Which car would you pick? Passat or Corolla

Deedee12

Need to get a new car I do a fair bit of milage my choices are
- 2008 Volkswagen passat 2l diesel 100,000 miles
- 2008 Volkswagen passat 1.9 111,000 miles
Or
2007 Toyota corolla luna 1.4 petrol 40000 miles
All in and around same money from garage with same warrenty etc
Any advice would b great, am leaning towards the diesel passat but are the miles too high???

_Kaiser_

If you're doing the mileage to warrant it, I'd say the Passat every time. You should also get the 2.0 TDI as it's a bigger, heavier car than it's predecessor (I've owned both) and far more comfortable on longer spins.

A 2008 car should have the newer common rail engine so it'll run smoother than the older PD version (which I had - mine was a 06 model) and no injector issue to worry about (though even on older cars this should have been addressed by a VW recall about 2 years back). Economy wise I got about 1000/1100km out of a full tank but that was mostly motorway mileage.

I wouldn't consider 100k km big miles if it's been well maintained and has a full history. Mine was sold with 243,000km / 150k miles on the clock and was still running perfectly. Just make sure the timing belt has been done though.

Aside from that, despite the horror stories you may hear, I found it a comfortable, spacious, reliable car that was well able for the miles I put up on her (but I also serviced her 2/3 times a year too).

I wouldn't consider a petrol Corolla in the same class at all myself.

Deedee12

Mmmm good advice there thanks, i haven't a clue really want something cheap to tax and run and most importantly reliable and cheap to fix if it does break down!! Had a Volvo that broke my heart cAnt afford to make same mistake twice!!!!

blindside88

If you're doing big mileage diesel is the only way to go. I've heard that the 2L passats give more trouble than the 1.9L. I bought a 07 1.9 passat last month and have put 3k miles on it so far. I find it a very nice place to be, it's comfortable and has very nice road holding. Is there any history with any of the cars. Both passats should have had the timing belt done by now and the hand break button can give trouble so check has it been replaced. Best of luck with the decision

Leonard Hofstadter

How many miles / km a year do you do? Will the car see plenty of main road or motorway driving?

Diesels are no good if all you do is drive around town.

Of the three cars listed, I'd have the 2.0 TDI Passat so long as it's got the common rail engine - don't touch the 2.0 TDI PD.

A Corolla from 2007 will be the model that was only recently discontinued, it's a p1ss poor car really - the Passat is much better.

Also, consider other options, the Superb is a considerably better car than the Passat and the Mondeo is the one to beat.

blindside88 wrote: »

If you're doing big mileage diesel is the only way to go. I've heard that the 2L passats give more trouble than the 1.9L.

Only if it's the 2.0 TDI PD (all B6 models up to mid 2008), the common rail 2.0 TDI is very reliable for a modern diesel. By 2008 the numerous electrical issues that plagued the earlier B6s should have been resolved, so it should be a pretty reliable car.

_Kaiser_

Deedee12 wrote: »

Mmmm good advice there thanks, i haven't a clue really want something cheap to tax and run and most importantly reliable and cheap to fix if it does break down!! Had a Volvo that broke my heart cAnt afford to make same mistake twice!!!!

Well that's why it's so important to make sure the history checks out - maybe call some of the garages listed and ask some questions.

The only problems I had with mine were the DMF (which can give problems in any modern diesel really), one of the brake calipers, and the fuel pump died one morning... but considering the mileage I did, I'd consider all of those as wear and tear items really.

Have a look at vwaudiforum.co.uk for some good owner feedback - also Honest John's site is good as it'll give you a list of things to check/ask when you go looking

_Kaiser_

blindside88 wrote: »

If you're doing big mileage diesel is the only way to go. I've heard that the 2L passats give more trouble than the 1.9L. I bought a 07 1.9 passat last month and have put 3k miles on it so far. I find it a very nice place to be, it's comfortable and has very nice road holding. Is there any history with any of the cars. Both passats should have had the timing belt done by now and the hand break button can give trouble so check has it been replaced. Best of luck with the decision

Not so.. well, not anymore - yes on the older 05-08 PD engined cars the injectors had a known fault but VW recalled these as I mentioned above so this should have been sorted by now on any of those cars. Note this engine was also used in Audi's and Skoda's of the same era.

The newer 08+ Common rail engines don't have this issue and are fairly bullet proof as far as I'm aware.

colm_mcm

There's a lot of middle ground between a petrol Corolla and a diesel Passat. Not a fan of that model Corolla. A 1.6 Avensis or a 1.5 Lancer would be a better sized car.

Deedee12

So passat seems to beat Carolla...... How about a 2l avensis? 2008 also 96543 miles? Private sale tho no warrenty etc
I do approximately 400 miles a week

Deedee12

Deedee12 wrote: »

So passat seems to beat Carolla...... How about a 2l avensis? 2008 also 96543 miles? Private sale tho no warrenty etc
I do approximately 400 miles a week

400 miles with work that so extra on top for other trips!

Deedee12

colm_mcm wrote: »

There's a lot of middle ground between a petrol Corolla and a diesel Passat. Not a fan of that model Corolla. A 1.6 Avensis or a 1.5 Lancer would be a better sized car.

Mmmm thanks for answer....- a 1.6 petrol avensis is it? Heavy ish in petrol tho?? Must have a look, they are the cars in stock near me and I need car n a hurry so might have to pick from them!

colm_mcm

For 400 miles a week, I'd go diesel.

Re passat vs avensis;
The passat is more pleasant generally with better seats, more aspirational badge, and tbh reliability wise there won't be much between them once you're up in 07-08.
Personally I'd go passat, or even Jetta. I'd still have a 1.9 over a 2.0 though.

Deedee12 wrote: »

Mmmm thanks for answer....- a 1.6 petrol avensis is it? Heavy ish in petrol tho?? Must have a look, they are the cars in stock near me and I need car n a hurry so might have to pick from them!

Now that I know your mileage, I'd stick diesel.


Maybe cast a wider net. Never a good idea picking one particular garage unless you're afraid of garages and like dealing with that particular one. Your choices will be quite limited.



What are you driving currently and how do you find it?
Will there be others in the car much?
Do you have a preference for saloon/hatch
Do you enjoy driving?

Deedee12

colm_mcm wrote: »

For 400 miles a week, I'd go diesel.

Re passat vs avensis;
The passat is more pleasant generally with better seats, more aspirational badge, and tbh reliability wise there won't be much between them once you're up in 07-08.
Personally I'd go passat, or even Jetta. I'd still have a 1.9 over a 2.0 though.

Would love a jetta but they are like gold dust in 08 and haven't the budget to go 2009 really! Why 1.9 over 2.0 may I ask? There wouldn't b much difference in fuel use / power would there??

_Kaiser_

Deedee12 wrote: »

Mmmm thanks for answer....- a 1.6 petrol avensis is it? Heavy ish in petrol tho?? Must have a look, they are the cars in stock near me and I need car n a hurry so might have to pick from them!

Never buy a car in a hurry or because it looks nice and shiny - been there, done that and it didn't work out so well!

I would still rate the Passat over the Avensis - mostly because the interiors are a higher quality and last longer. If you do go for a Passat you want to get a Comfortline or Highline spec (will come with all electric windows, alloys, cruise control, full digital climate control, possibly steering wheel controls etc).

Also bear in mind that the average Irish buyer has become allergic to petrol cars these days - especially "big" petrol cars like a 2L. In other words, you will need to bear that in mind both when bargaining to buy it and looking to sell it on later.

colm_mcm

1.9 is slower and a little thirstier but they're relatively old-school which would scare me less.

The Jetta is basically a Golf with a boot.
Other cars that are basically Golfs
Audi A3
Seat Toledo
Seat Leon
Skoda Octavia

Deedee12

colm_mcm wrote: »

For 400 miles a week, I'd go diesel.

Re passat vs avensis;
The passat is more pleasant generally with better seats, more aspirational badge, and tbh reliability wise there won't be much between them once you're up in 07-08.
Personally I'd go passat, or even Jetta. I'd still have a 1.9 over a 2.0 though.



Now that I know your mileage, I'd stick diesel.


Maybe cast a wider net. Never a good idea picking one particular garage unless you're afraid of garages and like dealing with that particular one. Your choices will be quite limited.



What are you driving currently and how do you find it?
Will there be others in the car much?
Do you have a preference for saloon/hatch
Do you enjoy driving?

Love driving / had a 1.6diesel Volvo s40 broke my heart with Turbo n
Filter and electrics problems!!! Prefer saloon as usually have a boot wedged with boxes and musical equipment at the weekends!! Others n car at times and hopefully babies soon want 08 for cheaper tax but it seems I'm not alone hard to find any good ones left!!

bazz26

OP, what budget do you have? As Colm said there is plenty of choice out there in between a Corolla and Passat depending on your budget.

Deedee12

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Never buy a car in a hurry or because it looks nice and shiny - been there, done that and it didn't work out so well!

I would still rate the Passat over the Avensis - mostly because the interiors are a higher quality and last longer. If you do go for a Passat you want to get a Comfortline or Highline spec (will come with all electric windows, alloys, cruise control, full digital climate control, possibly steering wheel controls etc).

Also bear in mind that the average Irish buyer has become allergic to petrol cars these days - especially "big" petrol cars like a 2L. In other words, you will need to bear that in mind both when bargaining to buy it and looking to sell it on later.

Thanks... The corolla I was looking at was petrol but the passats wer diesel. I would never get over 1.4 in petrol been there done that and spent all my time in the petrol station!!!

Deedee12

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, what budget do you have? As Colm said there is plenty of choice out there in between a Corolla and Passat depending on your budget.

I guess Under 9000 if possible!

blindside88

Deedee12 wrote: »

Love driving / had a 1.6diesel Volvo s40 broke my heart with Turbo n
Filter and electrics problems!!! Prefer saloon as usually have a boot wedged with boxes and musical equipment at the weekends!! Others n car at times and hopefully babies soon want 08 for cheaper tax but it seems I'm not alone hard to find any good ones left!!

I wouldn't get too hung up on the cheap tax, if you look at the difference in cost it's seems to be disproportionate, I was looking at an 08 when I bought mine and I would have had to keep it for over 4 years just to break even on the tax. In the over all running cost of the car the tax is a very small part of it. IMHO people put too much influence on the yearly tax

bazz26

Don't get sucked into the cheaper tax dupe. Cars with cheaper tax tend to cost more to buy initially so the more it costs to tax the cheaper it is to buy. The difference in purchase price between a 2007 on the old tax system and a 2008 on the new tax system can be big and buy you a lot of tax.

Deedee12

blindside88 wrote: »

I wouldn't get too hung up on the cheap tax, if you look at the difference in cost it's seems to be disproportionate, I was looking at an 08 when I bought mine and I would have had to keep it for over 4 years just to break even on the tax. In the over all running cost of the car the tax is a very small part of it. IMHO people put too much influence on the yearly tax

Ya that's True!!

buachailldana

Deedee12 wrote: »

Love driving / had a 1.6diesel Volvo s40 broke my heart with Turbo n
Filter and electrics problems!!! Prefer saloon as usually have a boot wedged with boxes and musical equipment at the weekends!! Others n car at times and hopefully babies soon want 08 for cheaper tax but it seems I'm not alone hard to find any good ones left!!

Bizarrely I find myself in a very similar situation to yourself.. I have also just disposed of a 1.6D S40 (which I did love, but too many issues) and also find myself looking for a replacement.

Have you made any decisions? I quite like the Passat, I also do love driving, let me know if you have made any discoveries!

Deedee12

buachailldana wrote: »

Bizarrely I find myself in a very similar situation to yourself.. I have also just disposed of a 1.6D S40 (which I did love, but too many issues) and also find myself looking for a replacement.

Have you made any decisions? I quite like the Passat, I also do love driving, let me know if you have made any discoveries!

Well spoke to a few people today and everyone has said to avoid the 2l passat and go for the 1.9 instead so I think it will either be the 1.9 passat or the 2.0 avensis... Decisions decisions!!!

colm_mcm

Are used passats really cheaper than jettas now?

Deedee12

Yes passats seem to b cheeper than jettas but might b because there are hArdly any jettas for sale in Southern Ireland anyways! Well I made my decision and learnt a lot along the way! Learnt the 2l passats give a lot of trouble and to make sure passats have a solid flywheel as it can give trouble also. So bought a 1.9 tdi passat and I love it! So sturdy on road in all this stormy weather! Drives itself and seems to b good on diesel also the boot is huge!!! Love love love it! Thanks for all the advice u guys! Really appreciate it

rn

We have both in our family... Corolla, golfs and Passat. And we have both the 1.9 and the 2.0l as well as couple of 1.6 109bhp TDI. All comfortlines. The 2.0l is by far the nicest to drive (2007), but saucy on tax. If you can justify the tax, it'd be my choice, they are supposed to be only 4hp in the difference, but the 2.0 just feels so much more smooth. All the VW's are more comfortable than the luna corolla.

But for low millage the 1.4 petrol Corolla can't be beaten on value. We do about 400 miles in the corolla in 6 weeks. Cheapest of the cars to insure (by more than half), cheapest to service and the most reliable. Genuine Toyota Corolla parts are way cheaper than my exp of buying Genuine VW golf. No timing belt change required on the corolla vvti and no danger of the DM flywheel needing to be replaced. Both are expensive jobs on the TDI golf & passat.

But the value swings the other way on fuel when doing good millage and you need the bit of comfort when behind the wheel, If I was doing 400+ mile per week, I'd go for the passat or golf.

colm_mcm

1.9 is 105 and 2.0 is 140 so theres a difference alright.