If i was going to buy a Passat it would probably be something like this one:




Passat 2.0 FSI highline, Mocca Brown exterior , alcantara/leather interior (black) , aluminium trim. Only i prefer "LeMans" 17 inch rims (see image below).

Hi Snake.

I agree with you about the design - personally I was all over it when it was released (although I was doubtful about the chrome grill), and when I saw it in real life, I was even more satisfied. The grill didn't stand out as much as it did, and the car looks really good, just a joy to look at, though I might admit it may look a little run-of-the-mill. But playing it safe can be good sometimes.

I'm not surprised about the 1.6FSI Passat frankly - some people just want economy, and I'm sure the 1.6FSI would pull just fine; though of course we can't talk about going at high speeds. It might slog.

Those prices are really killing me. Everything seems reasonable... Especially the Passat. The disparity between the prices of the Accord and the Passat here is ludicrous compared to what you have there.

I'd avoid the Mexican-built Jetta too - horror stories from our SA-made 3 Series abound. And go for a colour that you like (it would be better if you intend to keep your car around for a long time; you wouldn't need to worry about resale).

I'm glad you had a glimpse of a Phaeton. What rarity! Nonetheless, I still prefer the interior of the A8 to the Phaeton... It just feels better.

All Civics we get here are from Thailand too, as far as I know. Alrighty then, lemme go touch 'em plastics again and I'll get back to you.

James - Yeah, that grille put me off in pictures, but it works well enough in real life. Actually, I think that the Passat wagon looks a little more balanced than the sedan, but I don't like wagons as much as sedans.

The smaller engines are a hit in Europe. I think many countries have tax incentives for engines that produce less pollution and possibly for lower fuel consumption, which is a good idea. However, before I or anyone else begins to bash Australia for liking bigger engines, just remember the size of our country and the relative distance between urban areas. In any case, I don't think the 1.6FSI is fatally slow. It'd be ok, in urban-only driving, with one or two people. Really, that's the amount of people in my car at most times anyhow.

Yannis - I like that grey colour, somehow more than the 'granite' greenish-grey colour we get. Still, it doesn't look very 'mocca' to me. I always thought mocca was closer to the darker colour in the larger photo. As for the wheels, our 2.0TDI and 2.0TFSI variants come standard with Le Mans wheels. It could get a bit boring - those Exis STP wheels might be a nice change, although they don't look as elegant.

I actually like the Comfort seats, and I prefer cloth over leather. The aluminium trim is good - if only because they centre console is already a metallic-look plastic. It's odd to have too many trim finishes in one car.

The pricing they put on the Passat is really competitive. On one hand, people have said that the old Passat was a better finished car, inside, and the new one has areas where you can tell they're trying to cut costs. On the other hand, with this pricing, they must have really scared the non-mainstream prestige players - Saab's 9-3 and 9-5, Volvo's S60 and even S40, Peugeot, Renault, Alfa Romeo, Honda's Accord cousins, Mazda's $40k Sport Luxury '6', and even domestics like upmarket Commodores, Falcons and Camrys. Why buy a (just released) Camry Grande for $40k when you can have a Passat for $43k?

I haven't actually had the opportunity to sit inside either of those cars; but IMO they're both very nice - just for different tastes The A8 does have a certain modern aesthetic appeal, though.

Thanks for the report Snake.

I really find it interesting that you did not find the new Civic appealing. I really like it and think it is light years better than by 02 one. I have been wanting an SI for a while now and am considering in purchasing one, but I am not entirely sure yet.

I have seen Moca IRL and i liked it very much , photos can be deceiving about car colors because of light conditions ect. so you might be right that Moca is the Passat in the big picture.

I'm not convinced about the Civic. Maybe they're different in the States (I know the front and the taillights look different), too. Anyhow, it's not that it's bad, as such, it's just not my style. IMO though it's better than the previous Civic, it's still only catching up.

I'd take a Mazda 3 (perhaps soon to be facelifted, since it has been in Japan, Europe and Australia?) or even Mazda 6 or Camry, instead. That said, the Golf/Rabbit is pretty good, at that size. A Jetta is similar, too.

I like that Mocca colour, too - there's a couple of pictures in what looks like a dark, purplish-brownish pearlescent type paint in the Australian Passat brochure. Too bad it's not an available colour though.

So Snake, did you like the Passat?

Other than that, if i were you, i would consider the Accord Euro. It offers the same as the Passat, it is also nice inside out. The only thing that bothers me on that car is the Huyndai look it has. It's just not my type.

Also, there is a huge difference in prices which surprises me, since you can get those passats about 10.000 less here.

As for the colour, i would go for that gold. I did it once and i don't regret it.

PS. Sorry but no test drives this month. I was waiting for a phone call from the Volvo service, which was not made. plus i am leaving for vacation tomorrow, so no more test this month. wait until september...

Remember that the prices are in Aus dollars.

And Passat isn't offered in a Gold color (thanks god for that lol).

Yeah, I liked the Passat. I'm almost sold, but hey, it's not my money. It would probably be smart to look at some other cars just to see what's out there, anyhow.

As for the Accord Euro, umm, it was pretty good, but the Passat surpasses it, IMO. For a similar price, in the Accord Euro Luxury you get standard leather, sunroof, and xenon headlights, but honestly I don't really care for those items.

On the other hand, the Passat has air conditioning vent adjusters for the centre vents in the console, it actually has rear vents in the rear of the console, it has better boot hinges that are shielded so as not to crush objects, it has a better trip computer (I think), 8 airbags (vs. 6), etc., plus you can get seat position memory, which I like. Smaller things that aren't easily put in advertising, but things that, for me, make a difference to someone with an interest in cars.

Yeah, I have no idea what the prices are like in Europe, but just think that the Accord Euro Luxury and the base Passat are the same price. I think it's competitive, for both cars, depending what you like.

The Passat 'wheat beige' colour is almost gold, but it's quite subtle. I like it.

The salesman called and apparently they have a diesel Jetta available to drive. We might go in sometime next week, will see.

Now i 'm confused. I thought Giannis was talking about Gold exterior color ...or not?