Head vs Heart (what car, yay!)
Discussion
So, I'll make it snappy as there have been a lot of these but I was hoping some owners might be able to help.
I do a daily motorway hack covering 12k a year, I want a comfortable, petrol mile muncher and have 10k to play with. I have kids, so size is key and economy is a consideration, I'd like 35mpg average.
Coming from a 1 Series MSport, that I hate, seats too firm (and small) , suspension too firm, RFT's too firm, dated interior, small back seats - you get the idea. Sadly, it's put me off BMW's even though I've had some amazing ones in the past.
What have I found then:
Head: Passat Cc 1.8 TSI. Most economical, quickest, newest, most comfortable, sat nav as standard, lower tax. Downside, the one I've found is white, other than Bluetooth and nav, it's basic, not even parking sensors.
Heart: Mercedes C180k Sport. On paper, it can't beat the Passat at anything but it's an estate, which is handy, auto, which is good for the commute, AMG styling looks fab and without really having a brand preference I 'prefer' Merc's. Similarly low spec'd, no nav, parking sensors etc. Seems to be a theme on petrols.
I'm happy to consider alternatives. 3'ers are out, A4's seem out of budget, wife doesn't like the Octavia's (I tried hard), I could be swayed by the right Monday but they're a bit dull, comparatively.
I do a daily motorway hack covering 12k a year, I want a comfortable, petrol mile muncher and have 10k to play with. I have kids, so size is key and economy is a consideration, I'd like 35mpg average.
Coming from a 1 Series MSport, that I hate, seats too firm (and small) , suspension too firm, RFT's too firm, dated interior, small back seats - you get the idea. Sadly, it's put me off BMW's even though I've had some amazing ones in the past.
What have I found then:
Head: Passat Cc 1.8 TSI. Most economical, quickest, newest, most comfortable, sat nav as standard, lower tax. Downside, the one I've found is white, other than Bluetooth and nav, it's basic, not even parking sensors.
Heart: Mercedes C180k Sport. On paper, it can't beat the Passat at anything but it's an estate, which is handy, auto, which is good for the commute, AMG styling looks fab and without really having a brand preference I 'prefer' Merc's. Similarly low spec'd, no nav, parking sensors etc. Seems to be a theme on petrols.
I'm happy to consider alternatives. 3'ers are out, A4's seem out of budget, wife doesn't like the Octavia's (I tried hard), I could be swayed by the right Monday but they're a bit dull, comparatively.
Edited by Rich n Em on Sunday 26th October 08:46
Ok, this is going to sound silly but how about an X350 model. Jaguar XJ8.
Yes it looks a little old man ish, but the looks belie a thoroughly modern all alluminium car that goes like stink, handles great and is rides sublimely. I ran a 4.2 for nearly 4 years and averaged just shy of 30 mpg. I got 35 pn the motorway. You get the V8 goodness too. Dont just dismiss, go and try a 2008 ish plate one ( should easily be in your budget) prepare yourself for s shock. You could even go diesel if you wanted to average 45mpg+. Get a nice dark one with 19 or 20 inch wheels on, R grilles and a black leather interior and you're smokin! Bargain of the century. Plus the specialists network is sooooo strong that you can leave the dealers alone and get high quality servicing done for a few hundred quid a time.
Yes it looks a little old man ish, but the looks belie a thoroughly modern all alluminium car that goes like stink, handles great and is rides sublimely. I ran a 4.2 for nearly 4 years and averaged just shy of 30 mpg. I got 35 pn the motorway. You get the V8 goodness too. Dont just dismiss, go and try a 2008 ish plate one ( should easily be in your budget) prepare yourself for s shock. You could even go diesel if you wanted to average 45mpg+. Get a nice dark one with 19 or 20 inch wheels on, R grilles and a black leather interior and you're smokin! Bargain of the century. Plus the specialists network is sooooo strong that you can leave the dealers alone and get high quality servicing done for a few hundred quid a time.
Edited by andymadmak on Sunday 26th October 08:45
andymadmak said:
Ok, this is going to sound silly but how about an X350 model. Jaguar XJ8.
Yes it looks a little old man ish, but the looks belie a thoroughly modern all alluminium car that goes like stink, handles great and is rides sublimely. I ran a 4.2 for nearly 4 years and averaged just shy of 30 mpg. I got 35 pn the motorway. You get the V8 goodness too. Dont just dismiss, go and try a 2008 ish plate one ( should easily be in your budget) prepare yourself for s shock. You could even go diesel if you wanted to average 45mpg+. Get a nice dark one with 19 or 20 inch wheels on, R grilles and a black leather interior and you're smokin! Bargain of the century. Plus the specialists network is sooooo strong that you can leave the dealers alone and get high quality servicing done for a few hundred quid a time.
Ooooh, Jag - would love one. Sadly the costs are prohibitive. Doing some man-maths, taking into account simply combined economy and RFL, shows the Jag to cost £273 a month compared to £169 for the Passat, £177 for the Merc and the £143 the 1'er is costing me. It's too much of a leap.Yes it looks a little old man ish, but the looks belie a thoroughly modern all alluminium car that goes like stink, handles great and is rides sublimely. I ran a 4.2 for nearly 4 years and averaged just shy of 30 mpg. I got 35 pn the motorway. You get the V8 goodness too. Dont just dismiss, go and try a 2008 ish plate one ( should easily be in your budget) prepare yourself for s shock. You could even go diesel if you wanted to average 45mpg+. Get a nice dark one with 19 or 20 inch wheels on, R grilles and a black leather interior and you're smokin! Bargain of the century. Plus the specialists network is sooooo strong that you can leave the dealers alone and get high quality servicing done for a few hundred quid a time.
Edited by andymadmak on Sunday 26th October 08:45
I'd not considered Accords, I'll go and have a gander, although first impressions are they look a bit dated compared to the other options.
As far as the Passat CC is concerned, AVOID it if it has Sport suspension and seats. The seats in my Passat saloon (2012 Sport) are bloody awful. Not as bad as the tortuous 1 Series, but not far off either. The ride is too firm as well.
I suspect it would be a lot comfier in SE trim, don't know what the trim levels on the CC are like, though.
I suspect it would be a lot comfier in SE trim, don't know what the trim levels on the CC are like, though.
A few months ago I bought myself a Volvo V50 T5 (2.5T)... it was the best car purchase I have ever made.
It goes incredibly well, the boot - while not V70 cavernous - is plenty large (got an Ikea bed in it with no drama) and the seats are actually the best thing since sliced bread. Better than sliced bread. Better than bread.
Economy wise you aren't going to get 35mpg around town, but on the motorway I've been averaging 36 according to the trip (so I imagine closer to 33). In town I'm averaging about 28.
Not a passat or a merc, but perhaps worth considering?
It goes incredibly well, the boot - while not V70 cavernous - is plenty large (got an Ikea bed in it with no drama) and the seats are actually the best thing since sliced bread. Better than sliced bread. Better than bread.
Economy wise you aren't going to get 35mpg around town, but on the motorway I've been averaging 36 according to the trip (so I imagine closer to 33). In town I'm averaging about 28.
Not a passat or a merc, but perhaps worth considering?
I would go for the Passat CC but, not the 1.8tsi. IIRC that was the basic entry level model and therefore a low spec and not many people would spend the money in speccing up a basic car. I would think you'd be better off spending a bit more and getting a 2.0 TSi GT as these have the bigger 18s and are more likely to have had money spent on extras
2.0 GT CC is certainly on the list, just struggling to find a good one, whereas I have an excellently priced 1.8 locally that I've viewed.
As for head / heart, I'm a numbers guy and aside from space everything tips in favour of the VW. Not much in it though, 36mpg vs 39, 09 vs 11 plate, £225 RFL vs £180. Head is for numbers, heart is for preference.
Honestly, I'd be happy with either.
As for head / heart, I'm a numbers guy and aside from space everything tips in favour of the VW. Not much in it though, 36mpg vs 39, 09 vs 11 plate, £225 RFL vs £180. Head is for numbers, heart is for preference.
Honestly, I'd be happy with either.
ben5732 said:
Wouldn't touch a passat with a barge pole with the reputation of the last one and the amount of issues my old man and a friend have had with theirs.
Don't know if my 2012 example is anything to go by, but at just over 30,000 miles it needed a front wheel bearing, at the same time I had them replace the boot lifter struts under warranty as they'd lost pressure, and just this weekend, at a little less than 52,000 miles, the yellow "catalytic converter" light has come on, suggesting either a sensor issue or one of the 3 different catalysts in the exhaust system has failed.Now my car may well be a "Friday afternoon car", rather than suggesting that Passats in general are problematic, but I'm very glad it's a company car under warranty rather than my own car and I certainly won't have another VW. (Might make an exception for an early Phaeton W12, mind...
)Well, I bought one, I took the wife, as a final decision maker, she opted for the more sporty looking, white car...
In the end, I still couldn't decide so I figured I'd go with whoever gave me a better deal. Both cars were the same price so I made the same offer on each car, about 7% less than screen price. Both went "to speak to their manager". The Passat came back saying "we don't negotiate on price" the Merc came back, "yes, no problem". Guess which one I purchased:
In the end, I still couldn't decide so I figured I'd go with whoever gave me a better deal. Both cars were the same price so I made the same offer on each car, about 7% less than screen price. Both went "to speak to their manager". The Passat came back saying "we don't negotiate on price" the Merc came back, "yes, no problem". Guess which one I purchased:
jay140285 said:
Nice choice,
I had a 2013 Passat company car Highline 140tdi. Lovely car but several trips back to dealers within 12months and 20k.
Unfortunately I have to agree.I had a 2013 Passat company car Highline 140tdi. Lovely car but several trips back to dealers within 12months and 20k.
I have a 2013 CC GT as a company car and my own money certainly wouldn't have gone on it if I knew what I know now.
Backwards and forwards to VW for the past 18 months!
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