It's no secret that VW's general reliability used to be so much better than it is currently

Still, they sell plenty of cars - so something must be working for them

I really loved my CC. It's only issue was water that sometimes ran into the boot when opened. The new passat's attempts to go upmarket will mean the CC being re-thought I would believe.

Gullible public. Not sure I'll go back to VAG in a hurry

That's exactly how I feel about Mazda. It's a perspective thing. Our VWs haven't put a foot wrong, the 1.9 tdi and 1.2 petrol are both excellent on fuel, reliable and cheap to maintain. I suspect the Passat will need pads and discs all round next service, but 100,000 miles on the originals isn't bad, still get mid 50s mpg brim to brim and 30 mpg towing. Why wouldn't I get another?

If they've been changed, I've never paid for them and I have all of the receipts, maybe a VW dealer had a charity week and did them for free.

I do around 3-400 miles per working week, motorway and dual carriage way (two commutes) and in the summer off to europe or the Black Isle towing around 1000-2000 mile round trip, it's an 08 model estate.

Yes I do brake, but I like to plan ahead whilst I'm driving and try to read the situations. I keep a wise distance between cars and don't fancy myself as a latter day "El Chueco"

Still on the original wiper blades, too, but they may have to go this time aswell.

This could be embarassing Ben10, it may turn out that you have a leaden right foot :)

Yup - not much need for heavy braking if you typical trip is 200 miles on the motorway.

I rather like the new VWs' look - Polo, Golf and now Passat.

The designs are nicely clean yet modern looking.

Some responses here read like a poor journalist's report, wordy and short on facts.

Meanwhile VW just keeps counting its sales.