Standing out from the crowd

I OFTEN get compliments for test cars from pedestrians or people I meet in supermarket car parks, but never at a recycling centre, until now.

The boot in this week’s VW CC was a decent size, so I decided that a trip to the recycling centre in Ballymount to dump some of the rubbish that had accumulated in the shed was a good idea.

It was a long black model and on a bright morning looked like a sleek limousine. The CC definitely stood from the jeeps and trailers full of junk as people availed of the recent dry spell to do a bit of spring cleaning. But not everybody had eyes for the skips as one young man in a jeep behind me in the queue remarked that he really liked my motor.

This car was known as a Passat CC when introduced in 2008, but after a recent revamp, it’s now simply a CC. There are a few subtle changes, mainly to the front grille which has a more horizontal look and also to the rear lights. The pillar-less doors and sloping roof add to the coupé look and while the CC is based on the Passat platform, it’s longer and wider than the regular Passat, but only by a few centimetres.

Volkswagen obviously wanted a smart-looking coupé to try and win over customers from the likes of Audi and Mercedes. CC stands for

‘comfort coupe,’ and it’s marketed as a luxurious motor between the Passat and the larger VW Phaeton, which we don’t really see on Irish roads anymore.

The black model I drove had cream seats which naturally would be difficult to keep clean, but they do look very impressive when you sit in. The half-leather seats are really comfortable and it’s very easy to find a relaxing driving position. There is room for three people in the rear but it would be ideal for two people who could then leave down the arm rest as you cruise along. Although you can get from zero to 100km/h in under ten seconds, this is a car for cruising and not for racing.

I drove an automatic 2.0 litre version and it certainly was a very smooth car to travel in and the Blue Motion stop-start technology meant that the engine was really frugal. As mentioned earlier the boot is a fine size and surprise, surprise, you get a full size spare wheel. The boot is opened by the VW logo on the boot door.

No complaints from me this week. I’m normally not mad about those tiny handbrakes, but in this case the handbrake worked well. It was a really long motor and the sensors were appreciated.

Prices start at

?¬34,910, but there are lots of extras and the price will go over 40k if you opt for everything that’s on offer. If you order before December 31 there is a free Sat Nav, in fact there is a free Sat Nat for all VWs ordered before the end of the year. In these hard economic times the CC will probably not be a huge seller in Ireland, but it’s still a gorgeous motor.

VW’s advertising line for the CC is:

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‘Because you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” Even at the recycling centre…