VW’s radical redesign on the B3 resulted in a unique, angular look at still stands apart from the crowd today. And because the internals were based on VW’s A2 chassis like the Corrado, when the 2.8 VR6 debuted in the sporty coupe for ’92 it was only a matter of time until its four-door friend got it too. That happened in ’93 with the release of the GLX VR6. Slow sales resulted in Volkswagen’s refresh of the B4 Passat into the more traditional looking B4 for 1995; which saw new BBS wheels and body styling but the same dynamic performance. Today this clean and period-correct Emerald Green Pearl Metallic ’95 also reminds us of a time when most of the top-tier sedan offerings in the US could be ordered as a five-door wagon:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1995 Volkswagen Passat GLX VR6 Variant on eBay
Year: 1995
Model: Passat GLX VR6 Variant
VIN: WVWFE83A7SE004292
Engine: 2.8 liter VR6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 74,000 mi
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Price: $6,799 Buy It Now
1995 Volkswagen Passat GLX V6 4dr Wagon
Stock #:
10999
Exterior Color:
GREEN
Interior Color:
Unspecified
Body Type:
Wagon
Transmission:
Automatic 4-Speed
Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Engine:
2.8L V6
Mileage:
74,026
The Passat has never been the most popular choice of family sedan in the US, but it was always an interesting alternative to the norm. Instead of really taking on the Camry and Accord, which VW couldn’t really hold to compete against here, the Passat was marketed as the least-expensive premium European sedan or wagon offered in the US. And to back up the Euro DNA, it had the snorty VR6 under the hood and a more compact and sporty feel than its Japanese counterparts. A 3-Series BMW it was not, though, and since it coupled a relatively high sticker price with early 90s VW build quality and electronics, it was a hard sell then and now. A total of just over 14,000 Passats were sold here in 1995 – not it’s slowest model year, amazing, but close. Just a few years later with the much more popular B5, VW would be selling nearly 10 times that amount. This particular VR6 wagon looks to be one of the better ones left out there, but in part that’s likely due to the automatic gearbox. $6,800 gets you into better-built, faster, and more reliable VWs (along with the aforementioned 3-Series wagons if you look), so you’d really have to want one of these to buy it. I’ve always been a fan of the Passat, but personal I’d opt for a Quantum GL5 Syncro Wagon (if you can find one) or a B5.5 before I bought into the B3/B4 market.
-Carter
