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