New Passat CC v used Merc CLS

-Chris-

Just saw this article in AutoCar...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/250327/

New Passat CC v used Merc CLS


You'll notice the similarities between the Mercedes CLS and VW Passat CC, but which is the better buy?

The Passat CC looks suspiciously like a 2008 tribute act, covering Merc’s 2004 smash hit. Back then, the CLS quickly gained status as something of a style icon. It may be a simplistic guess, but surely Volkswagen’s marketeers must have noticed the similarity.

If we had £25k to satisfy the need for a swift, refined and well engineered four-door coupe, the CC would be top of the pops – not least because the chart’s a bit empty of four door coupes.

There is a new entry now though, a climber through falling prices. The CLS500 can now be had for Passat CC money. The question is how tempting a proposition is a fresh faced, un-creased TSI Passat when put face-to-face with the original 383bhp Bauhaus coupe?

The black 5.5-litre car we’ve got is from the used forecourt of Mercedes Kingston. It’s done a very reasonable 22,000 miles and is priced almost exactly the same as the CC. Financially, that’s where the similarity ends. The Merc will cost more to run, and not by small amounts. Insurance, fuel, tyres – the lot.

Surprisingly, the CLS feels a touch baggy, with a driver’s seat of matured comfort and an autobox which slurs first-to-second in a very relaxed manner. The air suspension compressor is vocal too.

That said, the slim-windowed Merc still stands out (even with this car’s slightly incongruous multi-spoke wheels). The CC suddenly looks more Mamma Mia than Abba. The Passat is, in its own right, suave and elegantly proportioned, but the Merc looks lower and meaner.

Inside, the CC is lighter and brighter with touch-screen multimedia, two-tone leather and a brushed aluminium console. Four at a time can experience both cars; the Passat has slightly more rear headroom, the CLS more cosseting seats. The appeal of freshly-minted quality over slightly tired and shiny gives the nose to the VW.

In nearby leafy lanes, the CC shows its dynamic character and holds up well in terms of refinement. Performance is strong, too, with lag-free pick-up and a slick six-speeder. Of course, the optional dual clutch 'box would have been a fairer comparison for Merc’s traditional auto.

Meanwhile, the 500 starts to raise its game and blow away the forecourt cobwebs. The changes get smoother, and whilst the softest of its three suspension settings is suspiciously floaty, the fabulously supple ride in other settings betters the Passat. The Merc’s pacey, sonorous V8 is a definite Number One smash hit.

Neither is a sports car, but the CLS has the greater capacity to entertain, to cosset and to feel more special. Mercedes should feel flattered that VW has gone to the trouble of making such a stylish and capable copy, but copy it is. If you can afford to run it, the CLS will give the greater rewards. The impersonator Passat must practice its act.

Considering you can buy a new Passat CC 2.0TDI for €35k
http://www.carzone.ie/new-cars/VOLKSWAGEN/PASSAT-CC/2.0-TDI-BLUEMOTION-TECHNOLOGY/780495820100101/

or you can pick up a low mileage 2007 CLS 320CDI for the same money
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/CLS-Class/320-CDI-/201022198267684/advert?channel=CARS

which would you go for if you had to pick one?

Would you be swayed by the CLS's running costs or do you think it would be worth it?

Henry Ford III

VW may be fine, and new too, but it'll never be a Merc.

E39MSport

Drove the 320 CDI Merc. Loved it !!! Defo the Merc for me.

However a m8 owns an 08 320 cdi from new and has put 100k on it in the UK. All motorway cruising. He's had it back under warranty for a new transmission. That would definitely be very painful if you had to fork up for that out of warranty.

smash

No contest. Merc FTW!

bazz26

I'm not a fan of either really but I think the Passat CC has more favorable looks than the CLS.

jock101

Can you afford the Merc's high running costs? If its a status symbol, then its the Merc.:rolleyes:
As the Passat CC is lovely looking car, but nothing amazing!

Gumbo

my heart would want the merc but my head would take the VW for the MPG and motortax costs, ohh and that new car smell

JHMEG

CLS looks manky. Passat CC looks very good, tho it's still a Passt.

mickdw

CLS for me every time. fabulous car for that kind of money. It seems shocking that most CLS in ireland dont appear to have sat nav.

fonecrusher1

When the CLS came out at first i thought it was a bit odd looking with a few too many swoopy lines. But the more i see them the more i like them for that exact reason, its a bit different to the usual luxobarges out there.

A passat is a passat but that merc is a lovely looking thing & no slouch either i'd say when you put the foot down. Nice big smooth 3 ltr merc diesel. Nice.

Never driven one, just a distant admirer.:)


Btw...mickdw i agree with you there, should have satnav as standard in a car like that. Ridiculous.

af_thefragile

CLS dude!!

Its looks brilliant. The colour is great. The interior leather colour is great. Its gonna be a much more better and comfortable drive than the Passat. It also has much greater road presence than the Passat.

LIGHTNING wrote: »

What annoys me is the VW can make really nice looking cars ie the Passat CC so why dont they do it more often? The standard Passat should have looked like the CC.

Its as if the designers said "lets make the standard Passat boring looking so we can make a sexy looking CC model"

That's one thing I always don't get. It always feel that car manufacturers make ugly cars on purpose so that they can release a better looking car later. Every car manufacturer does it. Even Citroen proved they can make a good looking car with the new DS3 so why don't they make the C3 and other models as good looking? It feels they intentionally make the base models plain and boring so that they can release a funky looking model later and price it much higher than the ugly model.

-Corkie-

I was thinking of one for myself. Wouldnt have the merc for love or money. I think though that you will fork out a lot of money for a nice cc. I dont like the normal one. You can get one with a r line kit that looks nice..



Edit 1000th post!!!!!!!!!!

Wheres my cake :P

mickdw

SARASON wrote: »

I was thinking of one for myself. Wouldnt have the merc for love or money.

How will you live with a passat interior after an A8?

-Corkie-

mickdw wrote: »

How will you live with a passat interior after an A8?

The cc actually has quite a nice interior over the normal model. That audi was driving me up the walls with small rattles and squeaks. You would press your hand on the dash and it would disappear only to start somewhere else:mad::mad:. Even cruising on the motorway and nobody say turn up the radio because i dont listen to it. I like the sound of tar, tyres and tdi:cool: