| Sports cars to luxury sedans, family
| |
| | The controls are all easy to reach and
|
| vehicles to economy models, the
| |
| | pleasantly positioned. As such,
|
| diversity of cars has never been
| |
| | the driving or riding in the Passat
|
| greater. But what if a buyer wants a
| |
| | Wagon may remind the occupants of a
|
| multipurpose vehicle fits into more than
| |
| | luxury vehicle. But how could that be?
|
| one category?Is there an economical,
| |
| | It's a wagon and its base price is
|
| high-performance, luxurious, family car
| |
| | $26,130.To capitalize on the efficiency
|
| on the
| |
| | of the 4-MOTION system, the Passat GLS
|
| market?With its Passat GLS Wagon,
| |
| | Wagon features a 170-horsepower,
|
| Volkswagen can certainly make its case
| |
| | 1.8-liter turbo, 4-cylinder 20-valve
|
| offering among the most versatile cars
| |
| | engine. While the engine's performance
|
| on the road.For my weekly test drive, I
| |
| | can't be described as a
|
| drove the wagon equipped with the
| |
| | sportscar-like, when a quick burst or
|
| manufacturer's 4-MOTION option, the
| |
| | steady acceleration is needed, it's
|
| always-engaged system similar to
| |
| | available.The $1,800 option package my
|
| Audi's Quattro version of four-wheel
| |
| | vehicle featured included leather seats,
|
| drive.The system's efficiency is reason
| |
| | wooden trimmings on steering wheel,
|
| enough to purchase the vehicle as an
| |
| | shift knob and door insert. The
|
| all-weather choice. The steering is firm
| |
| | Electronic Stabilization Program ($280)
|
| and secure, the automatic
| |
| | and $575 destination fee
|
| transmission is without hesitation and
| |
| | pushed the total price to $28,785.
|
| the ride is smooth without
| |
| | That's still well under the $30,000
|
| exception.But the Passat Wagon has a lot
| |
| | price point often associated with luxury
|
| more to offer, both in its appearance and
| |
| | vehiclesStill, it's the combination of a
|
|
| |
| | smooth ride, precision steering and
|
| operation.One friend (a BMW owner)
| |
| | handling, sharp and crisp turning, a
|
| looked at the vehicle and blurted out:
| |
| | spaciouss comfortable interior and
|
| "That
| |
| | its attractive interior and exterior
|
| may be the best-designed, most
| |
| | designe that make the Passat Wagon
|
| functional vehicle out there."My friend's
| |
| | rare in its class.It's a fine touring
|
| quick assessment is hard to dispute.Car
| |
| | sedan, for sure. But it also just happens
|
| manufacturers no longer use the words
| |
| | to be a wagon
|
| "station wagon" while
| |
| | with plenty of room for groceries, home
|
| promoting their vehicles, and with the
| |
| | project supplies and the kids'
|
| Pasat's sleek-looking contoured
| |
| | youth sport equipment.2004 Volkswagen
|
| styling, it's hard to call the vehicle a
| |
| | Passat GLS WagonSafety features -- Driver
|
| wagon, let alone adding the word
| |
| | and front passenger front and side
|
| "station."The Passat Wagon I drove had a
| |
| | airbags and
|
| blue graphite exterior nicely matched
| |
| | front and rear seat head restraint
|
| with optional gray leather seats. The
| |
| | airbags.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 21
|
| front and back seats afford plenty of
| |
| | mpg (city), 30 mpg (highway).Warranty --
|
| leg and head room and the advertised
| |
| | Bumper to bumper, 4 years/50,000 miles;
|
| "five-passenger" lingo is not a
| |
| | Powertrain, 5
|
| stretch, as is sometime the case with
| |
| | years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 12 years
|
| other vehicles.The standard comfort,
| |
| | unlimited miles; Roadside
|
| convenience and special feature list is
| |
| | assistance, 4 years/50,000 miles; Free
|
| long and
| |
| | scheduled maintenance, 1 year/
|
| varied and includes: cruise control,
| |
| | 12,000 miles.Base price --
|
| remote keyless entry, intermittent
| |
| | $26,130.00James Raia is a syndicated
|
| speed wipers, dual illuminate front
| |
| | journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who
|
| vanity mirrors, AM/FM cassette and
| |
| | writes
|
| single CD players and power, daytime
| |
| | about sports, fitness and business
|
| running lights and heatable
| |
| | topics as well as the free electronic
|
| outside mirrors.Equally impressive are
| |
| | newsletters Endurance Sports News and
|
| the console and instrumentation trim and
| |
| | Tour de France Times and The
|
| design.
| |
| | Weekly Driver, a car review column.
|
