Tuesday 28th May 2013

VW Passat R36: Spotted

V6-powered Passat R36 is your ultimate performance saloon sleeper

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Quick family saloons have always held a special allure at PH, even if they've only captured a small niche of buyers. Its the fairly ordinary shape allied to a big engine and maybe a slight touring car vibe that makes for a winning combination.

Q-cars don't come much more Q-like

So with an Vauxhall Insignia VXR Supersport heading its way to PH this week, it seemed like a good opportunity to seek out another of its ilk, a fast four-door without a 'premium' badge emblazoned on the bonnet.

And look what we've come across; a Volkswagen Passat R36, one of just 250 saloons made and the only example currently for sale in the PH classifieds.

We've featured an older Passat W8 estate previously, and the R36 followed its ethos of clandestinely housing a potent engine under largely unaltered bodywork, albeit with a more overtly sporting bent. As you would expect given its nomenclature and engine, the flagship Passat was similar in style to the Golf R32; not the last word in communication or involvement to drive, but somewhat redeemed by that V6 engine.

For the Passat, a 3.6-litre version of the V6 was used which made 299hp and 258lb ft. Offered solely with a DSG gearbox (yep, it was happening five years ago) and 4Motion all-wheel drive, the R36 was capable of 155mph and a sprint to 62mph in less than six seconds.

What, you were expecting excitement in here?

Lowered by 20mm on uprated suspension, the R36 was predictably keener than a standard Passat without being a dynamic benchmark. But buying an R36, any Passat in fact, for its handling prowess is like buying a Lotus Elise for its interior ambience; its virtues lie elsewhere.

The R36 presumably makes best sense as a car to make rapid, comfortable and subtle progress in regardless of the weather or the occasion. It might even hit 30mpg at a gentle cruise...

There's no escaping the costs of running a V6-engined Passat will be fairly substantial. An emissions rating of 249g/km means a £475 bill for a 12-month tax disc and replacing four 235/40 R18 tyres with a decent brand will take another £600 or so. Depreciation? Well, this R36 hasn't got another £18,000 to lose, let's leave it there...

It would have been appropriate to finish with some potential rivals but they're rather difficult to track down. A Volvo S40 T5 is smaller and less powerful, the only Saab 9-3 Turbo X we could find was a leggy estate and the cheapest Vauxhall Insignia VXR is £13,500.

But it's an interesting curio, the Passat R36, and a type of vehicle we're unlikely to see again. That's reason enough to draw attention to it, and hopefully enough justification for it to be grabbed by another owner.

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VW Passat R36
Engine: 3,597cc V6
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 299@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@2,400-5,300rpm
MPG: 26.9 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 249g/km
First registered: 2008
Recorded mileage: 59,000
Price new: £30,990
Yours for: £12,000

See the original advert here.

[Schnellmann]

Had the estate version of the R36 for about 5 months (VW dealer leased it to us whilst we were waiting for them to deliver my wife's Polo GTi). It was okay but nothing more. Never felt as fast as the figures suggest it should have been. Not really fun to drive. In fact, made such little impression upon me I'm struggling to remember what it was like. As they didn't have winter tyres for it we had a Golf GTi for the last month before the Polo was delivered. I recall enjoying that much more, even though it was slower.

[SimonSaid]

Interesting car, actually rather like the styling. But much more interested in that Saab - £8k for something that quick, that practical and that good looking (even with those miles)? Yes please.

[Luke.]

Im after an estate R36 at the mo. Tricky to find.

So I'm all ears if anyone's got one or knows of one for sale.

[LordPetroleum]

Hmmm, body styling too normal and dull for my liking. Now if you had this mechanical setup in a Passat CC overcoat and I would seriously be shaking my piggie bank to judge my barge-buying power. In my eyes they are trulya thing of beauty and deserve an excessivley large powerplant for more waftability.

[BorkFactor]

Love these, there is an estate one in Aberdeen and my friends can never understand why I point it out to them

[marctwo]

I like the idea of these but I really can't see why anyone would choose one over a V8 S4.

[Luke.]

marctwo said:

I like the idea of these but I really can't see why anyone would choose one over a V8 S4.

Much cheaper year for year.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Schnellmann said:

Never felt as fast as the figures suggest it should have been.

Sometimes your bum dyno doesn't tally up with the real rate of progress. Sub 6 to 60 isn't slow, but barges do hide their acceleration well. It's a 1700kg car with 'only' 300hp, so it's not going to be a rocket ship.

[MJK 24]

LordPetroleum said:

Hmmm, body styling too normal and dull for my liking. Now if you had this mechanical setup in a Passat CC overcoat and I would seriously be shaking my piggie bank to judge my barge-buying power. In my eyes they are trulya thing of beauty and deserve an excessivley large powerplant for more waftability.

They did offer a 3.6 CC.

[Kentish]

I do like sleepers

I had a late Vectra C; same as the VXR (2.8 turbo) but in Elite trim with a tiptronic box.

The acceleration was awesome, masses of torque but it looked like any other 1.9 derv burner

[Luke.]

MJK 24 said:

LordPetroleum said:

Hmmm, body styling too normal and dull for my liking. Now if you had this mechanical setup in a Passat CC overcoat and I would seriously be shaking my piggie bank to judge my barge-buying power. In my eyes they are trulya thing of beauty and deserve an excessivley large powerplant for more waftability.

They did offer a 3.6 CC.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volkswagen-Passat-CC-R36-3-6V6-Sport-4Motion-Saloon-Automatic-/140958979975?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20d1cf5787

[jbforce10]

SimonSaid said:

Interesting car, actually rather like the styling. But much more interested in that Saab - £8k for something that quick, that practical and that good looking (even with those miles)? Yes please.

Turbo X 9-3s can be found in the UK (there are two on Auto Trader at the moment and were 5 advertised there last month) usually between £9k and £12k.

I myself bought one 7 months ago and am very happy with it. The R36 was also on my "maybes" list but it's still a rather sterile VW so it was soon struck-off in favour of the Saab or possibly a Brera or 159 Q4.

[Kentish]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Schnellmann said:

Never felt as fast as the figures suggest it should have been.

Sometimes your bum dyno doesn't tally up with the real rate of progress. Sub 6 to 60 isn't slow, but barges do hide their acceleration well. It's a 1700kg car with 'only' 300hp, so it's not going to be a rocket ship.

And torque makes a huge difference.

My previous Honda 2.4iv-tec (n/a) against my current BMW n/a 530i for example!

[SuperchargedVR6]

Kentish said:

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Schnellmann said:

Never felt as fast as the figures suggest it should have been.

Sometimes your bum dyno doesn't tally up with the real rate of progress. Sub 6 to 60 isn't slow, but barges do hide their acceleration well. It's a 1700kg car with 'only' 300hp, so it's not going to be a rocket ship.

And torque makes a huge difference.

My previous Honda 2.4iv-tec (n/a) against my current BMW n/a 530i for example!

Indeed!

The problem with VAG's R32 and R36 engines is they've been calibrated to deliver all the torque in the world below 3000rpm and then they feel flat from there on. Not particularly exciting or encouraging of more revs.

[GranCab]

Luke. said:

marctwo said:

I like the idea of these but I really can't see why anyone would choose one over a V8 S4.

Much cheaper year for year.

Same money - 2 years older - even more of a sleeper (after a little badge removal...)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Edited by GranCab on Tuesday 28th May 15:18

[Hudson]

I would have thought the Volvo rival would be the S60R as they have roughly the same power?

[Prawnboy]

GranCab said:

Luke. said:

marctwo said:

I like the idea of these but I really can't see why anyone would choose one over a V8 S4.

Much cheaper year for year.

Same money - 2 years older - even more of a sleeper (after a little badge removal...)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Edited by GranCab on Tuesday 28th May 15:18

as he said, much cheaper year for year!

[mwstewart]

GranCab said:

Same money - 2 years older - even more of a sleeper (after a little badge removal...)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Edited by GranCab on Tuesday 28th May 15:18

If you read the ad, you'll see the car still has finance on it...

[va1o]

Not too keen on these myself. Nice enough car in isolation but the Superb 3.6 V6 and CC 3.6 V6 are just as cheap, more modern and more of a sleeper!

[va1o]

Example of the Superb, 19k miles 09 plate up for sale at a main dealer - http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...





Asking price a little on the high side but should be room for negotiation

Failing that a leggy B8 S4 can be had for the same kind of money these days.