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[guthrie]

+1 for Bi-xenons. They rock.
I can live without a sunroof (especially in Perth on 40 degree days).
the Leather with electric memory seats are also great.

[snodrogs]

If you have drivers who are significantly different in height, go the electric seats with memory - awesome! And worth the wait.

Auto tailgate is worth it as well.

I do like the sunroof, although agree that driving around with it is not much use in Perth when it is 40. (although when the car is parked in the sun, I leave it popped open a little with the front windows open about qtr of an inch, and it leaves the car a lot cooler than having it entirely closed up as the hot air moves through the windows and out the sunroof. You can leave the sunblock slide closed too because it has slots in it for the air to move through and out the roof).


Not used the fog lights EVER.

The Alarm seems to work well (I have tested it and it actually exists!)

Can't talk about bi-Xenons as I have std lights, although these apparently improve significantly with after-market globes of the same wattage (which is on the list)

The other item on the shopping list is a mobile phone with GPS in-built, because I could not afford/justify the RNS510... and I like the idea of being able to move it between cars, (and states). If I had the $$ I would have optioned the RNS510... never mind.

Andrew

[passatpout]

Well, there's a few things on my car that I wouldn't have spent the money on, if it wasn't already coming with them, but am glad it has anyway:

Sunroof - very handy and very quiet when open at speed. As others have pointed out, leaving it open with the windows cracked (and a sunvisor on the windscreen) keeps the car significantly cooler on hot days. Even on the recent 40-odd degree days that Victoria has had, it hasn't been too bad, although I've had the shade pulled across.

Steering wheel gear shift toggles - useful for downshifting, although if they weren't a freebie on the car, I probably wouldn't get them again, considering that to get the car to hold gear means shifting the lever to manual anyway.

I haven't used the front fog lights, except as a bit of a statement to other drivers that they are meant for inclement weather, by not having them on 24/7.

I miss the RNS-510, from another Golf, in another country.. Considering where I've taken the Passat, it would come in handy. Would be better if it had the digital radio traffic updates though (although the standard radio already has digital capability, that's what the "TP" and "TIM" buttons are for).

Leather seats are good.

Towbar has come in handy.

Good luck.

For what it's worth, a lady in a supermarket carpark came and asked me what I thought of the Passat, she was looking to replace a Falcon wagon on gas, and the Passat was one of the options.. I told her TDI was the way to go, and it had heaps of space..