R36 Wagon - 2009 / 2010 (2009, 2010 build) questions re 2nd hand pricing

[s12Raider]

Ok guys, I have secured a BB 2009 R36 Wagon from Melb. Good deal and am happy. Actually exstatic (sic) to say the least. Very low kms and immaculate condition.

Pick it up Friday 13th - which is lucky for me. Drive from Melb to Sydney over two days which I'm looking forward to of course.

Now just need to at some stage look to figure out how to undertake an upgrade of the standard stereo - keeping the sat nav system but building out amp and speakers (but that's my youth recollection talking).

I will need to figure out what to do to get my iPod to be able to be used via the RNS as the connection module (option I believe) does not come with the car -so pointers would be nice.

Yeah !!!!

[kleung]

Unfortunately for me I'll be leaving R36 ownership for another marque soon because of VWs insane decision to delay a replacement

At least the R36 drivetrain lives on in the V6 Highline, even if it doesn't have the same suspension, seats, or blue-needle instrumentation...

Ok guys, I have secured a BB 2009 R36 Wagon from Melb. Good deal and am happy. Actually exstatic (sic) to say the least. Very low kms and immaculate condition.

Congratulations!

Pick it up Friday 13th - which is lucky for me. Drive from Melb to Sydney over two days which I'm looking forward to of course.

Hah. Friday 13th. Hopefully that's not an omen. FWIW, Chinese consider the number 13 to be very lucky. Make sure you spend plenty of time exploring all the nooks and crannies on the road between Melbourne and Sydney. Don't forget the Beechworth Bakery!

Now just need to at some stage look to figure out how to undertake an upgrade of the standard stereo - keeping the sat nav system but building out amp and speakers (but that's my youth recollection talking).

Considering that a Dynaudio factory audio upgrade is available, while using the same head units, I suspect that the RNS510 probably has line level outputs on the back, going to an outboard amp. If that's the case, it should be trivial to upgrade the speakers and amp. If not, the worst case is that you use line level converters to connect an aftermarket amp.

I will need to figure out what to do to get my iPod to be able to be used via the RNS as the connection module (option I believe) does not come with the car -so pointers would be nice.

It is possible to buy the MDI unit from eBay, and as I understand it, it is just plug and play into the existing cabling. $200-ish IIRC. I have the MDI in my R36, but I just have a 4gb USB flash disk permanently connected. CBF pulling my iPhone out each time I get in the car.

Given that you have a 30gb hard disk in the RNS510 already, using this may be a more convenient solution. Or if you don't like that, there's also the SD card reader - just pick up a cheap SD card from anywhere, and chuck your music on that. Just be aware though that older revisions of the RNS510 only support up to 2gb SD cards. Newer revisions support larger cards.

[R36FTW]

Congratulations on your purchase, just picked up my new R36 too. You'll love it, and if you're coming from a non-euro, you'll probably share my frustration/humour in the indicator stalk position.........windscreen wipers don't exactly communicate the intention to turn imminently

The Syd-Melb drive is long but easy, I never explored just did it in one hit every time, so if you can take your time over 2 days you should have some fun.

[s12Raider]

Many thanks kleung - good information and 'sound' idea re the MDI and after market amp etc. I'll just take my time in any case. Love the '13' commentary as well!!

R36FTW - did you buy wagon or sedan? Yes the idea is to take it slow (actually sweetening the deal by taking my wife to Dalesford for Friday night so I'm sure there are few roads I can at leasat explore while she is having whatever treatments she's booked up on my credit card!

Cheers to all.

[kleung]

Many thanks kleung - good information and 'sound' idea re the MDI and after market amp etc. I'll just take my time in any case. Love the '13' commentary as well!!.

No worries.

One more thing, if the manual supplied with the '09 is anything like mine, you'll find it fairly lacking in detail. Spend a bit of time reading up on this forum to learn about stuff that the manual doesn't cover (or is flat out wrong) - like the cruise control lever operation. Something you'll probably want to know how to use before hitting the road for your Melbourne->Sydney jaunt.

Hint: the Passat's cruise control has an extra feature that most other cruise control systems don't - the ability to round up or down to the next nearest 10km/h. You can use this function while the cruise control is active, or you can use it to preset a new speed while it is inactive.

[R36FTW]

Many thanks kleung - good information and 'sound' idea re the MDI and after market amp etc. I'll just take my time in any case. Love the '13' commentary as well!!

R36FTW - did you buy wagon or sedan? Yes the idea is to take it slow (actually sweetening the deal by taking my wife to Dalesford for Friday night so I'm sure there are few roads I can at leasat explore while she is having whatever treatments she's booked up on my credit card!

Cheers to all.

I got a wagon, love the look of them and extra room inside is great too. Hope the wife enjoys the pampering! Might make your new mistress a little easier to accept

[kleung]

I got a wagon, love the look of them and extra room inside is great too.

I reckon the wagon actually looks better than the sedan.

Don't forget that you can lift the seat squab of the back seats so that the seat backs fold down completely flat.

The extra room is a boon and a curse at the same time. I've only had my R36 wagon since October, but I've already been asked to cart crap around for people half a dozen times.

[R36FTW]

Yes I think the wagon looks better too. With the seats folded down the space is great, but the car itself is not large, its pretty much the perfect size for me. I won't be carting anything around for anyone! They know where the ute hire place is.............