passat cc versus A4

PattheMetaller

Saw the passat cc at local vw dealership yesterday. Gorgeous car, well impressed by interior etc, but at around €40000 plus a few extras like metallic paint, it is well overpriced and imo will lose out to the A4 2.0Tdi 120bhp (with similar extras to match passat cc).

€40000 - €45000 for a passat or €40000-€45000 for a A4; I'd spend it on the A4.

Any views?

L-M

I would choose the CC. I'm not keen on the new A4, i thought the old one was alot nicer. Had a look at the Passat CC twice now, and it's just a smashing car. Love the lines, the interior all that crack, and i think it's different with the four seats. Looks the business IMHO

Climate Expert

PattheMetaller wrote: »

Saw the passat cc at local vw dealership yesterday. Gorgeous car, well impressed by interior etc, but at around €40000 plus a few extras like metallic paint, it is well overpriced and imo will lose out to the A4 2.0Tdi 120bhp (with similar extras to match passat cc).

€40000 - €45000 for a passat or €40000-€45000 for a A4; I'd spend it on the A4.

Any views?

The Passat is cheaper than a similarly specced A4 and looks better. Both drive about the same.
It doesn't have 4 rings however.

E92

PattheMetaller wrote: »

VW has went downhill recently. I've had vw's for 10 years and the last few bought from new all had paint defects (sorted by local dealer without a problem).

My current model passat 1.9tdi has had a new fuel pump and turbo. Other new model passat owners i've talked to have had one of these plus gearbox or handbrake.

PattheMetaller wrote: »

Saw the passat cc at local vw dealership yesterday. Gorgeous car, well impressed by interior etc, but at around €40000 plus a few extras like metallic paint, it is well overpriced and imo will lose out to the A4 2.0Tdi 120bhp (with similar extras to match passat cc).

€40000 - €45000 for a passat or €40000-€45000 for a A4; I'd spend it on the A4.

Any views?

Why oh why do you want another VW after that trouble?

Is it any wonder VW still sells so well in this country when they have people queueing up to buy more of the same unreliable cars:rolleyes:?

I must say I'd love to work in the marketing department of VW when I know that I can produce unsatisfactory cars and still get the same people back into the dealer buying an even more expensive car:rolleyes:.

Anyhoo rant over.

I'd have the A4 every time - you don't even get climate control in the VW as standard which is inexcusable in a car costing €40k.

The A4 has lower emissions as well, which means lower running costs and greater desirability in the used car market.

On a like for like comparison the A4 is at least €2,500 cheaper(the 143 TDI model).

I haven't driven the A4 but have travelled in one and the 143 bhp TDI is no more than adequate. It is a big car, much bigger than the old one, and it shows.

The 120 bhp TDI would be woeful IMHO, and defeats the purpose of buying a premium badge car, all you getting is a premium badge but un-premium performance. I would say that this car really needs the forthcoming 170 bhp TDI at the bare minimum.

bazz26

I'm usually not one for buying into badges etc but in this case I'd have to go with the A4. My reason is that when it comes to resale time I'd imagine the A4 will retain more of it's original value. The Passat CC while is easier on the eye and probably will be a bit more exclusive on our roads than an A4, will just be seen as Passat when selling it.

I know some people say when buying a car you shouldn't worry too much about the next owner but if I was shelling out €40k on a new car I'd be looking for as much of it back as possible come selling time.

I think the Passat CC out of it's league in this price range, VW imo should have replaced the current Passat with the CC rather than sell it as a fancier model. Imo if you want something fancier than a Passat then you usually go for an A4 not a Passat CC.

Climate Expert

On a like for like comparison the A4 is at least €2,500 cheaper(the 143 TDI model).

You should stick to BMWs mate.

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Audi/A4/2.0-TDI/1060018/

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Passat/Coupe-2.0TDI/1160823/

Less spec, more money.

PattheMetaller

The reliability problem has me looking elsewhere; hence the audi.

The four rings would result in better residuals which is why i'm favouring the A4. Plus the money being asked for is in the prestige braket, so why spend that amount on a passat. If vw were on the ball the cc would be closer to the price of the saloon; they'll lose sale to Audi.

Has anyone heard of niggles etc on the new A4? Heard one man complain about the electronic handbrake but it was more to do with him not being familiar with it.

E92

Climate Expert wrote: »

You should stick to BMWs mate.
..
Less spec, more money.

How the hell did you arrive at that conclusion? You just picked two cars with extras and based on that decided that the VW is cheaper because it doesn't suit your argument.

The CC starts off at €39,605. The A4 TDI 143 is €37,500. Not the €2,500 cheaper I admit but not far off either(off by €395 to be pedantic about it).

I'm sorry for reporting earlier that the VW doesn't have climate control, their website now says it does, though in my defence I took that from VW's press material back in May which clearly stated they were only fitting aircon for Irish spec cars.

Either way the A4 is a brand new car with the new MLP which provides better weight distribution meaning in theory better driving pleasure(though after them going to the trouble of having a longitudinal engine you'd think they'd have finished the job and given it RWD) while the Passat is based on a near 5 year old design(the PQ46 platform on which the CC rides is after all a stretched Golf chassis).

The Audi has the badge too if you're into that sort of thing, personally I'm not but that better badge is worth its weight in Gold when trying to sell on and combined with the lower running costs because of better mpg and hence CO2 and hence lower road tax means you'll get far more of your money back when you try to sell it on.

TomMc

VW have had lofty ambitions for about a decade now. When are they going to realise that they will never bridge the gap and be considered a prestige brand competing head-on with BMW & Mercedes.

You can argue that Audi's are posh VW's and all that but since they are all the one group, not much point competing against each other. VW would be far better served building mainstream Passats & Golfs (not just GTI's & R32's) which can compete well with Fords as more involving drivers cars, throughout the model range.

In the meantime an Audi even if somewhat commonplace should have better residuals than either Passats. However I think the CC Model will have a more negative effect of the blander saloons residuals.

JoeA3

Surely the fact its got just 4 seats (are 5 an option at all?) is a massive disadvantage in that bracket... loads of buyers in the market for a car like that would immediately rule it out for this reason.

copacetic

TomMc wrote: »

VW have had lofty ambitions for about a decade now. When are they going to realise that they will never bridge the gap and be considered a prestige brand competing head-on with BMW & Mercedes.

You can argue that Audi's are posh VW's and all that but since they are all the one group, not much point competing against each other. VW would be far better served building mainstream Passats & Golfs (not just GTI's & R32's) which can compete well with Fords as more involving drivers cars, throughout the model range.

In the meantime an Audi even if somewhat commonplace should have better residuals than either Passats. However I think the CC Model will have a more negative effect of the blander saloons residuals.

agreed, the CC just looks like the passat should have but with one less seat and way more expensive. You may as well burn your money if you had any plans to ever sell or trade it in.

Climate Expert

Is it any wonder VW still sells so well in this country when they have people queueing up to buy more of the same unreliable cars

Talking poo again I see. Heres your much loved JD Power survey which you've just used in another thread. See VW above the industrial average? See the way they scored 80.5% and BMW 81.2%?

pburns

PattheMetaller wrote: »

The reliability problem has me looking elsewhere; hence the audi.

Eh...am I the only one confused by the logic here? Your current VAG product has proved unsatisfactory, you've confirmed quality standards have slipped in recent years...so your solution is to skedaddle over to the adjoing showroom to buy a more expensive car from the same company?

Eoin

JoeA3 wrote: »

Surely the fact its got just 4 seats (are 5 an option at all?) is a massive disadvantage in that bracket... loads of buyers in the market for a car like that would immediately rule it out for this reason.

Do many saloons come with a proper 3rd seat in the back?

-Chris-

eoin_s wrote: »

Do many saloons come with a proper 3rd seat in the back?

A4 has two full size seats and a raised centre seat that's not as comfortable. Passat CC is strictly 4 seat, there's a console where the centre seat should be.

siralfalot

pburns wrote: »

Eh...am I the only one confused by the logic here? Your current VAG product has proved unsatisfactory, you've confirmed quality standards have slipped in recent years...so your solution is to skedaddle over to the adjoing showroom to buy a more expensive car from the same company?

phew, I thought I was the only confused one here

forget the VAG stuff, you want one of these

cashmni1

Climate Expert wrote: »

Talking poo again I see. Heres your much loved JD Power survey which you've just used in another thread. See VW above the industrial average? See the way they scored 80.5% and BMW 81.2%?

I don't know why anyone uses a JD Power UK based survey.
1. It is UK based.
2. it is UK based.
3. In the UK, the dealer network is different (afik) and I would imagine that results can be modified in the "survey".
4. I don't believe is statistics.

That is just my opinion though. I am not having a go at either of you. I just find all these surveys and stats just annoy me.

Climate Expert

cashmni1 wrote: »

I don't know why anyone uses a JD Power UK based survey.
1. It is UK based.
2. it is UK based.
3. In the UK, the dealer network is different (afik) and I would imagine that results can be modified in the "survey".
4. I don't believe is statistics.

That is just my opinion though. I am not having a go at either of you. I just find all these surveys and stats just annoy me.

I don't think its a great survey mostly due to the sort of criteria they use as its more a satisfaction survey. Reliability only accounts for 30% of the score. You can assume UK cars are similar enough though.

I only use it here as E92 loves to bang on about VWs lack of reliabilty. ps. I've had a Passat with 140K miles on it and never even had it serviced or near a mechanic in 2 years. Ran perfectly. Just to counter his personal anecdote.

PattheMetaller

siralfalot wrote: »

phew, I thought I was the only confused one here

forget the VAG stuff, you want one of these

Everyone's entitled to an opinion otherwise there'd only be one manufacturer and model in the country.

Just cause VW has dropped standards doesn't mean the whole VAG sector has. Refer to the JD Power survey, even though UK based, see where Audi is.

Just cause the japanese cars perform well doesn't mean they won't have faults. I've saw 2no. IS220d's on the back of recovery trucks recently - so they're not immune. And the recovery truck driver who towed me when the fuel pump went reckons he's towed Honda, Toyota etc just as often as VAG.

Anyway, the whole point of the thread was to gauge views on passat cc vs A4.

L-M

Did another bit of thinking, and have seen one or two new A4's since, and i'm more keen on the CC. I haven't seen one on the road yet, but i think they have that bit more presence, and i think they're better looking. Unless the A4 has a big set of wheels i just don't think it looks well. The body imho isn't suited to small wheels.

JoeA3

Limerick-man wrote: »

The body imho isn't suited to small wheels.

This is something that affects loads of new cars now... The wheel arches are getting bigger!

e.g. a new Mondeo looks wrong unless its got at least 17" rims under it! Most similar cars of 10-12 years ago had 14" wheel trims :P

L-M

JoeA3 wrote: »

This is something that affects loads of new cars now... The wheel arches are getting bigger!

e.g. a new Mondeo looks wrong unless its got at least 17" rims under it! Most similar cars of 10-12 years ago had 14" wheel trims :P

True, it's the same with the standard Passat. There as a few that do sit nicely though. It's just i never like the way the A4 sat since day one, and was a huge fan of the previous model.



Compare to

Stevie Dakota

That new A4 moves the game no-where styling wise, to me it looks dated already.

pburns

PattheMetaller wrote: »

Everyone's entitled to an opinion otherwise there'd only be one manufacturer and model in the country.

Just cause VW has dropped standards doesn't mean the whole VAG sector has. Refer to the JD Power survey, even though UK based, see where Audi is.

Again with the irony!!!!
'Everyone's entitled to an opinion otherwise there'd only be one manufacturer...' and yet you can't get away from the one manufacturing group and don't seem to be even contemplating anything else.:rolleyes::)

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

That new A4 moves the game no-where styling wise, to me it looks dated already.

It can look quite good with big wheels and sombre colurs. As I've said before though the door handles aren't high enough. May seem like a minor thing but makes it look portly and fat somehow

ShayK1

is the passat cc not more comparable to the A5 ?

fricatus

PattheMetaller wrote: »

Everyone's entitled to an opinion otherwise there'd only be one manufacturer and model in the country.

Yeah, the Toyota Corolla :eek:

alpina

Is the CC available with DSG?
Have to say I quite like it, depends on how many on the road I guess..

Cheers