1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX Estate

With Volkswagen’s recent sales success, it’s hard to think back to the 1990s and the struggles the manufacturer went through. At one point, the company was considering pulling out of the US market due to dismal sales running up to the early 1990s. Volkswagen averted crisis and saw it through, ramping up the release of several new models at the end of the decade which saw a resurgence in sales success that the company had not seen since the 1960s.

In 1997, as a new Passat was being prepared, this marked the end of the line for the B4 Passat, which went relatively unloved amongst consumers in the market for a mid-sized car. That was unfortunate, because the Passat offered German engineering at a low price and came equipped with two rather unique engines for the US market, a 1.9 liter TDI diesel, or this car’s 2.8 liter narrow angle VR6. This Passat GLX for sale in New York is one of the lowest mileage B4s I’ve seen over the last couple of months.

1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX Estate on eBay

1997 Volkswagen Passat GLX. Super Clean inside and out. Only 59k original miles. You have to come see, it is in really amazing condition. Garage kept, non-smoker. The options include: automatic, leather interior, moonroof, factory alloy wheels, factory AM/FM stereo, ice cold A/C, front and side airbags, power windows, power door locks, cruise control, ABS brakes, runs and drives as nice as it looks. This is truly an incredible find.

For under $5,000, I wouldn’t hesitate taking a flyer on this five door, even if the B4’s reputation for reliability is less than stellar. The only thing that leaves me wanting for more is, of course, the gearbox. The sweet VR6 deserves the one extra gear and level of involvement a third pedal would bring.

-Paul