R36 Road Test/ Reviews

[R36 Dreamer]

Howdy,

I thought it might be a good idea to get a separate thread going for reviews and road tests.

Other than the Danish Report in a separate thread, it would be good if we can point out other road tests.

I dont think articles just dealing with spec's need be added (given we have all probably read them to death), just actual real world testing.

I am still worried that it will be slammed by the media, and hope this doesn't happen. The UK forums are definately not complimentary of the idea, even though a real test has not been done.....

Hope to see some good reviews when people come across them.

Cheers.

[Steve]

What are some of the UK forums? I tried to find some, but couldn't...!

[Wolves1877]

The R36 has been available in the UK now for close to 3 weeks and I still can't find a review yet. What is going on?

[Steve]

Yeah, it's not even mentioned on the Volkswagen UK website!

I'm searching Google and YouTube and a few other sites daily but I'm not coming up with any new road tests - just the same regurgitated press release crap.

PS. Here's the only review we've found so far (http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=da&u=http://www.business.dk/article/20080510/dinepenge/80509046/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=8&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpassat%2Br36%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26neww indow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26as_qdr%3Dd%26pwst%3D1). Google doesn't get the Danish translation spot on but it gets close enough to be able to understand most of it.

[DaveMack]

Here is where you should be putting road tests / reviews.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/forumdisplay.php?f=69

Dave

[R36 Dreamer]

http://motortorque.askaprice.com/news/auto-0804/new-volkswagen-passat-r36-in-uk.asp

[Wyatt]

Finally - a real road test (http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Volkswagen-Passat-R36-CAR-review/?&R=EPI-6124). Not quite as enthusiastic as I would have hoped, but certainly not bad.

[Deedub68]

Finally - a real road test (http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Volkswagen-Passat-R36-CAR-review/?&R=EPI-6124). Not quite as enthusiastic as I would have hoped, but certainly not bad.

:?:
Deedub eyes his order form and deposit receipt nervously and wonders if the "jittery ride" may be a problem on Adelaide's crappy roads...

Deedub

[Wyatt]

Yes, I can just imagine bouncing down Parramatta Rd on my way home from the dealer for the first time.

[phaeton]

Once Wheels or Motor have a spin I'm sure they will like it.

[Deedub68]

Once Wheels or Motor have a spin I'm sure they will like it.

Think Gorge Rd....Thing Gorge Rd...Think Gorge Rd.... :cool:

D

[Steve]

:?:
Deedub eyes his order form and deposit receipt nervously and wonders if the "jittery ride" may be a problem on Adelaide's crappy roads...

Deedub
Duuuude, they said the same thing abou the Golf GTI three years ago.

I'm almost certain it's only a problem to people who have been driving boats. I drove a VY Commodore until the GTI came along and it was a biit of a shock...

I can easily handle harder than the GTI.. it's not hard enough!

[theplanner]

I agree with you Steve, the firmness and tolerable level is relative only. Anyone who has driven the new bimmer 335 will find the ride very firmed too. Yet it seemed acceptable to so many of its owners in Syd, Ade etc

[Cro]

Don't forget Passat's are like Falcadores in Europe, most of them end up being Taxi's, sales rep cars and the like. Those ones in particular have a soft suspension, and the articles author is probably comparing it to them.

I'm sure it will be fine :)

[GTom]

Don't forget Passat's are like Falcadores in Europe, most of them end up being Taxi's, sales rep cars and the like. Those ones in particular have a soft suspension, and the articles author is probably comparing it to them.

I'm sure it will be fine :)


Hmm really, i saw more mercs and BMs doing most of the taxi work....

[Deedub68]

Hmm really, i saw more mercs and BMs doing most of the taxi work....

But it's true Passats tend to be repmobiles in Europe. Passat 4 motion vehicles tend to make up most of the rep fleet for my parent company in Spain.

Deedub

[Cro]

Found another one, this time from Switzerland.
I think they like it :)
http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.bluewin.ch/de/index.php/61,47256/VW_Passat_R36/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=10&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpassat%2Br36%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%2 6lr%3D%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26as_ qdr%3Dd

[Wyatt]

Good find Cro. It was a bit of a hard read, but this translation (http://tinyurl.com/5lqz3r) helped me put the pieces together.

Overall, it does look pretty good.

[Steve]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=236pxwyY6Qc

If that's what I think it is... I'm impressed!

[Deedub68]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=236pxwyY6Qc

If that's what I think it is... I'm impressed!

Crikey! Ohhhh to have Autobahn's in Adelaide...:(

There will be no small amount of satisfaction from blowing away some neanderthal in a HSV V8 j:

Look at the odo: this guy has 12,000km on the clock already!

deedub

[Steve]

I can't be certain that is is an R36, but who knows. It might be... I think I see a gear shift paddle behind the steering wheel. Hard to tell for sure, though.

I get to enjoy the freeway to the hills every day... :) :)

[Wyatt]

That's pretty impressive stuff. It's right on the 5.6-5.8 sec 0-100 kph that it's claimed to do.

[Cro]

Unless they have retrofitted the steering wheel, that is the R36 :)

[Vene]

Looks legit to me.......not long to go before we'd get some hands on reviews in Oz. Looking forward to it! Downside is fuel cost is nudging at $1.70pltr, very very lame!!!

[Deedub68]

I can't be certain that is is an R36, but who knows. It might be... I think I see a gear shift paddle behind the steering wheel. Hard to tell for sure, though.

I get to enjoy the freeway to the hills every day... :) :)

I got busted for speeding on the downtrack a couple of weeks back next to the toll gate. If that wasn't bad enough it was in the Missus' 1.8l Lancer...:mad:

[Steve]

Yeah everyone flies past the toll gate... they get angry at me for slowing to 80 at the 80 sign and 60 at the 60 sign... and for not going 100 from the traffic lights. I just plant the right foot at the 100 sign and leave them behind... :)

[Deedub68]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETM_PsLwOYk&NR=1

Oh please...let it be so...

deedub

[Wyatt]

To me this looks like the R36 Design Study, which comes with a different exhaust system ... "The 300-hp, 3.6-liter V6 remains, but the stock exhaust has been upgraded with a new cat-back unit sporting larger tailpipes."

[Cro]

I found the R36 noises on the VW Individual Site about 12 months ago, I know I posted it on a VW forum...I just can't remember if it was this one or Vortex...
Anyway, go here:
http://www.volkswagen.de/vwcms_publish/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/de3/unternehmen/konzern/individual/fahrzeugkonzepte/produktmarke_r.html

Skip the intro, click on R36 Preview watch the commercial and then click Sound 1 then 2 then 3.
Sound 1 = Engine Start + Rev in neutral
Sound 2 = Acceleration
Sound 3 = High speed flyby

I love Sound 2 the best, it sounds blown (supercharged) because of the DSG whine and dare I say it sounds like a V8 with the deep burble from the exhaust :)

[Steve]

This is a bit dodgy:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3KWPe0Q_63E

[Wyatt]

Looks like a car thief who forgot to turn his camera phone off! j:

[Steve]

I reckon... too many crotch shots!

[theplanner]

I test drove an demostrator R36 wagon this evening and sum up my experience as follows (it was just a short 15mins drive where max speed reached about 120km/hr):

Ride:
The suspension is firm but in my opinion not to the point of being intrusive. Almost similar to the bimmers 335 as a comparison. The seats are very comfortable and hugs the driver very well in position.

Handling:
Admittedly, I didn't get the opportunity to take it around the corners as quickly as I would like as it was a 4.45pm test drive during peak hour traffic. Although I did give it a little at the back streets. Handles very well from what I can gather. I would dare say comparable to the E46 M3. Feel is good from the steering wheel although not quite as good as the bimmers. And it is quite nimble.

Sound System:
The car I drive had the standard speakers and I thought they were quite good already. Much better than the ones in my Subaru Tribeca.

Engine:
I havent driven the R32 so can make the comparisons but exhaust sounds great although not quite as loud as the R32's. The engine has a sporty rawness to it if you know what I mean. Akin to the upmarket european sports cars. I was expecting it to be more torqey down low but it really must hit about 3k revs onwards before you "feel" the torque. I must say this is not a total fair statement but I was "expecting" a bit more.

You know you are seating in a powerful car as soon as the ignition starts. The soft rumble is quite satisfying, then you hit the accelerator and its bliss.

DSG:
Gear change is smooth didnt really noticed the change at all but even in manual mode it upshifts when redline. This is a little disappointing.

Overall:
I was very impressed with the car, has a bit of sporting rawness to it yet still retains the "luxury" feel. It is more of a gentlemen's sports car than the liberty's. I am definitely taking my order now, just hoping I will beat the LCT increase.

I hope this is informative for you.

[Cro]

Did it run out of puff in the higher revs?

[theplanner]

Did it run out of puff in the higher revs?

Had about 2 goes at reving it to redline and didn't feel it was out of puff....
unfortunately the redlining was only in 1st gear if I had the chance to redline at higher gears might feel it more

[Steve]

Sounds promising :)

Here's another dodgy YouTube video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PERThQoYLAc

[Wyatt]

Here's another review - http://www.channel4.com/4car/rt/volkswagen/passat+estate/23280/2

[vinderliker]

Don't knock Neandertals, they had been around for a lot longer than us Sapiens!:)




Crikey! Ohhhh to have Autobahn's in Adelaide...:(

There will be no small amount of satisfaction from blowing away some neanderthal in a HSV V8 j:

Look at the odo: this guy has 12,000km on the clock already!

deedub

[R36]

Here's another review - http://www.channel4.com/4car/rt/volkswagen/passat+estate/23280/2

And another: http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Volkswagen-Passat-3.6-V6-R36/233342/

[Wyatt]

Not a bad review from the eastern isles (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/9/story.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10517635).

[thomo01]

http://www.topgear.com/drives/E8/A4/roadtests/21/01.html

[R36 Dreamer]

http://www.topgear.com/drives/E8/A4/roadtests/21/01.html

My favourite quote from the above article.

It is a proper sleeper, the R36, the kind of car that will be respected by people who matter and ignored by those who don't -

[Deedub68]

It is a proper sleeper, the R36, the kind of car that will be respected by people who matter and ignored by those who don't -

EXACTLY the result I was looking for when I ordered. For those in the know this car will have respect.

deedub

[Steve]

Fifth Gear have the R36 featured in a shoot out this week, though they don't really talk about it much.

[evorobin]

http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?mnk=410&id=227&description=VW+Passat+R36+v+Audi+A4+3.0TDi+

[DiMmY]

Latest Top Gear Australia magazine has a review of a sedan R36!

Took photos of the article:

Page 1: http://danielgphoto.com/misc/r36-1.jpg

Page 2: http://danielgphoto.com/misc/r36-2.jpg

[R36 Dreamer]

Latest Top Gear Australia magazine has a review of a sedan R36!

Took photos of the article:

Page 1: http://danielgphoto.com/misc/r36-1.jpg

Page 2: http://danielgphoto.com/misc/r36-2.jpg

How can they enjoy a car as they appear to have, and then give it 12/20???

[Steve]

I don't understand that, either...

[Transporter]

How can they enjoy a car as they appear to have, and then give it 12/20???

VW didn't pay them (understand it as VW is not sponsoring that show - somebody else is, so they can't give 20/20 and than test drive sponsor's product and give them less out of 20.) I don't take this reviews very seriously.
I bet anybody that Holden Commodore will get higher score than Passat.

[DiMmY]

The Top Gear mag has a bit of a weird rating system. They can sometimes say they absolutely LOVE the car, and then give it a 14.

All off the FPV vehicles are either 12/13, with the F6 getting 15.

And you'd be right :) Commos range from 11-14. SS got a 14!

The freaking standard Passat gets a higher rating! (TDI got 14) R32 got 15.