R36 Driving Impressions

[Ewok]

It doesn't change as soon as it hits, it changes a few hundred RPM in to the red. Stops muppets from blowing up their engines...!

Ahh OK. That's not so bad. Thanks.

[Cro]

[IMG]
What happended here Cro?

Looks like the 4Motion lost its traction

Nice pics!

I went off road, mud + snow + road tyres don't mix

You mentioned track. Do you have any lap times?

Unofficial ones only as it was just a speed off the street untimed event.
I went more so to learn about the cars abilities, and learn how to drive a performance car again.
Having said that, it beat my old XR6 Turbo's time by 2 seconds

[Cro]

I’ve now got a touch over 6000kms after another overnight drive, this time up to North East NSW.
The route on the first day took me up Putty Road, through Singleton over to Dungog, Stroud, via The Buckets Way, Thunderbolts Way, Gloucestor, Walcha via Oxley Hwy, Wauchope, Kempsey, Bellingen and my overnight accommodation in Dorrigo via Waterfall Way. The next day I went up to Grafton via Tyringham and down to Dorrigo via Ulong then back down The Waterfall way, south on Macksville Road and Pacific Hwy to Port Macquarie. I was meant to go home at this point, but I couldn’t resist a 1.5 hour detour up and down the Oxley Hwy again. Once back on the Pacific Hwy the only fun I had on the looong boring drive home was through the Old Pacific Hwy Buladelah bypass.

I have to say that I’ve never had this much fun ever, Putty road was a good warm up for what would be some of the best cornering roads I’ve ever been on. The only downfall was that some of the roads (till Walcha) seemed to have been sealed over 10 years ago and every pothole since was just a patch job. This made the ride a bit rough, and every un-patched pothole I hit caused a very loud bang type noise from the suspension. No doubt the sound of it hitting the bump stops. I’m amazed at how composed and strong the car is on these sorts of roads. A good way to gauge how good your wheel balance is to keep an eye on your passenger seat vibrating on smooth hwy roads(with no passenger in it). When I picked up the car it was vibrating all over the place, and once I got the Michelin PS2’s + a Balance it didn’t vibrate anymore. After hitting at least 50 potholes, and running 150kms on dirt/gravel roads it still doesn’t vibrate. This is one solid car, wheels and all

The Buckets Way and Thunderbolts Way is a great cornering road, with a lot of 55km/h+ corners and long open straights towards Walcha. It would be a great road if it was re-sealed. Oxley Hwy down to Port Macquarie has to be my favourite road I’ve ever been on, so much so I did it 3 times in two days!! It is a perfectly sealed road, with very few imperfections and two marked lanes all the way down. I didn’t measure how long the twisty part was, but there was a 45km twisty sign, followed by a 20km twisty sign half way down. This road has never ending low speed corners, 45 45 45 45 45 55 55 35 35 35 25 35 25 45 45 55 it just keeps going on and on and on. Hands down the most fun you can have with your pants down The Waterfall way to Dorrigo is just the same, just not as long.
The road from Dorrigo to Grafton via Tyringham is a bit bumpier and is only 1.5 lanes with no centre line but isn’t littered with patch jobs. This road provides from memory 75km of very tight and twisty corners mostly consisting of 25, 35, 45, 55 corners. The road back down to Dorrigo via Ulong is great for the first 50kms, very similar to the previous road but becomes a dirt road for 25kms. It is very unfortunate as it would be probably the best road ever if it was sealed. The same can be said for the road from Bellingen to Macsville, 50% sealed 50% gravel..Such a shame.

I’ve noticed that this car prefers going uphill, it is just so much easier to throw it into a corner with confidence when most of the weight is shifted to the rear. It means that you have to take it just that tiny bit easier going downhill than you would when going uphill, very similar to most other cars out there.

The other thing, in this sort of country it is very rare to find 98 RON fuel.. I have filled up with 5 tanks of 95 RON fuel now, and have not noticed any different noises or noticeable (seat of pants) power loss. So don’t freak out if you can’t find any 98 RON fuel.

Anyway, I don’t have as many pics as last time but here they are.
Near Dungog

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03265.JPG.img?action=page

At Stroud

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03266.JPG.img?action=page

Near Gloucestor on The Buckets Way

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03272.JPG.img?action=page

Heaven (Oxley Hwy)

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03275.JPG.img?action=page

Didn’t these use to mean Unlimited a few decades ago? Lots of them around here

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03279.JPG.img?action=page

Macksville

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03289.JPG.img?action=page

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03290.JPG.img?action=page

Bit too close for comfort

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/DSC03292.JPG.img?action=page

All the others are here:

http://doncro.dyndns.org/pics/events/roadtrips/NorthEast%20NSW%20Getaway%20-%20July%2008/

[Lance B]

Thanks for another great write up.

[Macka]

Cro, Thanks for the great overview. I have just ordered a wagon in black. Thanks for the info on tyres. I am actually putting aftermarket 19" rims on it.

Link is here:

http://www.lwtwheels.com/wheelzoom/octanezoom.htm

What do you think? Given the PCD is 5/112 with 44mm offset there are not many rims to choose from.

Macka

[Cro]

They look fantastic, but hold off before you buy them..
The owners manual states that cars with factory fitted 18's can not be upgraded to 19", and vice versa.
I can't remember the reasoning behind it, and I don't have access to my manual right now but I remember the above information.

I'd assume it has something to do with ESP calibration.

[Lance B]

They look fantastic, but hold off before you buy them..
The owners manual states that cars with factory fitted 18's can not be upgraded to 19", and vice versa.
I can't remember the reasoning behind it, and I don't have access to my manual right now but I remember the above information.

I'd assume it has something to do with ESP calibration.

I am not sure that the ESP would be affected as long as the rolling circumference of the tyre/wheel package is the same, the offset is similar and the wheels are a similar width, ie 8". The tyres would need to be 235/35 x 19" on a 19" x 8" rim with an offset about ET44 or there abouts. A 235/35 x 19" tyre is approx the same as a 235/40 x 18 which are standard. A 235/35 x 19 rim/tyre package would take up no more room under the guard as the overall diameter and width of the package is the same, so there shouldn't be a suspension scrub issue. Unless someone can point out some other reason for not using 19" rims.

The R32 V6 Passat comes standard with 235/45 x 17 rims and you can upspec them to 235/40 x 18, albeit with the lowered suspension, and this doesn't affect the ESP. Again, the 235/45 x 17 rim/wheel package has the same width and diameter as the 235/40 x 18 package.

[Mattblack]

the only other thing worth considering is comfort. I know i sound like an old fart but there you go.

Saying that i did change my last car from 215/55/17 to 245/35/19 and lowered her 3 inches.

[Macka]

19" Rims

Thanks for the info guys, I will follow it through with Volkswagen Australia and let you know outcome.

[ozlegacy]

Out of interest how do you engage the launch control any special buttons or do you just hold brakes mash the accelerator and come off the brakes?

[Steve]

I haven't tried it in the R36 (yet!) but in the GTI... put the gear box in "S" or "manual" mode, turn off ESP, foot on the brakes... then hold the accelerator and build up revs. Lift off the brake at around 4000rpm and away you go

[ozlegacy]

ok does the DSG deal with clutch slip? you do this in a normal manual and get it wrong in a 4wd and it can bog down etc.

sorry DSG newbie here but R36 on order

[Cro]

No clutch slip, just revs to ~3100rpm and takes off as soon as you release the brake pedal

[R36]

Cro.
Great pictures and synopsis.
What's with the snatch strap and the 4wd ?
Did you bottom out in the snow ?
I was just wondering how that missing 20mm affects general ground clearance.
Laurie

The combination of 20mm reduction in ride height and the lower bumper is a bit much for my steep driveway. I am looking for a solution to maintain the sporty ride, while still being practical. A standard V6 4motion with the optional sports suspension (lowered 15mm) and 18" wheels is ok, but the bumper doesn't hang as low as the R36's.

I am exploring custom springs (cheapest solution @ about $800 fitted) and adjustable height coilovers (most expensive at about $3-5k). Any suggestions?

[DiMmY]

I haven't tried it in the R36 (yet!) but in the GTI... put the gear box in "S" or "manual" mode, turn off ESP, foot on the brakes... then hold the accelerator and build up revs. Lift off the brake at around 4000rpm and away you go

Just another Q, wouldn't this technically be wearing the clutches out?

Trying my hardest to get my dad to buy an R36 to replace his aging Volvo S60 T5, but he finds the interior too simple. Crazy man, considering he will get the highest corporate discount + lease discounts.