RS6 Article in Drive

[R36 Dreamer]

Was reading the review on the new A6 line up.... the reviewer was driving the RS6

"For my money, I'd rather have a Volkswagen Passat R36: like the RS6 it's a performance sedan, has a paddle-shift gear box, has all-wheel-drive, is blindingly rapid and shares the same electronically limited top speed but leaves another $200,000 behind in the bank balance.

I'd argue that for 80 per cent of the time on 80 per cent of the roads the Passat R36 is 80 per cent of the RS6. That extra 20 per cent comes at a huge cost. And where can you legally exploit its power in this country."

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=61061&vf=12&IsPgd=0

[reverseworm]

that was pretty nice to read actually.

is it just me, or are there too many insipid reviews of the R36? it is as though the reviewers just don't want to like it. comments like 'it lacks sparkle' or 'it is still a passat' or 'the steering lacks the feel of an Audi or BMW' etc etc. I have read similar reviews of the CC as well. I think sometimes reviewers fail to realise that what they are paid to provide commentary on is actually a product that normal people buy to use everyday - and not the latest play thing for auto journalists.

Maybe I am not as well informed as some, but there was nothing wrong with the R36 when I drove it - and importantly for the consumer, at that price point, there is no competition.

Sorry for the rant.

[KWICKS]

What journo in their right mind would pick a 2.8 NA over the V10 RS6. That's like choosing Camilla Parker-Bowles over Diana?

[tryingavw]

What journo in their right mind would pick a 2.8 NA over the V10 RS6. That's like choosing Camilla Parker-Bowles over Diana?

probably someone who is considering driving it to work on a daily basis.

[3Putt]

Hey reversworm,

At least the boys on top gear like VW's and appreciate the huge bang for the buck an R36 represents........













NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[reverseworm]

Funny - I was thinking about Top Gear when I wrote that!

Anyone watch it last night? Have they lost the plot or what? It is less a car show now, and more a lame attempt at comedy.

Real shame that.

[R36 Dreamer]

What journo in their right mind would pick a 2.8 NA over the V10 RS6. That's like choosing Camilla Parker-Bowles over Diana?

I dont get this post???

[gead]

i'm with kwicks on this one....i'm sure i'm going to love my r36, but if i had the coin, the rs6 would win hands down....

let's face it if you apply the 80% use argument, there would be little need for any performance car on a daily basis...

you can barely exploit the r36's power legally, but its nice to have it all the same....just as it would be nice to have a V10

[tryingavw]

Funny - I was thinking about Top Gear when I wrote that!

Anyone watch it last night? Have they lost the plot or what? It is less a car show now, and more a lame attempt at comedy.

Real shame that.

i reckon they can be hilarious. plus the previous weeks "car review" of the fiesta was incredible - especially the beach assualt-wow!

last night did leave me wondering though .....

[reverseworm]

agreed - they can be really funny at times, but at least give me a review on a GT40 or the new Aston Martin and a hot lap with the Stig in there somewhere!

[R36 Dreamer]

i'm with kwicks on this one....i'm sure i'm going to love my r36, but if i had the coin, the rs6 would win hands down....

let's face it if you apply the 80% use argument, there would be little need for any performance car on a daily basis...

you can barely exploit the r36's power legally, but its nice to have it all the same....just as it would be nice to have a V10

Agree completely. Though for the money it would be hard to not go for the E63 or M5 Wagon TBH -

Hope this doesn't start a whole different discussion (secretly I do though).

After seeing the two on Top Gear last year, my mate and I ended up agreeing to disagree. I liked the Benz for its features and he loved the BM.... each to their own.

I only posted the article as I thought it would be of interest to R36 owners, bragging rights down at the local!

[3Putt]

I'll have the RS6 thanks.

Family wagon with a torquier Lambo Gallardo engine in it!

Gotta love that!

BTW, I secretly wish EVERY thread turned into a "which supercar would you have" debate!

[bennobee]

I must say after tooling around with an RS6 for the last few years thanks tot he family its a nice car to drive a bit heavy though (but damn when you put your footdown it sounds mean and throws you back in the seats). The family is upgrading to the C63 AMG Wagon in amonther month and by by RS6 so will be intresting to see how it compares.

Compared to the R36 I must say the feel of the car and look of it is very similar to the RS6 and just as nice to drive. The R36 doesnt have the power of the Audi but its also a smaller car(feels a lot smaller) and I still think one of the best bang for your buck wagons going.

[RhysQ]

Anyone watch it last night? Have they lost the plot or what? It is less a car show now, and more a lame attempt at comedy.

Real shame that.

You do realise that was the Finale and was never meant to be an episode of car reviews. It was called the 'Vietnam Special' for a reason. Notice how there was no studio time and it went for 75mins. It was a one-off.

As for the R36 though, i know what people are talking about. The boys at Top Gear referred to it (if my memory serves me correctly) as a 'family sedan on steroids, but at the end of the day, it's still a Passat'. I think that is a little unfair really. You don't say that at the end of the day the EVO X is just a lancer, it's a completely different car.

HOWEVER, Top Gear did a full 180 and posted a review last year that reads this:

Take this Passat R36 as a prime example. It's a terrific car. We took it on our cross-France Rolls-Royce and Aston jaunt as support car, and we ended up liking it even more than the two V12 monsters it was shadowing. Well, 'even more' is not quite accurate, but 'liked just as much because it fulfils its intended brief so brilliantly' is a less snappy but spot-on comment. It's surprising.

Fast, too, the big 299bhp, 3.6-litre V6 revving cleanly and quickly and bestowing this big estate with a 5.8-second 0-62mph time. Sounds throaty, and it works well with the standard DSG gearbox and four-wheel-drive system. The chassis is excellent, blending a firm but never- crashy ride with precise handling and steering. You can fling it, and it sticks.

Just remember, they bagged it before they drove it. But after they did, look what they said. They should have done a feature on Top Gear with it (or did they).

[R36 Dreamer]

I must say after tooling around with an RS6 for the last few years thanks tot he family its a nice car to drive a bit heavy though (but damn when you put your footdown it sounds mean and throws you back in the seats). The family is upgrading to the C63 AMG Wagon in amonther month and by by RS6 so will be intresting to see how it compares.

Compared to the R36 I must say the feel of the car and look of it is very similar to the RS6 and just as nice to drive. The R36 doesnt have the power of the Audi but its also a smaller car(feels a lot smaller) and I still think one of the best bang for your buck wagons going.

No offence intended, as the previous itteration of the RS6 was great, but chalk and cheese compared to the new one.

The C63 would be great, though a bit smalll - any reason why the oldies bought the C instead of the E63?