4-cyl AWD sedan 2003/2004/2005--which year is most reliable?
 

I was all set up to begin looking for a 2004 Passat to buy because Consumer Reports Used Car Guide lists that year as statistically having fewer problems than the 2003 or 2005 models (and that range is the one I'm looking at in terms of mileage and features and so on).

But, in another part of the same guide, "Cars/Models to Avoid", it lists *specifically* the *2004* VW Passat!

Should I just forget about the 2004 and decide whether I want to go a year earlier or a year later, or forget about the CR guide altogether and look for the best deal in my area for anything 2003-2005?

Thanks!

(I'd always thought CR had a very good reputation, but this one's a little mind-boggling to me. Is there another popular guide to used cars that people would recommend over them?)