HELP? R36 vs 125Tdi Wagon

[RSwag]

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.

Skoda have the Superb V6 3.6 4 motion, the same enigne as the R36 just 191kw 0-100 6.5sec but under corporate it would be under $60k. Bigger car than the 125kw Tdi and better finished.

Maybe the best of both worlds for you??

Just ordered an RS wagon after 4 months of stuffing about, i had my heart set on a Passat Wagon 125kw but could only afford a Jetta really. The RS was a perfect alternative, same price as the Jetta but carrying capacity of the Passat. It was enough to win me over but everyone is different

[apom]

My mate has suggested that buying the TDI instead of the V6 is something akin to marrying a woman because she is a good cook.

Are you suggesting Highlander that being in your 60's thats all one should worry about!!

[nting]

Hi MikeeR, firstly I feel exactly like you did. I bought a 125TDi wagon last year, before I knew much about the R36. I discounted the R36 when I first read about it because I knew it was the type of luxury that I was not looking for. That's not to say it's not a beautiful car. I highly recommend it to anyone considering a similar type vehicle (that or the CC).

But for me, my main concerns were saftey, space, decent performance and fuel consumption. It was a family car first and foremost. Also the dollars just plain ruled the R36 out for me. We had already stretched the budget up from a Jetta/Octavia and so the R36 was a bridge too far.

But after 7500 kms (picked it up around 7 months ago), I can say that I really love this car. The more I drive it, the more it becomes part of our family and feels so dependable. Pushed it up through some hilly, windy roads recently and it just brought a smile to my face. Responsive and sure. And yes, we love the fuel economy. Will you feel excited and happy when you look at the fuel consumption meter everyday? Absolutely. My wife and I kept grinning every drive. Then when you need to go to the petrol station you look at the trip meter and you end up saying, "That's just amazing, I love this car". So MikeeR, relax and enjoy. Love the car for what she is. A good, safe dependable and economical family car. And a good cook.

[tryingavw]

But for me, my main concerns were saftey, space, decent performance and fuel consumption. It was a family car first and foremost.

Then when you need to go to the petrol station you look at the trip meter and you end up saying, "That's just amazing, I love this car". So MikeeR, relax and enjoy. Love the car for what she is. A good, safe dependable and economical family car. And a good cook.

agree 100%. i look forward to borrowing this car from the wife and even though not as sporty and quick as the merc it is just a joy.

stress free cool driving all the way. dont know but suspect the r36 is way more hard edge stuff.

you will not regret the decision nor the savings!

[Rthirsty6]

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.

Keep in mind that the V6 Highline will likely depreciate a lot more than the R36....IMHO

[MikeeR]

Hi MikeeR, firstly I feel exactly like you did. I bought a 125TDi wagon last year, before I knew much about the R36. I discounted the R36 when I first read about it because I knew it was the type of luxury that I was not looking for. That's not to say it's not a beautiful car. I highly recommend it to anyone considering a similar type vehicle (that or the CC).

But for me, my main concerns were saftey, space, decent performance and fuel consumption. It was a family car first and foremost. Also the dollars just plain ruled the R36 out for me. We had already stretched the budget up from a Jetta/Octavia and so the R36 was a bridge too far.

But after 7500 kms (picked it up around 7 months ago), I can say that I really love this car. The more I drive it, the more it becomes part of our family and feels so dependable. Pushed it up through some hilly, windy roads recently and it just brought a smile to my face. Responsive and sure. And yes, we love the fuel economy. Will you feel excited and happy when you look at the fuel consumption meter everyday? Absolutely. My wife and I kept grinning every drive. Then when you need to go to the petrol station you look at the trip meter and you end up saying, "That's just amazing, I love this car". So MikeeR, relax and enjoy. Love the car for what she is. A good, safe dependable and economical family car. And a good cook.

agree 100%. i look forward to borrowing this car from the wife and even though not as sporty and quick as the merc it is just a joy.

stress free cool driving all the way. dont know but suspect the r36 is way more hard edge stuff.

you will not regret the decision nor the savings!

Thanks to all for your inputs, all taken note of.

Yes, I already know of that smile a diesel can put on your face, owning a Golf GTD. The in-gear acceleration can be very punchy. The other thing in favour of the 125Tdi over the R36 is the diesel actually has more torque - if you measure it on a nm per kg (torque per weight) basis. The R36 is quite a lot heavier - 160 kg's off the top of my head - than the 2.0 litre diesel, and they both put out 350nm, and even though this might not show up in 0-100 times, in real world driving situations that extra torque is nice to have.

But I should point out, in defence of the R36, and before I get jumped on, the R36 offers a whole lot more than just that effortlessly powerfull V6. There's the 4motion AWD - I'll miss that in the snow - the suspension, which didn't feel too harsh to me, and, of course those seats - I reckon I'd pay the extra for those seats alone...almost, they're very nice.

Looking forward to the Tdi.

Just have to work out which colour now. Was going white but just heard from the dealer there's a 2 month delay - and I'm using a hire car - or go for Icelandic Grey in 2 weeks but with a $1000 up-charge. Not that impressed.

[Highlander]

Good Cooks

Are you suggesting Highlander that being in your 60's thats all one should worry about!!

I didn't say I agreed with him but I can appreciate the analogy. I think his comment has something to do with choosing utility over performance.

[apom]

Thanks to all for your inputs, all taken note of.

..There's the 4motion AWD - I'll miss that in the snow - .

Subaru must be laughing about this point, you can get Passat diesels with 4motion in Europe but they just don't bring them out here. And for those that don't want or cant stretch to the V6 Highline or R36 but want all wheel traction there's still very little choice unless you go to an SUV.

[Lance B]

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.

I was in the same dilimma as you a few years back. I had 4 Outbacks/Libertys in a row and drove my father's Golf with DSG and was sold on the DSG and diesel. Trialled the Passat Diesel and loved the torque, but I couldn't get over driving a front wheel drive and so opted for the 32.lt V6 Passat 4 Motion. Loved it! I then upgraded to the R36 last year and love it even more, if that's possible.

Like you, I really like the AWD aspect and so jumping from the Liberty 3,0lt B Spec Wagon to the Passat 32.lt V6 4 Motion Wagon was the logical progression.

I am sure you will not regret moving to the R36 rather than the Diesel.

[Lance B]

Subaru must be laughing about this point, you can get Passat diesels with 4motion in Europe but they just don't bring them out here. And for those that don't want or cant stretch to the V6 Highline or R36 but want all wheel traction there's still very little choice unless you go to an SUV.

Yes, I pointed this out to the VW salesman. I really do not understand their reasoning with regards to not bringing out the Diesel 4 Motion wagon. I even think that Skoda had the AWD Diesel available at one stage!!, but I don't know if they still bring it out here.