Topic: CTC Review: 2007 VW Passat Wagon 3.6L 4Motion

[safristi]

WOULD IT NOT be EASIER if VW (HELL NO ALL CAR CO's) WERE just HONEST about their Warranty work and problemos !!!?? ..and BETEER YET FIXED 'em....


  CAVEAT EMPTOR.....................VOTE OFTEN.........and fer Harponi

[BruceD]

Has anyone noticed that this Volkswagen Passat is more expensive than a very desirable Audi A4 2.0T Avant or BMW 328xi Touring? I could think of a list of cars a mile long (BMW X3 3.0i, Lexus IS250AWD, pre-owned X5, Toyota Highlander etc...) that I would pay $52k for before I bought this car. No doubt it is nicely equipped but did anyone ever really aspire to own a Phaeton? How about the Passat W8? Didn't think so. Volkswagen should stop shooting for the lux segment and re-direct that effort into finding a better name for the fantastic Rabbit (perhaps Golf? Sounds fun.)

[JSCC]

But $52K cannot get you any "fully loaded" of the below:

A4 3.2 Avant
A6 3.2 Avant

330i wagon (N/A in N/A, lolz)
530i wagon

C350 wagon
E350 wagon

V70 (T5 only)
XC70 (T5 only)

[tpl]

just to be picky:  I dont think there is a 330 wagon in NA, just a 325  but whatever JSCC , your point is made.

[JSCC]

No matter how you slice it.

The VW Passat 3.6L V6 4Motions "is" the most affordable European wagon with 4wd and a V6.

If VW did bring a 2.0T 4M, it would steal a huge amount of sales from the other wagons mentioned above.

[Giant Dwarf]

No matter how you slice it.

The VW Passat 3.6L V6 4Motions "is" the most affordable European wagon with 4wd and a V6.

If VW did bring a 2.0T 4M, it would steal a huge amount of sales from the other wagons mentioned above.

Agreed... that'd be a heck of a car.  Suppose less than $40k for a fairly simple 2.0T 4M passat wagon. 

[tpl]

It would not surprise me that:   if one had a 2.0t Passat wagon and an same year A4   it might be that one would find some unused bolt holes/brackets whatever on the VV that would allow the A4 power train to mount... that is if they are still identical  north south etc underneath

[JSCC]

It would not surprise me that:   if one had a 2.0t Passat wagon and an same year A4   it might be that one would find some unused bolt holes/brackets whatever on the VV that would allow the A4 power train to mount... that is if they are still identical  north south etc underneath

Not any more.
Both 2.0T and V6 Passats are now east-west.
The VR6 is compact but not enough to go north-south AND provide sufficient room for the driver/passenger compartment.

It might be a good way to further differentiate the VW/Audi brand.
VW front wheel bias.
Audi Quattro bias.

[JSCC]

Not sure about the layout with 3.2L V6 Passats in Europe.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Passat 3.6L is larger than all similar priced competitors except for the V70, which is priced similarly. The Volvo is really the only true competitor, and it'd be difficult to choose between them for me. If the new V70 is priced at the same level as before, I think I'd go for it.

[JSCC]

Passat 3.6L is larger than all similar priced competitors except for the V70, which is priced similarly. The Volvo is really the only true competitor, and it'd be difficult to choose between them for me. If the new V70 is priced at the same level as before, I think I'd go for it.

Maybe priced the same for the T5.
But the 3.2L I6 and 3.0T will be much more expensive.

Speaking of size, the Jetta has the similar length of an A4, 3-series, and C-class.
The Passat is slightly shorter than the A6, 5-series and E-class.

[BruceD]

JSCC:

You do have some good points about features for the money, however my experience has been that the more expensive Volkswagen models (i.e. Passat GLX, W8, 4Motion, Phaeton, etc...) all suffer massive depreciation that is not consistent with BMW, Audi, Lexus and Acura models in the near luxury class. I think this is mostly due to the fact that the expensive VW's don't sell well in North America and the reliability reputation. Therefore the cost of ownership could be the same or more with the Volkswagen even if you compared it with a more expensive luxury brand car.

Also, although I have not driven the Passat, the reviews I have read state the only sporty aspect of the car is the 'hot rod' V6 engine. If VW were to fit the 2.0T to this car we probably would lose most of the sport in 'sport wagon'.

[JSCC]

True, residual values on top models are not competitive against luxury brands.

The W8 Passat is like the Acura RL, like ~40% after 4 yrs.
Compared to A6, 5-series, E-class ~50%, the monthly payments can come out to be the same, even though the vehicle is more expensive.

[tpl]

My wife is about to buy here first car for many years.  She has always liked the Passat Wagon. Soooo we went and looked at one and she decided she did NOT like it... thought it was too fiddly to fold the seats and was "too long" ( ever since she backed my GTI into a lamp post she has been "sensitive" to cars that are "too long"    )  She may still buy a 4dr Rabbit tho. We will see in a week or two now we have moved.  I'd still consider a GTI or more likely a new tech Golf diesel but I gather we wont get one here

[JSCC]

My wife is about to buy here first car for many years.  She has always liked the Passat Wagon. Soooo we went and looked at one and she decided she did NOT like it... thought it was too fiddly to fold the seats and was "too long" ( ever since she backed my GTI into a lamp post she has been "sensitive" to cars that are "too long"    )  She may still buy a 4dr Rabbit tho. We will see in a week or two now we have moved.  I'd still consider a GTI or more likely a new tech Golf diesel but I gather we wont get one here

Did we meet at the dealership?
Jetta wagon on the way, also too long?

[Mitlov]

Passat 3.6L is larger than all similar priced competitors except for the V70, which is priced similarly. The Volvo is really the only true competitor, and it'd be difficult to choose between them for me. If the new V70 is priced at the same level as before, I think I'd go for it.

Exactly.  It's a midsize-to-large low-end-luxury wagon (like the Volvo), not a compact luxury wagon.  Just because it's similarly price to an A4 Avant or 328xiT doesn't mean they're equivalent vehicles.

[tpl]

My wife is about to buy here first car for many years.  She has always liked the Passat Wagon. Soooo we went and looked at one and she decided she did NOT like it... thought it was too fiddly to fold the seats and was "too long" ( ever since she backed my GTI into a lamp post she has been "sensitive" to cars that are "too long"    )  She may still buy a 4dr Rabbit tho. We will see in a week or two now we have moved.  I'd still consider a GTI or more likely a new tech Golf diesel but I gather we wont get one here

Did we meet at the dealership?
Jetta wagon on the way, also too long?

No, we corresponded by pm but have not met. When is the wagon arriving?

[JSCC]

Hopefully end of this year as a MY08 2.5/2.0T.