As the title suggests, I am toying with the idea of changing car and fancy a bit of a barge. The Superb saloon doesn't do it for me I'm afraid and I don't want an estate.

My Octavia Sport has served me well and has just passed it's MOT with no advisories so I will hopefully sell her easily enough as she's rare(ish) in petrol form!!

 

So far I've narrowed my choices down to the new shape Volvo S60 R Design, the Lexus GS450h, the Audi A4 S Line or the Passat CC GT.

Spec wise, Manual transmission is ultimately preferred, as are heated leather seats, cruise, climate, bluetooth and xenon headlights.

 

So far the Passat CC has my attention the most, maybe because it seem to be a relatively rare thing, but more so that it looks so damn good and you seem to get a lot of car for your money. Plus I can still tinker with VCDS

Has anyone actually owned or driven a Passat CC? Can anyone suggest an alternative that I might not have thought of?! Budget is up to £15k and I would like to get something 60 plate or newer with less than 50k on the clock, petrol or diesel.

I want something that is comfortable and well specced, yet can still make me smile on the twistys.

 

So,what do you guys and gals reckon.......??

I have a Passat Sport in estate form, unless the suspension on the CC is different, it won't make you smile in the twistys! 

I have a Passat Sport in estate form, unless the suspension on the CC is different, it won't make you smile in the twistys! 

 

Thanks. They have Adaptive Chassis Control, not sure if it's standard or an option but something I will be looking for.

If your looking for luxury then the Passat CC is the way forward....Somebody I know love the car and at the same time the cockpit and seats are comfy.....

The Lexus would be my choice - entirely different class of car to the Passat / Audi A4 and indecently quick too.

I'd just go and try each one on your shortlist; as said above the Lexus is in a different category really.

 

I like the look of the CC too and the suspension setup is supposed to different to the regular Passat, but only a drive out in one will tell you for sure

£15k will get you a reasonable BMW 3 series or a Merc C class.

If you're looking for an entertaining car then the Beemer is probably your best best. Mate of mine has a rather nice 325d which seems a decent compromise between performance and price.

 

I like the Mercs myself at the moment but they seem to be best in Auto not least because of the silly foot operated parking brake.

Edited 9 September, 201312 yr by Aspman

Not sure why you still get the stupid foot parking brake in Merc-land.

 

Why don't they just fit an electronic parking brake, seeing as they've never fitted a normal lever in the correct place anyway?!

I would go for the Volvo S60.... I had one 2004 Se sport, D5 (2.4) and it was fantastic. Extremely well spec'd and the D5 if you can get one, is well refined, engineered and a touch above anything on the road. It can and will give you 55+ mpg and I can bet and put my soul on that. I've had one, my friend has one, his dad had a V70 with it. My boss has one and honestly it's amazing what that car can do, and it's completely understated. 

 

As much as I love the A4 and particularly the C-class.... they just aren't the same.

 

Lexus.... well it's just crap.

I'd just go and try each one on your shortlist; as said above the Lexus is in a different category really.

 

I like the look of the CC too and the suspension setup is supposed to different to the regular Passat, but only a drive out in one will tell you for sure

 

I probably will try each one, I've always been a bit of a try one, like it and buy it type but think this time I will be more thorough.

 

£15k will get you a reasonable BMW 3 series or a Merc C class.

If you're looking for an entertaining car then the Beemer is probably your best best. Mate of mine has a rather nice 325d which seems a decent compromise between performance and price.

 

I like the Mercs myself at the moment but they seem to be best in Auto not least because of the silly foot operated parking brake.

 

I don't like the look of the Merc and the BMW has offset pedals which are awful IMHO.

 

I would go for the Volvo S60.... I had one 2004 Se sport, D5 (2.4) and it was fantastic. Extremely well spec'd and the D5 if you can get one, is well refined, engineered and a touch above anything on the road. It can and will give you 55+ mpg and I can bet and put my soul on that. I've had one, my friend has one, his dad had a V70 with it. My boss has one and honestly it's amazing what that car can do, and it's completely understated. 

 

I had an S60 D5 Sport as you describe and it was a dog, had to have a new CEM and Fuel pump a few months apart, cost £££'s, so the Volvo is probably bottom of my list but presumably a newer one would be less likely to have such issues.

I would go for the Volvo S60.... I had one 2004 Se sport, D5 (2.4) and it was fantastic. Extremely well spec'd and the D5 if you can get one, is well refined, engineered and a touch above anything on the road. It can and will give you 55+ mpg and I can bet and put my soul on that. I've had one, my friend has one, his dad had a V70 with it. My boss has one and honestly it's amazing what that car can do, and it's completely understated. 

 

As much as I love the A4 and particularly the C-class.... they just aren't the same.

 

Lexus.... well it's just crap.

 

How have you come to the conclusion that the Lexus is "crap" ?

Day

How have you come to the conclusion that the Lexus is "crap" ?

Day

 

Yes that does seem a bit harsh. The only thing worrying me about the Lexus is the battery life as they're a few grand on their own if they need to be changed. I'm only getting around 33mpg from the Octy so the fact that I could still get that from a big barge like the Lexus is quite tempting. That said, I do like a manual gearbox and the Lexus is a CVT hmmmmmmm

Your Volvo must have been an exception, as the 165 bhp D5 is well regarded and solid. my friends 05 reg has 175k and hasn't missed yet. My one had 235k and was the same story, with the clutch and flywheel only given in now. The previous owner of my Volvo traded it in for a Is220d, and when I had the opportunity to speak with him, he was disappointed with it the fuel return.

Despite making a regular trip from Chester to Basildon, using the motorway his IS only returned mid 40's mpg, where as the Volvo could hit 58 mpg easy.

Apologise for being a bit harsh but at that end of the market scale, I have high expectations and the Lexus at the end of the day is nothing more than a glorified Toyota for no extra perks.

IS220d  has a bit of a reputation as a drinker and for clogging it's EGR. I looked into one a few years back but was put off.

I'm not a fan of the IS but the newer shape GS 2007 on is a nice looking car, dash is a bit rubbish looking mind....

The Superb saloon doesn't do it for me I'm afraid and I don't want an estate.

 

I may have to eat my words here, very taken with this Superb 1.8TSI Estate....

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321207129786

That's lovely

That does look very nice.