I used to love VW passat !
I bought my second manual 1.8t passat GLS in last December (a 2004). The car was delivered to me with a anoying vibration felt in steering, door panel, pedals, seat and shifter. The car has now close 24,000 km and the problem is still not fixed. Dealer suspect now, the vibration may be comming from " Engine fly weel". Vibration is felt from idle and grow in intensity as engine rpm goes up. At 100 km/h it feels like a Dremel power tool in your hand foot and shifter. After an hour or two, it is extremely anoying.
I test driven another new 2004 passat and realised the same kind of vibration was becoming apparent. Initialy the cad har to be warm to feel it, but now it is there all the time. Chief mechanic at VW told some 1.8t engines run smooth while other are rought. They do not know why
None of that nasty vibration was present on my 1999 1.8t passat.
NEW buyer, be aware, insist to test drive the car we deliver to you before to pay the bill.