Nice wheels
(Although, literally speaking, they look they won't be that easy to clean if you want to keep them in tiptop condition.
And one of my VW logos has just fallen off the wheel cap, so if you could just pop one of yours in the post that would be a nice wee Christmas present for me
)
So that's the B8 Passat, while mines is the B7, and I also had a B6.
Despite its problems, would certainly have another Passat, although the one big reason I'd prefer a Skoda is the Passat's electric handbrake
Although not a deal-breaker, obviously.
But I tend not to use it so much as a I would a standard handbrake (eg at traffic lights), mainly on the basis that I think the more I use it, the more likely it is to go wrong
That said, no problem with the electric calipers on my B7 at almost 130,000 miles. Had replaced both of them on my B6 by that mileage, at £500 a side
But they were a bit of a novelty on the B6 (mine was new in 2006), and I believe they've improved the design since then, so hopefully on a 2016 B8 they shouldn't be a problem.
Another big spend on the B6 was the DMF, but as with diesel cars generally I think the design of them has improved considerably, so should last the life of the car unless you intend keeping it a very long time. I'm hoping mine will last to 200,000 miles or so, by which time our ten-year age rule will mean I'll have to dump the car anyway, as a taxi at least.
Most obvious weak point with my B7 is the front suspension, I would say - springs, wishbone bushes, spring mounts etc. Even then, think I was round the clock before any of that kind of work was required.
No problems with engine etc so far (although you'll know my engine setup well from your Skoda), although I'm not sure how the Euro6 VWs compare to the likes of my Euro5 in terms of DPF issues etc.
But as I think you said in another thread, the 1.6 TDi lump is now 120 bhp* rather than 105?
Anyway, good luck
(Or 120 PS, strictly speaking, rather than bhp, but the figures are just marginally different either way.)