2002 Entry-Level Luxury Sedan Comparison Test

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: BooneRebel
OK, I think I have the rear seat capacity taken care of for all of you buying a car for it's back seat:

Loaded, 6.8L V10, 4WD, and you can put a Passat on the luggage rack as a spare, all for less than $38,000. I win!

CarsDirect.com Price $598,695

:Q

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: vi_edit

The higher you move up the bracket, the less important that $20,000 becomes, both as a fraction of the overall price and to the wallet of the person paying for it. In VW's case, I just don't think the price is justified. You can get an all wheel drive 330 with a V6 that will outperform the Passat W8 in fit, finish, looks, and on the track.

But then you just run back into the problem that's been presented already - the Passat is a significantly larger car than the 3 series. You can't comfortably put 4 adults in there.

The W8 is unique to say the least.

In the rear quarters, two medium-size adults should be fairly comfortable, but those broader of beam and longer of inseam might find it tight back there.

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/comparison/articles/73569/page009.html

Unless you're a fatty or over 6'3" or so you should be fine

Go sit in the rear seat of a 3 series, while two 6 footers sit in the front seats. Once the front passangers are comfortable and a safe distance from the airbags, you are humping the backs of their seats. And it's much worse in the A4. In the Passat, you still have enough room to cross your legs.

NFS4, these cars we are discussing are the very same cars I looked at just 3 years ago when I bought my Passat, and are the same cars I'm looking at again now that I'm preparing to trade in my car next year. I've driven all of them and sat in all the seats. I'm 6 foot and 185 lbs and the back seat of the 3 is NOT comfortable when the front seats are set for someone my size.

Size wise, the Passat compares to the 5 series and the A6.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
face it, the only way the W8 couldn't be considered a good value is when compared to a loaded GLS. they could've used that model and the passat would have walked away with the competition. why even bother with a comparo when you've got such a great car as the GLS which would win hands down?

A loaded GLS is basically a GLX.

 

[CocaCola5]

For those keep saying how 38K-40K is too much for a VW(Passat), I don't see much haggling when it comes to a 45K Acura RL which only has a 3.5L V6 and is FWD. Same with a 38K ES300 which is a trimmy Camry with fwd... or a 40K Toyota 4runner LIMITED(for soccer mom's its crude luxury at the least).

 

[vi edit]

A loaded GLS is basically a GLX.

Pretty much. My GLS has leather, heated seats, and cd changer. I think the only things I lost are AWD, Climate control, power seats, and moonroof. The latter three none of which I really care to have - just extra stuff to break that really adds no huge benefit.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Amused

Originally posted by: ElFenix
face it, the only way the W8 couldn't be considered a good value is when compared to a loaded GLS. they could've used that model and the passat would have walked away with the competition. why even bother with a comparo when you've got such a great car as the GLS which would win hands down?

A loaded GLS is basically a GLX.

<--- doesn't keep up with VW naming conventions

 

[vi edit]

Not to beat a dead horse - but I flipped through this months car and driver while on the can at work. Had a sport luxury sedan shootout with a TL-S, C320, 330i, G35, A4, and a W8. W8 got sixth but one thing to note was their ranking with 3 passengers.

3 passenger comfort with the 330i - 4
3 passenger comfort with the W8 - 7

 

[LordUnum]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Not to beat a dead horse - but I flipped through this months car and driver while on the can at work. Had a sport luxury sedan shootout with a TL-S, C320, 330i, G35, A4, and a W8. W8 got sixth but one thing to note was their ranking with 3 passengers.

3 passenger comfort with the 330i - 4
3 passenger comfort with the W8 - 7

If the 2002 330i's (E46 body style) interior specs are anything similar to that of my '98 3-Series (E36 body style), I can definitely vouch for that relative ranking. Thankfully, none of my closest friends nor I measure anything above 6', with most of us "shortys" being between 5-7" and 5'9", so the issue of (lack of) rear leg-room never comes up.

...'course I do have the convertible coupe. Somehow, head-room is not an issue either.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Don't trust Edmund's opinions on cars. They aren't car people.