Revolver

Who me? Don't recall that but anything's possible.

The SRT is a great engine though...actually, I think it was Mikey R wasn't it?

mdr

Hard to go past what you are wanting in car with out at least looking at the skoda scout.
http://www.skoda.com.au/skodaaustral...-scout-02.aspx

Friend of mine has driven a few of them home and they are nice.

matt13b

Peugot are doing a 6 year warranty offer plus extra options or something at all dealers on the 308 touring if you want to get really sensible?

labrat

Getting back on track, I am at an age where family cars are no longer of direct interest, but on checking out the VW website, I'd say a 6-cylinder AWD wagon is pretty much about the best you can do. In fact, I'm going to recommend it to my elder daughter and her husband, who are currently eyeing off a range of "prestige" 4WD soft-roaders. I'd be much happier seeing her family in something with a lower centre of gravity and good road-holding, and it seems to have more than adequate performance. I'd be please to read your road test of it!

timbo

Not really sensible at all . The first thing that will happen is that Gomez will appear at your door with a jerry can of petrol, silently mouth some obscenities, pour the petrol over the Peugeot and light a match

Revolver

Agreed. Will be test driving one on Sat with any luck. Just need to sell 'er indoors on the manual tranny - she was hoping to go back to an auto...

Revolver

Great minds Labby. I just don't understand how driving something tall that doesn't handle and usually doesn't brake that well can be a good thing for your family. I'd rather not rely on a million airbags or even DSC for that matter. Active safety trumps passive safety every time.

Hopefully testing the Passat wagon this Sat too, so I'll let you know what I reckon...

Revolver

Agreed. I don't do French cars...

labrat

Which is what I say to people who think it incongruous that a person of my mature years and conservative way should drive an RX-8. The thing sticks to the road, goes where you point it, stops when you want to and doesn't fall on its side. Oh, and let's not forget the DSC, etc and 6 air bags.

Revolver

Ok, for Labby and anyone else who's interested, we test drove a couple of options on Sat.

Passat

Some qualifications - didn't have the model we wanted (FSI Highline) in the wagon, so tested the sedan instead and only looked at the wagon for space (R36 - nice but not a family car option), were running short on time, so only a 20 minute drive, had someone from the dealer sitting in the back seat (trade plates).

General impression - a smooth, quiet, refined car. Excellent interior comfort and amenity with some well thought out details. Power and response from the 6 cylinder engine is strong without scaring the horses - in other words ideal for a family car. 'Er Indoors looked very happy in it.

Pros - perfect size compromise in the wagon. Reasonably deep cargo area with lowish load lip but not so big it's a pain to park, etc. Quality finish and classy feel - a big step up from the Mazda 6. Decent power. AWD and DSG. Handles competently for the kind of driving you do with kids aboard. Resale and reliability.

Cons - slight hesitation from standstill while clutch engages on the DSG - apparently something you get used to. Once rolling though changes are very smooth. Ride a tad brittle but not overly so. Over 60K on road, so not the cheapest option.

Verdict - the benchmark so far. Only saving coin would prevent us from buying one tomorrow.

Skoda Scout

Qualifications - Hadn't driven a diesel in ages.

General Impression - remembered why I hate them. Sounds and feels like a tractor. A slug on the move. Poor response. Vague gearbox. Vague handling. Ordinary ride. Engine sounds terrible. Wondering when something was going to fall off the cheap trim. Interior a step down from the Mazda 6.

Pros - price, economy and space.

Cons - Too many to mention. Apart from anything else, resale would suck...hard.

Verdict - Not in a million years. All I can say is that the car journos writing positive reviews about this eastern block dunger must have been taken to lots of long lunches by Skoda's marketing dept...and provided with hookers...several times.

We're testing the new Liberty/Outback shortly.

Atm a second-hand Passat is looking mighty tempting...

skc

I saw a Passat wagon on the road yesterday and it looks good. See if you can get a good deal on a demo model.

skc

mikeyr

Dave,

I hate to lob in another grenade but ..... if you are going as far as Passat.... why not the AWD V50 Volvo. Bout the same money and must be demos around. Not as plain inside! Similar kw.

It's not the track car after all and they are generally pretty good to drive. Not driven this model but always a bit surprised by how "not that dull" they are.

Otherwise why not a small softroader (Outlander, CRV etc) and buy a skiff to tow behind it with the change!! Could be a lot of fun!!

And NOT the Subaru. Brother has one, Jac's brother has one and they are only slightly more interesting that that show.... something about farmers.......


M

labrat

Any chance of getting it under the Kruddlet's small business tax break? You'd save ~$9k on that price. Also check out what Private Fleet can do for you.

Revolver

Hmm, I didn't know the V50 came in AWD. I thought it was only the XC models. Thanks, I'll check those out too.

I quite agree that Volvo has worked hard in recent years to shed the old stigma. Friends own various models and all like them. Journos bitch about ride and handling but after that Scout test, I'm happy to ignore them!

Not a fan of the small softroaders...hate the way they look, etc. Prefer an AWD wagon...and I don't need a skiff! Have a hard enough time getting away on keel boats and I don't have anywhere to keep the thing (don't mention Patonga either!) ;-)

I agree the Subaru is the dull, unimaginative, safe, suburban choice but I'm still keen to test the new models to see what they're like...they're pretty good value compared to the Euro surcharge.

Revolver

Nope, don't drive for work, so that won't work I don't think...why do you think barristers pioneered all the agri-business schemes!

I'll check out Private Fleet, thanks.

timbo

Interesting test drive experience, Dave...it'll be hard to go past the Passat, methinks...and I always reckoned you'd find the Scout hard going, but it's the cheap awd option.

Really, if awd is mandatory and you don't want to go softroad or Subbie, then down the "V" end of the alphabet is really about your only option.

As I think I've admitted during group therapy, I had a 740 turbo wagon, mainly to house three growing sons, dog etc. I have to admit I loved that car for three reasons:
1. I bought it for a song at auction as an ex-Ch 10 exec car, when whoever was trying to monopolise Aus media at the time failed;
2. It rocked and rolled, but a set of Koni adjustables and ARB turned into something quite decent; and
3. It is still holds my personal record for Syd-Cbr...I say no more about this!

I'll go now!

Revolver

Yeah, the Scout probably suffered excessively by direct comparison with the Passat but I suppose that's the value in back to back test drives - you really appreciate what you're missing. It is very cheap for the metal and if money was too tight to mention like when we first had the kids I'd probably consider it more seriously but we've worked too hard to step that far back in terms of quality and refinement. I just know I'd hate every second of driving it and life's too short. Besides, 'er indoors would certainly whinge about it and that's worth money in itself!

I'm still happy to test the new subies with an open mind and will also try the V50 out before deciding whether it must be the Passat.

Hahaha, and the record is? I'm interested to know whether it beats mine (set in my bro's old XA GT. Damn that was a lucky day - I think I'd only just be getting out now if they caught me)...

Thanks for your patience guys. You've given me some options to consider.

Revolver

Well, test drove the new Subie Outback on Saturday. Sorry Mikey but maybe your rellos are onto something there...

Qualifications - None. They had the 3.6 6 cyl in auto, which is just what 'er indoors is interested in. Had it to ourselves, so it got a decent flogging to see how it went, stopped and steered.

General Impression - A roomy, powerful, well thought out family truckster. Better response off the line than the Passat - no faffing around waiting for DSG to sort itself out. Good torque throughout the rev range. Comfortable seating and bigger cargo capacity. Braking and handling is more than competent for a softroader and craps all over the Scout. You have the option of converting to a more economical shift pattern for suburban use. Whereas the Passat felt a bit too 'nice' for family hack work, this seems perfect for it. It's not as German inside but still fairly well presented and the fruit quotient is fine for what we want. I wouldn't worry as much about the inevitable accidents and just general battering dished out by kids, dogs, supermarket carparks, etc.

Pros - About $10K cheaper on road than the similar engined Passat. Bigger but not truck big - still a handy size for parking, city use, etc. Reasonably light kerb weight. Decent economy but with enough grunt to manage a trip away loaded up. Cheaper options and servicing than the Euros (e.g. towbar is half the price, ditto just about everything else). Good market standing and excellent resale.

Cons - Not the greatest looking thing but not exactly ugly...and then I'm starting to struggle. Matches our needs perfectly.

I'm starting to realise why Subie has flogged so many of these to the 2.2 kid patrol - almost the default option in the 'burbs these days. Ok, not as flash as the Euro options and the refinement is a little lacking but not by much and certainly it gets hard to justify the $10K premium charged for a competing model such as the Passat. Boring choice? Probably, a little. But when you see the $10K saving as a FI kit for the 'other car', it's starting to get sexier...

I'll test drive the V50 as well to be complete about the research but it'll have to have a swedish au pair in the back seat to get close...

timbo

Sounds good. There's shedloads of 'em on the road. They must do something right!

One minor issue you might want to check. I think the new auto trannie is a CVT (that might have been the case in the model before the 2010, too. Might be just worth a trawl of the Subbie forums to check on the reliability of this and to find out who is the mfr. Some Audi models come with a CVT trannie (the 'multitronic') and I've read some tales of grief. Just worth a check


Oh, and forgot to say, re your earlier comment about me getting a diesel. Well, we have one. SWMBO got a Golf GT TDI with DSG about 14mths ago. This has the 125Kw motor, and it's great. Launches like a train and returns <6L/100k. The DSG is not an auto, and it takes just a short time to adapt to a slightly different driving style, which is smooth but with none of the torque converter lag of a traditional auto.

I'd be very happy with that motor and trannie plus AWD in any Audi/Skoda/VW that wasn't a quasi-SUV. Chip it, and you have c.400Nm of torques!

Revolver

Yeah, I'm leery of the CVT trannies too. Fortunately, only the 2.5 litre four potters get saddled with those. The 3.6 six gets a regular style auto tranny with paddle shifts (doubt they'll get used after an initial play - it ain't no sports car). As for a trawl of the Subie forums, ok, if I must. I did join a Mazda 6 forum to find some info before and after we bought that car but didn't get far before boredom killed it. Cardigan alert!

Yeah, we tried the DSG in the Passat. I understand how it works. Once up and running it was smooth but I think the initial baulk would take some getting used to. Very little torque converter lag in the Subie tranny - they've come a long way with autos in the last few years - big improvement on the last one we owned (admittedly a Falcon shitbox). That GT Golf model has had some good reviews - turbo/supercharged? Interesting idea for a small car...

timbo

Another mate just got one of these....jeez...you really have to struggle for words not to describe it as ugly...even a doting mother would have troubles I reckon

Where does Subaru get their designers from? (probably the wrong word) New Korean graduates, one suspects

thisllub

About 50% of Volvo owners I know have had major quality problems.
One had so many problems with the dealer he put signs all over the windows "This car is a lemon" and parked it on the street outside the dealer every weekend for a month until they agreed to fix it.
Another bought the top of the line (S80 I think) about $105000 on the road and the engine caught fire after a week.
I bought a V8 Holden at the same time and when he disposed of the Volvo 3 years later the two were worth the same coin ($29000)

Revolver

I think that's a bit heavy handed for the new Liberty/Outback Timbo. IMHO it's more bland than ugly and at least not as hateful as the Kluger, which really has hit every branch of the ugly tree on the way down.

Besides, it's not exactly a market niche overloaded with pretty (except maybe the CX7/9 twins, which drink like Sir Les Patterson ). If you're looking for chick magnets in the family car pages, you're dreaming...

I'll never claim it's a looker but for everything it does, I can live with it not attracting longing stares...a tool, not a toy

Revolver

Interesting. I'm hearing the opposite from Subie owners - run forever and very few quality issues...

timbo

Ah well....sounds like you've rationalised the decision, and that's all that matters