VW Passat 2.0TDI vs. wait for VW Jetta 2.0TDI (2011 Models)

I not sure which one to go for? The Passat looks and feels very comfy and the ride is more tamed. I have been watching YouTube on the new Jettas and they also feel powerful and rock-solid. VW sales agent tells me the Passat does not hold on to its resale value as much as Jetta's do--is this true? He recommends the Jetta rather.

Anyone wants to convince me otherwise?

Thanks
SL

If you have the cash I have no idea why you'd get the Jetta. The Passat is a damn nice luxury car. The Jetta is also nice but it's just not in the same class.

Your sales guy isn't talking bollocks. The Passat nameplate isn't highly regarded in SA; somehow the stigma of the late-70s to early-80s Passats still sticks. Frankly I don't even know where the stigma comes from - it's not as if there was anything markedly wrong with the Passat back then. But the nett effect is that the Passat loses value faster than any other VW, which is still a fair bit slower than market average last time I checked.

Up until a few years ago there was an argument to prefer the Passat over the Jetta purely because it was fully imported & the Jetta was assembled locally, but that's no longer the case. Personally I'd be inclined to go the Jetta route simply because you'll get a car that's almost as spacious for less money, but I suspect the Passat might have a few toys - both as standard and optional - that isn't available on the Jetta. They're both brand new models so your personal preference should ultimately be the deciding factor. If your primary concern however isn't simply what you can resell it for in 4 years, you might lean towards the Passat, though.

If you compare pricing, the Jetta is not very far behind--R298,600 for Jetta (no DSG and no leather) vs. R324,500 for Passat (DSG and Leather incl.)

The Passat truly excels in the luxury dept. I wan to keep the car for at least 4 years or maybe longer-

Smiley_lauf said:

If you compare pricing, the Jetta is not very far behind--R298,600 for Jetta (no DSG and no leather) vs. R324,500 for Passat (DSG and Leather incl.)

The Passat truly excels in the luxury dept. I wan to keep the car for at least 4 years or maybe longer-

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Well, go for the Passat then. The only reason it doesn't hold value as well as Golf (or Jetta, for that matter) is the unfounded stigma I mentioned previously. It also depends what you measure its value retention against; it's not as good as most other VWs, but probably better than just about any comparable car.

I haven't driven the new Passats yet, but the previous model and the CC are superb.

I will go for a test drive in Passat later this week.
I was looking at the CC as well--man is that car a looker! The interior is so refined, puts the car-with-the-tri-star to shame, imho.

The new Passat is an excellent car and there is no point in waiting for the Jetta, however if it is even remotely possible to not buy a VW then I highly recommend you go for a C-Class instead.

I did my first test drive in a 1.8T Passat in 2001 with the brand newt Tiptronic gearbox. What a disappointment after all the hype. From there I had the attitude of "PAS gekoop en SAT gery"