Re: Passat vs A4

[Paul Wilson <pwilson@pop.ma.ultranet.com>]

At 08:08 PM 7/8/98 EDT, JEFDO@aol.com wrote:
>Go test drive them back to back, as I did last week. I found the
suspension on
>the Passat scary, and both cars had the same tires and wheels (local dealer
>idea). My '93 S4 with ready-to-be-thrown-out struts and bushings (since
>changed) drove much better than the Passat and much worse than the A4. So the
>upgrade to the suspension might come to $1000. or so.
>
>Also it won't be a quattro, since the engine is transversely mounted,
>requiring the synchro set-up. Present plans for the synchro in the US are V6
>Wagons (only available in AWD) and V6 Sedans(AWD optional), none listed in
the
>'98 Passat brochure for the 1.8T. Base price on the FWD V6 Passat is
~$25,500.
>So add at least $1600. for Synchro, plus cost of suspension, probably other
>option loaded on, and you still have less of a car than the A4 1.8T for more
>money! V6 though.
>
>This info can be read in the magazine CARS which discusses the differences.
>
>Present auction prices for '96 A4 2.8's are $18-21.5k, so when they try to
>sell them for $26k that usually 5k+ profit to the Used Car Guy!!!

Are you sure you were driving a '98 Passat?  The '98 does not have a
transverse mounted engine.  If you open the hood it looks EXACTLY like an
A4 and the Passat will use the Quattro AWD system(the Passat brochure
mentions torsen and calls it Syncro).  Unfortunately, according to VW,
Syncro will only be available with the V6 and Tip.

I own a '98 A4 1.8TQ with Sport Package and stick.  I test drove a Passat
GLX FWD with Tip and thought it was a very good car.  Handling wasn't
nearly as good as my A4 but it was certainly good.  Tip was nice as far as
automatics go, but it's still a slushbox.  Quality of materials was much
better than a typical Japanese or American car(or BMW) but not quite to the
standard of the A4.

For ~$5000 less than a reasonably comparable A4, the Passat is a good deal.
 The A4 is worth the extra $ if you've got it though.

Paul Wilson