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R36 Arrived and Now l Can Sleep!!!!

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  • R36 Arrived and Now l Can Sleep!!!!

    Picked up the car yesterday. Then took it from Melbourne to Geelong and had the new RS4 19" rims and Michelin PS2's by the guys at Bob Jane in Moorabool Street put on. Highly recommend these guys. 'Wil' was sensational in sourcing rims and tyres and couldn't have been more helpful. Then drove around to AM Glass Tinting and had 35% front and 15% rear put on. Set it off brilliantly.

    I actually haven't even had enough time yet to admire it and have a good look but gathering from the looks l was getting on the way home last night it is certainly catching peoples eye.

    With only a couple of hundred kays on the clock yet l can't say l have truelly tested this thing out but from the limited driving all l can say is this thing is awesome. My previous drive was a Liberty GT Spec B Turbo with 6 speed manual and whilst l loved that car (Except for harsh ride) the R36 is by a far a better car in every aspect.

    For starters the seats in this car are brilliant. The amount of shifting and lumbar support adjustments are just amazing and they make you feel like you don't want to get out of the car.

    The DSG gearbox from initial use (This was the thing l was most unsure about as l have always driven manuals) is great. I had been concerned from reading some threads that it has a mind of its own but from initial use l am always finding it is thinking the same as me when l want to change up or down. Will obviously get a better idea though after some real driving down the coast today and tomorrow.

    One good suprise l had was that the car had the new 2009 upgraded stereo. I didn't go sat nav as l couldn't justify the price for the limited use l would need it for and also with the "Google Maps" that l down loaded the other day thanks to 3Putt l am glad now l haven't also. Don't get me wrong if it was standard l would be loving it but with tight budget just couldn't really afford it. However the new upgraded standard unit is great. This guys at Camberwell VW hadn't seen one until my car had arrived and after going over it they said it was a much better system. It comes standard with Ipod input and also has an SD card input slot. I think you get get up to 4GB cards so atleast l will be able to put some music on that although with the Ipod input probably won't need.

    Anyway l am going to drive now. Will be going down to Apollo Bay via Forrest which is my favourite road and will probably head back to Lorne and home inland to Deans Marsh which is another great drive. Absolutely pouring rain at present so will see how good these Michelin PS2's are!!! Hopefully tomorrow the rain will have stopped and l will post some pic's.

    Will keep you posted of my thoughts as l have more time in the car.

  • #2
    You won't even notice the rain mate. Turn the auto wipers on, and put your faith into the AWD & Michelin PS2's and you'll think your cruising in the dry

    Just feather the throttle on corner entry so the power gets transferred to the rear faster once you flatten it at the apex
    i.e. Brake in a straight line, feather throttle whilst turning in, hit apex and full throttle out will result in no understeer and the best way to handle a corner in the R36.

    Takes a bit of getting used if you haven't driven a front wheel drive biased AWD car before.

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    • #3
      Soo Jealous!

      Hi Macka,

      It seems like you are one step ahead of me dude - i stepped out of a Liberty B4 into a 3.2 4Motion a couple of years ago. Seems like you have me covered on both the before and after fronts there. You are probably younger than me too!

      The cars are chalk and cheese, aren't they. German build quality and refinement is hard to beat - although the Japanese are catching up, i'll give them that.

      The surprising thing for me is: how much more car you get for $65K every year. From my 2001 B4 to your SpecB to my 3.2 to your R36. They all about the same price. Each one better than the other - you gotta love that!

      I am a bit of an audiophile, so i am very envious of the your sound system too mate! Is it the 10 speaker dynaudio? How does it compare to the Macintosh in the Suby? The one criticism of my car is that the stereo is a bit weak - the B4's macintosh with that sweet subby reflecting off the rear window was awesome.

      Enjoy the car mate - get away from the keyboard and hit the road!
      RIP! 2007 Passat 3.2 4Motion Black Sedan | 19"s | AVC-9000 | Audi A3 Sportback 2.0TFSIQ

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      • #4
        Hi Cro,

        I have never tried that. Will definitely give the throttle feather a go next time i'm flying solo.

        That's if i can remember how to heal-toe! Never got into that left foot braking - maybe i should!

        How late do you have to feather - on turn in? Is that the earliest you can do it and still be effective? I'm trying to visualize the sequence - brake, blip, blip, feather, turn, apex, hammer, lift (pussy), correct, hammer, exit. Is that it?
        RIP! 2007 Passat 3.2 4Motion Black Sedan | 19"s | AVC-9000 | Audi A3 Sportback 2.0TFSIQ

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        • #5
          Lance, you can omit the lift bit, since you have the haldex upgrade!
          RIP! 2007 Passat 3.2 4Motion Black Sedan | 19"s | AVC-9000 | Audi A3 Sportback 2.0TFSIQ

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          • #6
            hope you scrubbed in those brand new tyres....also make sure your tyre bloke removed the stickers from the new tyres....saw a customer drive off on brand new tyres from bob jane with the stickers still on all four tyres!!!

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            • #7
              Originally posted by 3Putt View Post
              How late do you have to feather - on turn in? Is that the earliest you can do it and still be effective? I'm trying to visualize the sequence - brake, blip, blip, feather, turn, apex, hammer, lift (pussy), correct, hammer, exit. Is that it?
              Essentially I slow down just a touch more than I have to, so I am acelerating throughout the entire corner. Otherwise comming into a tight corner under brakes or with no power results in plough on understeer.

              My sequence is:
              blip blip blip & brake at the same time (in a straight line), feather & turn in at the same time, hit apex & hammer at the same time.

              Pussy lifts transfers the power back to the front, and then to the back again when you hammer trust the AWD system to take you out of the corner.
              It's a fantastic feeling once you get the hang of it, especially in the wet.

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              • #8
                Congrats on the new car! I am really jealous

                Looking forward to the pics. Can you post some pics of the new stereo?
                2008 Jetta 2.0T FSI | Campella White | HP Supreme Tint | AVC9000 | Digital TV Tuner | Parrot 3200LS bluetooth carkit

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                • #9
                  Congrats on the new R36!

                  I am also a Subaru to VW Passat convert. I owned a 3.0lt B spec 6 speed manual wagon and whilst it was a great car, my Passat 3.2lt 4 Motion wagon is *much* better.

                  Happy driving! Look forward to some pics, too, especially of the wheels and tyres.

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                  • #10
                    Pic's of New R36

                    Here are a few pic's l took this morning before heading to the coast for a drive.

                    Well this thing is better than l could have ever imagined. I can't believe how much car this is for the price. The speed and handling is unbelievable and you just don't realise how fast you are going in this thing. As an example l took it through a fast sweeping bend that tightens up towards the end. In the Liberty GT Spec B it was good for about 130 kays h/r on the limit. When l went through it l felt as though it was really pushing it on the edge and initially thought 'gee the Liberty felt better through there'. Then as l was exiting l looked at the speedo and realised l was doing about 170 kays. (Quite back road and there was nobody around).

                    On another section of road from Deans Marsh to Lorne which is a great road l came around a corner and there was a tree across the road. There was only a small opening to go through on the opposite side of the road and l didn't have time to pull up completely. I went hard on the brakes and dropped back a couple of gears on the DSG and the feel of the car was absolutely fantastic. It just goes where you want it too and feels so solid on the road.

                    Whilst l love the stereo there is no better sound than just listening to the car. Especially when you have it in full manual mode and change up through the gears on redline. It makes this wolfing sound (Yes hard to explain) as you change up. Took a friend for a drive this morning and when l did it for the first time he just turned to me and had this big grin on his face and said "How bloody awesome does that sound!!".

                    Everyone l have showed the car to so far just can't believe how great the interior looks and how many features it has. When you are driving along in the towns it catches peoples attention and you can see them looking and wondering what it is.

                    Well l am hooked. Never had a VW before and thought the Liberty GT Spec B was as good of a 'bang for buck' car that you could get (Other than extremely harsh ride) but it just doesn't come close to the R36.

                    Given l put the 19" rims on after only driving from Melbourne to Geelong l really can't compare the ride however it is certainly a great ride. Definitely feels the bumps but you should expect that for a car that is set up like this.

                    As far as fuel economy goes it certainly loves the BP Ultimate when you are having a go. Don't care though because if fuel economy was important l would have bought a Toyota Prius!!!

                    Will post some more stuff as l spend more time behind the wheel.
                    Last edited by Macka; 14-12-2008, 03:02 PM.

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                    • #11
                      thats hottttt

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                      • #12
                        Some More Pic's

                        A few more...

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                        • #13
                          Merry christmas Macka. What a present!

                          Seeings that its black, thought i would mention this - make sure they detailed it right. Check for swirl marks in direct sunlight. You have to move your head around a bit to make sure they are not there. Best you do it now and get them taken out, because believe me, they may not bother you now, but after a year or so of ownership they will drive you nuts.

                          Once again, congratulations on your new toy. I'll see you at the lights in my wife's A3 2.0TFSi that i just had chipped. What a rocket that thing has transformed into!

                          If the old addage - "he who dies with the most toys wins!" - holds true, then you are in the lead at the moment sir!
                          RIP! 2007 Passat 3.2 4Motion Black Sedan | 19"s | AVC-9000 | Audi A3 Sportback 2.0TFSIQ

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                          • #14
                            Cheers 3Putt. I have had a good look and it looks good to my untrained eye. This is my 4th black car in a row and l certainly know how those swirls drive you crazy. I am taking it to a good detailer this week to let him have a good look over it. He talked me out of getting the VW treatment on it and said it was a rip off.

                            Looking forward to meeting at the lights!!!!

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                            • #15
                              Macka,

                              I told you you'd love it!! What a horrendous 1st weekend though. Great way to test the new tyres though! We drove up to Sunbury and back from Richmond in that rain on Sat..miserable..Note: bum warmers work a treat!

                              Love the pics, the RS4 wheels look pretty good..at first i was unsure, but they are growing on me. I'll just have to see them for myself in person sometime. The G.O.R. will have to wait till the new year for me..but i can't wait.

                              Love the pic with the smoke(for want of a better word) out of the tail pipes!!
                              The Fräulein: Black .:R36 Wagon...all boxes ticked!!
                              The German Mistress: 2001 Black B5 A4 1.8T

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