Is the VW Passat too expensive?

VW's elegance, power come at a price

How much will people pay for elegance, power, and space in a Volkswagen?

The long rows of 2006 Volkswagen Passats parked by the sea had just been driven out of Boston in morning traffic. They posed a multi-layered condundrum.

The new Passat is, indeed, an elegant, spacious car. It's sleek, with short front and rear overhangs that accent a long roofline.

As with virtually all Volkswagens, the interior is superbly put together. The test cars I drove had leather, softly textured dash and door appointments, bold touches of wood trim, and subtle chrome accents. The seats were firm, broad, and well-bolstered.

This, the sixth-generation Passat, is three inches longer than its predecessor and two inches wider. And because the company went to a transverse engine mount, interior length is nearly half a foot more spacious. So yes, you do get the feeling of riding in a large, luxurious car.

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Chip - 10/10/2005 3:59:48 PM

+1 Boost

Simply- Yes

The last generation Passat was fully loaded with all wheel drive at $31,000.

The New Passat with all options is $38,000

add All Wheel Drive in a month for $2,000

Suddenly 40,000 big ones.

$40,000= BMW 330, AUDI A4, BENZ C-class, INFINITI G35, LEXUS IS350, ACURA TL etc.

Or in other words, a whole new segment.

Very few people will choose this Passat over any of those cars.

The only thing its got over those cars is space. And the G35 and TL are pretty spacious.

Adding 10,000 dollars to a cars fully loaded price is a mistake.

They have run away from where their model fits in the segment.

Lexus - 10/11/2005 11:43:31 PM

+1 Boost

Hey! if you want a fully loaded sedan for well Under $40K get a Camry fully loaded well under $40K it has Nav System, leather seat, cool and heat seat, it has all the Lexury that Lexus has. If you don't like a camry get and accord with 250 hp or Nissan Altima fully loaded 260 horse power. Come on let get realistic, with $40K might as well get a Audi A4, or a BMW 3 serie, Acura TL, MB C class or even a Lexus IS350.

Lexus

janos2769 - 10/13/2005 11:49:48 AM

+1 Boost

the price escalation of Volkswagens lately makes me think that the VW group is positioning VW in the pure luxury segment along with (perhaps) Mercedes-Benz. That would explain the VW pricing strategy, which is protruding into the Audi price range for similar sized cars. Of course Audi has made it clear that IT is focusing on the "sporty" image rather than purely luxury. I liked VW's because they were an affordable entry point for Audi's but it seems that Audi is also taking care of business there with the "entry-level" A3. As long as VW does not make the VW's too sporty so as to infringe upon Audi's domain then the strategy may work. Will VW compete well against MB is the real question.

JUGNU - 10/13/2005 4:31:03 PM

+1 Boost

I don't know the exact price but if it is in the range from 25 - 30k then it is prettty good and affordable..no doubt

But if exceeds 30k mark,than i think it has to offer many options as standard as their is a tough competition in this segment especially from elegent but cheap japanesse cars.

As a lover of Volks/Audi i don't think it is as overpriced as MB,BMW,Jag..etc

JUGNU - 10/13/2005 4:31:03 PM

+1 Boost

I don't know the exact price but if it is in the range from 25 - 30k then it is prettty good and affordable..no doubt

But if exceeds 30k mark,than i think it has to offer many options as standard as their is a tough competition in this segment especially from elegent but cheap japanesse cars.

As a lover of Volks/Audi i don't think it is as overpriced as MB,BMW,Jag..etc

dotuno - 10/13/2005 7:16:10 PM

+1 Boost

Perhaps the new Passat is expenisve - or not, but it seems several comments here are comparing it to BMW 3 and Audi A4. This is the compact sedan category - Jetta's category, not Passat's. The Passat is a mid-size luxury comparable to BMW 5 and Audi A6, and it doesn't seem so expensive compared to these. I still question several aspects of it design, though...

Matthew1 - 10/15/2005 12:46:45 AM

+1 Boost

Nailed it.

Matthew1 - 10/16/2005 11:46:07 PM

+1 Boost

"Money's worth" is subjective. You could argue that getting your moneys worth is buying an average car packed with "goodies", rain-sensing wipers, leather etc.

You could also argue that getting your "money's worth" is buying a well-engineered and thoroughly designed car with those "goodies" as extra. ie. Passat.

Imagine someone saying "My car is horifically average, handles like a boat and is based on 1950's underpinnings, but hey, it's got leather standard! How great is that!".

And for the record, the DeVille is utter crap. Awful awful car. Just looking at its bloated and un-gainly exterior makes you want to run away. It may be comfortable to sit in while in a showroom, but how about driving around a corner? You'd feel sick.