there are arguably more (based on anecdotal evidence) that will always try to take the shortcut when dealing with a customer problem - which will quite often result in that customer coming back, or going to another dealer for the same problem. This is definitely a problem for VW in this market, but I feel the dealer network and factory are equally culpable.

And, if you want to go in to the age thing, thats fine. Go ahead. Most will agree, though that for the less than 2 years I have been in the CVO, my knowledge of the entire Vw scene and company as a whole has grown in leaps and bounds thanks to people like you. I have not forgotten, nor will i ever forget that.

Congratulations!

VW is a good company, and its enthusiasts are awesome. Yeah, i know im "getting out of the game," but i do know that I will always be a VW enthusiast at heart. Yeah, there cars are not the fastest, and never will be. Nor will their cars be the best handling or most tuneable, but the VW scene will always be my home away from home.

Don't think of it as getting out of the game, just changing teams. IMO a car guy is a car guy (unless they are a girl ) so the brand competition thing does not make much sense to me.Drive on

[FVGNGN 1]

We also know that VWoA enjoys screwing us so we will be getting a 4x4 like that one too. Dont belive me, ask Jamie for the picture of the European spec R32 side by side with the US one.

Actually this was self inflicted by the American driving public, and our litigous society. VW got tired of getting sued by idiots who don't know where the front of their car is, who ripped off front bumper covers on parking curbs, so they raise the ride height of cars destined for our market.