I am in the process of deciding on my next car which I get to order for October. With silly lead times I might be ordering it next week. Test drive of one possibility at the weekend (Fri-Mon).
I am wondering what people think of some of the options available. Two I will get for sure:
- Heated windscreen
- Folding/auto-dimming mirrors
But there's quite a few options I might consider over and above things only I can decide on (colour, sunroof, manual vs. dual clutch automated gearbox) such as:
- Reversing camera
- Auto parking (need convincing) but not expensive! :-)
- Tyre pressure sensors (car has sensors for pressure but the option is for one that measures pressures)
- Climate seats
- Adaptive chassis/damping
- 12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered)
Yes it's a VAG car ;-)
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>> - Reversing camera
>> - Auto parking (need convincing) but not expensive! :-)
£900
>> - Tyre pressure sensors (car has sensors for pressure but the option is for one
>> that measures pressures)
£190
>> - Climate seats
£410
>> - Adaptive chassis/damping
£745
>> - 12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered)
£710
Thats a lot of P11D on 3k of extras.
>>
>> Yes it's a VAG car ;-)
Its a Passat.
>>
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Cardigan to match the trim?
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>> Cardigan to match the trim?
>>
And the Qashqai is such a good looking car. I should get a his and hers then ;-)
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Reversing camera might be handy for hitching up.
The rest of them look like things that don't add much useful, and have the potential to not work at some point. Tyre pressure sensors don't have a good record from what I hear.
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The only useful comment so far... the reliability of the pressure monitoring of tyres.
As for:
>> - Reversing camera
£275
>> - Auto parking (need convincing) but not expensive! :-)
£185
>> - Tyre pressure sensors
£65
>> - Climate seats
£195
>> - Adaptive chassis/damping
Included in the list price - free.
>> - 12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered)
£635 - yes pricey.
>> Yes it's a VAG car ;-)
Its a Passat CC GT. But I had a Passat before so happy to take the jibes.
I think this looks a bit nicer though but being a coupe shape might the reverse camera be useful?
www.welovemotors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/vw-passat-cc-gt.jpg
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Had climate seats once and miss them - genuinely good things.
Don't know about 12 way power seats - had 8 way ones and again, genuinely good for getting exactly the right position. What extra ways does the 12 add I wonder?
Also had "fat bloke' steering wheel that moved out of the way when you turned off ignition - good stuff but had three motors and replacements were £750 a pop with labour. Not VAG car.
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Bear in mind this won't be my car... so anything going wrong won't cost. And it's only 36 months.
The 12 way seats include 4-way lumbar support - and memory function. And I am guessing moving the glass on the passenger side to move the mirror down.
Climate seats here will be for cooling only. The standard car comes with heated seats. Hence the climate seat option being the price it is.
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>> www.welovemotors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/vw-passat-cc-gt.jpg
It do realise the Nissan Qashqai and the Mitsubishi Lancer are betting looking cars. Neither Nissan or Mitsubishi is on our list sadly. Or Ford or VX for that matter.
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>> >> www.welovemotors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/vw-passat-cc-gt.jpg
>>
>> It do realise the Nissan Qashqai and the Mitsubishi Lancer are betting looking cars. Neither
>> Nissan or Mitsubishi is on our list sadly. Or Ford or VX for that matter.
Ho Ho very droll.
The CC is actually a very sharp looking car from the front and in profile. Looks slightly strange and ill proportioned from the back.
Why is it called a CC? I thought a CC was a "cabriolet coupé"
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VW claim CC = comfort coupe.
>> Looks slightly strange and ill proportioned from the back.
It's sure a wide car. Hence wanting a good test drive.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Thu 24 Mar 11 at 22:29
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The cooling is worth it in my book. Found it very beneficial on sticky days.
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I have no experience of them, nor am I likely to for many years to come, but...
The 4-door coupe shape is IMO one of the best-looking car types in recent years. I've always liked the Merc CLS and the Passat CC still turns my head even after being around for a couple of years. I wish there were more examples on sale.
Fill yer boots, tick every box. You know you want to ;)
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Thanks Dave. I get one for the weekend tomorrow morning. Lots of different driving to do before Monday! I sort of hope it has the adaptive Xenons on it because I like/appreciate the light from Xenons having them now. But a costly option. Very costly.
When the Passat CC came out I liked it a lot and thought I would like one. Now I can order one I hope I like it. I am hoping Humph can advise on cardigans as I have never had one aged 40.
I should have also asked for general views on the 140PS vs 170PS engine. Anyone notice the extra torque in the latter? Power should be fine in the 140PS.
And should I think of DSG.... now that will cost extra per month due to BIK and the extra cost for the car per month. A basic white Passat GT 140 manual will cost be £16/month before tax plus the tax for BIK which is less than the Mazda6.
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The CC's a cracking looking machine, i like the rear end of it too but i agree the front and profile edge it looks wise.
>> - Reversing camera
Gadget factor, it's definitely in. They never fail to impress.
>> - Auto parking (need convincing) but not expensive! :-)
Meh. Is it the new one or the old one? (aka 40cm or 3 miles+ versions). If the latter then definitely a pointless faff.
>> - Tyre pressure sensors (car has sensors for pressure but the option is for one that measures pressures)
Gadget factor, it's in.
>> - Climate seats
Comfort factor, definitely in.
>> - Adaptive chassis/damping
Supposed to be very good?
>> - 12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered)
Meh.
>> Xenons
Absolutely essential on VAGs, they're really well done. If it was an either / or proposition i'd have these over the other options.
>> I should have also asked for general views on the 140PS vs 170PS engine
Don't know first hand, haven't tried the 140 but its supposed to be pretty economical i think? Going on other peoples reports the issues to watch out for are:
- hesitation when you go over a rise in the road at speed, like the throttle's cut temporarily. Only affects the 170 diesels i think but reported on all VAG marques that peddle that engine.
- Some of the Passat diesel fuel tanks aren't baffled (hear the fuel sloshing about instead), not sure why.
I've driven the 170 and it seems alright as diesels go.
p.s. Stop faffing about and get a petrol s-tronic A5, you know it makes more sense :-)
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>>p.s. Stop faffing about and get a petrol s-tronic A5, you know it makes more sense :-)
I do want an A5 Sportback. But the price for a basic spec SE is about £90pm pay-up. And then you'd want the options to make it right.
Hence the Passat CC. And apart from what the Xenons do for driving safety the car looks the same with halogen lights. Unlike so many now. You want the Xenons to get the nice looking headlights and rear lights.
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There's more to the xenons than more light. They switch between different modes depending on roadspeed and whether your wipers are on. You rarely need full beam.
i.e. on unlit dual carriageway at night the beam pattern changes to something like full beam, but curtailed at the sides and not quite as high. = Full beam that doesn't get in the eyes of other drivers on the other carriageway or up ahead.
In the rain there's a different pattern that avoids dazzling other road users by dipped beams pointing in a wet surface.
Town mode is excellent, you see potholes so easily - the beam pattern's short and wide.
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>> beam, but curtailed at the sides and not quite as high. = Full beam that
>> doesn't get in the eyes of other drivers on the other carriageway or up ahead.
I assure you it does.
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>> doesn't get in the eyes of other young drivers
:-)
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>> >> doesn't get in the eyes of other young drivers
>>
>> :-)
;-P :-P
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>> The only useful comment so far... the reliability of the pressure monitoring of tyres.
>>
>> As for:
>>
>> >> - Reversing camera
>> £275
>>
>> >> - Auto parking (need convincing) but not expensive! :-)
>> £185
>>
>> >> - Tyre pressure sensors
>> £65
>>
>> >> - Climate seats
>> £195
>>
>> >> - Adaptive chassis/damping
>> Included in the list price - free.
>>
>> >> - 12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered)
>> £635 - yes pricey.
>>
>>
>> >> Yes it's a VAG car ;-)
>> Its a Passat CC GT.
AH, its the OLD Passat...
How retro of you!
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There is not a new Passat yet Z. The revised saloon/estate is based on the same chassis. However they replaced all body panels.
But the Passat CC looks better to me. Although I'd be better off if I get the 'new' saloon or estate. But the cardigans might be costly ;-)
Last edited by: rtj70 on Thu 24 Mar 11 at 22:28
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>> There is not a new Passat yet Z.
VW call it the "New Passat"
www.volkswagen.co.uk/#/new/passat-vii/
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They do but it's the old Passat underneath. More a Passat 6.5. They did call the revision to the Passat 5 I had the 5.5 so they are cheating. Same goes for the current Golf though which is never a Golf MK VI.
The new Jetta is bigger though. If I decide the Passat CC is too big then instead of the boring 'new' Passat I might go for the Jetta.
The new Passat saloon to me is ugly and so I'd go for the estate. And add some options and the Passat CC seems value for money. Full leather, ACC, sat nav, parking sensors etc. are all standard.
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>> The only useful comment so far... the reliability of the pressure monitoring of tyres.
>>
>> As for:
>>
>> >> - Reversing camera
>> £275
Waste of time, hated the one I used in a primera.
>> >> - Auto parking (need convincing) but not expensive! :-)
>> £185
Waste of time
>> >> - Tyre pressure sensors
>> £65
Waste of time and a pain in the behind to maintain.
>> >> - Climate seats
>> £195
Yes - nothing worse than sweaty spine.
>> >> - Adaptive chassis/damping
>> Included in the list price - free.
>>
>> >> - 12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered)
>> £635 - yes pricey.
You dont need 12 ways - it sounds more like a sex toy than a seat.
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Thanks Z. Off that list I was thinking climate cooled seats. They are Nappa leather so in the summer the cooling function might be very useful. If we have a summer!
The camera I thought I'd want/need because the shape means rear vision is not good for parking. But the car I briefly drove and reverse parked back at the dealer and I realised I probably did not want/need it. Reversing you should be looking behind and not at the sat nav screen. It also displays the parking sensor output on the screen too... or draws lines if you have the camera to show which way you will go and where the bumper is.
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>> You dont need 12 ways - it sounds more like a sex toy than a seat.
I'll wait for BBD to give an opinion then ;-)
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You dont need 12 ways - it sounds more like a sex toy than a seat.
At the end of the day, you will use all the adjustments once to get it in the right position, and then leave it alone. You will be carting all those extra seat motors round for three years for what, 30 seconds of moving about.
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Heated windscreen - Yes
Folding/auto-dimming mirrors - Yes
Reversing camera - Noooo
Auto parking - Nooooooo
Tyre pressure sensors - No
Climate seats - Maybe
Adaptive chassis/damping - Yes
12 way power seats vs standard seats (6 way powered) - Yes
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>> Heated windscreen - Yes
Can you get heated windscreens on VAG cars now? Thought they were exclusive to Ford.
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you can, its on the option list for the Passat. £140
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Or buy a Skoda where these are all standard.
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Not all VAG's have it and it's not standard. As Z says it is an option on the Passat and Passat CC.
Impressions so far... very nice. I don't think I'll want/need the 170PS diesel. But then again... ;-)
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I would give up the reversing camera, auto parking, tyre pressure sensors, climate seats and 12 way power seats for the 170 engine.
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>> Impressions so far... very nice. I don't think I'll want/need the 170PS diesel. But then
>> again... ;-)
>>
Interesting, I had the same sort of decision between BMW 320D and 318D last year , I chose the 318 and haven't regretted it in 20k miles since, as with the VW 140 engine plenty power for anything I want to do and better economy.
I tested A4s last year with both engines and thought then the 140 is plenty powerful enough.
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>> I am in the process of deciding on my next car which I get to
>> order for October. With silly lead times I might be ordering it next week. Test
>> drive of one possibility at the weekend (Fri-Mon).
>>
Your lease company will advise but suspect you might be struggling depending on how quickly they turn things around in Japan:
www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-24/european-carmakers-may-be-forced-to-idle-plants-as-japan-supplies-dry-up.html
Volkswagen will maintain production through this week, said Christoph Adomat, a Wolfsburg, Germany-based company spokesman. He declined to comment beyond that.
Last edited by: gmac on Fri 25 Mar 11 at 13:23
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My S-Max came with most of the options rtj70 is mulling over (but because it was used I didn't pay list or a BiK penalty for them). My views are:
Reversing camera: Surprisingly useful. I can see the top of my bumper in the camera, and so can get far closer than the parking sensors would have me do.
Auto parking: Not got it. Would think it would be useless because it would need a space twice as big as us chaps can park a car in :-)
Tyre pressure sensors: Useful.
Climate seats: These are weird! They don't refrigerate the seats as such, but blow ambient air through the seats. The moving air cools quite effectively, although I shall reserve full judgement until the tabloid read "Phew, what a scorcher!"
Adaptive chassis: Not got. I think these systems vary from car to car and would want to try the car with and without (not easy!) before deciding.
12-way seats as opposed to 6-way: Not got. Bit of an overkill unless lots of different drivers share the car, I think.
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This probably applies to most cars though. I know the lead time can be 3-4 months and am banking on it being at least 6 months anyway. Will have to wait and see ;-)
The comment on engines though... the 140PS seems fine (my Mazda's is 143PS) but I think you can notice the lack of torque. The 140PS has about 320Nm or torque, the 170PS has 350Nm but the Mazda has 360Nm. In 6th gear on motorways there was not much grunt.
I'd have to compare to the Mazda in case I am imagining this.
Current thoughts are:
- Junk metallic paint and go for white with the panoramic sunroof
- Maybe 170PS
- Definitely not parking sensors and probably not reverse camera - tried the former outside the house and if it was not for a tree near my wife's car it would have parked it in a small amount of space! It got closer to the car in front than I would. Okay the tree would have stopped me going in that aggressive but I could have taken more space to get in okay.
- Seats comfy enough as standard
- Might add the cooling option to the seats
- Tyre pressure monitor that's standard is probably good enough - I doubt I need to know actual pressure just that some has been lost
Verdict is out on Xenons until later - a trip across the Snake Pass in the dark to test the active lighting out beckons.
Must say the sat nav unit is quite good with Bluetooth connectivity for the phone (it downloads the phonebook too). It also plays the MP3's off the SDCARD really well so no need for the MDI interface IMO. And I can also play music off the phone over Bluetooth audio streaming.
The only negatives so far... it's a bit wider than I need a car to be and the roofline in the rear robs it off headroom for tall passengers.
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It looks like all your thoughts are distilling nicely into a final spec that you will be comfortable with. Plenty of useful feedback from forum members.
>> Current thoughts are:
>>
>> - Junk metallic paint and go for white with the panoramic sunroof
White is fashionable these days, so good call. Not sure about sunroofs. Don't like them myself, but if you want one then go for it!
>> - Maybe 170PS
Definitely 170 PS. You can never have too many horses. ;-)
>> - Definitely not parking sensors and probably not reverse camera - tried the former outside
Oooohh! Risky! I'd keep the sensors in a car that has restricted rear visibility, and dump the automatic parking. Up to you, though.
>> - Seats comfy enough as standard
Good shout. If they pass that test, then they don't need additional gimmicks....
>> - Might add the cooling option to the seats
...except this one
>> Verdict is out on Xenons until later - a trip across the Snake Pass in
>> the dark to test the active lighting out beckons.
Good man. Not sure, so you propose to test them.
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>> The only negatives so far... it's a bit wider than I need a car to be ....
>>
Dead right. Every new version of a car seems significantly wider than the last, and supermarket car parking spaces stay the same. Something has to give somewhere.
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>> Oooohh! Risky! I'd keep the sensors in a car that has restricted rear visibility, and dump the automatic parking.
I should have been clearer - it has parking sensors as standard but has park assist as an option. It is the latter I don't want. The sat nav screen shows an image of the car and lines showing how close you are and they go red when very near and the sound gets louder. No I wouldn't be without them.
Xenons I already have on the Mazda and was impressed but then again I don't go on windy roads late at night that often.... but time to test them.
The width thing is the worst problem but no different to say a Mondeo or a Passat saloon. Well this is slightly wider than the saloon/estate.
Maybe the park assist would be useful in a car park :-) But then you probably couldn't get out. The sunroof of this is just a pop open one but on the white car it looks good because the black roof contrasts.
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>>In 6th gear on motorways there was not much grunt.>>
If it anything lke the Golf GT CR 140 hire car I had last week that is down the overly high gearing.
Re torque, I would go for the 170 though there is no saying that it will pull stronger at very low revs.
This is what I said about the Octavia VRS CR 170 last year:
"Did a couple of hundred miles in one the other day, nicely refined CR motor, pulled strongly from 2000 to 3000 though not as punchy below 1800 as my Mondeo, quite rapid progress possible though didnt really feel like 170 bhp. Also 6th gear too high needing down changes at anything below 60 mph."
This is what I said about the Golf GT CR 140 last week:
"The engine is far removed from the PD units and is quite a sweet diesel unit, it has done 15k so has loosened up and is gutsy from around 1800 from though flat below that compared to my old Mondeo.
The engine is really very refined and quite punchy, I dont recall the CR 170 Octavia feeling much more punchy though I guess that was a little heavier a car. The gear ratios are too high though (VW chasing low CO2 figures I feel), 6th being 38mph/1000rpm meaning that while it will trundle along at 70mph in 6th one feels that there is little response under one's right foot, I feel more comfortable in 5th which is about 32mph/1000 so 70mph is about 2200 rpm."
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Cheddar I'd agree with the last paragraph - at an indicated 80mph it is around 2000rpm. In the Mazda6 though the revs are similar, although maybe 2200rpm. But it will accelerate when you put the foot down.
Having said that the Mazda6 diesel will not tolerate slow speeds and high gears but the Passat seems fine. Which I find a little strange.
So I might consider the 170PS... and the Xenon are good. I opted for Xenons for the Mazda6 (standard on the sport) because they impressed. Just got back from a trip over the Snake Pass and back over Woodhead Pass. Bi-Xenon main beams are very good indeed. The dynamic lighting is fairly impressive. But Xenon's are not a cheap option. Hmmm. Maybe save on the metallic paint and go for white and put the money towards Xenons and the 170PS engine.
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>> Maybe save on the metallic paint and go for white and put the money towards Xenons and the 170PS engine.
I worried the cardigans had got you, but it looks like you just rescued yourself :-)
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:-)
I had the Bi-Xenons down as wanted all along but wanted to try them. Unlike a lot of cars (especially VAG ones), the Passat CC looks the same with or without the Xenons. A lot look better with the Xenons because you get LED day-time and rear lights.
And I'd need to drive my Mazda6 again before I jump for the 170PS engine. The 140PS does seem fine and you can always change down a gear to accelerate.
As for white, I think the Passat CC looks good in it and even better when it has the black panoramic sunroof to accompany it.... But I also like Island Grey and Iron Grey.
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The one thing I will say though, I think the Mazda6 handles better. Or I feel more confident in it and the Passat even has dynamic chassis control. The Passat has electric steering assistance and I bet the Mazda6 has some sort of hydraulic setup.
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Saw a new Passat today - looked very nice, bit curvier than the Superb.
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The new Passat saloon and estate are not curvy - not to me they're not. Are you thinking of the CC?
I've so far proved the option I'd never want (park assist) is naff. Tried reverse parking this evening at the gym car park. Thought I'd give it a try and it looked to me it would get it wrong. Maybe I didn't give it a chance though ;-) I'll try it again before it goes back on Monday.
Parallel parking has it steering in very aggressively with it getting close to the car in front (but not going to hit it). When I used to do that when learning my instructor told me that the examiner would prefer if I took a little more room. Maybe the problem when I tried the parallel parking is it assumes the car you're parking behind is as wide as the Passat CC?
Last edited by: rtj70 on Sat 26 Mar 11 at 22:09
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Curvy in comparison to the Superb I meant.
The Superb reminds me of a 3 box American sedan
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Rob, I'd go for the 170 if I were you. My last two cars were a Golf estate (140 PD) and an Octavia vRS estate (170 CR) and the 170 had a lot more oomph.
It depends on how you like to drive: the 140 is fine if you are fairly sedate, but if you like to get a move in and value the occasional burst of acceleration, the 170 is worth it.
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Thanks Avant. I was always wondering about the 170PS especially as my 143PS Mazda has more torque than the 170PS. And we all know it's mostly torque that matters on a diesel.
I certainly could live with the 140PS but I'll see if I can get a manual 170PS to try. Had a brief go in a 170PS DSG but that's comparing apple's and oranges. Testing acceleration in gear is a little more tricky.
Although the size (more the width) of the Passat CC is a negative it's not as noticeable when parking where I need to. It's only a few inches longer than the Mazda6 but it's a good few inches wider too. With the door mirrors it's a lot wider.
I need to do some calculations of what various combinations will cost. I've discounted some options (some before I posted on here) and have not decided on a colour yet.
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Buying Cars and Options - Zero
