Looking at choosing my next company car. Currently drive a Passat B7 140 Estate which is ideal in terms of space and comfort. Looking at either a VRS estate TDI or a new B8 Passat SE Business 150.

A few questions.......

Obviously I understand the VRS would be quite a bit quicker than the new Passat but not sure about space etc.The Brochure for the VRS says that the space in the boot is larger than my current B7, and I have been pleased with the practicality of the B7. We do quite a bit of camping etc so an estate is essential.

Can you fit a tow bar onto a vRS estate?

Has anyone else made the swap from a Passat to an Octavia or vice versa ?

I used to have a 170 Seat Leon FR (57plate) - is the performance of the VRS much better?

Thanks

The CR unit it more revy than the old PD units, so it lacks the punch of the PD unit. But torque is better spread and more refined.

Towbar yes mine has one on order from factor, speak to the dealer.

At a pinch I guess the skoda will be more sport than the passat, and quicker.

If I had know about their hybrid version I would have probably gone for that instead. But it's been suggest to me the passat is rather dull to drive, not been out in one as to be honest fed up of the whole dealership/buy car experience so went with Skoda being the lessor of the evils

Have a B8 SE as company car. Interior quality in Passat is much better than our Octavia, and a fair bit bigger too.

The ride quality and refinement are also leaps ahead on the Passat.

However, steering is numb, and handling just a load of wobbly under steer.

Depends what you want in the end. If you do a lot of miles the quality and refinement of the VW would win for me.

If you don't do many miles, I'd go for the Skoda.

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VRS will be faster, but thats about it, aside from the looks, which is in the eye of the beholder..

 

Passat is a higher class car (especially the new one), nobody needs to tell you that obviously.. just sit in it for a while, fell the materials, take a test drive etc...

 

If you dont care about the speed and like the look of new Passat certainly take a test drive or two...

 

Personally, Passat estate it not the prettiest in the back, near the back window, look wise I would love limousine more, but I could live with that, just need to take a right color.

Hmmm. To be honest the B7 Passat I currently drive has been quite unreliable, but I have covered 90k miles in 3 years and it's has been into VW to many times to recall. In the main it's a very quiet and comfortable car but I'm proper bored of it now. Not sure how much difference the B8 would be. I have had a look round one during my last visit to the VW dealers and must admit I am not 100% sold on the new model. The SE business comes loaded with standard kit including sat have which is a big factor.

I think after 4 years of B7 ownership I'm ready for a complete change and something that is quicker also ticks a few boxes.

How much different is the Octavia to the Passat in terms of size?

Thanks all

It’s not really fair to compare a Passat again an Octavia as they are basically a Superb.

 

Not driven the latest Passat but the MKI and MKII Superb were a better drive and built better IMO than their equivalent age Passat, as good as the MKIII Octavia is the Superb is a class above.

Hmmm. To be honest the B7 Passat I currently drive has been quite unreliable, but I have covered 90k miles in 3 years and it's has been into VW to many times to recall. In the main it's a very quiet and comfortable car but I'm proper bored of it now. Not sure how much difference the B8 would be. I have had a look round one during my last visit to the VW dealers and must admit I am not 100% sold on the new model. The SE business comes loaded with standard kit including sat have which is a big factor.

I think after 4 years of B7 ownership I'm ready for a complete change and something that is quicker also ticks a few boxes.

How much different is the Octavia to the Passat in terms of size?

Thanks all

Since you already own B7, I would agree that B8 isnt much of a change, more of overall improvement, much like Octavia Mk3 vs Mk2. In that case you might want to consider VRS for a change, just dont regret to harsh drive and no so good cabin isolation. What about Insignia or C5 for example?

Since you already own B7, I would agree that B8 isnt much of a change, more of overall improvement, much like Octavia Mk3 vs Mk2. In that case you might want to consider VRS for a change, just dont regret to harsh drive and no so good cabin isolation. What about Insignia or C5 for example?

Absolutely no chance of me having a Citroen or Vauxhall

I suppose the question for me would be is the vRS better than my current B7 ? Really interested to see how much you guys rate the practicality of the Octy? If I could have a B8 with the 190 engine then I may be drawn towards the new Passat but currently the best Passat on my list is the SE Business.

Absolutely no chance of me having a Citroen or Vauxhall

 

Although they might be considered by some as little big gay, they are still better built that Octavia.

Although they might be considered by some as little big gay, they are still better built that Octavia.

Really?

Although they might be considered by some as little big gay, they are still better built that Octavia.

Having owned a Citroen C5 3.0 Bi turbo diesel for 15 months and an Insignia Bi Turbo diesel for 16 months - I couldn't disagree with you more there mate.

 

Covered 38k in my VRS and it is by far the most reliable and one of the best built cars I've owned.

I had this exact choice but couldn't test drive the new passat at the time - i liked the old passat (had loadsa B7 hire cars before my vRS) but did find it a tad mundane even the final make exec style and space (bootwise) the O3 is better from what i found.

 

Glad i didn't hang out for the B8 as i literately hate the look of it in the flesh, even if it is better built/quality.

Having owned a Citroen C5 3.0 Bi turbo diesel for 15 months and an Insignia Bi Turbo diesel for 16 months - I couldn't disagree with you more there mate.

 

Covered 38k in my VRS and it is by far the most reliable and one of the best built cars I've owned.

Considering you are talking about new cars, since your Octavia is new as well, then we have to disagree. I would never claim Octavia build quality, materials used and sound isolation is the same as cars like Passat, C5, 508 etc..

Edited 12 July, 201510 yr by toni8b

Appreciate your quandary.....I had the choice of a B8 150 TDI GT or Golf GTD which size apart is a similar situation.

I came to realise that I preferenced enjoyment of the vehicle over comfort/practicality as I know otherwise id get bored and when youre stuck with something for 3 years you need to make the right call.

I really liked the Passat, particularly in GT spec but I already have an Octavia estate so didnt really need such a collosal car, also as nice as it would be I knew it wasnt going to be particularly quick or stacks of fun to drive.....though I do 25/30k miles a year now and mostly motorway driving so thinking with ones head it'd probably been ideal.......

However when push came to shove I just couldnt rule out the GTD. It was a car I actually wanted, was probably never likely to buy (as I wouldnt want to pay nearly 30k for a Golf), big enough that it'd work for me and knew Id enjoy having it.

I have a loan GTD whilst my factory order turns up and I dont regret it at all. For the first time in a good while I actually look forward to going for a drive which I never did with my Octavia Elegance. Also the GTD will come with Nav and heated seats which were two big draws to the Passat so Id need not have worried.

Cut a long story short, its really about what you'd prefer to have. The Passat realistically is probably the better car overall even in SE Business spec...certainly a touch more premium but it definitely is not going to be as fun as a vRS. Personally Id go with the vRS and accept some of its v minor shortcomings given it will perform and drive better than the Passat when being hustled but thats just me.

I've come from a pd140 b6 sport estate to a tsi vrs estate. The vrs is obviously much faster, it is also better specced due to the age difference but it does feel like a cheaper car. The Passat felt solid and composed and more comfortable and I thought the handling was pretty decent considering the size of it. Didn't give much feedback.

I much preferred the flat loading bay of the Passat and the seats that folded almost completely flat and had a much thicker boot floor.

Still I love the Octavia and it is a very good all round car. I did look at b7 Passat but thought they looked cheaper than the b6 with chrome metal parts replaced with black plastic and the likes.

Having spent 2 months in the new passat, I wouldnt give it the time of day, I wasnt impressed especilaly considering the price difference, I found it to be soft and mushy, even the wife commented that it seemed very "bouncy", the engine was the smae power as my TDI VRS, but didnt have anaywhere the poke that the VRS did, the only thing I would say in its favor was the ACC, which is option anyway!

 

I would see if you can have a new superb they are very nice.

I love this thread. I used to have a Super 170 tdi Elegance - it was my first Skoda and despite my own prejudice it won a place in my heart for the brand. I'm now driving a new Passat with the 140bhp petrol Act engine and in the running for the final decision are a superb l&k 150hp diesel, Octavia 220hp petrol (fully kitted out), BMW 218 GT.

Honestly don't know what to go for all are on budget, well spec'd and interesting cars. Skoda has served me pretty well in the past.

Love this thread

Bit of an odd comparison?

Octavia = Golf
Superb = Passat

Bit of an odd comparison?

Octavia = Golf

Superb = Passat

Not really the superb and Passat share the same floor plan, as do the Octavia and the Golf

Edited 16 July, 201510 yr by Crogers

I had this very dilemma recently...my choice was Passat GT 150ps diesel DSG or Octavia L&K 150ps diesel DSG. I made my choice, and picking up the Octy in 2 weeks!

 

I took both cars out, albeit the passat demo was a manual car. Granted, the Passat interior is very nice indeed, but inside the L&K I think is really nice too. Yes, the Passat does have that higher quality feel to it, but at no point did I feel I was in anything but a very classy car when I drove the L&K.

 

It's absolutely loaded with kit, comes in estate, and I got a really good PCH deal on mine too! the hatchback has tonnes of space as it is, and the estate is massive! Yes it might be a little smaller than the Passat, but I don't think you'd notice a huge difference!

 

Octavia all the way for me...but then again, I'm biased now! 

Having owned a Citroen C5 3.0 Bi turbo diesel for 15 months and an Insignia Bi Turbo diesel for 16 months - I couldn't disagree with you more there mate.

 

Covered 38k in my VRS and it is by far the most reliable and one of the best built cars I've owned.

Totally agree.

Had a Vauxhall Insignia diesel,  worst car in the world for me . More unreliable than the 5 cars I have had prior to it combined.....  Several warranty claims in the 5 years I had it , and once I had done 95k  it needed 2 new injectors and management system.  Fortunately for me, when I px it in for my Octavia the garage didnt notice the fault codes.

Luckily I also got it when the scrap-age   scheme was running, it lost so much money its painfull over 5 years. 

 

for me the Octavia VRS is believe it or not a far better built car, more comfortable and far nicer to drive.

I did love the Insignia to begin with, but too many faults tainted the experience. 

Totally agree.

Had a Vauxhall Insignia diesel,  worst car in the world for me . More unreliable than the 5 cars I have had prior to it combined.....  Several warranty claims in the 5 years I had it , and once I had done 95k  it needed 2 new injectors and management system.  Fortunately for me, when I px it in for my Octavia the garage didnt notice the fault codes.

Luckily I also got it when the scrap-age   scheme was running, it lost so much money its painfull over 5 years. 

 

for me the Octavia VRS is believe it or not a far better built car, more comfortable and far nicer to drive.

I did love the Insignia to begin with, but too many faults tainted the experience. 

Hopefully you are comparing it to insignia opc line, or at least some higher lever trims, since you are talking about octavia rs model as well.

Dont forget octavias low level trim, can you even recognize this?

 

http://img.yauto.cz/photos/756/1713340/Skoda_Octavia_1_2_TSI_Active_3.jpg

Hopefully you are comparing it to insignia opc line, or at least some higher lever trims, since you are talking about octavia rs model as well.

Dont forget octavias low level trim, can you even recognize this?

 

http://img.yauto.cz/photos/756/1713340/Skoda_Octavia_1_2_TSI_Active_3.jpg

Had the sri trim level with many extras...

The car was just problematic from new, new disc all round within 5000 miles, engine mountings loose, garage said nothing wrong with car, poor paint, alarm going off in winter for no reason, then unable to open car, key fobs would not work, ,lights coming on when parked up and locked draining battery, several power steering pipes ruptured to name a few....  The trim level had nothing to do with it...

Not really the superb and Passat share the same floor plan, as do the Octavia and the Golf

 

That was my point.... instead of comparing the Passat with the Octavia, the OP should be comparing it with the Superb?

Irrespective of floorpans, the Passat isn't much bigger than the Octavia.

 

It also depends on the choice criteria - he does say "Company Car" which can be the most bizarre minefield in terms of choice.  I know mine was a strange combination of costs meaning I can have a Jaguar XE Prestige but only a mid-range Astra; Passat SE Business, Octy vRS but not much in Superb land.  Very rarely any logic there, just a list to pick from.

 

Hope the new Passat doesn't rattle as much as the 14 plate one I've got at the moment (177PS SE Business)