Made in USA , 43mpg 4DSD $20.ooo
 

$20K. Hmmm. Cheapest in the UK is £19K, which is ~$30K.

Cheating ......s! :D

I love the idea of getting the carp out of cars, since you can buy it separately if you wish, usually much cheaper than options, upgraded easily and not a potential electrical problem just when it becomes obsolete. Power outlets sure, pass on the components.

At close to end of life, my stripper no option F150 is probably worth close to the same as a Mercedes that cost several times as much when new.

Cudos to VW. Of course the additional cost of fuel and extra btu content must be factored into any calculation.

regards
Mech

WRONG
The Passat TDI that gets 31/43mpg (35mpg combined) cost $25,995 before shipping.

Sonata hybrid built in the US, 35/40mpg, 37 combined, $25,795

VW is going in the same deathtrap that GM and Chrysler went trought in the last decade. ''its ok to sell a lot of crap car if you manage to make profit out of it''

VW, Toyota, and Honda all are complacent, and are losing ground because of it.

And all the new cars look ugly, better to stick with the classics!

VW isn't losing ground, rather it's selling more cars every year.

Yep.

The "Truth" About Cars website (if ever a name was ironic...) had a story a few years ago on VW being in big trouble. Their evidence ? A dip in sales in the US market only.

Yeah VW really screwed up in the US. The reliability is abysmal and the products they're offering are way behind any of their competitors. They're still trying to sell the 2.0 8 valve motor from the early 80s, drum brakes, hard plastic interiors etc. Really pathetic stuff. They need to shape up or leave the US market. I'm tired of seeing their Mexican made garbage on the backs of tow trucks.

Are you looking at VW or VAG ?

Well, at least some company is trying to bring diesels to the USA. Maybe if they made the engines in Germany the reliability would be better.

Or the whole car for that matter. The European built version is supposedly much better.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswa...America#Yearly

whatever - 500 lbs and thousands of dollars less
 

LOL
Obviously you're not bothered by facts. You didn't know the price, you don't know the weight, you don't realize that most of the components come from Mexico or Europe... stop making a fool of yourself. Its bad enough to have to read attention ***** blue text.

2012 2.5 Curb Weight 3165 lbs
2012 TDI Curb Weight 3359 lbs
2012 3.6 Curb Weight 3446 lbs

2010 2.0T curb weight 3331 lbs

VW has had a long slide down to the bottom. They are currently ranked at the very bottom of the list of competitors for quality. They can always turn it around but customer loyalty once lost takes a very long time to turn around.

2012 Volkswagen Passat 2012
 

I don't recall any claims by VW that their EU Passat had become 500lbs lighter - and it'd have been serious auto news if it were !

Thanks for pointing out my typo. I did look up the 2012 Passat. Did you bother looking up anything?
Trims & Specs < Passat < Models < Volkswagen of America

Just for a quick recap:
The TDI costs $26k not the $20k you claimed
The new Passat does not weigh 500lb less than the previous model.
Most of the components including the engine and transmission are Manufactured in Mexico or Europe. Final assembly point is in Tennessee.

Any other fun facts you want to share with us?

Weights :

2012 US Spec Passat 1436 - 1563 kg - from the VW website link in the article

2011 Passat 1451–1618 kg - Honest John UK spec Passat

2010 Passat 1348–1800 kg - Honest John UK spec Passat

I would take the bottom figure as the top one includes models such as the R32 which does not carry over to the new range. There seems little difference to me, certainly no 500 kg saving.

Are you sure its not lbs ?

Any car will run forever given regular maintenance and care.

Oh really? Now its assembled AND manufactured in the US? Did you bother to read the little part on the window sticker that lists the US vs foreign content?
Well if you're talking about the 5 cyl gasser that can hardly crack 30mpg on the highway...
You don't say? So let me get this straight. The old Passat weighed 3300lb and the new passat weighs 500lb less but VW has decided to only give you that information because you're special? The rest of us poor suckers have to go by the lies on VW's web site?

Curb Weight:
3165.80 lb (2.5) 3359.8 lb (TDI) 3446 lb (3.6)
Trims & Specs < Passat < Models < Volkswagen of America
LOL
So you actually work for VW and you still can't get your facts straight? Just keep digging the grave to your own credibility. It died a long time ago and its starting to stink.