VW Passat versus Skoda OCtavia 1.9

worded

Is there any difference apart from the badge on these two cars.

Im considering getting a Passat with 100K miles on it.
Ive heard once they are serviced they will go forever.

Timing belt @ x miles?
Clutch - how to tell if its a good one? Is a new clutch as good as the first one the car had?

E92

Well the Skoda Octavia is really a strechted VW Golf.

VWs aren't as reliable as VW would have you believe. They've been resting on their laurels for quite some time now. They're not French car bad, but they're not as reliable as a Japmobile or a BMW or Opel(which are also German made).

_Kaiser_

Is it just me or does the current Skoda Superb look exactly like a rebadged B5 (previous version) Passat?

E92

Thats because it is a stretched B5 Passat, even though the Skoda engineers will tell you that the only thing externally that is the same as the B5 Passat is the front pair of doors.

greglo23

The Superb is actually bigger than the Passat. way more room in the back so a fair few are being used as taxis! it is also stiffer because of a brace fitted around the opening between the boot and rear seats.

worded

Ive driven a Passat and it was a pleasure.

How does the Passat 1.9 and the Octavia 1.9 Diesel compare MPG wise?

E92

Both should average around 50 mpg(EU combined cycle).

Henry Ford III

As near the same as makes no difference.

paulie.walnuts

octavia would not be as big as a passat. I drove a 1.4 octavia (yes i said 1.4) which was criminally underpowered a few weeks ago. put me off ever looking at octavias which are probably grand cars with the right engine. It didn't have a badge on the boot and i had to find out why the hell it was like driving an ass and cart. Popped the hood to be stunned that it was a 1.4. I thought it could be a 1.6 but was taken aback that a car this size was running with a 1.4. What were skoda thinking? It was a rental car by the way from Budget. I may be biased as it was filthy on inside and out when i pucked it up. Sorry for rant and going off topic ;-)

It BeeMee

Generally, when there's no badge on the back of an Octavia, it's a 1.4

OP: I used to average about 60mpg on a '99 Octavia (trip computer read 62.9) 1.9TDi 90 bhp

Passat is a bigger, heavier car though.....

cianclarke

Easy way to make your mind up here, the passat is not a skoda.
(This coming from a passat owner. )

Seriously, if you're considering the B5.5 (2002 onwards), there's no comparison between that and the octavia of any year - or the superb going on looks.

I can't comment on MPG because mine's a petrol...

eamon234

I've driven both the Superb and the Passat - Superb wins hands down - better spec for the price (especially second hand) and it's bigger - better ride too IMO.

bazz26

Passat is a bigger car and heavier than the Octavia. It is a common misconception that the Octavia is just a rebadged Passat but the Octavia is based on the Golf platform. I would imagine the Octavia TDi would be slightly more economical than the Passat due to being a lighter car. Both cars should return good mpg though.

A little OT but the Superb uses the old Audi A6 platform which is a stretched version of the B5 Passat platform afaik. Superb interior is huge, rear leg room has to be seen to be believed. Dashboard and switchgear are straight out of the B5 Passat parts bin.

.Longshanks.

You's should be comparing the Octavia with a Bora

craichoe

worded wrote:

Is there any difference apart from the badge on these two cars.

Im considering getting a Passat with 100K miles on it.
Ive heard once they are serviced they will go forever.

Timing belt @ x miles?
Clutch - how to tell if its a good one? Is a new clutch as good as the first one the car had?

Octavia = Golf
Superb = Passat

Common problems on the Golf, Passat and Octavia are the following:

Queer Electric wingmirror problem, both move together when you select the right, only the left moves when you select the left. Someone tried to convince me its a feature, i dont see how when the car didn't do it day one. Happens on Seat leons/toledos too.

Steering rack is prone to failure at around 100k, blows a seal and leaks into the boots. Early indications of leaks is excessive noise when turning the wheel while stopped

Boot/Door actuators on central locking remote/non remote can fail, meaning you have to open with the key, back doors on the golf are a problem as they can jam.

Timing belt has a service interval of 60k as far as i know, i'd get mine done around 40 though (or every 4 years) as the timing belt can perish and crack.

1.4L Petrol on every model is WAY underpowered, never drove the 1.4 Octavia, but the 1.4 L Golf and Leon are complete dogs. You end up wasting more fuel and over revving the engine trying to get decent performance.

Gearboxes have been known to be a problem on the 99 and 00 Golf petrols.

With the clutch its a case of like checking any clutch on any vehicle.

If the clutch is very high
How smoothly does it engage
Check if there is a towbar fitted, does the towbar show wear? If so, it probably been pulling heavy loads, reducing the life of the clutch.

spartacus93

craichoe wrote:

Queer Electric wingmirror problem, both move together when you select the right, only the left moves when you select the left. Someone tried to convince me its a feature, i dont see how when the car didn't do it day one. Happens on Seat leons/toledos too.


Timing belt has a service interval of 60k as far as i know, i'd get mine done around 40 though (or every 4 years) as the timing belt can perish and crack.

It is a feature!!

Think the timing belt is 80k. Did mine at 60 anyway... Driving an Octavia with a while, can't fault it yet.

JoeA3

craichoe wrote:

Queer Electric wingmirror problem, both move together when you select the right, only the left moves when you select the left. Someone tried to convince me its a feature, i dont see how when the car didn't do it day one. Happens on Seat leons/toledos too.

This is actually a feature on the MKV Golf! But you can enable/disable it via the car's multi-function computer. Not sure why you'd ever want them to work that way.

Patches97

Had a 01 skoda, electrics kept giving me trouble, underpowered, awful really.

fletch

JoeA3 wrote:

This is actually a feature on the MKV Golf! But you can enable/disable it via the car's multi-function computer. Not sure why you'd ever want them to work that way.

I really like the feature on my Fabia and actually find it very useful when reversing.

E92

paulie.walnuts wrote:

octavia would not be as big as a passat. I drove a 1.4 octavia (yes i said 1.4) which was criminally underpowered a few weeks ago. put me off ever looking at octavias which are probably grand cars with the right engine. It didn't have a badge on the boot and i had to find out why the hell it was like driving an ass and cart. Popped the hood to be stunned that it was a 1.4. I thought it could be a 1.6 but was taken aback that a car this size was running with a 1.4. What were skoda thinking? It was a rental car by the way from Budget. I may be biased as it was filthy on inside and out when i pucked it up. Sorry for rant and going off topic ;-)

The 1.4 Octavia took over 15 seconds to go from 0-60 from what I remember. Thats incredibly slow. Thats almost as bad as the 1 litre Polo, which if you were lucky took 18.5 seconds to hit 60 mph(998cc version), and if you had the misfortune to go for the one with the 1043cc engine, it took a laughable 22.5 seconds to hit 60 mph. But both of these cars are mini F1 cars by comparison to the godawful nissan Serena diesel. It took a ridiculous 27.8 seconds to get to 60mph, and that was the faster 2.3 diesel:D :eek: . The slower diesel(yes, hard and all as it may seem, they actually managed it:eek: ) was a 2.0, and it look a very serene 31.5 seconds to get to 60 mph.

metallicabmw

Have a 03 Passat TDi PD 100 ( 87,000 miles )

Here are the problems I've had in a year of owning it. Am buying a mazda 6 soon.

Leaking pollen filter housing, shorted out alarm, central locking, interior lights module under passenger seat. Carpets were soaking.

New gearbox...at 50,000
New aircon compressor clutch
New brake light switch
New airflow meter ( MAF )
Leak in boot behind drivers side rear lamp cluster
Play in drivers seat
Play in steering column

Basically, very dissapointed with VW

John. Navan.

worded

Geez thats a lot of problems ......

Were you the first owner?
Was the previous ones driving the sh1t out of the car?
How much did all that set you back?

metallicabmw wrote:

Have a 03 Passat TDi PD 100 ( 87,000 miles )

Here are the problems I've had in a year of owning it. Am buying a mazda 6 soon.

Leaking pollen filter housing, shorted out alarm, central locking, interior lights module under passenger seat. Carpets were soaking.

New gearbox...at 50,000
New aircon compressor clutch
New brake light switch
New airflow meter ( MAF )
Leak in boot behind drivers side rear lamp cluster
Play in drivers seat
Play in steering column

Basically, very dissapointed with VW

John. Navan.

craichoe

metallicabmw wrote:

Have a 03 Passat TDi PD 100 ( 87,000 miles )

Here are the problems I've had in a year of owning it. Am buying a mazda 6 soon.

Leaking pollen filter housing, shorted out alarm, central locking, interior lights module under passenger seat. Carpets were soaking.

New gearbox...at 50,000
New aircon compressor clutch
New brake light switch
New airflow meter ( MAF )
Leak in boot behind drivers side rear lamp cluster
Play in drivers seat
Play in steering column

Basically, very dissapointed with VW

John. Navan.

MAF is another common one, but apparently down to not changing the air filter at recommended intervals. However you can clean it rather than dish out the 120 odd euro for a new one.

seanyroche

worded wrote: »

Ive driven a Passat and it was a pleasure.

How does the Passat 1.9 and the Octavia 1.9 Diesel compare MPG wise?

I get 65 mpg on a long run and 50 around town from my mk1 octavia tdi. the best I ever got with very carful driving was 73mpg

the skoda is far better than the passat and returns better mpg.

Eoin

The OP has probably bought the car by now - this thread is from 2007.