So having a go at me for not driving an Alfa isn't personal? - from where I'm sitting it is.
Which are all true.
As I recall, I pointed out that the Passat had a much better interior, and that the Primera, whilst being a very quick car point to point, lacked the feedback at the limits I desired. I got to the point where I was driving it almost right on the edge and knew it would end up in a ditch before long.
I was never overtaken by anything - hot hatches included in the Passat on anything but dead straight roads where I chose not to do silly speeds. It was also quicker off the line than most hot hatches - official 0-60 times put it at 7.9secs, which is equal or better than a lot of so-called 'hot hatches'.
No, because I couldn't find a decent cheap car for the commute. I spent ages looking for a suitable Alfa before settling on the Passat. The Primera was bought because I needed something to get me to and from Wales whilst I was having the clutch slave repaired on the 75.
Which, taken in context of a 1.1 city car, they do. Do you understand context?
My car is my office, I want nice detailing, quality plastics and generally somewhere I want to spend my time. This happens to rule out everything from Ford - even Vx make better quality interiors. And yes, the B6 Passat is quite a remarkable car. As sharp to drive as anything else in the class whilst being finished to a higher standard and having pretty much the best diesel engines in the class, too.
I still hate diesels, but as diesels go, this one's a good one. However, neither myself or the company will pay the tax and fuel costs of the
2.0FSI-T, which would be my choice from the range.Still, despite all your attempts at taking the piss out of me, I can console myself that I don't have a Yank at home pulling my strings and telling me what I can and can't buy.