B6 Passat or Octavia Vrs

I am wanting to replace my B5 Passat Tdi PD100 with something newer and a little more powerful.
It's between the newer B6 passat (2.0 petrol or 2.0 Tdi) or the Skoda Octavia Vrs. I know the Skoda is the more powerful car but I prefer the looks of the Passat.
Does the new Passat still have the damp problems that the earlier models had? Do the cv gaiters last longer than they did on the old model? Are there any reliability problems with the 2.0 petrol or diesel engines? & What sort of mpg can I realisticaly expect? I never trust a manufacturers claimed mpg.
Would anyone recomend the Skoda over the Passat

The 3C Passat doesn’t let in water or split CV boots like it did, it is a completely different platform in every way. The Passat does however have some very unpleasant reliability problems, all suffer from extremely expensive steering column failure, fuel pump problems (though now largely in the past), engine failure and head porosity on the 2 litre, chronic turbo reliability issues on the 1.9 and 2.0 litre, I could go on. The Octavia 2 however is much more reliable, just look at the number used as taxis, mind you the Passat 3C is popular as a taxi. I drive a Mk1 VRS and I would prefer a new VRS to a Passat. If you want the Passat but a significantly better car, look at the Superb 2, they are probably the best C segment car VAG make and magazines such as Autocar think they are simply brilliant.

Depends on your budget. Id try and source a later Passat 170tdi. By then the niggles have been sorted out. Then your getting performance and looks. Maybe im just biased though?

Do you really want to keep getting flagged down on a Friday and Saturday night? :D
Seriously though, there is a reason why there are so many Skoda taxis. They are cheap and very reliable. The B6 shares many components, so is relaible, better looking and reasuringly expensive. :beerchug:

There are many Passat 3C taxis in Nottingham and two CC taxis that I have seen, one black and one in Silver Leaf.

If it's a brand new car, I'd go for the Passat (in my opinion) as the new look Octy VRS isn't as nice looking.

Me, if it was a company car, I'd go for the Octavia as it's about £150 a month (rental price) cheaper than an equivalent Passat (unfortunately) and, surprisingly, cheaper (on our company car list) than my Golf!

Look at two pictures and see what you think and make sure you can live with the looks.

To me the bigger issue is size the passat is the size of the superb the octavia is the golf size
you are not compering like with like.
My 58plate passat now with 96k on the clock has been 100% reliable so was my previous passat that did 150K in 2 years and can now be seen as a taxi.
But i will considewr the new superb estate thats due out in the next week when i change at the end of the year as its lots cheaper for the same.

I thought that the Octavia is pretty much the same size as my old b5 passat, similar interior space & a bigger boot.
I like the Passat but have had the damp problem & needed new cv gaitors at each MOT. The new Passat looks nicer & if the old problems have been sorted it would be my first choice but I have a budget of £6500 & at that price I should get more for my money with a Skoda.
What are the Passat petrol engines like? I have a TDi PD100 which is rather slow but very economical and now that I don't do many miles fuel economy is not an issue.