passat cabin space

I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine
for me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it now.

The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not
enough width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the
Camry, Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus
I've always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression
German engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which
lasted 13 years no problem.

Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as
much or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?

One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't
recommend it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.

By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.

Thanks!

Alex

VW Passat is quite roomy and it's a nice car to driver - I am considering
one for myself next year, or a new Jetta V if they are almost the same
size... I'm in your position, I find my current car (a 1999.5 Golf) to be
just a little too small and uncomfortable for me. Tho the fuel economy will
be missed - If you're looking a the base engine Passat with an automatic,
watch out... there is a turbo lag and it's quite easy to spin the tires if
you are caught unaware - tho it makes the car feel more powerful then it
is... It's a fairly quick car, I could definately see myself driving one
every day, tho I think i'd need the sport shocks (I have upgraded shocks on
my Golf, and it's the best investment I have made so far as far as ride
comfort - the stock shocks on the Golf and Passat have too much
dive/squat/body roll in transitions).

A used Volvo S80 or V70 is a very roomy car as well (tho if you're looking
at new cars only the S40 is in your price range, and it's smaller then the
Passat) - those two are my alternatives... I recommend Volvo highly, as I
drive both a VW and a Volvo, both are very good cars... I'd have to say
we've had less problems with our Volvo tho, but it's a much more expensive
car, so that's to be expected.
"Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
...
>I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine for
>me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it now.
>
> The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
> brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not enough
> width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the Camry,
> Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus I've
> always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression German
> engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which lasted 13
> years no problem.
>
> Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as much
> or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?
>
> One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't recommend
> it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.
>
> By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Alex

VW Passat is quite roomy and it's a nice car to driver - I am considering
one for myself next year, or a new Jetta V if they are almost the same
size... I'm in your position, I find my current car (a 1999.5 Golf) to be
just a little too small and uncomfortable for me. Tho the fuel economy will
be missed - If you're looking a the base engine Passat with an automatic,
watch out... there is a turbo lag and it's quite easy to spin the tires if
you are caught unaware - tho it makes the car feel more powerful then it
is... It's a fairly quick car, I could definately see myself driving one
every day, tho I think i'd need the sport shocks (I have upgraded shocks on
my Golf, and it's the best investment I have made so far as far as ride
comfort - the stock shocks on the Golf and Passat have too much
dive/squat/body roll in transitions).

A used Volvo S80 or V70 is a very roomy car as well (tho if you're looking
at new cars only the S40 is in your price range, and it's smaller then the
Passat) - those two are my alternatives... I recommend Volvo highly, as I
drive both a VW and a Volvo, both are very good cars... I'd have to say
we've had less problems with our Volvo tho, but it's a much more expensive
car, so that's to be expected.
"Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
...
>I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine for
>me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it now.
>
> The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
> brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not enough
> width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the Camry,
> Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus I've
> always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression German
> engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which lasted 13
> years no problem.
>
> Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as much
> or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?
>
> One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't recommend
> it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.
>
> By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Alex

Great, thanks for the Volvo recommendation, I always heard they were
goodcars, I'll check them out.

As far as the Passat, I'm leaning towards the GLS 1.8T 170hp in a manual
transmition. I don't know how to use an automatic. I would certainly
spend the extra money and get a V6, but from what I can tell the 2005
Passat GLX V6 doesn't come in a manual? What the heck is that all about?

Alex

Rob Guenther wrote:
> VW Passat is quite roomy and it's a nice car to driver - I am considering
> one for myself next year, or a new Jetta V if they are almost the same
> size... I'm in your position, I find my current car (a 1999.5 Golf) to be
> just a little too small and uncomfortable for me. Tho the fuel economy will
> be missed - If you're looking a the base engine Passat with an automatic,
> watch out... there is a turbo lag and it's quite easy to spin the tires if
> you are caught unaware - tho it makes the car feel more powerful then it
> is... It's a fairly quick car, I could definately see myself driving one
> every day, tho I think i'd need the sport shocks (I have upgraded shocks on
> my Golf, and it's the best investment I have made so far as far as ride
> comfort - the stock shocks on the Golf and Passat have too much
> dive/squat/body roll in transitions).
>
> A used Volvo S80 or V70 is a very roomy car as well (tho if you're looking
> at new cars only the S40 is in your price range, and it's smaller then the
> Passat) - those two are my alternatives... I recommend Volvo highly, as I
> drive both a VW and a Volvo, both are very good cars... I'd have to say
> we've had less problems with our Volvo tho, but it's a much more expensive
> car, so that's to be expected.
> "Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine for
>>me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it now.
>>
>>The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
>>brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not enough
>>width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the Camry,
>>Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus I've
>>always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression German
>>engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which lasted 13
>>years no problem.
>>
>>Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as much
>>or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?
>>
>>One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't recommend
>>it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.
>>
>>By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>Alex
>
>
>

Great, thanks for the Volvo recommendation, I always heard they were
goodcars, I'll check them out.

As far as the Passat, I'm leaning towards the GLS 1.8T 170hp in a manual
transmition. I don't know how to use an automatic. I would certainly
spend the extra money and get a V6, but from what I can tell the 2005
Passat GLX V6 doesn't come in a manual? What the heck is that all about?

Alex

Rob Guenther wrote:
> VW Passat is quite roomy and it's a nice car to driver - I am considering
> one for myself next year, or a new Jetta V if they are almost the same
> size... I'm in your position, I find my current car (a 1999.5 Golf) to be
> just a little too small and uncomfortable for me. Tho the fuel economy will
> be missed - If you're looking a the base engine Passat with an automatic,
> watch out... there is a turbo lag and it's quite easy to spin the tires if
> you are caught unaware - tho it makes the car feel more powerful then it
> is... It's a fairly quick car, I could definately see myself driving one
> every day, tho I think i'd need the sport shocks (I have upgraded shocks on
> my Golf, and it's the best investment I have made so far as far as ride
> comfort - the stock shocks on the Golf and Passat have too much
> dive/squat/body roll in transitions).
>
> A used Volvo S80 or V70 is a very roomy car as well (tho if you're looking
> at new cars only the S40 is in your price range, and it's smaller then the
> Passat) - those two are my alternatives... I recommend Volvo highly, as I
> drive both a VW and a Volvo, both are very good cars... I'd have to say
> we've had less problems with our Volvo tho, but it's a much more expensive
> car, so that's to be expected.
> "Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine for
>>me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it now.
>>
>>The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
>>brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not enough
>>width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the Camry,
>>Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus I've
>>always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression German
>>engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which lasted 13
>>years no problem.
>>
>>Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as much
>>or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?
>>
>>One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't recommend
>>it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.
>>
>>By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>Alex
>
>
>

Well the W8 had a manual option (W8 is no longer in production), but it was
a special sport model... The V6 is Tiptronic-only as far as I know (luxury
oriented theme maybe)... I'm with you, why no manual on the V6?? But the
same is true for the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry tho - no standard tranny
on the V6's only the 4 cylinder models (but have you ever seen a manual
Camry of recent vintage??)

The 4 cylinder with the manual tranny is supposedly much easier to live with
then if you have the automatic - this is what the salesman told me when I
commented on the non linearness of the acceleration in the automatic.

I wish I could tell you more about cost of ownership of VW vs Volvo... but
we have new VW's and an older Volvo (right now... looking at an XC70 in a
year or two)... the older Volvo's aren't too costly to run for their price,
whereas my Golf is getting expensive to maintain because it's 5 years old
and needs new tires, brakes, timing belt, automatic transmission fluid
change, coolant flush etc etc etc all in the past 12 months... I've only
owned it for 18 so it's been tough to live with, but the expenses are coming
to an end.

I'd say Volvo's have a realistic cost of parts/ownership and they have very
good service intervals, and their OEM parts are top quality and long lasting
(again.. at least they used to be for our 960... The new models look as good
tho)

VW's have some expensive parts/services for cars that are more economy
oriented, I was told a new Passat might actually be cheaper to maintain then
my diesel due to much lengthened timing belt services and the fact that
Passat parts aren't really any more money then Golf parts... I'd figure a
Passat would justtify the slightly more expensive parts, it's just hard to
take the cost in when you only own a Golf.
"Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
...
> Great, thanks for the Volvo recommendation, I always heard they were
> goodcars, I'll check them out.
>
> As far as the Passat, I'm leaning towards the GLS 1.8T 170hp in a manual
> transmition. I don't know how to use an automatic. I would certainly
> spend the extra money and get a V6, but from what I can tell the 2005
> Passat GLX V6 doesn't come in a manual? What the heck is that all about?
>
> Alex
>
> Rob Guenther wrote:
>> VW Passat is quite roomy and it's a nice car to driver - I am considering
>> one for myself next year, or a new Jetta V if they are almost the same
>> size... I'm in your position, I find my current car (a 1999.5 Golf) to be
>> just a little too small and uncomfortable for me. Tho the fuel economy
>> will be missed - If you're looking a the base engine Passat with an
>> automatic, watch out... there is a turbo lag and it's quite easy to spin
>> the tires if you are caught unaware - tho it makes the car feel more
>> powerful then it is... It's a fairly quick car, I could definately see
>> myself driving one every day, tho I think i'd need the sport shocks (I
>> have upgraded shocks on my Golf, and it's the best investment I have made
>> so far as far as ride comfort - the stock shocks on the Golf and Passat
>> have too much dive/squat/body roll in transitions).
>>
>> A used Volvo S80 or V70 is a very roomy car as well (tho if you're
>> looking at new cars only the S40 is in your price range, and it's smaller
>> then the Passat) - those two are my alternatives... I recommend Volvo
>> highly, as I drive both a VW and a Volvo, both are very good cars... I'd
>> have to say we've had less problems with our Volvo tho, but it's a much
>> more expensive car, so that's to be expected.
>> "Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine
>>>for me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it
>>>now.
>>>
>>>The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
>>>brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not
>>>enough width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the
>>>Camry, Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus
>>>I've always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression
>>>German engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which
>>>lasted 13 years no problem.
>>>
>>>Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as much
>>>or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?
>>>
>>>One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't recommend
>>>it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.
>>>
>>>By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Alex
>>
>>

Well the W8 had a manual option (W8 is no longer in production), but it was
a special sport model... The V6 is Tiptronic-only as far as I know (luxury
oriented theme maybe)... I'm with you, why no manual on the V6?? But the
same is true for the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry tho - no standard tranny
on the V6's only the 4 cylinder models (but have you ever seen a manual
Camry of recent vintage??)

The 4 cylinder with the manual tranny is supposedly much easier to live with
then if you have the automatic - this is what the salesman told me when I
commented on the non linearness of the acceleration in the automatic.

I wish I could tell you more about cost of ownership of VW vs Volvo... but
we have new VW's and an older Volvo (right now... looking at an XC70 in a
year or two)... the older Volvo's aren't too costly to run for their price,
whereas my Golf is getting expensive to maintain because it's 5 years old
and needs new tires, brakes, timing belt, automatic transmission fluid
change, coolant flush etc etc etc all in the past 12 months... I've only
owned it for 18 so it's been tough to live with, but the expenses are coming
to an end.

I'd say Volvo's have a realistic cost of parts/ownership and they have very
good service intervals, and their OEM parts are top quality and long lasting
(again.. at least they used to be for our 960... The new models look as good
tho)

VW's have some expensive parts/services for cars that are more economy
oriented, I was told a new Passat might actually be cheaper to maintain then
my diesel due to much lengthened timing belt services and the fact that
Passat parts aren't really any more money then Golf parts... I'd figure a
Passat would justtify the slightly more expensive parts, it's just hard to
take the cost in when you only own a Golf.
"Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
...
> Great, thanks for the Volvo recommendation, I always heard they were
> goodcars, I'll check them out.
>
> As far as the Passat, I'm leaning towards the GLS 1.8T 170hp in a manual
> transmition. I don't know how to use an automatic. I would certainly
> spend the extra money and get a V6, but from what I can tell the 2005
> Passat GLX V6 doesn't come in a manual? What the heck is that all about?
>
> Alex
>
> Rob Guenther wrote:
>> VW Passat is quite roomy and it's a nice car to driver - I am considering
>> one for myself next year, or a new Jetta V if they are almost the same
>> size... I'm in your position, I find my current car (a 1999.5 Golf) to be
>> just a little too small and uncomfortable for me. Tho the fuel economy
>> will be missed - If you're looking a the base engine Passat with an
>> automatic, watch out... there is a turbo lag and it's quite easy to spin
>> the tires if you are caught unaware - tho it makes the car feel more
>> powerful then it is... It's a fairly quick car, I could definately see
>> myself driving one every day, tho I think i'd need the sport shocks (I
>> have upgraded shocks on my Golf, and it's the best investment I have made
>> so far as far as ride comfort - the stock shocks on the Golf and Passat
>> have too much dive/squat/body roll in transitions).
>>
>> A used Volvo S80 or V70 is a very roomy car as well (tho if you're
>> looking at new cars only the S40 is in your price range, and it's smaller
>> then the Passat) - those two are my alternatives... I recommend Volvo
>> highly, as I drive both a VW and a Volvo, both are very good cars... I'd
>> have to say we've had less problems with our Volvo tho, but it's a much
>> more expensive car, so that's to be expected.
>> "Alex Lazarevich" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>>I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine
>>>for me, but I'd like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it
>>>now.
>>>
>>>The thing is I'm 6'3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
>>>brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not
>>>enough width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I've sat in the
>>>Camry, Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus
>>>I've always like the way the Passat looks, and I'm under the impression
>>>German engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70's which
>>>lasted 13 years no problem.
>>>
>>>Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as much
>>>or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?
>>>
>>>One thing I'm not quite into are American cars though, so don't recommend
>>>it unless you think I'm really missing out on something.
>>>
>>>By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you've got to be kidding. Ouch.
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>Alex
>>
>>