MKII golf GTI.... mmmm best of the lot imho.
Driven some of the later passats- 1.8T and didn't think much to them; lots of oil pressure issues meant loads of time in the company car garage. Got to drive a 2.2DTI vauxhall vectra (new shape- only done 5000 miles) instead and would have chosen it any day over the old passat. Sooooo much grunt from the 2.2 modern diesel lump in that car and much more economical than the 1.8T of the passat.
I'm looking about for a new motor at the mo... and I'm considering the following:
- MKII golf GTI
- MKIII golf VR6
- 3.9V8/2.5TDI Discovery (not sure which)
only trouble with the diesels is the high mileage; typically over 100,000. This is no trouble for the engine itself, but the rest of the car tends to suffer with worn suspension/gearboxes/rust etc. Most of the V8 Landys here have low mileage due to running costs; hence less mechanical wear.
Still choices, choices! no firm decision as yet.
To any of the treehuggers out there who moan about 4x4 gas guzzling roadhoggs etc- stfu. I have no problem with owning a V8 4x4, as it would generally not be used as a work commuter- I can walk or cycle to work.
Currently I drive a singularily uninspireing K reg ford escort 1.8D (na). It's a workhorse and gets me from A to B, but it's not a car I would have bought if cash at the time was more readily available.