I've got a '96 2.8, but a buddy is debating the A4 1.8 Vs the Passat (not sure which engine). Anyone here do the same debate? What can I tell him to help his decision? Obviously, I'd like to see him get the A4 and join the DC/VA/MD QCUSA chapter!<p>I don't think he cares about chiping the car or lowering it, etc. He saw the similar price and wants to get the better car. Oh, he wants quattro too (which SHOULD sway him on its own).<br>Thanks,<br>Jon Linkov<br>(haven't been posting in while!)

Purchase=Passat. Styling/design=A4. AWD=A4. Lease=A4. Back seat legroom=Passat. Short-term maintenance=A4. 10yr. powertrain warr.=Passat<br>Start him off with those.

If he can't decide, then he doesn't really want the A4. You *KNOW* when you want the A4 and there is no decision to make. The price of the Passat becomes irrelevant. If he has seen and driven both, and that doesn't seal it for him, then he might as well get the Passat.<br>

I drove both before buying an A4. I thought that the Passat interior wasn't that great. Plus, I wanted the 2.8 and there wasn't any choice available. Dealers were only getting about 1 per month. I think I would have been happy in a Passat. The A4 handles better better but I thought the Passat had a smoother ride and was quiter at highway speeds.

... and I got the Passat 1.8t w/sunroof and 5 speed. About 23K out the door in California.<br>Base on just your last statement, the A4 is the only logical choice since a Passat with AWD (aka 4 Motion) won't be here in the states this year (my best guess.) Interior-wise, I'd have to agree with the others: an A4 feels much more like a European/German vehicle in the cockpit than the Passat. However, from everything I've seen, the Passat caters to the family type, which is where I land; I guess you can call me a car enthusiast in hibernation for now - if it wasn't for the 2 kids, I would have gotten the A4 (which would have been about 28-30K out the door since I would have definitly wanted the quattro and sports suspension. - If you're friend is going to do it, DO IT RIGHT!)<br>Getting back on track, the interior was designed to keep things from being overly busy; face it, when you've got kids in the car, you don't want to keep telling them, NO DRINKS/GUM/COOKIES/whatever may stain, the car. Most A4 enthusiast I've seen here would feel the same way I would imagine. So I got a car that matched my lifestyle for now. Your friend should do the same. Even if mods. are not in his future, the A4 is still the ticket in the AWD category.<p>HermanH<br>98.5 Passat 1.8tM

If a Passat 1.8t w sunroof and 5 speed is 23K out the door and you add leather (if you can find one) you are at 24,400 (1000 for leather 400 for cold weather package which is required with leather)<p>With a bit of dealing you could get an A4 1.8 with sunroof, Leatherette and cold weather for around 24,700. Granted you are talking leatherette vs leather, but...<p>What am I missing here (or am I optimistic about the price for an Audi).<p>Of course out the door the Audi would be more because you would might opt for the Quatro and Sports package, but that is not a fair comparo.

Hmm, last I saw, the base invoice price of an A4 runs about $2,500 more than the Passat. I don't see where you're generating the numbers from. If that was the case, I would have went with the A4 at the get go. It's actually about 8-9% more than a Passat on paper - all things being equal. But remember, in Jon's last sentence he said his friend would prefer a quattro. Then I rambled on with the fact that I would opt for the quattro and sport package if it were ME.<br>Besides that, A4's come into the states, and in particular, CA, mostly with quattro and Bose sound system and sunroof. To get what you want exactly, requires some waiting, which I tend not to do with such purchases. but that's me.<p>Overall, the price difference (and there IS one) is marginal from one perspective, but it will be up to Jon's friend on whether or not it's worth it to him.<p>HermanH<br>98.5 Passat 1.8tM<br>

<br>(nt)

You might check the archives for some detailed posts about this, but in a nutshell:<p>Drove both cars back-to-back and for me (single male desiring sport sedan) it was a no-brainer. Got the 1.8T w/quattro and sport pkg. (New BMW 323i sport pkg. wasn't available 'til Dec.)<p>Don't know about your source for prices, but the Passat 1.8T would've been notably cheaper. It competes (favorably, I think, short of ultimate reliability maybe) with Accord/Camry, not BMW.<p>Since most people apparently can't even tell the difference between a car with FWD and AWD are ones with IRS and a beam axle, they should ALL buy Passats if they want to go German.<p>-- David F.<br>A4 1.8TqMS<br>E30 325is

Both really fine cars, but yr price differential is alittle off. I purchased a 99 Passat 1.8tM, silver, with black leather, alloys, sunshade, sunroof, and cold wea pkg for $22,950. I dont think this was an unusual price, down from the $24,400 msrp. This car has been absolutely flawless in the first 10K. Upgraded to Michelin Pilot XGT 215/ 60s. I'm sure I would have been happy with an A4, but space was an issue, and I REALLY like the Passat! btw - the forum's great, w. lots applicable to my 1.8t...

That's short of fully loaded (missing the Tip but I'd go with 5sp. anyway). That price tells me you got that at just 5% over invoice; maybe better! Way to go. A year ago, these were such a rare beast that I didn't care it was a bit more to get. They were'nt kidding when they said they were in high demand back in Feb.98'. I got mine on June 23rd, but even then, the my first choice color was taken the day after a return trip to purchase it. BTW: my 23k otd is based on $21,599 (MSRP stated at 22,600 + 500 shipping) for 1.8tm with electric & sunroof; no leather nor alloy wheels since back then, they didn't even offer alloys as standard equipment on the 1.8t's, only the V6. Looking back at this, I think it was a "fair" deal with only about 15 minutes of so-called haggling.<p>HermanH<br>98.5 Passat 1.8tm

NT<br>

Last time I checked the leather and weather package is no longer available for Passat GLS (even V6). I test drove a V6 manual before x-mas and it was a blast.

So I'm off 350. Oh well.<p>HermanH