The new Passat wagon almost wants to make me stay with VW...

[vi edit]

Early next year I'll be in the market for replacing my '00 Passat Wagon. Just happened to run across this at VW Vortex.

It's largely going over the European version, but the NA model should look similar.

I'll take one of these with the 280HP VR6 and 4Motion.



http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_1450.shtml?page=1

Other vehicle options are a Soobie Legacy GT Wagon (but it's very small compared to the VW). A used FX35, but it is also small, and gas milage is bad. I might also be looking at the new Toyota Rav4 w/ the 3.5L V6...depending on just how much bigger they are.

My current Passat has been very good to us for 93,000 miles. Just not sure if I fully trust VW though.

 

[jds2006]

It's fugly

 

[godmare]

Looks good, but, imo, Passat's will never fill out their price tag.

 

[ironcrotch]

no diesel

 

[FoBoT]

is that the one that isn't available with TDI until 2007? i test drove a 2005 TDI Passat wagon, it was nice

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: godmare
Looks good, but, imo, Passat's will never fill out their price tag.

If you said that about the Jetta, I'd agree. But the Passat certainly is a good car for the $$. Especially in wagon trims.

They really shine there. In previous years the Passats were better than anything Subaru put out from a refinement and option standpoint. Plus a LOT more back seat room and front seat comfort. Plus the hatch areas were much larger. Great economy from the engines too.

Subaru has a leg up on VW currently with the new Legacy. The Legacy GT's are very nice inside from a feature content, refinement, and comfort standpoint. But they are VERY expensive for what they are. A GT limited Wagon is over $32,000. :Q And it's smaller than current VW wagons.

The new VW's will be even bigger, and considerably more powerful with better fuel economy than the Subarus.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
is that the one that isn't available with TDI until 2007? i test drove a 2005 TDI Passat wagon, it was nice

I haven't heard anything about new Passat diesel wagons. I don't know if they will be offering a diesel options on the new ones at all.



They may be holding off any production until all of the US converts over to that cleaner/better diesel fuel in the next year or two.

 

[mwtgg]

I like the Outback Wagon.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
I like the Outback Wagon.

I do too, but the hatch area isn't anywhere as high as my Passat wagon. My 75 pound dog wouldn't be able to fit in the back of one very comfortably. She can stand up in my Passat. Wouldn't be able to do that in the Subaru. Back seat legroom is pretty bad in the Subaru's too. The Passat is cavernous back there.

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: godmare
Looks good, but, imo, Passat's will never fill out their price tag.

If you said that about the Jetta, I'd agree. But the Passat certainly is a good car for the $$. Especially in wagon trims.

They really shine there. In previous years the Passats were better than anything Subaru put out from a refinement and option standpoint. Plus a LOT more back seat room and front seat comfort. Plus the hatch areas were much larger. Great economy from the engines too.

Subaru has a leg up on VW currently with the new Legacy. The Legacy GT's are very nice inside from a feature content, refinement, and comfort standpoint. But they are VERY expensive for what they are. A GT limited Wagon is over $32,000. :Q And it's smaller than current VW wagons.

The new VW's will be even bigger, and considerably more powerful with better fuel economy than the Subarus.

More powerful base engines are what VW needs, that would help a lot- the reason passat's get so expensive is because you need the upgraded engine. The 05 passat v6 4motion starts at over $32k, also.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Wheels are nice but I've just never liked the front end... especially the headlights

 

[vi edit]

More powerful base engines are what VW needs, that would help a lot- the reason passat's get so expensive is because you need the upgraded engine. The 05 passat v6 4motion starts at over $32k, also.

A 200+hp/200+ ft/lb engine that gets 30+ MPG on the highway isn't good enough?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

It's a handsome car, but I don't think I'd buy one over, say, a Legacy GT. VW's reliability problems are hard to ignore.

I'm not sure where you're getting the idea the Legacy is "much smaller." It's actually an inch longer, and it has greater cargo space than the Passat.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: DonVito
It's a handsome car, but I don't think I'd buy one over, say, a Legacy GT. VW's reliability problems are hard to ignore.

How about a Forester XT?

Should be able to get the dog in it without a problem.

If you're really concerned about the gas mileage you could even get one of the lower models (but what fun is that?).

Viper GTS

 

[Tea Bag]

I think it looks pretty nice (except for the wheels). I know that VW has had their problems, but I think that If you go the VR6 route you'll be OK.

So.. What's the fate of your current Passat? You gonna trade it in or sell it outright? It sounds like you took pretty good care of it if it has 93K on it. Pics?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: DonVito
It's a handsome car, but I don't think I'd buy one over, say, a Legacy GT. VW's reliability problems are hard to ignore.

I went and looked a GT Wagon the other day. I didn't have a lot of confidence instilled in me...

I walk up to a brand new on sitting on the lot, go to open the hatch and hear a terrible sounding "POP" come from the top of the hatch. The hatch alignment was all out of whack and when the hatch opened, it buckled the top edge of the roof and scrapped all the paint off the edge of the roof and the top edge of the hatch.

D'oh!

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

I went and looked a GT Wagon the other day. I didn't have a lot of confidence instilled in me...

I walk up to a brand new on sitting on the lot, go to open the hatch and hear a terrible sounding "POP" come from the top of the hatch. The hatch alignment was all out of whack and when the hatch opened, it buckled the top edge of the roof and scrapped all the paint off the edge of the roof and the top edge of the hatch.

D'oh!

Huh - I must say I find that surprising. From what I've seen, current Subies (at least the Legacy/Outbacks) appear to have excellent fit and finish.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: DonVito
It's a handsome car, but I don't think I'd buy one over, say, a Legacy GT. VW's reliability problems are hard to ignore.

I went and looked a GT Wagon the other day. I didn't have a lot of confidence instilled in me...

I walk up to a brand new on sitting on the lot, go to open the hatch and hear a terrible sounding "POP" come from the top of the hatch. The hatch alignment was all out of whack and when the hatch opened, it buckled the top edge of the roof and scrapped all the paint off the edge of the roof and the top edge of the hatch.

D'oh!

No telling what might have caused that, but Subaru is generally excellent in quality and reliability.

Haven't met a subie owner yet that doesn't love their car.

Viper GTS

 

[vi edit]

How about a Forester XT?

Cool little vehicles, but again, cursed by really poor back seat room. Just like all other Subaru's with the exception of maybe the Tribeca. But I can't really get past the fugly grill of it.

 

[mwtgg]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: mwtgg
I like the Outback Wagon.

I do too, but the hatch area isn't anywhere as high as my Passat wagon. My 75 pound dog wouldn't be able to fit in the back of one very comfortably. She can stand up in my Passat. Wouldn't be able to do that in the Subaru. Back seat legroom is pretty bad in the Subaru's too. The Passat is cavernous back there.

Eh, I've never had any space problems.

 

[DeviousTrap]

What problems are you having with your current passat that make you want to stay away?

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap
What problems are you having with your current passat that make you want to stay away?

Mine has been very good to me. It's everyone else's Passats & various MK4 Variants and a pretty piss poor dealer base that make me hesitant.

I really like my Passat. But VW is a far, far cry from Honda/Toyota.