I've got to drive to Bristol tomorrow, a round trip just shy of 400 miles.

The hire car I have received is a 2010 Passat Estate 2.0 TDI DSG R-line... I'm going to have great fun doing two things... driving it, and enjoying the DSG on a really long run, whilst dreaming of my Superb that I have on order, but also, comparing every single element to the Superb... and I've already noticed how parts of the dashboard look plasticky and generally lower quality than the Superb, plus there's no fancy lights in the boot lid, oh and handy torch in the boot, oh, and the radio isn't as good, even when compared to the Bolero... although oddly, it has got front parking sensors... but nowhere to store my umbrella too (even if I would get soaked whilst running around the car to get it )

Edited 17 January, 201115 yr by Superbalicious

That sounds like a real chore

Enjoy

I've got to drive to Bristol tomorrow, a round trip just shy of 400 miles.

The hire car I have received is a 2010 Passat Estate 2.0 TDI DSG R-line... I'm going to have great fun doing two things... driving it, and enjoying the DSG on a really long run, whilst dreaming of my Superb that I have on order, but also, comparing every single element to the Superb... and I've already noticed how parts of the dashboard look plasticky and generally lower quality than the Superb, plus there's no fancy lights in the boot lid, oh and handy torch in the boot, oh, and the radio isn't as good, even when compared to the Bolero... although oddly, it has got front parking sensors... but nowhere to store my umbrella too (even if I would get soaked whilst running around the car to get it )

What do expect driving something which is, after all, Skoda's low-rent relation

After your trip , would be interesting to hear you pick it to bits bothe +'ely & -'ely

R-Line is the old S model, sheet seats, you might wanna take a pillow with you.

Umbrella goes in the drivers door card, you'll see the hole for it where the card meets the B pillar.

Dashboard is cheap, and it creaks as well.

VW don't do the little touches like illumination sadly, and for a set of bulbs and some wire I think they totally miss out of raising the cabin feel.

Well, I'm back... so what did the journey bring...?

OK, so clearly the R Line is a lower spec car, I'm guessing it's broadly similar to the Superb S. VW have update the website so the new model based on an Passat S Estate TDI CR 140 DSG with metallic paint, front and rear parking sensors and cruise control works out just shy of £24,900. Remember, this price is for the new model. The Superb S, spec as closely as I can to the Passat, works out at £23,015.

So, the Passat. My journey took me from Chester to Bristol via the motorway all the way, so no real chance to "play", but I had a good chance to check out the interior...

The dashboard is not as good as the Superb, it doesn't look as good imo, and there are certainly a few quality issues, especially with the plastic trim that runs across the centre of the dash. This creaked when touched... not good...! The car had the "new" style key, in the form of a fob which just plugs into the dash. I liked this and it would look good in the Superb... maybe in the facelift eh?

The stereo was a swing, but the Superb S has this also... to be honest though, with the white on black dials, the red illumination on the switches and the blue background on the stereo, the illumination throughout looked a bit of a mess!

The car had an electronic handbrake, which worked pretty well. A simple button to press for on, and press for off (with the foot brake applied). This meant that the twin cup holders in the Superb was actually two cup holders and another cubby hole in the Passat.

The car drove very well and was very quiet, which I would say was the same as the Superb, but I can't remember...!!! I'm sure it is though. I thought at first that the 140bhp in the Passat would have been enough for me in the Superb that I've ordered, but the journey home on the A roads showed that it ran out of puff sooner than expected, although with the DSG box it was still a good performer. Sport mode worked very well when approaching roundabouts and gave the impression of blipping the throttle when down changing.

I achieved a reasonable 56mpg on the 190 mile journey to Bristol, which seemed good enough to me. The range on the tank was suggesting an overall range of 850 miles, although I guess the Passat has a bigger tank than the Superb..? On the way home, with about 60 miles on A roads, and the car is Sport mode with some flat out acceleration, the mpg dropped to... 53mpg. If my 170CR DSG can get within 10% of these figures I'll be a happy man

I did see a Superb Estate on the way down... and I actually felt that I was in the worse car... not that the Passat was bad, but just that the Superb is so good, and such good value...!

Oh, and the lights were pants too... but then the Superb S doesn't come with the Active headlights anyway... and the dials in the Passat don't do their dance like they do in the Superb...

So, overall, it's the little things that, for me, make the Superb stand above the Passat I want mine NOW...!!

I'll probably think of other things to comment about, but that's about it for now!

Told ya

Yeah, I know... the Passat did have some nice features though (well, two anyway)... the umbrella slot is in the driver's door (as pointed out by others) and the key is neat... I couldn't see any other reason why someone would choose the Passat Estate over the Superb... it doesn't even look as good (imho)

Personally I found the push in key a bit of a novelty, i prefer the column mounted ignition barrel, probably because i'm used to it.

I hated the electric handbrake - absolutely hated it. Same for the little cruise control stalk, never got on with it.

I wasnt too keen on the blue dials, not very kind to my eyes on long journeys at night. And yes, the headlights were bad but I have had xenon equipped cars for the last 5 or so years.

DSG box was great for the traffic light grand prix but lumpy, clunky and awkard in slow traffic.

It also had a pop out keypad for making phone calls, looked like something from around 1995.

It was however very quiet and refined on the motorway, much quieter than my Octavia but I don't think its a quiet as the Superb.

All of my neighbours saw it and asked me if I was disappointed about having my Octavia back - cheeky ******s!

I wouldnt cry if someone gave me a Passat and one has to bear in mind how long the B6 has been out compared to the Superb mk2. Saying that, I bet the Superb would still come out on top against the 'new' Passat too. I would like to see it's new full colour info screen make it over to the 3T in place of the maxidot.

On my journey home tonight which was mostly a gentle motorway drive, my CR170 returned an indicated 62mpg. Not a typical figure for me but it shows what it is capable of.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the cruise control stalk... the system on my Saab lets me increase or decrease my speed by 1mph, it's great, however in the Passat, it didn't matter how quickly or gently I used the stalk to increase the speed, it jumped up 5kmh at a time... not good. I hope the Superb system is more flexible....?

I've driven a few DSG cars now and all have been smooth in traffic... I really can't wait to get mine!

62mpg is pretty impressive... I guess you've got a manual box? I'd like to think I can get the DSG Superb in the 50's

Superb cruise easily adjusts in 1mph steps

Oh yeah, I forgot about the cruise control stalk... the system on my Saab lets me increase or decrease my speed by 1mph, it's great, however in the Passat, it didn't matter how quickly or gently I used the stalk to increase the speed, it jumped up 5kmh at a time... not good. I hope the Superb system is more flexible....?

I've driven a few DSG cars now and all have been smooth in traffic... I really can't wait to get mine!

62mpg is pretty impressive... I guess you've got a manual box? I'd like to think I can get the DSG Superb in the 50's

My 2.0 PD DSG Sat normally can hit the 50 mpg if the conditions are right, CR's are supposed to be better by around 5mpg, best I've had is 55mpg on a 250 mile trip not hammering it, average on hols over 400 miles was 43mpg fully loaded up and hilly conditions for 100 miles of it.

I'd certainly be happy with 55mpg on a good run. My commute to work is 40 miles with about 30-35 on the motorway, so mid to high 40's would be more than acceptable too, given that I'm moving from manual to DSG and currently average 48-50 mpg to work

Low to Mid 40's is more like reality with the 170 DSG, it's what I get and that is driving in an econimical manner (real figures, not MFD ones).

My journey is 110 miles round trip, 90 of that on motorway at 68mph with the cruise on. For the size and luxury of the car it not bad, and may even improve with some warmer weather and when the motor loosens up a bit more.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the cruise control stalk... the system on my Saab lets me increase or decrease my speed by 1mph, it's great, however in the Passat, it didn't matter how quickly or gently I used the stalk to increase the speed, it jumped up 5kmh at a time... not good. I hope the Superb system is more flexible....?

Passat cruise stalk increases by 5 if you push up and one if you pull towards. I feel it is a better system that the superb on the separate stalk. I think the seats are more comfortable too.

My superb arrives in March so should be able to comment a bit better on the relative merits. However, we are very pleased with the passat, it is an excellent cruiser, very spacious and comfortable - if the Superb is as comfortable I will be a happy man (can't remember the seats being as nice).

Ah, I see... I just thought it was up to increase, down to decrease and forward to set. To be honest, I think I'll feel more at home with the Superb as it's the same style of system as my current car.

You'll be well into the 40's with that sort of use.