Simon C

I've shortlisted these 2 as possibles for the next car.

Has anyone had either before or after a scoob? How do they compare in the handling stakes to a scoob? I test drove an A4 saloon (1.9 TDi) a few years ago for a friend when she changed her car (now my scoob) and felt it understeered hugely.

Which would be the better block to go for 1.9 or 2.0 or even 2.5 Quattro (A4 only)

lozgti

can't imagine either handle like a scoob.

Driven a Skoda Superb with 130 tdi and it really was a superb (pun intended )cruiser and car.

Seen a few things about problems with the 2.0 140 tdi's,turbo problems IIRC.

Nice cars but I feel sorry in my heart if you get an A4 with those daft lights

gingerboy

The passat is a great cruiser but thats about all that is good about it....... it does not handle very well! Jeremey Clarkson summed it up nicely when he called it "Vanilla".

What age of car are you looking at? I had a bad experience with my passat (55 plate new shape estate 140tdi SE model) If you are looking at new or nearly new then try the new shape Mazda 6 - for a family motor it handles very well indeed!

Regards

GB

Turbo2

Just took delivery yesterday of my fifth successive Passat TDi. I've not been without one as my daily driver since 2000. I've had old shape regular (100bhp), old shape Sport (110bhp), facelift 130bhp SE (2002), new shape 140bhp SE (2005) and now latest 140 bhp Estate Highline.

They've all been perfect for the family and job and very, very economical for a big car (all 50+ MPG on long journeys). They even go reasonably well with all that torque. Very few niggles to be honest.

Personally I have never been able to justify to myself the extra cost of an Audi A4 to end up with a similarly powered but much smaller car.

And no I don't work for VW!

PS: no diesel VW or Audi will ever compare to a Scooby for handling or performance. They're all soft, safe and sludgy, but comfortable. If it's thrills you're after, I'd look elsewhere.

Simon C

Probably looking at 02 - 05 plate cars.

Simon C

Looking at overall length the Passat Wagon is only 74mm longer than the A4 Wagon, which is inturn 42 cm longer than my current scoob.

Its not going to be a family car as my family is just me, I need the boot space for trips, diving equipment takes huge amounts of space!! That and my rfiles and bow don't fit in a Scoob boot when in their cases.

I'm not after thrills, just decent handling.

Turbo2

Blimey you need a tank mate. As for handling you need to go RWD or maybe a good 4WD. What about a Beemer Touring?

Come to think of it an Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon is a decent handling FWD machine, but you won't get the economy or reliability you're probably after.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Currently running a 2.0TDi 140 BHP Passat Est as a daily admin car. Handling is not on the same planet as my FSTi.

Performance (economy) for motorway is very good, the low spec is woeful compared to the competition unless you spec it up. Drinks oil!

Huge interior but I am dubious about the quality, it is not as good as an Avensis or Honda I have had in the past.

That being said, I have now got 17k on the clock and the service light is still off.

I had a Legacy WR Ltd Spec B GT before and that was a car and half for load lugging, performance (30 mpg + on a run) and awesome spec.

It's at Litchfields now.

Daft Lad

If its any help I've just got rid of my old STi for a Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TDi 170 on a company car scheme, obviously the handling isn't in the same league as the STi but overall its a superbly built car, and the engine is more than capable for the country-lane commute I do every day - and of course being a 6 speed its great on the motorways too, and I don't get out of the car with my ears bleeding at the end of the journey either! (Although I do kinda miss that aswell)

Dunno if that helps or not, but thats my two penneth re: a VAG diesel!

RB5201

I sold my RB and got a A4 1.9tdi 130bhp. Very comfy, like sitting in an armchair if you get one with an armrest. 55 to the gallon easily, hugh boot, pulls quite well, better once moving in 2nd 3rd and 4th gear. Handling similar to scoob........No.
Dont get me wrong it handles well, no issues with it but the suspension set up is not comparable. You need the RS4 for that!

lookout

Passat is transformed with decent dampers, decent tyres and a Whiteline rear anti roll bar

Kevin Mc

Another vote for a Skoda Superb. Unless you want a smaller car, the Skoda will offer more spec for less cash. I think the handling is fine for what it is - set up for comfort rather than thrills. Go for a PD130 in Comfort spec or above. I've had a Passat and 2 Superb's, and I think the Superb is a better car. Obviously I would prefer an A6, though you'd probably need £5k+ for the same age car. A4's just seem too small to me.