As a current B5.5 Passat owner I may be biased a little, but I think this all-new Passat may cannibalize A4 and A6 sales. The 3.6 liter 280-hp VR6 engine trumps the 3.2 FSI V6 in power and the new sheetmetal is pretty darn nice for a family sedan. I am sure it's not as sure-footed and athletic as the A4, but it has some strong selling points.<ul><li><a href="http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_news/article_1108.shtml">2006 VW Passat</a></li></ul>

Why isn't the B7 A4 getting any of those toys? For $30k car you'd think it would had a better sound system, the new keyless entry, distance control cruise control, more hp, the new electronic brake features, and turn signals in the mirrors!!! I love my audi to death but when the heck are they going to catch up with the rest of the market? Sorry I just had to get that out!

FSI will have a huge impact on performance.
I think we will be surprised on what the A4 will do with the new 3.1L engine.
Also the Passat is now Haldex, not Torsen.
Advantage Audi right there.
$38k for a loaded Passat.
The new A4 will not be too far off, and remember..FREE MAINTENANCE!!

LOTS of differences actually, mainly related to fuel efficiency. Power is really no different - as it's still controlled by ECU programming.

As for the free maintanence advantage - In 50,000 miles you probably save yourself about $300 in costs related to air, pollen and oil filters as well as oil.

The Passat will also be larger than the A4, offer more interior space, more features and more power for far less money comparably equipped. In fact, the Passat will offer features like the electromechanical parking brake that aren't even offered on the A4.

The maintenance has to be more than that.
What about brakes?

One thing though is that the Passat probably won't feel the same as the A4 when driving it, example of the Haldex Vs Torsen.
When they say $38K for a passat, well, that is not far less money than the A4.
True about FSi, but that is just a matter of time before the Fuel becomes sulfur free.
Than the full potential of the FSi will come into play.

They will still be too different cars with the A4 teh sportier of the 2.

Whereas I can get a 6sp with a 3.2ltr A4.

We are only talking about a 25 hp difference between the two cars. Which isn't that big of a deal.

No Passat for me.

Jerry D

Personally I would have bought an A4 instead of my Passat had it not been impossible to comfortably fit a carseat in the back of an A4. Even the current 3-Series has more rear legroom than the B6 A4. The new 2006 3-Series will be even roomier inside, while the B7 A4 reamins unchanged with a wheelbase that's about 4 inches shorter than the new 3-Series. I find it disappointing that Audi added about 4 cm to the length of the B7, but it's all in the front and rear overhangs. As long as they were extensively revising the B6, they should have added a couple of inches to the wheelbase and remedied one of the major shortcomings of the car.

as good???

Here an excerpt from the info here in Germany.

Sechs neue Direkteinspritzer
Auf der Motorseite kann sich der Kunde zwischen sieben Aggregaten entscheiden. Der 102 PS starke Vierzylinder mit 1,6 Liter Hubraum verrichtet bereits im jetzigen Passat seinen Dienst. Die restlichen sechs Direkteinspritzer sind neu im Passat-Programm: Bei den Benzinern sind dies Vierzylinder-FSI-Motoren mit 115, 150 und 200 PS, die mit einer Sechsgang-Automatik gekoppelt werden können.

Die Selbstzünderfraktion bietet drei TDI-Triebwerke mit 105, 140 und 170 PS auf - die beiden stärksten Diesel können mit dem Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (DSG) kombiniert werden. Sukzessive werden die Motoren mit Dieselpartikelfilter angeboten. Für das vierte Quartal 2005 stellt VW darüber hinaus noch einen 3,2 Liter großen V6-Benziner mit 250 PS Leistung in Aussicht, auch sollen Modelle mit Allradantrieb folgen.


ROUGH TRANSLATION

Six new direct injection engines
On the engine front the customer can choose between 7 motors. The 102 PS 1.6 four cylinder is that already available in the current model. The other 6 direct injection engines are new to the Passat. The petrol engines are 4 cylinder FSI plants with 115, 150 and 200 PS, all can be combined with a 6-speed automatic.

The self ignition faction offers 3 TDI motord with 105, 140 and 170 PS. The two most powerful engines can be combined with the twin plate DSG gearbox. The engines will be successivly fitted with Particle filters. In the 4Q 2005 VW will add a 3.2l V6 petrol engine with 250PS. Models with All wheel drive should also follow.

both will come with manuals eventually.

Here's a quote I lifted off of Vortex from a person who is very close to the situation.

Expensive NOx after-treatment components are needed to run FSI in stratified mode. The additional NOx catalyst, NOx sensors and software adds a significant premium to the imporation purchase price... and with mandated emissions component warranty data reporting as part of the TREAD act, VWoA might be facing some complicance issues (these expensive parst failing) with the relatively poor overall fuel quality in the USA (compared to that in Germany).

The separate NOx catalyst by itself, due to the exotic materials it uses, is a small fortune.

The lower levels of sulphur are okay to start with, but in general, there are regions in the USA with really crappy fuel nonetheless. Should any of these expensive NOx after-treatment parts become affected and fail, the EPA (through TREAD data) would be down VWoA's throat in an instant and demand even more expensive recalls or service actions.

It will ever be under the shadow of the A4.

Jerry D

is more expensive, smaller and slower with less features? :-) I've owned VW's and Audi's and worked at both dealerships over time. Audi's aren't any better built, their dealerships aren't any better. The only difference before was the type of options offered. If I had the choice between the B7 A4 and B6 Passat - i'd take the Passat without hesitation. I currently own a B6 A4......

it has a transverse engine and has Haldex.

Might as well go buy an Accord or Camry.

Moving back to a transverse engine will be the Passat's undoing.

Jerry D

and if it was wearing 4 rings you'd praise it?

Sorry - but knowing what I know of VW and Audi - based upon my experiences over the past 25+ years - they are still basically the same cars........

All the auto magazines tend to disagree with you.

Who am I to believe here?

Jerry D

There is a difference between the two - even if they are the same. So much of what people are buying is an image as much as features and zero to sixty times. You are kidding yourself if you believe VW and Audi are "basicly the same cars." Why would anyone buy a Lexus over a Totota? Are they the "same?" Perception is reality. I've also been in the VW/Audi business for about 13 years, and Audi people are definately buying more than a car/transportation when they decide on an Audi. It's an experience. It's reward. It's about actually being taken care of in a service dept. These are things not offered on an MSRP. They are offered by highline manufacturers and not by VW. VW does many thing great, but they need to realize their place in the market and then dig in. Sorry. :)

I'm considering a B6 Passat, a B7 A4, and B5 S4, all of which are certainly in the same class. Yet on each of the three forums, when I look for intelligent discussions on the distinctions, the answers I've gotten have been roughly equivalent to "Wooooo! S4, baby!" (substitute "A4" or "Passat" as necessary.)

People have a strong emotional connection to their car brand and even sub-brand. It feels like the local sports team - you just HAVE to root for them. Or maybe it's just like which brand of sponge you buy; loyalty transcends rationality even when there's a commodity.

It looks like a great deal, fully loaded, at $38k...much better car for the $$ than the GLX W8 4Motion was

VW and Audi are 40-70% the same car, depending on model, so by saying that it is "only" a VW is the same as saying that it is "only" an Audi...TT and A3 3.2Q are using VW engines, same with A8L 6.0Q