Golf Vs Passat, both ugly but which is nicest place to sit.
Golf Vs Passat, both ugly but which is nicest place to sit.
Author
Discussion

Golaboots

Original Poster:

369 posts

176 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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I've got a choice of two company cars, both from a marque that really isn't me.

I can have a Golf GT or a Passat SE, both 2 litre diesels.

I don't really like either and both would cost more or less the same in tax.
Which would you expect to be most comfortable, a mid spec large car or a high spec medium one?

Apologies for the boring nature of this thread. I've got to sit in this thing for 3yrs though!

ajprice

33,156 posts

224 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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Can you take the money and buy your own?

Bezza1969

777 posts

176 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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I own a Passat myself and think the new model is a really classy looking car.

Suspect the Golf may be the more enjoyable daily drive however...in GT spec.

Allblackdup

3,312 posts

236 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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You need to try them both ideally.

Having owned both it depends on the spec of the car. The Recaro's in the GTI were some of the best seats i've ever been lucky enough to sit in. However on the normal spec Golf, the seats were a cloth material but not great. The Passat had far wider seats and half leather/alcantara in my old one which were very nice.


Golaboots

Original Poster:

369 posts

176 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
I've got to do about 30k miles a year so am really hoping that either the leather seats in the golf are nearly as good as those in the Volvo S60 I used to have or that the Passat is a really serene place to be.

As it stands both seem fairly even. Its a shame an estate passat isn't an option. Much more useful.

Can go cash for car but with a four year age limit it isn't really practical given the mileage I do.

Keep thinking I'll go for a Golf but then see the back of one and nearly wretch. Those lights are awful.

A900ss

3,313 posts

180 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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For 30k a year, I would choose the Passat.

The seats are larger in the Passat and that will make a difference when the mileage is starting to mount up. I assume that motorway miles will play a fair chunk of your mileage, in which case all cars are boring. Comfort is the key. (Says a 30k a year man who chose a 520d for that very reason).

JREwing

17,547 posts

207 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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A900ss said:
For 30k a year, I would choose the Passat.

The seats are larger in the Passat and that will make a difference when the mileage is starting to mount up. I assume that motorway miles will play a fair chunk of your mileage, in which case all cars are boring. Comfort is the key. (Says a 30k a year man who chose a 520d for that very reason).
Sorry, was the bracketed part sarcastic or not?

HeatonNorris

1,649 posts

176 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
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What are the relative spec. levels like?

I currently have a Passat TFSI Sport, but my last one was a TDI SE (both B6 shape).

The SE had to have cruise specified as an extra and only came with 'Climatic' semi-auto climate. The Sport comes with full Climatronic.

Not sure what the current specs. are - but Climatronic is much nicer to have than Climatic. (I had Climatronic in a B5 Passat, then Climatic in the B6, and really missed having the Climatronic).

I looked at a Golf GT - it had Dynaudio, cruise, DSG and half alcantara seats. Not sure how much of that was standard, but it was a nice place to sit - and the Dynaudio kit was pretty awesome.

However, I'm on my 3rd Passat in a row and couldn't imagine changing it for anything else at the moment. Aside from a CC...

A900ss

3,313 posts

180 months

Thursday 2nd August 2012
quotequote all
JREwing said:
A900ss said:
For 30k a year, I would choose the Passat.

The seats are larger in the Passat and that will make a difference when the mileage is starting to mount up. I assume that motorway miles will play a fair chunk of your mileage, in which case all cars are boring. Comfort is the key. (Says a 30k a year man who chose a 520d for that very reason).
Sorry, was the bracketed part sarcastic or not?
Not sarcastic at all.

If I was doing back roads and only 10k miles a year I would have looked more at a 3 series sized car.

james_tigerwoods

16,347 posts

225 months

Friday 3rd August 2012
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I've had 2 B6 Passat SEs and now a MK6 Golf GT (NOT the GTD).

The car that I think was a nicer place to be was the Passat. Every time. It's more comfortable, airy, spacious, cruises better and is a more classy place to be than the Golf. The Golf, while nippy and more economical has a harder ride (especially on my 18s) and the seats are fine for me but my partner doesn't like them as they're just too firm.

The seats adjust well in them both but the SE's seats are better for high miles. I've had the Golf for 3 years and 4 months and put 78k on it - while nice enough, I wish I'd gone for the Passat.

Crimp a Length!

5,697 posts

251 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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Passat IMO
I do 40-50k pa and have owned a top spec Passat before and thought it was great.

FisiP1

1,279 posts

181 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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Passat if you are going to be sitting on the motorway all day.

Golf if you have more than about 25% on proper roads. I have a Golf 2.0 GT as my daily right now, really like it to be honest.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

239 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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Get the Golf. The Passat is the dullest car on sale today, utterly devoid of any character or enjoyment in any way, shape or form. I gave my Passat back after a month and took a downgrade so I didn't have to drive it anymore, it's just so dreary! The Golf is much nicer to drive, and just as quiet/comfortable/competent on the motorway as well. Unless you need the space it's a no brainer for me, plus the Golf has a proper handbrake not a silly electric one which won't release automatically until you put your seatbelt on!

pherlopolus

2,189 posts

186 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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HP?

A collegue has the Golf GT diesel, very nice, but typical VW hard seats. gets 50+ to the gallon easy.

He's on about 25-30k+ a year (hit the mileage limited before his 3 years were up) and really likes it.

I'm luckily on status car allowance so run an older car, if I had to take the car I'd have the passat though.

s3fella

10,524 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th August 2012
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Went in a 11 plate passat blue motion last week and thought it was quite a nice place to be.

marcosharko

1 posts

79 months

Monday 15th March 2021
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I've had both the Golf and Passat as rental cars.

I would say Passat beats golf everytime. Reasons:

1. Seats - the Ergo comfort seats on the Passat are a masterpiece. Best seats of any car I have tried. Better than current E class and 5 series. A whole reason to buy all on its own. They are standard on SE models, not an extra. My daily driver is an Audi A8 and the passat is pretty much as comfy in terms of seats.

2. Space - it makes a difference. Esp on longer journeys.

3. The passat is easily the quieter car. The golf has too much road and wind noise for my liking. It 'sounds' like a budget car when on the move.

4. Ride quality: many would disagree with me here, but I prefer the handling of the passat. It seems to sit lower, or is less top heavy. The suspension is better at soaking up the bumps and quieter. The passat rides like a luxury car...the golf does not.

This applies to passat from 2015 onwards - prior to that the Passat seemed like a smaller car to me - quite like a golf estate.




Jonny_

4,690 posts

235 months

Monday 15th March 2021
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Avoid any kind of "sport" trim if you value comfort.

I made the mistake of having a Passat Sport a few years ago, the suspension was quite firm but not horrendous, however the seats were hateful thanks to a very steeply angled and non-adjustable seat base. Only car I've ever owned that gave me backache.

Jamescrs

6,309 posts

93 months

Monday 15th March 2021
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marcosharko said:
I've had both the Golf and Passat as rental cars.

I would say Passat beats golf everytime. Reasons:

1. Seats - the Ergo comfort seats on the Passat are a masterpiece. Best seats of any car I have tried. Better than current E class and 5 series. A whole reason to buy all on its own. They are standard on SE models, not an extra. My daily driver is an Audi A8 and the passat is pretty much as comfy in terms of seats.

2. Space - it makes a difference. Esp on longer journeys.

3. The passat is easily the quieter car. The golf has too much road and wind noise for my liking. It 'sounds' like a budget car when on the move.

4. Ride quality: many would disagree with me here, but I prefer the handling of the passat. It seems to sit lower, or is less top heavy. The suspension is better at soaking up the bumps and quieter. The passat rides like a luxury car...the golf does not.

This applies to passat from 2015 onwards - prior to that the Passat seemed like a smaller car to me - quite like a golf estate.
You went to some depths to dig this up from 2012! impressive

Ntv

5,177 posts

151 months

Monday 15th March 2021
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Passat

I had an R-Line estate

Good:
- good seats, not the best, but good
- nice steer/handling
- gearbox (was a manual)
- big boot and good legroom
- looks nice

Not as good
- sound proofing could be better (would have liked acoustic glass)
- sound system was crap (standard issue one)

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

254 months

Monday 15th March 2021
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FFS the original thread is nearly 9 years old!!!!