Camparing the A4 and the Passat TDI

[ganik17]

My wife and I are in the market for a new car. On Sunday we test drove the A4 and the Passat. We loved the A4, but the 38 MPG of the desiel Passat is appealing. Can some of you A4 drivers tell me why we should get the A4? We drove the 1.8T and 3.0 both in Tiptronic. We are planning to go back and drive the CVT and the manual this weekend. We loved the fit and finish of the A4. It was also very fun to drive. The Tiptronic was fun. It gave the performance of a manual without the bother in stop and go. What are some of the best features, or some things that a non-owner might have missed?

Thanks,
Robert

[Audi-Man]

I was making the same decision a few months ago when i ended up getting the 3.0 A4. There were a number of areas why i chose it over the 1.8t and the passat. first off, don't get the passat, diesel is not the way to go and the audi is a way better car. its more sporty, has more cool features and rides a lot better overall (now i'm not saying that the passat is a bad car, i'm just not as fond of it).
One thing many people don't realize the difference between the 1.8t and the 3.0 is that it has different features than the 1.8t, as well as being a little faster. however, they are just many small items that i ended up noticing, but my decision was based on performance. The 1.8t may be a better choice for a consumer-oriented mind, but i loved the v6, and got that.
And as for the cvt, skip it. Audi has been perfecting the awd system for over 20 years, and its the best in the business, you can't begin to argue with the awd in the wintertime.
So i say go with audi 1.8t or 3.0, but maybe you got another reason to go with vw, but, i'd go with audi.

[ganik17]

Thanks for the reply. You say that diesel is not the way to go. Why? Is it that it is not as fun to drive? It certainly isn't but it gets so much better mileage. It is about 38% more fuel efficient. I agree that the A4 is a much better car. If there was no diesel available on the Passat it would be no contest. But, since there is the fiscally responsible side of my brain is competing with the fast cars are fun side.

[Audi-Man]

My uncle had a diesel in his vw (it was a beetle, though) and it just wasn't as fun of a car compared to my a4 and even other beetles that i know. Plus, you can't argue with the sound the v6 makes at 6500 rpm, especially with a borla exhaust system in it.

It really depends on how you like to drive. I like to drive my car hard, so i got the 3.0, plus i liked the bose 10+1 stereo system, the ultra sport package (which you should seriously consider if you are going to get the audi), and a lot of other non-engine/performance related things that gave audi the edge in my book. But if you like to just drive the car from a to b, get the diesel, that's what my uncle did.

Like i said, vw's are not bad cars, I just like audi's better, I think they're a better engineered car. So I would make your decision based on what money you want to spend (I don't know how much the diesel is compared to say the 1.8t or the 3.0) and how you like to drive, get what fits your style.

[ganik17]

To throw another wrinkle into the equation we are going to test drive the Infiniti G35 tonight. It has a much bigger engine, a variable AWD system and costs about 8k less than a comparably equiped A4. I am glad that I am not in a huge hurry to pick something. Testing and researching as quite fun.

[Audi-Man]

Yeah, the G35 is a lot faster than any other audi or vw you would get, but it will never handle as well, the awd system is not as advanced or as good, stero is worse, you don't get all the standard goodies you get on the audi, but if you like a fast car w/ loads of low-end torque and are ok with the handling and the options go ahead. Like I said, I looked into nearly every car on the market available, and the a4 3.0 suited my style, it compromised very well and had virtually no weak spots. Maybe the g35 is your car, look into it, as well as a few other cars-- like the Subaru WRX Sti, great awd system, and very, very fast. The BMW's, don't count them out (the new 545 is pretty fast), and like you said, testing and researching is fun, i spent 2 months making my decision, and i've never had more fun.

[Talibangunner925]

Audi is llike the vws father what ever audi does later on vw will follow so many of the features on the a4 will show up on the passat in about 3 years i think that vws are over priced audis handme downs. Desil is also very dirty. The g35 is a beutiful car it has all the nick nacks if i had the mmoney i would get the g35 with the areo package that is living a dream

[cdischner]

how did you price it so that the g35 was 8k less than the a4? i got the 1.8t in march, and crossed the g35 off my list because with similar features it was several thousand more than the audi.

i'd agree with most of what these folks have been saying, but would suggest not getting the 3.0 rather than the 1.8. the biggest difference, and the one that'll cost you 6k more for the 3.0, is the extra 45 horses it gets you, but there are many after market ecu chips and other upgrades that can get you that for less than 6k.

all in all, i'd say go for the a4 1.8 (of course i'm biased ) over either the passat or g35--it's got a nicer interior than any entry-level luxury car that i've seen and is a little less expensive, in my experience than the g35.

as always, it just depends on what you're looking for and what you value.

[mauleskyrocket]

Make sure if you drive the CVT A4 that you can live with the fact that if you stop at a light and then start out there is a pronounced and noticable "grab" of the CVT. To a discerning driver it can become quite annoying.

[DieselsAreBetter]

First of all, please refer to my User Name for all answers when comparing Gasoline vs Diesel, Second you're all typical American car buyer's who think Gasoline and it's higher HP makes it a better car. False. Torque > HP, especially for 95% of driving, the low end torque of Diesel's are amazing, 188 lbs of torque on a 100hp engine at 1900 rpm's on my jetta or 247 lbs of torque on a 135hp engine at low rpm's on the current passat.

VW Diesel's are fun, I currently own a 2004 VW Jetta GL TDI, and it's fun as hell to drive, never besides on the highway do I feel like I'm not driving a fast car. Even on the highway I coast from 75 to 110 mph easily and if you know anything about how to properly drive and you drive manual, you can pass any car that's not a dangerous asshole.

Okay now to prove how i'm right and you are wrong about your audi's, let's compare the 3.0 v6 Audi 220 HP/221 torque to the current 05 Passat 4cyclinder TDI with 134 HP/247 torque, let's also hypothesis about how amazing the 06 V6 TDI with 150 HP will be that comes out this fall!

First of all notice that your 86 HP advantage doesn't impress me, we've got 26 more lbs of torque. Now I admit I don't know much about chipping A4's, but I do know that my current 04 Jetta 100hp/188torque TDI is a 10.5 0-60 and the computer is painfully underpowered. A less than $500 chip or tuning box, will make my 0-60 roughly 7.0 secs, 7.5 max. I assume the passat would be as fast or faster due to being a bigger engine, even though it weighs more, i'm 99% sure you could get a passat to high 6's with just a tuning box. And when you aren't beating on it, it'll get much MUCH MUCH better mileage than your Audi.

Last, imagine the new 06 passat that comes with a 150hp v6 TDI, that'll smoke your Audi's V6, in both 0-60 and 1/4 mile, the TDI would be so much faster off the line, even faster with 4MOTION.

NUMBER TIME!! :
(resource: car-stats.com)

A4 3.0 V6 = 7.0 0-60 (big deal...)
15.5 1/4 mile (again...)

[porscheguy9999]

Originally Posted by DieselsAreBetter

i'm 99% sure you could get a passat to high 6's with just a tuning box

A PASSAT? In the high 6's?!? I dont think a tuning box could do that alone. Mabey with an intake and exahust upgrade, a higher octane fuel, and engine mods, then you might be able to. But no Passat with a tuning box could do that. Mabey the W8 Passat with engine mods. My friend's 94 Acura Integra coupe can do 0-60 in 7 secs. And he has intake and exhaust mods.

[Talibangunner925]

Desisl actuall ahve to heat up the glow plugs to go. Basicaly it heat up the cylinders and make a more crude version of gasoline basicaly oil and oil has a much higer heating temp and make it combust. Gas can get the spark plugs to ignite gas almost instant but desil have to hear up the cylinder and that take way to long to do especail when it is a gas with i higer heat.

[96 ls]

What is Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)? Did they redisigned the A4 for the 2005 model because I think it looks different from the 2004 model.

[dandi]

Originally Posted by 96 ls

What is Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)? Did they redisigned the A4 for the 2005 model because I think it looks different from the 2004 model.

CVT doesn't use conventional gears, it uses a belt or chain that rides between 2 pulleys that move apart or closer to vary the 'gear' ratio.... So, there is no feeling of a gear change per se like with a conventional automatic transmission - but the car feels funny because it tends to stay at the optimal rpm range for the situation all the time. And yes, the 2005.5 models of the A4 received a front and rear make-over with the new corporate signle-frame grille in the front and wider taillights in the rear. Also 2 new engines.

Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA