Compare Handling to B6 Passat and CC

[stick]

Any B7 owners have experience driving a B6 or esp CC? I'm curious how the B7 compares in the handling dept (cornering, braking, understeer, ride quality, stiffness, etc).

[JBRecording]

The B6 I had was a 4Motion, which I actually do miss. I have the same motor (3.6 VR6) and I find my tires spin quite a bit under moderate-to-heavy throttle if I'm stopped, so I miss the extra traction of the 4Motion. The ride and throttle response in the B7 is much better than the B6 IMHO... there was a strange kind of delay/lag in pressing the gas to getting the acceleration in the old B6 that is still there in the B7, but not nearly as noticeable or annoying.

[gphin305]

Any B7 owners have experience driving a B6 or esp CC? I'm curious how the B7 compares in the handling dept (cornering, braking, understeer, ride quality, stiffness, etc).

I've had my 2008 B6 2.0T for four years now with 52,000 miles (owned since new) and my 2012 SE w/roof for two months and 2500 miles..... The B6 with slight mods is a true 4-door sports car and the B7 is a 4-door family sedan....two different cars, by design. The B6 comes with 235/45 tires, the B7 comes with 215/55's. The B6 corners better, has quicker steering, and with the OEM Drivers Gear springs, rides firmer. The 2.0T is fun to drive.....when chipped, a blast to drive. The 2.5 in the B7 is adequate....and sounds better than the same motor in our previous 2009 Jetta. Some people may prefer the ride of the B7.....I would describe as softer....but a good ride. Ride quality is to each his own.....I drive the B6.....wife drives the B7. But I have driven the B7 on two hour trips and enjoy the drive....smooth, quiet. Both high quality vehicles with their own characteristics....but different strokes for different folks (or like us, have one of each).

[stick]

gphin - nice write-up on the b6/b7 comparison. everything you said makes perfect sense. very good point about the tires. i'm guessing that would explain part of jb's issue w/less traction in the b7, in addition to awd vs fwd.

do you have conti's on the b6? bought mine cpo and dealer put 4 new tires (hankook) as part of certification.

[gphin305]

gphin - nice write-up on the b6/b7 comparison. everything you said makes perfect sense. very good point about the tires. i'm guessing that would explain part of jb's issue w/less traction in the b7, in addition to awd vs fwd.

do you have conti's on the b6? bought mine cpo and dealer put 4 new tires (hankook) as part of certification.

Yes, switched to Conti DWS at 33K. Now have 19K on them and still look very good.....should easily get 40k out of them. Seem to handle well and have good wet/dry traction....and very quiet. Based my purchase pretty much on reviews, especially Tire Rack. The car came new with Goodyear Eagle GTs.....were fine for about 20K....then got real noisy....pretty much unbearable at 30K even though they had maybe 10K left on them. My B7 originally had Hankooks but I had the dealer swap from another car that had Conti ProContacts based on reviews on this forum about tire/road noise issues.

[Das Schnurrbart]

I've had my 2008 B6 2.0T for four years now with 52,000 miles (owned since new) and my 2012 SE w/roof for two months and 2500 miles..... The B6 with slight mods is a true 4-door sports car and the B7 is a 4-door family sedan....two different cars, by design. The B6 comes with 235/45 tires, the B7 comes with 215/55's. The B6 corners better, has quicker steering, and with the OEM Drivers Gear springs, rides firmer. The 2.0T is fun to drive.....when chipped, a blast to drive. The 2.5 in the B7 is adequate....and sounds better than the same motor in our previous 2009 Jetta. Some people may prefer the ride of the B7.....I would describe as softer....but a good ride. Ride quality is to each his own.....I drive the B6.....wife drives the B7. But I have driven the B7 on two hour trips and enjoy the drive....smooth, quiet. Both high quality vehicles with their own characteristics....but different strokes for different folks (or like us, have one of each).

To me this b6 description sounds about right, but I have to say when the b7 has the vr6 the driving experience becomes very different. There is slightly more body lean than my stock 2.0 b6 had, but the acceleration feels pretty sporting to me. With slightly stiffer springs I think I will be content with my b7 performance. Your description above to me does not sound like apples to apples, but I guess that's what your eluding to.

[coffeemade]

My B7 drives great with KW street comfort coilovers and front and rear H&R sway bars