Volkswagen Passat CC (2008 - 2011) 2.0 GT TDI CR BlueMotion Tech (5 seat) 4d (2011/11) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

I want a family premium family saloon, I either cant' afford a Mercedes CLS or Audi A7 (Both lovely coupe styled 4-doors) OR I don't wish to be ripped off as I have many options these can't don't have as standard. I want something stylish but practical for my family.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

About 10-15 people have given an honest opinion. Yes it's practical but its one of the best looking saloons around in this price bracket, quite a few years ahead of its age. Being black with black out windows it's also a little gangster ish). Overall people are very surprised of the quality in the cabin too.

Would you buy this car again and why?

DEFINITELY. Although I would like to see VW come up with a sportier diesel version. They have an R-Line 177bhp but would be nice to get a 200+BHP diesel version (whether that be 4 or 6 cylinder).

What are you likely to buy next?

If I manage to climb the career ladder at a decent pace - when I turn over this car in about 4-5 years I'd love a CLS 350CDI AMG Sport OR probably an A7 3.0d 313 (The V8 sounding diesel) - probably 3yr old one again. If finances were to sky rocket, probably go for a BMW 6 Gran coupe 4-door (But that's an unlikely dream for me).

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£14,500

When did you buy the car?

February 2014

Did you get a good deal and why?

Pretty good deal. We haggled for about a week over the car, stood my ground and good a decent price in the end.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Got a new job commuting an hour (each way) in mixed traffic and planning to have a family imminently. Needed a stylish, upmarket family saloon that was super economical, lots of options and good on the motorway.

What was the dealer like?

Apart from hard nosed negotiating, their service has been sublime all the way from pre-sale, at sale, and post sale service.

What's it like to drive?

Supposedly "based on a normal Passat". I have to say with the adaptive suspension and a cabin feeling alot like a friends brand new Audi A4, along with sports seat angle that sits you back like a sports car, it really feels like a unique saloon coupe. Performs well - I have the 140bhp, occassionally feel I should have gotten a 170bhp but they were hard to find and not as good with fuel. I've stepped down from a Mini Cooper S and a Mazda 3 MPS and have to say that apart from a few small areas on the motorway acceleration is just as good if not better. Brakes are a bit grabby but extremely good stopping a big heavy car. Very smooth on the motorway and after an 8hr journey still feel refreshed.

What's it like to park?

Hmm - my wife says its god awful compared to the Mazda 3 she drive like looking through mail box at the back. The length of this car being the main problem it's almost the length of the latest Range Rover (Full size version!). It has visual aids with parking sensors though and I drive it to a work underground carpark which is super tight and I'e gotten the knack of parking sensors front and back and mirrors I squeeze into the tightest spaces with ease after a couple of months practice. It's definitely the achilles heel of this car but its manageable. I've thought about upgrading the media system with a reversing camera when I first bought it (About £500 plus fitting) but I'm glad I didnt' bother its not THAT bad.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Had the car 3mths and completed 4,000 miles. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, apart from being driven off the road by a bus and mounting a pavement which has apparently caused a bit of "feathering" on the tyres so they need re-tracking but that was my fault. Other than that - PERFECT.

What's most practical about your car?

Boot is very large. Shopped around and almost bought a latest Mk 5-series OR latest Mk A6. Boot just a fraction smaller than those two so it is very large for baby buggies, suitcases, golf clubs (And all of the above at the same time). It's also extremely economical. I get 42mpg in slow city roads, 48-50mph mixed and about 60mpg on the motorway (driving at 80mph).

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Integrated Sat Nav/Phone/Media. Easy to use and wonderful playing my Spotify music through the car. Stereo is also high quality (comparable to BMW professional OR other premium sound system. I have a Bose system in my other car and it's probably better than that). Turning corner headlights also very cool and heated seats in winter awesome.