Seen a couple of the new Passats in the flesh now and I've got say I don't like em.

Saw a pic of the soon to be released version..3/4 front view and thought it looked nice....perhaps it's spec/colour sensitive.....the sport I saw was met black, lowered and had 18'' alloys.

To me it just seems like an elegant design as the initial version of the last Passat was....don't like the chromed grill.

Also saw Pug 1007 for the first time....didn't like the look of it in pics but in the flesh it's not too bad. Pics make it look squashed up/short but it didn't look like that at all on the road...had quite a bit of presense about it.

Wouldn't buy one @ circa

Would buy one @ circa

Would or wouldn't?

Doh... ...wouldn't.

My thoughts on the new Passat are mostly the same though it does depend on the trim level. The ones with the chrome grill/numberplate/bottom grill surround look apauling in the flesh, and thats not helped if the bodywork is in the pale blue metalic.

I did see one in a dark reddish kinda chocolate brown though which, looked quite nice in the sunlight

Would or wouldn't?

New passat - I like it' date=' don't know why, but I haven't had a proper look yet, just seen a few on the road.

Pug 1007 - Must admit it does look slightly larger in real life, nice idea on the doors, but how much do they weigh, and how long until they fail and your trapped inside![/quote']

That's why you go for the sun roof/emergency exit option.

Have to agree they're not as bad as I thought but the price is a crippler. You could fit more cars in a car park if all doors were like that.

I actually think the Passat with the chrome grille looks awful in the dark colours. It blends in well in silver, but the car looks bland. I do, however, like the pale blue and that chrome grille. It's a bit girlie though. Black doesn't do anything for it, but I saw a greyish one which looked well. Dying to see the mocha coloured one. It'd be my pick if buying.

Fine car though to drive. Comfort level is very high, in the right spec of course. I wouldn't buy the sport since the standard suspension setup is taut enough as it is. Can't believe they still offer that weedy old school 1.9 tdi engine though. Should be 2.0 tdi or nothing.

Last thing? Costs too damn much here in Ireland for what you get.