Well after the 3 series and Mondeo comparison threads I thought Id throw this one into the pot as its one ive been investiging recently...

 

The Passat must be nearing the end of the line in its current incarnation but generally looks like a solid vehicle with decent space. Many aspects could be considered similar to the new Octavia in fact. For me, the negatives are that its based on an older architecture - mainly chassis and infotainment losses here - so no MQB platform and no new age Columbus unit available (I like my audio and gadgets!).

 

BUT In terms of ticking the boxes for what we need as a family car it does well. Estate format. AWD option. I like fully loaded cars so I especially like the fact you can spec the Panoramic sunroof and Dynaudio 600w 10 speaker setup.

 

Some of the prices for very nicely specced ones (and I do mean properly specced not just extra odds and sods added) seem exceptionally good. So... a top of the line Executive Style Tech model with the newest 177ps TDi engine and proper brushed metal in the cabin, really decent quality Nappa leather seats with multi stage heating and cooling AND massage function...  heated rear seats, Bi xenons and rear LED lamps, heated windscreen, park assist, tyre pressure monitor (gen 2 units so they actually report each tyres pressure, not just throw up an warning light to say one of your wheels is loosing some air!) 18" alloys, rear camera.....

 

....all of the above for £25k! (A couple of k more gets you into the 4motion awd model)

 

Does this strike anyone else as a bit of a good deal or are there major issues with the Passat that Im not in the loop with?! Are they generally reliable? Do any Briskodians have ownership experience of the modern ones?

Very reliable all the manufacturing glitches are long gone.

Build quality - my CC is generally solid. One or two rattle can be quite common across the range.

Can saw tooth rear tyres. Full size spare wheel well.

New model is expected march next year I believe.

Tyre pressure monitor is the same as skoda as far as i know unless you spec the tpms system. This has pressure sensors in the wheels and provides the display on the dash. Standard on the sport, optional on the other specs.

Where do you get the 25k price from? I got £26,420 from the VW website before adding extras

The alltrack is from £29,230 so quite a bit over the Octy 4x4. But it does look pretty nice. The electronic handbrake puts me off though.

Sorry guys, Im not talking rrp but the actual available prices from dealers right now. Drivethedeal as a broker is 7k off the nicely specced ones. Carwow returned savings of almost the same.

Tyre pressure monitor is the same as skoda as far as i know unless you spec the tpms system. This has pressure sensors in the wheels and provides the display on the dash. Standard on the sport, optional on the other specs.

I think my point was that you cant actually spec the better option on the Octavias or can you on the mk 3?

 

So are they really good value at these prices or are they considered a bot old hat now? I have to say, when Ive bought towards the end of a production cycle, i reckon theres been less little niggles.

Too add I have had my CC 3 years, 66000 miles. No faults at all. I fixed one rattle and the other is only for a bit when cold (could annoy some people).

Original pads looking good for another 40000 miles.

It's a 170 cr blue motion. 46.25 overall mpg since new. Front tyres 20k per set, rears 50k.

I've had two Passats both 2.0 TDI 140, my current one is a 2009 with 80k on the clock and has taken everything that has been thrown at it (literally, I hit a deer in November and it stood up very well).  I love it but fancy a change, as we had a vRS previously.  I'm hoping the new car is all it is cracked up to be otherwise I'll be moving back next time!  It was a tough decision but I liked the vRS a lot on the test drive.

My experience with a 2006 Passat saloon was not good, probably was unlucky but put me off another, it had to have the rear end re-welded at 3 weeks old, the beam under parcel shelf had failed, then had fuel pump breakdown, had to wait 6 weeks for parts, at the time they were dropping like flies! Later on had to have new turbo, new clutch and flywheel, only did 63k in it from new, was glad to see back of it, had Superb II and Octy III since, cant believe the difference in reliability with same parts! Guess run-out models should be sorted though but basic car dates back to 2005 so needs to be good discount but I've seen similar discounts on delivery mileage Superbs, know what I'd rather have!

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Thanks for the input guys.

I saw one on the showroom in my local VW/Skoda dealer, it was the R line estate in candy white, had lots of options ticked on it including the pano roof and I must say it was fantastic looking car, it really did look nice, I must admit it was almost tempting to cancel the vRS order and have that one instead, but it was manual and I really don't want a manual!  Also, like the OP said the older audio technology is a turn off as well, however, if a big discount can be got on one with a nice spec then it really is a worthy candidate as a car.  As you may of guessed I was very impressed with it, and as it had 18" alloys on it it really set it off!

 

But, the problem is its an old car now, the technology is old compared to modern cars, so thats where it is let down, however, I expect the new model will be a very capable car.

I saw one on the showroom in my local VW/Skoda dealer, it was the R line estate in candy white, had lots of options ticked on it including the pano roof and I must say it was fantastic looking car, it really did look nice, I must admit it was almost tempting to cancel the vRS order and have that one instead, but it was manual and I really don't want a manual!  Also, like the OP said the older audio technology is a turn off as well, however, if a big discount can be got on one with a nice spec then it really is a worthy candidate as a car.  As you may of guessed I was very impressed with it, and as it had 18" alloys on it it really set it off!

 

But, the problem is its an old car now, the technology is old compared to modern cars, so thats where it is let down, however, I expect the new model will be a very capable car.

I think that pretty much hits my thoughts on the car also. It's quite a looker with the R line kit on it and the discounts could make up for a large part of the fact it's now an older design - which in itself does bring *some* benefits.

I've hired a couple of Passat estates and they are very solid - they do feel premium relative to Skodas with good sound proofing and general build quality. My only issue is their handling and heaviness in comparison with the Octavia - the electronic handbrake is annoying too. I would avoid the base engines - the 105PS diesel really needs a lot of right foot to get any acceleration.

The 177 is not the newest engine. The Passat still comes with the 140 and 177 engines and the chassis is still the previous generation (Not MQB as you've already stated).

 

All VAG group cars will get the newer 150 and 184 engines in due course when the relevant facelift or new model appears.

 

Passats are nice, they are the ultimate vanilla car.  Good at most things, exceptional at none.  But crucially they have the 4motion system if you like that sort of thing.

 

Very solid build, as reliable as any other VAG car but ultimately smaller and more expensive than an Octavia.

 

I am very surprised at the rrp you stated, if dealers are offering that size discount then that normally comes with the relevant model coming to the end of their life.

To be honest one of the cars I have considered the most was exactly a Highline 4M Passat Estate.

 

I test drove a 4M DSG TDI-CR 170 estate and it did feel more premium inside than the new Octy, despite being old-gen now. I liked it a lot actually!

 

I couldn't justify the space and the price though, as the Octy III is more spacious with a bigger boot AND a more compact car length. And the price - oh my, the equivalent Passat is about EUR 7k more expensive. Same arguments for the Allttrack

The 177 is not the newest engine. The Passat still comes with the 140 and 177 engines and the chassis is still the previous generation (Not MQB as you've already stated).

 

All VAG group cars will get the newer 150 and 184 engines in due course when the relevant facelift or new model appears.

 

Passats are nice, they are the ultimate vanilla car.  Good at most things, exceptional at none.  But crucially they have the 4motion system if you like that sort of thing.

 

Very solid build, as reliable as any other VAG car but ultimately smaller and more expensive than an Octavia.

 

I am very surprised at the rrp you stated, if dealers are offering that size discount then that normally comes with the relevant model coming to the end of their life.

No, I realise its not a 184 spec engine, I simply meant its the latest available on that platform (as opposed to the Octavias that previously stuck with the 170 lump of that vintage). ALso wondering what the actual differences are between the 170 and 177ps unit... off for a google....

 

Also, the ultimate vanilla cars; jack of all trades master of none, always seem to be the best ones for general family duties from experience. Reading thr generally positive remarks it appears to be a well priced alternative currently. Bit of a older barge than the lighter, better handling Octavia Mk 3 but mid 20's for a big bus that'll swallow everything with solid build and proper nappa leather (the cheap plastic stuff in the Skodas being something that grates me more and more lately) - panoramic roof, climate seats with massage function for the long European drives and reverse camera, a better TPMS system...  hmmm, makes a lot of sense. Will be interesting to see if the discounts get any bigger as it gets even nearer to the end of its life cycle.  Thanks for the input guys.

Very solid build, as reliable as any other VAG car but ultimately smaller and more expensive than an Octavia.

 

I can't believe the Passat is smaller than the Octavia.  I always thought it was a rival to the Superb.  Passat = Superb, Golf = Octavia?

I can't believe the Passat is smaller than the Octavia.  I always thought it was a rival to the Superb.  Passat = Superb, Golf = Octavia?

I think its fairly similar but the new Octy may just have a slight advantage in rear leg room. The Passat boot capacity is over 600 litres now so again, pretty much identicle (think the Octy is quoted at 610 litres?). The Superb is a few litres bigger again with unrivalled rear cabin space.

One of my neighbours has an 11 plate VW Passat AllTrack (I think it's the 170 version?) and it's a nice looking car.

Would certainly be on my short list if I was also considering an Octy 4x4/Scout if I could get a discount on one.

One of my neighbours has an 11 plate VW Passat AllTrack (I think it's the 170 version?) and it's a nice looking car.

Would certainly be on my short list if I was also considering an Octy 4x4/Scout if I could get a discount on one.

Thats exactly my thinking. btw - think ive sussed that if its a 177 Alltrack it gets a pipe each side (looks very smart actually), if its the lower powered 140 then it a twin on one side.

The Passat Alltrack looks more like a Scout, with its stick-on "look at me, I'm a big tough all-roader" plastic bits, as well as the greater ride height.

(I suspect that the greater ride height doesn't give any greater ground clearance, it's just to leave room for the extra 4WD transmission components underneath, like the 4x4 non-Scout Octavia.)

I know it's not really relevant here, being in a different price range as well as smaller inside, but the xDrive 3-Series BMW has an irresistible attraction for me in having no extra body trim and no greater ride height compared with the traditional RWD 3-Series - just a tiny badge on the back.

(I suspect that the greater ride height doesn't give any greater ground clearance, it's just to leave room for the extra 4WD transmission components underneath, like the 4x4 non-Scout Octavia.)

 

The haldex unit does not stick out underneath, the only extra bit that might is a kink in the exhaust as it passes under the propshaft. It does have increased ground clearance over the standard.

 

I believe the suspension is the same in both the 4x4 and the Scout, but the Scout's larger diameter tyres give the extra height over the standard 4x4.

From memory the Octy II 4x4 has a clearance of 164mm underneath the Scout 180mm

 

Current Octy III is 140mm for the standard set-up and 154mm with the raised ride height and stone guard option.

 

The Passat has always been in my mind a benchmark car, particularly in Combi form but IMHO it is showing it's age now and if buying new the more up-to-date Octy III seems to make more sense, albeit the cabin finish might not be quite up to VW's best.

 

Also feel the latest 150 motor in the Octy is up with the older generation 170 engines in the performance stakes.

 

 

TP

Thats exactly my thinking. btw - think ive sussed that if its a 177 Alltrack it gets a pipe each side (looks very smart actually), if its the lower powered 140 then it a twin on one side.

 

They do have a 170/177 round the corner then.

It's a sort of gold colour, compliments the plastic protection bits quite well IMO.