Mazda 6, Saab 9-3 or VW Passat CC?

Larbre34

So which should I go for?


2012 Mazda 6 Sport 2.2 163

2011 Saab 9-3 TTiD Vector 160

2011 VW Passat CC GT TDI 170

All top UK spec, all around €15k, all around 50,000 miles (80k kms)


All wisdom appreciated....

yop

Owned a Mazda 6 and loved it. No issues with it. Its a year newer as well.

ba_barabus

Saab should be cheaper than the other two

littlevillage

ba_barabus wrote: »

Saab should be cheaper than the other two

Saab should be about half the price of the others ... Saab motor company RIP :-(


Mazda 6 and Passat CC are much bigger and better looking cars than the 9-3 , but why limit yourself to just those? you are obviously interested in a family sized diesel ... What about the run of the mill stuff (ordinary Passat, Ford Mondeo, Opel Insignia, Honda Accord, Skoda Superb, Toyota Avensis, Subaru Legacy) ...or if you want my opinion, if you are going all the way over to the UK, then bring back something a bit 'special'.... go back a couple of years in registration and you could get a nice 5-series/A6/E-Class Diesel ? (they are that bit better than the mainstream stuff and will hold their value come re-sale). Keep your options open and your money in your pocket until the right one comes along.

bazz26

15k is on the cheap side for a 2011 Passat CC, does that include VRT?

unkel

ba_barabus wrote: »

Saab should be cheaper than the other two

A lot cheaper. For that price I'd expect the new model 9-5 and if so, that's the car I would pick from those 3

bazz26

That 9-5 was rushed from development through to production as it was deemed the knight in shining amour to save Saab, as a result they were not very well built. It would want to be alot cheaper than 15k to tempt me.

unkel

I don't think they are not well built, but by all means they are not a great car compared with its intended competition, the likes of the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class, which at the time were only slightly more expensive in basic form. The Saab 9-5 is simply not anywhere near as good as those

That said, has anyone here ever stood beside one? It has a huge presence, not in the least because of its size. It's massive. Easily the size of a 7-series or S-class

I for one would be tempted to buy one in the future. Few were sold so it's a very exclusive car, last of a great make, definite future classic, etc.

Larbre34

Food for thought, thanks folks.

I was considering Saabs almost because I am nostalgic for them, parts and servicing arent an issue my independent mechanic tells me.

I just dont like the last incarnation of the 9-5, its a bloater and too much Insignia for my money. I know the 9-3 is a Vectra but the one I have seen looks the part in midnight blue and the kit level is very good. Ill have to drive one a bit longer to see can I put up with the vagueness of the chassis.

If I wanted an A6 it would have to be an early version of the current model, and I cant stretch to it really.

andrea1983

I like the passat cc

Do you have any pick's of the specific cars your looking at? Sometimes colour and upholstery can make a big difference particularly with such a large investment.

unkel

Larbre34 wrote: »

I know the 9-3 is a Vectra but the one I have seen looks the part in midnight blue and the kit level is very good. Ill have to drive one a bit longer to see can I put up with the vagueness of the chassis.

It will drop its value like a stone (compared to they other two cars). I'd only consider one if you can buy it very, very cheap and if you plan to own it for a long time (so resale value isn't much of an issue)

littlevillage

bazz26 wrote: »

That 9-5 was rushed from development through to production as it was deemed the knight in shining amour to save Saab, as a result they were not very well built. It would want to be alot cheaper than 15k to tempt me.

This apparently is true .. there was a story about it on Top Gear .. some years ago. They claimed it was rushed out, Jezza absolutely slated it.

But if you go back a few more years .. you will see that he absolutely slated the previous 9-5 too.... so take from that what you want.

My advice would be to only consider the Saab .. if its ridiculously cheap... or else go out and buy a MG-Rover 75 .. (you'll get one for a song) and the top spec versions are bloody gorgeous.

lifer_sean

+1 on what Bazz said.

15k is very cheap for a 50k miles Passat CC. If going for that one, check it out very very well.

mossy50

wouldnt touch the SAAB

skerry

lifer_sean wrote: »

+1 on what Bazz said.

15k is very cheap for a 50k miles Passat CC. If going for that one, check it out very very well.

Are you referring to the CC there? only asking cos I was looking at them too and asked a local lad who gets them in from the UK, he said the earlier ones gave trouble, at least in his experience of selling them anyway.

thadg

no brainer, Passat cc. the mazda gets old looking very quick. a 2010 170 Passat is around 16 to 17k by the time it vrt'd, where you getting a 12 reg one for that money.


paintwork is very soft on mazdas also, and the panels are very light

vw will hold value better too

lifer_sean

skerry wrote: »

Are you referring to the CC there? only asking cos I was looking at them too and asked a local lad who gets them in from the UK, he said the earlier ones gave trouble, at least in his experience of selling them anyway.

The cheapest 2011 CC from a dealer on autotrader uk is at 9800 stg with 98k miles (ignoring stuff above 100k). That's approx. 13000 euro plus VRT plus transport.

OP says he can get a 2011 with 50k miles for 15k euro ... if that includes VRT it is suspiciously cheap, hence the comment re checking it carefully.

In general the CC is a fine car; I wouldn't knock it.

From the original choice, I'd have picked the Saab, but I'd expect it to be substantially cheaper than the CC. For equivalent miles / spec, Saab should be about 5000 cheaper.

skerry

lifer_sean wrote: »

The cheapest 2011 CC from a dealer on autotrader uk is at 9800 stg with 98k miles (ignoring stuff above 100k). That's approx. 13000 euro plus VRT plus transport.

OP says he can get a 2011 with 50k miles for 15k euro ... if that includes VRT it is suspiciously cheap, hence the comment re checking it carefully.

In general the CC is a fine car; I wouldn't knock it.

From the original choice, I'd have picked the Saab, but I'd expect it to be substantially cheaper than the CC. For equivalent miles / spec, Saab should be about 5000 cheaper.

Sound, just I had heard from the lad at the garage that he had trouble from a few and then read your post. Had heard only good things about them before that so thought I was missing something.

Been on the look out for one myself for the last while and UK looks like the only option even with the poor exchange rates. Was thinking OPs price was low for a 2011 alright. I've came across 2009's working out around 12-12.5k, and some 2010's working out around 12.5-13k. Not sure why the big difference in price.

That's what I hate about car shopping, it's the one time your out to buy something and when you find a really good price it only arouses suspicion, at least for me it does anyway.

George Dalton

lifer_sean wrote: »

OP says he can get a 2011 with 50k miles for 15k euro ... if that includes VRT it is suspiciously cheap, hence the comment re checking it carefully.

I agree. Far too cheap to be legit. We got €16500 for a 2009 with 50k miles on it last September.

kenmccarthy

Had the mazda 6- beautiful car to drive, lively in lower gears, never a problem with it
and she was economical too. I thought the saab would've been a good bit cheaper too.