 I have read many Passat reviews prior to and after I bought my 99 Passat V6 w/5spd manual tranny.  I loved the car when I bought it and still do.  Having said that, I will agree with others that they are expensive to maintain.  Lots of fixes last 3yrs.  I have 130k mi on mine now and am ready to purchase again.  I would love to move up to a 2007-2008 4Motion Passat but hesitate only because of the fixes I've had to perform in the last three years.  Will they happen again?  Is the newly redesigned vehicle more reliable and the engine a better design that will need fewer fixes from 90k and up?  I still love the design of the Passats, I would just love to have awd traction and an auto tranny