RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

I am close to jumping back into company car V's allowance.

And narrowed search between 2 cars.

Option A. New A4 but with the 1.9TDI (110)engine and Sline pack.
Option B. New Passat 170TDI sport.

I want the Audi because I feel in 6months time as good as the passat it it will just be another Passat, but the A4 in a year+ time will still feel like your driving something a little bit special and not just another rep mobile. Not looking to a debat on this, everyone has there own view point on this and this is mine.

My quandry is with the power. I have recently driven the older style 1.9TDI(130)A4 and ample quick enough for what it is, have also driven the new avensis140 tdi , and hondaTDI140, both of which I felt were slower than the 130 1.9tdi A4. Especially the avensis which didn't feel no where near 140.

If the new A4(115) felt just about as quick and torquey as say the older 130 A4 I would be happy. At the end of the day is just 15bhp which having driven the above could well possibly just be a paper figure difference and in reality make very little difference to the way the car feels on the road.

Problem is there isn't a 115tdi A4 anywhere near me to even attempt a test drive which is the obvious thing to do, and need to make a decision soon.

The Passat is a great car and if I were not being a bit of a badge snob then it makes sense - but desperately want the A4 but only if it feels quick enough.

Coming from 400bhp cars, non of the above are ever going to feel super quick, So figure do I really need to focus on the difference between the 115bhp audi or 170bhp Passat, and just focus on the car that I want.

Basically anyone have any experience of jumping from a 115bhp A4 to the 130bhp A4, and ideally also the new 2.0td140bhp A4. ? And is there really than much difference between any of them ?

Thanks in Advance,

Matteeboy

Passat every time.

That Audi sounds very much "all show but no go" - The type of car I really can't stomach.
It should be the other way round.

My bro in law has the base diesel A4 Avant 1.9TDI and it's very slow.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Here what you say but lets face it they are neither exactly "go", the A4 has presence on the road where as the passat just blends into every other car on the road. Yes this is a bit protencious of me, and to be honest its not really about the badge more about the looks. The Passat's rear end is all wrong, where as the lines of the Sline look great. In my opinion Not Chavved up as has been said before but just nice design and sporty lines.

But IF the 115 A4 is truly Slow which is could be for all I know then It would probably drive me mad so still have no clue which to go for.

Matteeboy

Why have a car that looks "cool" if it doesn't go well?

Different priorities I guess - My priorities are handling then a bit of oomph then build quality then value and last of all, the badge.

I'd rather drive a Skoda vRS than an "M Sport" 318i BMW for example.

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

This is the colour and model of passat in question - Must admit it does look nicer than I remember.




There is nothing in it in terms of build quality. With regards to handling and ooomph. The handling is comparable and I wouldn't want to push either that hard - this is not what this car is all about for this time. But a bit of Oooomph and enough to overtake a car and have anough power to feel like I am not driving a complete slug is important. So back to the passat I suppose

This is like table tennis in my head.

MooseRacer

The PAssat 170 is going to be in a different league performance wise to the A4

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Got up close and personal with a Passat 170tdi sport today in Reflex silver. And my mind is defo made up. The passat is a seriously well built car, and with all the extra's you get with the sport, looks very nice. Totally gone away from the idea of the Audi now, the Passat is Sooooo much more value for money.

Will be putting my order in on Monday, and can't wait to get it.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Wait for the Mondeo ?

RobEvo5

iTrader: (9)

Looked at the new mondeo straight after I viewed the passat, and nice but not in the same league IMHO, and unless you spec up even a ghia with bigger wheels etc they really don't look all that either. Plus they are too big for UK roads and parking spaces.

Volks

The present A4 will also be obsolete in a year, I believe the B8 platform A4 is released in September.

My Passat (2006 2.0 TDI Sport DSG) is OK, mechanically superior to the A3 it replaced (two steering racks and a rebuilt rear suspension in 20,000 miles in the A3) but it suffers from numerous interior rattles. The Passat is not a well built car, at least mine isn`t.

sti-04!!

Passat would be the ideal choice, if you go for the "oh i am better than those volkswagen drivers" A4 you will be bored very quickly.