 Please save yourself a headache and a lot of money.  I have had a 2001 VW Passat for almost six years.  This car has to be the most poorly made, overpriced, unreliable car that I have ever owned.  Everything is ridiculous -  you spend so much money just to own the car, then (starting at 20,000 miles) I was having problems with the vehicle.  Every dealership I have dealt with was NOT customer helpful, didn't care about the buyer, and VW does everything it can to rip off it's owner's.  Get something more reliable with your money!  STAY AWAY from Volkswagen!