HELP? R36 vs 125Tdi Wagon

[MikeeR]

Well after 16 years of being a loyal and dedicated Subaru owner - 4 Liberty's and a WRX - the time has come to move on. Sold my MY07 GT Liberty wagon in preparation to buy a new Outback diesel. I know, a very different type of vehicle, but we also own a Golf GT Diesel which has been very good - economical but still enjoyable to drive - and I thought a grunty diesel in the practical Outback form would be a good all round family vehicle. Well it may be, but without boring you with all the details and reasons, after many, many test drives in the new Outback and Liberty, my wife and I realise it's time to move on. The looks alone we could not warm to, no matter how hard we tried.

So to Passats. Very much like the 125Tdi wagon, drives well, comfortable, very nice inside compared to Subarus, economical on fuel, practical family transport. Have been offered a very good deal from my dealer (who we previously bought our Golf from). But its not AWD and we do try to get to the snow each year, it helps to have four wheels driven but even then there are times snowchains need to be fitted.

Unfortunately, I asked, just out of interest, for a quote on a R36 wagon with the few options I wanted, and dammit, the price quoted is low, very low, compared to what I've seen on both this forum and on Carsales.com. What a dilemma. This is 20k more than what I was originally planning to spend.

So I'm frantically doing my budget, comparing costs of finance, on roads, fuel, and the big one, depreciation. Obviously, at 20k kms a year, the R36 is a more expensive prospect all round, but depreciation is hard to work out a year or three down the track. I'm guessing 5k/yr but 6k might be more realistic. What do you reckon? I won't be tax deducting any of this.

Apologies for this post. I guess I'm trying to justify the extra expense of the R36 over the 125Tdi, something that really only myself and my wife are qualified to make a decision on. I'm finding the temptation very hard to resist.

[Caddyman]

If you are wanting all wheel drive then is the V6 Highline wagon an option?? It has the same seats as the Passat CC now and is nicer inside than the 125TDI's (Seats, aluminium trim etc) base price is about $10k lower than the R36.

just a thought.

Regards

Matthew

[Dr Block]

Well after 16 years of being a loyal and dedicated Subaru owner - 4 Liberty's and a WRX - the time has come to move on. Sold my MY07 GT Liberty wagon in preparation to buy a new Outback diesel. I know, a very different type of vehicle, but we also own a Golf GT Diesel which has been very good - economical but still enjoyable to drive - and I thought a grunty diesel in the practical Outback form would be a good all round family vehicle. Well it may be, but without boring you with all the details and reasons, after many, many test drives in the new Outback and Liberty, my wife and I realise it's time to move on. The looks alone we could not warm to, no matter how hard we tried.

So to Passats. Very much like the 125Tdi wagon, drives well, comfortable, very nice inside compared to Subarus, economical on fuel, practical family transport. Have been offered a very good deal from my dealer (who we previously bought our Golf from). But its not AWD and we do try to get to the snow each year, it helps to have four wheels driven but even then there are times snowchains need to be fitted.

Unfortunately, I asked, just out of interest, for a quote on a R36 wagon with the few options I wanted, and dammit, the price quoted is low, very low, compared to what I've seen on both this forum and on Carsales.com. What a dilemma. This is 20k more than what I was originally planning to spend.

So I'm frantically doing my budget, comparing costs of finance, on roads, fuel, and the big one, depreciation. Obviously, at 20k kms a year, the R36 is a more expensive prospect all round, but depreciation is hard to work out a year or three down the track. I'm guessing 5k/yr but 6k might be more realistic. What do you reckon? I won't be tax deducting any of this.

Apologies for this post. I guess I'm trying to justify the extra expense of the R36 over the 125Tdi, something that really only myself and my wife are qualified to make a decision on. I'm finding the temptation very hard to resist.

If you have had a test drive of the R36 Wagon...then the decision will be very easy!

[MikeeR]

Yes the 3.2V6 Highline is an option. I've driven two used ones and they go very well. Strangely enough I haven't driven the R36 but I'm assuming it would only be better again. Problem is there are no Highlines even close to being in the country, at least that I know of, and the deal on the R36 is good enough to reduce the difference. I also reckon the R36 might stand the test of time a little better from a resale point of view.

[Rocket36]

If you have had a test drive of the R36 Wagon...then the decision will be very easy!

Hahahaha... As I read the OP I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing. If you had've driven the R36 it would be a no brainer.

[Dr Block]

Yes the 3.2V6 Highline is an option. I've driven two used ones and they go very well. Strangely enough I haven't driven the R36 but I'm assuming it would only be better again. Problem is there are no Highlines even close to being in the country, at least that I know of, and the deal on the R36 is good enough to reduce the difference. I also reckon the R36 might stand the test of time a little better from a resale point of view.

Hi MikeeR,

I'm stepping out of a Lexus IS250 Sport Luxury and moving across to an R36 Wagon, which arrives late March.

I had one test drive of an R36 Wagon @ Denlo Parramatta and I was sold. If you can secure a good deal on the R36 I'd grab it with both hands!

[Steve]

When I first looked at Passats back in late 2007, the diesels were disregarded because of the horrible seats and the lack of all wheel drive. The V6 Highline didn't exist, but the V6 model had all wheel drive and the same rubbish seats as the diesel. Big problem! Nothing in the Subaru range was inspiring, and apart from apart from a few Volvo's (small or expensive) or Audi's (expensive and small) there wasn't anything else on the market to consider.

I'd heard about the R36 and asked the dealer about it, she showed me an email that had arrived that day with some information about it... and two weeks later, after Christmas and New Year and some thought, I placed an order for an R36 without any having been delivered anywhere in the world, without having seen a photo of the production version, and with very little knowledge of it floating around the Internet.

I've absolutely no regrets. Awesome car.

[marckhor]

MikeeR, I had a Subaru Liberty GT 04 Premium and a 07 Passat V6 wagon. We had to trade in the Subby mid last year for a Volvo XC90 7 seater due to the growing family. My wife still misses it today.

Although I have not driven the R36, I can imagine that it can only be better than the v6. I would have bought the R36 but it was not available back then. Though not as agile as the Liberty, the V6 engine and the DSG provide you with the torque at the low end.

With any new car, your first acceleration will blow some money off the tailpipe. I estimate $10k for my VW Passat hence may be the same as the R36. I noticed a few 09 demos out for sale with very minimal milage on in Carsales.com. You might be able to score a deal if you do not mind that (I wouldn't for the $10k off the pipe).

BTW, I did blow the $10k off the tailpipe for my Passat as there were no demos around then. I knew the VW principal dealer then and got a pretty good price.

Good luck!

[MikeeR]

Yep actually drove one this afternoon. Very nice, as expected. Particularly liked the weighting of the suspension, I didn't think it was too harsh, more taught and controlled. Had my wife and daughter with me, they had no complaints. Loved the low down, responsive nature of the 3.6, effortless acceleration - something I didn't feel with my Liberty GT, it was quick but I always felt you had to push it to get it to go.

Being used to watching fuel consumption figures on the MFD in my Golf GTD, saw some pretty horrendous numbers come up on the R36 today.

[Dr Block]

Yep actually drove one this afternoon. Very nice, as expected. Particularly liked the weighting of the suspension, I didn't think it was too harsh, more taught and controlled. Had my wife and daughter with me, they had no complaints. Loved the low down, responsive nature of the 3.6, effortless acceleration - something I didn't feel with my Liberty GT, it was quick but I always felt you had to push it to get it to go.

Being used to watching fuel consumption figures on the MFD in my Golf GTD, saw some pretty horrendous numbers come up on the R36 today.

It would certainly depend on your driving style as to what sort of consumption you'd get on a daily basis. It sounds like you were like me on my test drive and gave the car a bit of stick. I'm assuming that wouldn't be your normal driving style. Some of the threads on here have dealt with fuel consumption figures for the R36 and they're not unreasonable.

[MikeeR]

It would certainly depend on your driving style as to what sort of consumption you'd get on a daily basis. It sounds like you were like me on my test drive and gave the car a bit of stick. I'm assuming that wouldn't be your normal driving style. Some of the threads on here have dealt with fuel consumption figures for the R36 and they're not unreasonable.

That's very true. With family along, certainly tried not to be irresponsible, but yes, lots of short hard bursts, running in S mode or manual for much of the time. I'm usually quite conservative and try to drive as smoothly as I can.

Decision time today.

[apom]

11.5 on average all city driving, about 550km out of a tank.

A brilliant all round car, you wont regret it.

[tryingavw]

T

Decision time today.

keep us posted!

[MikeeR]

You guys are not going to like this.....but I've gone for the 125Tdi over the R36. I almost hate to admit it. The more I think about it the more regretful I feel. Damn it all, you're supposed to feel good after ordering a new car, it's one of life's good times....whatever. I like diesels, I liked the demo drive I had in one and for us it's a more practical option. So be it.

Thanks for your advice.

[apom]

You guys are not going to like this.....but I've gone for the 125Tdi over the R36. I almost hate to admit it. The more I think about it the more regretful I feel. Damn it all, you're supposed to feel good after ordering a new car, it's one of life's good times....whatever. I like diesels, I liked the demo drive I had in one and for us it's a more practical option. So be it.

Thanks for your advice.

MikeeR, dont feel bad about your decision, life is too short! Enjoy your new car and after all its only a car :O. We each make the best decision we can at the time and go from there!