R36 wagon or new V6 Highline - Which and why?

[DJC]

Hi,

Currently in the market for a performance wagon and like the size of the Passat wagons.

Just wondering what the benefit is for going for an older R36 over the new Passat V6 Highline as performance wise the are pretty much the same and the V6 Highline is only a bit dearer and I get a brand new car!!

Interested to find the benefits of going for the older R36 these days with the release of the new Passat.

Alternatively a Subaru Liberty GT Tuned by STI in a manual is another option.

Thoughts???

[Nath]

the difference is more on the looks of the R36 over that of the new passat from the outside of course, for me the new passat looks too much like the golf from the front with the generic grill and the R36 has heaps more character. As for other differences it would be std equipment, the R36 in the older models didnt come std with the mdi this was a model 10.5 inclusion from memory as was the std parking sensors (someone will correct me here if needed), I'm not sure on the std equipment though for the highline.

Then there are the seats and general interior differences, the wheel in the new passat is a bit more intuitive to use, but if you started with the older wheel tbh you wouldn't know the difference. The seats in the R36 are fantastic as standard with all the gadgets and are sooo comfortable, just watch out for the side bolster sag problem.

For me the R36 is a much better purchase if you can get a good price on a nice example, I love mine, but its a sedan.

[DJC]

Yes the R36 has taken a big hit because VW in their wisdom(NOT) have made the new V6 Highline quicker than the flagship R36, this is not good! But I suppose they are in the business of selling cars not ensuring resale!

[AP]

I would buy the new Highline V6, It's the same engine and is more refined. I drove one at barloworld and was really impressed with the way it drove!

[DJC]

Hmm, thinking the same. VW really have done a number on the R36 and its owners!

[AP]

Hmm, thinking the same. VW really have done a number on the R36 and its owners!

Not really! The R36 was launched many years ago before we received it here in Australia.. It's like the MKV R32 started as early as Jan 05 yet we didn't see cars in Australia until mid to late 06! Look at Holden, they bring out a new model and within six months the have out series two!
I think volkswagen and Audi are good at holding there models!
The R36 is a completely different car to the new highline V6, Might have the same engine, But the car is very different.

[DJC]

I was set on a S/H R36 but also I cant seem to go past a 2007/08 Liberty GT STI manual for bang for buck, features and PRICE.

Must say I have always liked R36 package.

[wandersen]

The R36 has standard Xenons (option on the highline) and rear seat warmers (not even available on the highline). The Highline has leather all over and is now available with the sports pack which includes similar seats to the R36. The highline does not have paddle shifts (is this part of the new sports pack ?)

[johnw]

Interested to find the benefits of going for the older R36 these days with the release of the new Passat.
Thoughts???

The look and that BADGE!

Not sure if the R36 had ACC or just sport suspension, but I've heard that the R36 ride is for handling not comfort (ie hard).

Personally I'd prefer the R36 (if I could afford it)

[XXX-1.8T]

Is the V6 highline faster than the R36?

i thought they were the same?

I prefer the R36 as from a styling perspective v new shape passat.

[DJC]

Is the V6 highline faster than the R36?

i thought they were the same?

I prefer the R36 as from a styling perspective v new shape passat.

The brochure shows the V6 as a 0=100 as 5.7 as opposed to 5.8. Not a great deal how ever some improvement somewhere

[Nath]

I think the new passat is a little lighter than the old one.

[FSI 220]

The highline does not have paddle shifts (is this part of the new sports pack ?)

Yup, the sports pack has paddle shifts...

I have ordered a Highline and like it (obviously), I refuse to pay an LCT penny to the government, and I feel this is the maximum performance per station wagon per dollar, for me... the highline sports pack was up against an SSV Redline Sportswagon and i ended up going for the teutonic simplicity of the design (out and in) whilst driving an absolute wolf in (elegant) sheeps clothing... my wife is thinking I have mellowed !

Whilst signing the contract, I was staring at the wheel and seats of a CC parked next to the desk... thinking, If they had half a brain they would put the seats and paddles out of the CC ... then the sports pack comes along... baddabing!

I could not afford/get a new R36 under the LCT, so the model change over was perfect timing for me, I also like being in the current body shape for the majority of a four year lease.

I hope I am not the end of this thread (just noticed that I seem to kill threads)

John

[kleung]

the R36 in the older models didnt come std with the mdi this was a model 10.5 inclusion from memory as was the std parking sensors (someone will correct me here if needed), I'm not sure on the std equipment though for the highline.

Front and rear parking sensors were standard across the entire Passat range from at least 2009 onwards, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the B6 Passat has had front and rear sensors standard since its introduction in 2006. MDI was optional across the range in 2009, and standard on V6HL and R36 for 2010 (according to the Feb 2010 Passat brochure).

The R36 also got the "VW sound package", which was a 10-speaker, 8 channel sound system with a 250w digital amp, vs an 8-speaker, 8ch with unknown power in the rest of the Passat range. This is distinct from the 600W Dynaudio package that was optional across the board.

Not sure if the R36 had ACC or just sport suspension, but I've heard that the R36 ride is for handling not comfort (ie hard).

R36 didn't get ACC, but the B6 V6 3.2 Highline did. In the 2010 models, the R36 sat 25mm lower than the 4 cylinder models, and the V6 sat 15mm lower (again, according to the brochures).

I hope I am not the end of this thread (just noticed that I seem to kill threads)

Sorry, that's my job.