W8 Powers Passat onto Performance Charts
Tell the basic non-car guy or gal that your Passat is powered by a W8 engine and you may as well tell them it's powered by eight turbo-charged gerbils running amok in a hydrogen fuel cell. They'll flash the same quizzical look, nod their head and validate the statement with an affirming "ahuh."
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| To those in the know, the claim of a W8 engine will bring wide grins. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
But to those who keep their automotive acumen up to date, the claim of W8 power will bring a wide grin, likely followed by an enthusiastically expressed expletive. Yup, they get it! They comprehend the effect VW's 4.0-liter, 270-horsepower W8 engine can have in the normally sedate Passat wagon, especially when the W8 feeds its torque to all four wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission.
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| The 2004 Passat remains, in my view, the best looking midsize wagon on today's market. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Driving the W8 Passat is love at first shift - if not sooner. For me the attraction, which was merely physical of course, commenced as I walked through the parking lot of Volkswagen's head office. From a distance I espied the Passat wagon like a blonde among a sea of brunettes. Okay, this is sounding a more like a Daniel Steele novel than an automotive road test. At least I think it is because I have never actually read a Daniel Steele novel, nor do I anticipate doing so or ever admit to it if I had.
Now back to the road test. Visually the 2004 Passat has changed little over last year's version. It remains, in my view, the best looking midsize wagon on today's market. Its appearance is fresh, clean and symmetrical. Large square'ish windows dominate the Passat Wagon's smooth, horizontal design theme. Not only does all this glass look great, it provides 360 degree unrestricted vision and imparts a bright, airy ambience to the passengers. All of which lives up to the name Passat, meaning European wind.