What saloon to go for? ADVICE REQ...

[sgx]

Hi Folks,

Long time Golf 1.4S driver looking to upgrade to due to extra work milage.
I dont want anything above a 1.9, and dont want to look like a corporate ****...

I've loked at:

Passat
Jetta
5 door Golf - the longer version :-)

Any other ideas, and recommendations??
I would ideally like to stick with a VW, but will move if I find another good option.

My budget is £6k

Any ideas???

PS) I aint a big car man, but appreciate a decent drive...!

[fat controller]

I've recently became the owner of a three year old, 2.0TDI Passat and I love it. Its a fairly big motor, but it handles so well it doesn't feel like a car of its size - comfy, quick enough (in fact the sheer grunt its got can make it feel really quick at times), and yet its almost reluctant to use fuel.

Best of all, I didn't spend all that much more than the budget you have to get it - in fact, I'd be surprised if you couldn't get a 1.9TDI in good nick for your money.

Happy hunting

[Tractorman]

Passats are fine cars, though there are some pretty well abused and high mileage ones for your kind of money. I was looking, with a similar budget, for a replacement for my Passat three years ago and there were more "rough" ones than good ones! Beware front suspension creaks (Crasher advised me of that and I found plenty of them!)

I ended up with a Golf Estate (100BHP diesel), it had a lot less miles than any of the Passats, FSH (debatable value!) and was cared for by lady owner. All for the same price as the same aged 130 TDI Passat Estate. A Golf hatch was much more expensive.

However, what about an A3? It's a little different and not the usual Repmobile Fayre, though is similar to a Golf in size and mechanics. Our neighbour has one (though 2 litre TDI) and it's a nice car - because there are relatively few about perhaps?

[Del Boy]

A Passat would be a good buy, they're tidy cars and don't drive too badly.

[SammoVWT]

There's plenty of a3s about, very popular cars! They are nice, share many features with the golf. Not sure if they would be cheaper than the equivalent golf. Audi are a bit more posh

[steviesteve]

I changed from a 1.9tdi Passat to an Audi A6 Avante 1.9tdi 130 bhp. This is a superb car, makes my olde V.W. look and drive like a tractor. With 75k on the clock and full history, i paid £6k last year. What a nice motor - I recommend.