Not buying the Passat

[Andrew Duane USG]

I took the Passat GLX 4-motion out for a serious spin last night.
At night, it's an interesting car. The dash illumination is a
kind of royal blue with red gauge needles.

Anyway, it is indeed a very nice car, very close to the equal of
the A6Q for almost $10K less. That said, I do not think it is the
car I want.

I found the steering way too light and vague. On the Audis, that
is the Servotronic, and a quick removal of the relay will fix it.
On this car, that's just the way it is. The crappy tires they
chose (Michelin Green X-one) may be a part of it too. But there
aren't any other tires available on the GLX 4-motion (which uses
a 16" wheel instead of the normal 15"), so I'd have to shell out
about $500 for new ones.

I also think the Tiptronic, while a very good transmission, is just
going to be a $1000 compromise. I really want a stick. Maybe I'm
just not used to the Tip, and it will grow on me. But I doubt it.

Besides, when I got back in my A6QW for the ride home, I just
realized that my car is "friendlier". I don't know how to quantify
that, or whether it's just that the Passat is new and unfamiliar,
whereas my car is an old friend. Maybe I'd just be sad at losing it.

So, I think Plan B is to start making a "car payment" into a nice
savings fund, hang on to my wagon for another year or two, then go
after an Allroad with the 2.7T and a stick. I somehow think I might
be able to handle driving an Allroad :-)

If anyone wants a good deal on a Passat GLX 4-motion in Cashmere
white with Black leather and a CD changer, I can give you the
number of the dealer that has it. Our last price was $28,533.

-- 

Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7)			duane at zk3.dec.com
Compaq Computer Corporation		(603)-884-1294
110 Spit Brook Road
M/S ZKO3-3/U14
Nashua, NH    03062-2698

Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too psychotic to express it