Passat estate 1.9 tdi 130 sport or A6 130 tdi estate, advice please?

**openside** · 26-01-2010,10:44 AM

Hi guys your advice would be much appreciated. With 2 kids and a French Mastiff the time has come to sell my Golf tdi 150 and get an estate. Ive always been a vw man, but my dilema is which one of these is the one to go for?? They seem pretty similar, except for the price - the Audi seems to be about £500 to £1000 more!!
I'll probably go for get a little remap to make up for the extra weight and less power that im used to.
So if anybody with experience of one or both cars please let me know.

Cheers

**Col** · 26-01-2010,11:17 AM

I've had both, a B5.5 Passat Estate and a C5 Audi A6 Avant.

Same floorpan, identical 130hp TDI engines, same suspension etc etc, they are the same mechanically.

The Audi no doubt was a better place to sit but I swear the Passats load area was bigger. (probably due to the near vertical rear window opposed to the A6's raking window)

I loved both cars and only ever had a few minor niggles over the 50k I put on the Passat and 20k I put on the Audi.

Also I got heavily rear ended in the Audi which wrote it off and would say it was a very tough safe car (same for the Passat as same chassis but thankfully never got hit in it). I wouldn't have wanted to have been in any other car in that smash!

As for the TDI engines, whatever you choose, the 1.9 unit will be exactly the same as your Golf but with a bit less power and torque.

Note that their are two flavours of the 130hp TDI in these cars. One has 310nm of torque with a 6 speed box, the other 285nm with the 5 speed box. Both however are the same 0-60 and top end but the 6 speed will have the edge in real world performace (just) at the expense of you having to swap cogs more often which you'll be used to in your Golf.

The 5 speed though is a good drive and can almost be treated like an auto, 35mph and up in 5th. Both of my cars were the 5 speed version having come from a 6 speed Golf GT-TDI. I liked the 5 speed as there was less gear changing in normal driving.

What would I get? Either, you pay a premium for the Audi but get a nicer interior but both cars are the same.

**openside** · 28-01-2010,09:43 AM

Thanks for the reply Big col. Think based on what you've said i'll probably go for the passat and save a couple of quid. Would you go for the Sport or the Highline?

Cheers

**hucknall** · 28-01-2010,12:01 PM

I have the passat 130 sport, my only criticism of it is that it does tend to bottom out on rough tracks, speed bumps, and the wheel arch trims/mud flaps scrape on my steep drive.., clearly I should be driving slower!

**veedub76** · 02-02-2010,10:44 AM

My wife and i are just in the process of buying a Passat TDI 130 sport with the 6 speed box. Seems a lovely car and goes very well for such a big car being an estate as well. The suspension did seem a bit vague to be honest but i'm used to the TDI golf 150 and currently a Renault clio cup 172.
The only thing that worries me is the problem of the plenum chamber on the passat filling up with water and wrecking the Comfort control module.

Also on the car we're looking at the oil light has come on but the level is fine. The people are getting it sorted and the garage reckon it could be a sensor. Is this a common problem?

Did you get your passat openside??

**cazyp** · 02-02-2010,01:09 PM

Originally Posted by veedub76

My wife and i are just in the process of buying a Passat TDI 130 sport with the 6 speed box. Seems a lovely car and goes very well for such a big car being an estate as well. The suspension did seem a bit vague to be honest but i'm used to the TDI golf 150 and currently a Renault clio cup 172.
The only thing that worries me is the problem of the plenum chamber on the passat filling up with water and wrecking the Comfort control module.

Also on the car we're looking at the oil light has come on but the level is fine. The people are getting it sorted and the garage reckon it could be a sensor. Is this a common problem?

Did you get your passat openside??

No it's not. Make sure the garage do the job properly. Ask to see the results of the oil pressure test.

Just make sure the plenum chamber drains are unblocked/pollen filter seal is good and all will be well.

**openside** · 02-02-2010,01:35 PM

Hi veedub, im still in the process of selling my golf - the reconditioned turbo has been making a loud whistling noise so as its still under warranty im sending it back!!
I still havent quite decided on which car im going to get, as ive posted the same question on the audi a6 forum and one or two people have owned both the cars seem to think the audi is a little better. However it does depend on how much i get for my golf as to which one i get.

Cheers

**veedub76** · 02-02-2010,10:26 PM

How much are you looking for the golf? How many miles has it done, age etc? Have you had many of the problems that are common with this engine,eg, Turbo,dual mass flywheel, and MAF and also the camshafts were a bit dodgy on certain years.

I had a 51 plate 150 GT TDI and i loved it, but it had an overboosting problem, and the flywheel was noisy and it would've needed replacing. Had loads of power but kept going into limp mode.

Would have another one if it had been well looked after!

**openside** · 04-02-2010,02:56 PM

Hi Veedub, its an 03 plate with 111k miles, cam belt and water pump changed at vw 2-3k miles ago. The turbo went just a couple of months ago so i replaced it, however its been making a whistling noise since i had it so as its still under warranty im sending it back next thursday. Other than that its been a great car, my wifes got the 130bhp and i much prefer mine!! Im going to stick it up for around £4500 to see what kind of response i get.

Cheers

**CloggsA6** · 05-02-2010,11:59 AM

Hi, not sure if you have made the decision yet but here's my 10p worth.

I have had both the A6 Avant and currently have a Passat. I however had the 2.4 V6 petrol A6 so wont bore you with comparisons cos u cant.

However one thing I will say. Both my Audi and Passat (130Tdi 6speed) have had the same cloth interior and it is a b*****d to keep clean. It is light grey in colour and although hard wearing and probably indestrcutable, if you have kids, pets or enjoy the outdoors, be prepared for regular shampoos. Get leather if you can.

As for inside the cabins, I am sorry but I would shell out the extra if you spend a lot of time inside the car and get the Audi. In my eyes a classier looking bus but I preferred the Audi. I am 6'2 and large framed and to be honest both are plenty big enough it's just the Audi has slightly better ergonomics (in my eyes).

Good luck in which ever one you choose, either way better than a Mondeo!