Thoughts on the VW CC?

"jvirgs drives a Subaru" (jvirgs)
12/29/2014 at 17:42 • Filed to: None

I have found a few 2012 CC sport 2.0T models within my budget and after test driving one, I actually really like it. While rear head room is tight and the four person seating is odd, the trunk is surprisingly large. I want to know what Oppo's opinions are on the car as well as the DSG transmission vs. the 6spd manual. Are these cars plagued with problems that would make me regret ever purchasing one? Thanks!

2014 VW CC R-Line for your time

DISCUSSION (24)

My citroen won't start > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 17:46

Few things:

See if you can find a CLS within your price range

Drool over it

Get scared by the maintenance costs and things that will fail

Try and find a Low Mileage CLS

Drool even more

Buy that

HammerheadFistpunch > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 17:50

The newer ones will be okay for reliability....for a VW. The 6 speed is pretty stout, the DSG is too but requires much more frequent and expensive maintenance (40k service intervals for expensive fluid exchanges) the 2.0T is a pretty reliable motor and strong with lots of tuning potential. I will do my best not to mock the "4 door coupe" styling too much.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 17:51

Kinja'd!!!

My thoughts? A scale model CLS.

Textured Soy Protein > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 17:57

I generally like double clutch transmissions—I have one in my 135is.

I generally dislike VWs and Audis. They're nice-ish but I just never warm up to them.

I also generally dislike a certain contingent of VW & Audi owners. It used to be "oh sure my car is unreliable but have you seen the soft-touch plastics in my interior?" and devolved into a bunch of stanced out bullshit.

Kinja'd!!!

Steve in Manhattan > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 18:02

The complaint with earlier Passats (OK - 'a' complaint) was the cost to replace the front end when it failed - thousands, like three. I'd investigate the current setup, how many ball joints, and what the kit to replace it costs.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 18:09

In my view, sticking to the 6 speed manual is the safest bet. The next safest is the regular automatic. And then the DSG, while great for what it is, is the least safe from a cost/repair/maintenance point of view.

Test drive one on the highway before you buy... these cars apparently have a firmer ride and firmer seats than some people like. Some reviews I read indicated that it felt fine to some on short drives, but became uncomfortable on longer drives.

Also there are some maintenance considerations... such as you'll likely need to use premium fuel and some quality name brand full synthetic motor oil (like Mobil 1). But if you do this, you will have a car that stays reliable and won't need oil changes as frequently.

A friend of mine has a 2007 Passat with the 2.0T with automatic. The car has been fine aside from some very minor things like the odd lightbulb and needing to have the brakes serviced.

Here are some VW CC/Passat CC reviews:

http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/volksw…

treesmakewater > Textured Soy Protein
12/29/2014 at 18:24

i dislike most Audi/vw owners. I can understand lowering a vehicle for track performance, but stance is just idiotic.

pip bip - choose Corrour > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 18:40

don't do it, VW/Audi product isn't that great , over engineered & WAY too complicated!

buy a Ford / GM product instead.

yes GM/Ford product may not drive/handle as nice but you won't be throwing money at it every 5 minutes.

sellphones2493 > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 18:52

I've considered buying one a few times. You can get a decent off-lease manual for like 15k with a CPO Warranty.

My main issue was that you can't get a stick with a sunroof. I need a stick and I need a sunroof (no sunroof gives me claustrophobia). There always is the option of getting an aftermarket one, but that sketches me out.

I have the same issue with the Mazda6...

What I'd love about owning a VW is the ability to throw on a set of Bentley or Lamborghini Wheels!

Kinja'd!!!

Spaceball-Two > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 19:04

Lots VAG hating in this thread...

RallyWrench > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 19:45

They look nice, have nice interiors, and are good to drive, but I wouldn't plan on keeping a non-TDI past 100k. We see quite a few, and the owners like them to a point, which is about 100k.

The DSG is a remarkable and very reliable transmission, but must be serviced every 35-40k. They hold about 5.5 liters of $23/liter fluid, and there's a filter on top that must be changed, using factory parts, because the aftermarket filters & seals are junk. If not done yourself, this will be over $300 at a shop.

The 2.0T is punchy & efficient, but tends to burn oil badly, often requiring several quarts between services. There are numerous bulletins to this effect, and VW may have extended the engine warranty as Audi has. Our nearest Audi dealer has told us they have a guy whose only job is replacing rings on 2.0Ts under warranty. I've sent 2 cars there in the last month for it.

The plastic water pump & thermostat housings are failure prone, as are the intake manifold runner control mechanisms, both often well before 100k. They will also fill the intake ports with carbon deposits that will eventually lead to poor driveability & misfires. This is a byproduct of Direct Injection & the aforementioned high oil consumption (not just a VW issue, BTW), as the injectors are no longer in the intake & thus don't clean the ports & valves, and the oil vapor circulated back into the intake via the (also problematic) PCV system just accumulates.

They're not unreliable in the sense of leaving people by the side of the road, but they do require more upkeep than many other comparable cars.

tl;dr : Buy a (something else). If you get one, don't plan to keep it forever, or get a solid extended warranty from a reputable company. Western General's "Select" program has proven to be very good, for example.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > RallyWrench
12/29/2014 at 20:40

Thanks! If I was to buy one, it was going to be from Carmax because warranty. I really wanted to know what I was getting myself into if I decided to buy German having only owned a Japanese car and you definitely gave me something to consider.

Slave2anMG > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/29/2014 at 22:04

I appear to be the only one who actually has a CC...a 2013 DSG with 39K miles. Company car. And I like it rather a lot. Excellent highway car - eats up the miles. Good in the mountains and twisties. Back seat not terribly useful due to low headroom. Good seats. 32-33 mpg at 75-80 mph.

But....I'm not a big fan of the DSG. It's grabby when cold and has a wee hesitation from stop. I had the DSG in a 2010 Jetta wagon TDI and that one was much smoother and had no hesitation. And the Mexican built Jetta never rattled or buzzed in 75K miles. This CC already does....then I remembered it's buzzing/rattling in basically the same places my 2007 Passat wagon did in the dashboard.

But....it's a great driving car. Would I buy one as my DD? Probably...I've always had good luck with VW products. Yes, they're higher maintenance than Toyotas etc...but I simply prefer the way German cars drive.

jvirgs drives a Subaru > Slave2anMG
12/29/2014 at 22:16

Have you had a lot of reliability issues over the past 40K other than routine maintenance? I was surprised how the DSG drove but I did notice the hesitation from a stop, also the lack of feedback from the gas pedal bothers me but I guess its something I have to get used to with newer vehicles.

jkm7680 > Spaceball-Two
12/30/2014 at 08:13

But if it was a BMW, Everybody would say "OH BLAH BLAH BLAH, DO IT." Even though BMW's are equally, if not more unreliable.

jkm7680 > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/30/2014 at 08:13

Do it, Everybody hating on VAG in here is just butthurt over something.

Slave2anMG > jvirgs drives a Subaru
12/30/2014 at 08:28

No issues at all....not even a recall that I...um...recall. Well, one issue - and this is apparently indigenous to all B6-based Passats/CCs. They're tough on rear tires. My '07 wagon and this car both cupped out the stock Continentals so badly I replaced them at 30K. The other advice I'd give you is to look for maintenance records - make certain the previous owner used the recommended synthetic oil. If not, walk away.

The dealer here does all my service. They're actually *good*...I'm a persnickety bastard and they satisfy me.

Other than that, all the VWs I've owned/leased (6 of them - four were company cars) have been pretty good cars. The '04 Passat had a bum wheel bearing (under warranty); my '02 Beetle 1.8T just ate its alternator (not cheap due to being buried in the car); wife's 'o5 Golf TDI has to be tough given the way SHE drives the damn thing; the '10 Jetta TDI was flawless...absolutely flawless.

One thing to see if you can stand on the one you're looking at - plug in an iPod if you have one. Observe how painfully slow the head unit is when scrolling....I don't even bother. Instead the Jetta's head unit (and the '13 CC as well) have an SD card slot. Use that...much faster.

Spaceball-Two > jkm7680
12/30/2014 at 11:14

Seriously. I've noticed a ton a bashing Audi lately. Yet no one points out that GM is having a banner year.

jkm7680 > Spaceball-Two
12/30/2014 at 14:44

Right? VAG products aren't as unreliable as everybody makes them out to be. For instance, Everybody thinks Japanese cars are super reliable, and never break. While meanwhile, Honda Odysseys are taking new transmissions left right and center.

Spaceball-Two > jkm7680
12/30/2014 at 14:50

Yup. Everyone loves Subies. Especially the ones blow head gaskets!

jkm7680 > Spaceball-Two
12/30/2014 at 15:00

Yeah! And Toyota's that accelerate unintentionally are perfectly fine!

Spaceball-Two > jkm7680
12/30/2014 at 15:35

As are air bags that SHOOT shards of metal in your face!

Spaceball-Two > jkm7680
12/30/2014 at 15:51

Then Doug goes and writes an article on the S4.... shit

jkm7680 > Spaceball-Two
12/30/2014 at 17:01

Wow, that article is about as valid as a poopy flavored lollipop.

I told him about how reliable my B5 is, Haha.