Don't know how big your kids are, but a Passat is pretty small if you need 3 car seats. It will still be cramped if they are in boosters. Try before you buy.

 

Yeah, we plan to tomorrow. They just fit into my Jetta wagon, I figure the Passat has to be somewhat larger.

One out of a seat, one in a booster, and one in a rear facing for the next 7 months or so.

I'd take a Touran or a Sharan, but we all know those aren't available...

 

Well, if you plan to use the LATCH anchors, that would mean one of the older kids sits in the middle. Do get everyone to climb in (wearing winter clothes) and figure on growth.

The Passat is fine for 4 people on a trip. We wouldn't want to stick 3 in the back. Worst thing is the utter lack of places to stick the gazillion things that kids those ages need with them.

 

only the rear facing can even use a LATCH anchor. i think he'll be fine. i have one in a booster and one out and when my oldest has a friend or one of my nephews in there as well we still have plenty of room.

 

Latch anchor or tether?
There's no reason you can't use LATCH for a rear or front facing seat.
Same goes for the rear tether actually, so I'm not sure what you mean.

 

you said you have a rear facing and a booster. no booster I've ever seen uses the LATCH system so, like I said, you only need one LATCH point. HOW you attach to it (AFAIK all car seats that use LATCH have a tether) doesn't matter, you still only need one.

 

I have three kids, 3,5 and 9, and they are all in car seats and the fit is fine. I have a killer roof rack with the yakima load warrior basket and store everything on the roof when we go on vacation. I think the variant is a perfect size, only other choice is a mini van(yuk) or SUV(no way). We take our dog with us when we make trips to Pitt and have more than enough room for her to wander around in the back. Good luck with the purchase. By the way it also slammed to the ground via KW v2 and all the other goodies.

Michael

 

With such a new car, the only thing to look for is proper oil changes with synthetic oil.

 

And for that you need doucumentation if VWoA will honor your 8 year unlimited mileage sludge warranty.

Some changes on the late 2003s were deletion of the vent lights, maybe the door sill protection plates, the grey upper band on the windsheild and the engine bonnet insulation mat.

If it comes with ESP that's a plus as it also comes with Brake Assist included.

 

My 2003 has the vent lights, it's and early 2003 so I missed the deletion point in time. I did not know they changed the struts to black? That clear bumper strip was a pain, after 4 replacements, I told them to repaint it and leave it without. I think the inconsistent changes perhaps relies on what factory made them and how much supplies was left. Can't understand why delete the hood insulation. I was told my the salesman that it also acts as a device to snuff off engine fires. The heat melts the retaining clips which causes the insulation to drop.

 

Why did you have to repaint your bumper? when mine started lifting I just pulled it off, removed the left over adhesive residue and then polished and waxed.

 

the paint came off with mine on the second replacement. VW paid for all of the replacements. With all of them, the strips began to lift up at the corners. I've seen B5s with these strips and their's was fine and not peeling. Don't know what the issue was with mine. I know the strip is a 3M product made in Portugal as I have seem the box it came in countless times.

 

My only hesitation in buying that particular car is that it might have one of the flakey model year 2003 fuel pumps, but not fall under VW's fuel pump recall.

The B5/B5.5 Passat wagon is a foot or so longer than the Jetta wagon (which I wish they had not discontnued with the MY 2005 redesign of the sedan!!!!), but I don't think it's significantly wider. The B5 wagon has meet my 4-member family's needs well, even though my two sons' respective heights straddle the 6-foot mark. However, it is not a particularly wide car, which is great for me, but perhaps not-so-great with 3 carseats.

 

My only hesitation in buying that particular car is that it might have one of the flakey model year 2003 fuel pumps, but not fall under VW's fuel pump recall.

The B5/B5.5 Passat wagon is a foot or so longer than the Jetta wagon (which I wish they had not discontnued with the MY 2005 redesign of the sedan!!!!), but I don't think it's significantly wider.

Well think again!!!!! Sorry, I've been wanting to use that one for a while. :lol: Anyway, the B5 is SIGNIFICANTLY wider than the MkIV. I HATE driving my wife's GLI because of how much narrower the footwells are. Another indicator of how narrow the car is, is the dash. In a MkIV the center section is adngled towards the driver to gain a little extra room for your legs. The back seat is the same.

 

I agree the Passat is quite a bit wider overall than the Jetta. The back seat only has an extra 2" of shoulder room, but overall it feels bigger.