R36 or CC

[Gipper]

Having had the CC for about 2 weeks now and driven to Coffs and back (1500kms all up), and visited my brother who just got an R36 sedan in January, the CC has a slicker interior/exterior with more comfort features (and the comfort setting on the suspension is really nice for long drives), aswell as the useful options of Park Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control - both of which I used pretty extensively. The front seats are more comfortable (according to my brother) in the CC because its all leather. Wife likes it more too. But my brother likes the harder suspension and definitely needs the 5 seats. Neither of us have really driven the cars hard during the run in period (mentioned in the manual) at 1500kms. They're the same engine so I don't expect huge differences.

However I have had a large (hopefully teething problem) in my CC - it leaks! During the heavy rain in Coffs, water pooled beneath the carpet in the drivers footwell area. Now its currently in the shop getting dried and the leak source identified. I hope this is not a bad omen - but for others buying this car, I would look out for this fault specifically as it may be an across the model problem (or not).

I wouldnt expect huge differences bewteen the cars as they are essentially exactly the same car anyway except for the shape of the panels and the handling setup. I went for the R36 as I prefer a sportier drive and prefer the grippier seats in the R36 , but I think the CC looks fantastic!

[R34]

Yeah the CC looks fantastic ...but I don't know why but I wasn't blown away by it.
Prefer my cars more stifly suspended and the missus complained of car sickness in the CC (comfort setting)
In the brochure the cream interior looked fantastic but the cream portion of the dash already had grubby finger marks on it that wouldn't come off.
It looked cheap but the black could look much better.

Must own up to the fact that I hate leather seats and although they look good and smell great they are just a plain dumb idea for our climate.
After the test ride my shirt was damp yet it wasn't that hot.
I did test the heated seats on the Missus(without her knowing) and it took her 30 secs to start complaining

Anyway I can't define why I didn't fall for the CC.
Looking at it I couldn't help thinking early '90's Mazda 929 or Ford Taurus rather than Mercedes. Don't mean to offend with that comment it's just we all like different things.
I thought the R36 looked dated but now tending to think it's more classic and may date better than the CC.
But then show me a R version of the CC and I could change my mind (or a Gold Coast bodykit)

[Markybhoy]

However I have had a large (hopefully teething problem) in my CC - it leaks! During the heavy rain in Coffs, water pooled beneath the carpet in the drivers footwell area.

That sort of thing has been known to happen to cars in the past. I suppose the most famous one being the classic mini. I hope it's not a design error/issue but if it is, it won't take long for it to be noticed in the wet winter of Europe.

I'm pretty sure they drive test cars through all sorts of wet conditions these days to stop that kind of thing happening. It's probably just a missing/loose plug or something! If anyone else has this problem, let us all know!

[phaeton]

Decisions decisions

For rarity/wolf in sheeps clothing factor R36 sedan, for being unique CC, for all round ability R36 wagon.

Having said all that I'd choose the CC

[R34]

I keep looking at pics on the internet of the CC and think WOW!
Yet the example I saw left me cold.
Maybe I need to see one in a different colour with black interior

[Psyk]

First time poster here

I'm in the same situation deciding on whether I go the Passat CC with the V6 3.6 FSI or an R36.

On paper the specs are the same, but can anyone who has spent time in either be able to comment around things like handling, suspension? Any details around quarter mile times between both?

I'm really leaning on the CC but I've always liked the R36...

[Rocket36]

R36 easily beats the CC when it comes to handling and braking... If the R36 suspension was available on the CC, I would have more seriously considered the CC although the rear head room is pathetic in the CC.

I originally went into my dealer to look at, and test drive the CC. Then after driving the R36, the choice was EASY! R36 all the way. Only thing I wish I could get on the R36 that you can on the CC is adaptive Cruise Control. Seats are also WAY better in the R36.

[Psyk]

R36 easily beats the CC when it comes to handling and braking... If the R36 suspension was available on the CC, I would have more seriously considered the CC although the rear head room is pathetic in the CC.

I originally went into my dealer to look at, and test drive the CC. Then after driving the R36, the choice was EASY! R36 all the way. Only thing I wish I could get on the R36 that you can on the CC is adaptive Cruise Control. Seats are also WAY better in the R36.

Thanks Rocket.

The weight of the CC (according to the spec sheet) is 1,656kg and the R36 sedan as 1,681kg. Not much in it really..

The brakes on the V6 FSI CC are supposed to the same ones on the R36 as well.

The specs seem to show how close they are in terms of performance (having the same engine, same brakes, and almost identical weight). The only other thing is the adjustable suspension on the CC and whether the 'Sport' mode is effectivley equivalent to the R36's suspension in regards to stiffness etc.

The seats on the R36 are def awesome. But I do like the other features of the CC such as the adaptive park and adaptive cruise.

Would be nice to know someone that might have the tech-specs of both these cars as the current crop of dealers (the ones i've been to anyway) wouldn't normally know this stuff...

[Rocket36]

No the suspension settings on the CC are all softer than the R36 and the ride hieght is higher too.

Another think I don't like about the CC is the lack of full frame doors.

[roh]

Im in my mid 30s and currently driving a siginficantly modified wrx.

I took the cc for a good test drive today, for around 1hr. The wife intially complained of the headroom, and was not sure of the shape. After the hour, and driving it herself, she loved it.

I couldnt tell any difference between the comfort or sports settings. They both felt comfortable. Price was also difficult to negotiate compared to an R36. The acceleration I found was under-whelming, but looking at the speedo, the thing moves. The wife said it felt very fast. Maybe b/c the wrx is much stiffer, much noisier, and has a big wallop of power hitting a 4000rpm, the cc felt slow ??? Linear power delivery can be deceptive (maybe boring also).

I like the look of the cc. Im not after a hard ride anymore either. I have a feeling that it would out accelerate the wrx to 100km/hr b/c of no turbo lag. I see no point in doing high rpm clutch dumps to overcome the lag. I was blown away on how fast this DSG thing works. With a front lip, and rear spoiler, I think the cc would look very shmick. I was qouted approx $5800 for the body kit, painted and fitted.

The dealer had no idea really about the lane-assist option, which I learnt today is not currently available.

Over-all I liked the car, and will be negotiating to buy one.

[Autopia]

Good luck with your negotiation roh and welcome to the forum.

[Rocket36]

Welcome roh!

Did you check out the launch control? Show me another car for the price that can do what the DSG can... It truely is an amazing drivetrain! I LOVE it around town. Give it a bit of a squirt of the mark with a V8 Commodore or Falcon. They pull up at the next set of lights waiting to blow you away, you take of with launch control, leaving them in your dust! It's AWESOME!!!

[roh]

Welcome roh!

Did you check out the launch control? Show me another car for the price that can do what the DSG can... It truely is an amazing drivetrain! I LOVE it around town. Give it a bit of a squirt of the mark with a V8 Commodore or Falcon. They pull up at the next set of lights waiting to blow you away, you take of with launch control, leaving them in your dust! It's AWESOME!!!

thanks for the welcomes. Hope to be on here more often now. What a releif, no more rexnet

I thought I had done a fair bit of reading on the cc before I went for the test drive. I wish I had found this forum beforehand.
Until this thread I had no idea it had launch control So unfortunately I have not experienced it.

Does the r36 front lift a bit with hard acceleration ? This was noticable on the cc.

[Swallowtail]

Does the r36 front lift a bit with hard acceleration ? This was noticable on the cc.

LOL, it would be noticeable on anything wouldn't it after a modded stiff-sprung WRX? I can't tell you though cos I haven't got mine yet.

Welcome...

[roh]

LOL, it would be noticeable on anything wouldn't it after a modded stiff-sprung WRX? I can't tell you though cos I haven't got mine yet.

Welcome...

yeh I guess. The rex goes like a skinned cat. No refinment whatsoever.