RS6 Article in Drive

[R36 Dreamer]

i'm with kwicks on this one....i'm sure i'm going to love my r36, but if i had the coin, the rs6 would win hands down....

let's face it if you apply the 80% use argument, there would be little need for any performance car on a daily basis...

you can barely exploit the r36's power legally, but its nice to have it all the same....just as it would be nice to have a V10

Agree completely. Though for the money it would be hard to not go for the E63 or M5 Wagon TBH -

Hope this doesn't start a whole different discussion (secretly I do though).

After seeing the two on Top Gear last year, my mate and I ended up agreeing to disagree. I liked the Benz for its features and he loved the BM.... each to their own.

I only posted the article as I thought it would be of interest to R36 owners, bragging rights down at the local!

[3Putt]

I'll have the RS6 thanks.

Family wagon with a torquier Lambo Gallardo engine in it!

Gotta love that!

BTW, I secretly wish EVERY thread turned into a "which supercar would you have" debate!

[bennobee]

I must say after tooling around with an RS6 for the last few years thanks tot he family its a nice car to drive a bit heavy though (but damn when you put your footdown it sounds mean and throws you back in the seats). The family is upgrading to the C63 AMG Wagon in amonther month and by by RS6 so will be intresting to see how it compares.

Compared to the R36 I must say the feel of the car and look of it is very similar to the RS6 and just as nice to drive. The R36 doesnt have the power of the Audi but its also a smaller car(feels a lot smaller) and I still think one of the best bang for your buck wagons going.

[RhysQ]

Anyone watch it last night? Have they lost the plot or what? It is less a car show now, and more a lame attempt at comedy.

Real shame that.

You do realise that was the Finale and was never meant to be an episode of car reviews. It was called the 'Vietnam Special' for a reason. Notice how there was no studio time and it went for 75mins. It was a one-off.

As for the R36 though, i know what people are talking about. The boys at Top Gear referred to it (if my memory serves me correctly) as a 'family sedan on steroids, but at the end of the day, it's still a Passat'. I think that is a little unfair really. You don't say that at the end of the day the EVO X is just a lancer, it's a completely different car.

HOWEVER, Top Gear did a full 180 and posted a review last year that reads this:

Take this Passat R36 as a prime example. It's a terrific car. We took it on our cross-France Rolls-Royce and Aston jaunt as support car, and we ended up liking it even more than the two V12 monsters it was shadowing. Well, 'even more' is not quite accurate, but 'liked just as much because it fulfils its intended brief so brilliantly' is a less snappy but spot-on comment. It's surprising.

Fast, too, the big 299bhp, 3.6-litre V6 revving cleanly and quickly and bestowing this big estate with a 5.8-second 0-62mph time. Sounds throaty, and it works well with the standard DSG gearbox and four-wheel-drive system. The chassis is excellent, blending a firm but never- crashy ride with precise handling and steering. You can fling it, and it sticks.

Just remember, they bagged it before they drove it. But after they did, look what they said. They should have done a feature on Top Gear with it (or did they).

[R36 Dreamer]

I must say after tooling around with an RS6 for the last few years thanks tot he family its a nice car to drive a bit heavy though (but damn when you put your footdown it sounds mean and throws you back in the seats). The family is upgrading to the C63 AMG Wagon in amonther month and by by RS6 so will be intresting to see how it compares.

Compared to the R36 I must say the feel of the car and look of it is very similar to the RS6 and just as nice to drive. The R36 doesnt have the power of the Audi but its also a smaller car(feels a lot smaller) and I still think one of the best bang for your buck wagons going.

No offence intended, as the previous itteration of the RS6 was great, but chalk and cheese compared to the new one.

The C63 would be great, though a bit smalll - any reason why the oldies bought the C instead of the E63?

[RhysQ]

The C63 would be great, though a bit smalll - any reason why the oldies bought the C instead of the E63?

Aah, it's very deceptive. My boss has a new C-class and as small as they look on the outside, they are actually quite spacious inside.... i was very surprised.

[bennobee]

No offence intended, as the previous itteration of the RS6 was great, but chalk and cheese compared to the new one.

The C63 would be great, though a bit smalll - any reason why the oldies bought the C instead of the E63?

Very true on the new RS6 with the Lambo engine I am sure its a much improved beast but the car felt so damn big.......... therefore no offence taken

As for the reason they got the c63... good question asked them the same question (they had been wanting to go back to a rs4) but they drove the c63 AMG sedan and it blew them away. It was not bad either bang for your buck wise. I think the E63 felt to big for them.

[reverseworm]

You do realise that was the Finale and was never meant to be an episode of car reviews. It was called the 'Vietnam Special' for a reason. Notice how there was no studio time and it went for 75mins. It was a one-off.

As for the R36 though, i know what people are talking about. The boys at Top Gear referred to it (if my memory serves me correctly) as a 'family sedan on steroids, but at the end of the day, it's still a Passat'. I think that is a little unfair really. You don't say that at the end of the day the EVO X is just a lancer, it's a completely different car.

HOWEVER, Top Gear did a full 180 and posted a review last year that reads this:



Just remember, they bagged it before they drove it. But after they did, look what they said. They should have done a feature on Top Gear with it (or did they).

Yes did realise it was a onn-off episode from Vietnam, but my comment goes a bit deeper than that finale. I think I have had enough of Clarkson's constant attempt at pulling out the wittiest superlatives when all you want him to say is what he really thinks of the car. Don't get me wrong - I think it is a very entertaining program but contrast it against the earlier episodes and its poor cousin - Fifth Gear - and you get my point. I really enjoyed the commentary from professional drivers about cars that I will never hope to own in my lifetime as opposed to a contrived comedic battle of wit between the three of them. I dont know maybe I am being a bit harsh.

Thanks for the reminder about the Top Gear commentary on the R36, and in particular, I loved the Lancer comparison!!! Couldn't agree more. I read a review today on the net that basically said that the R36 was a very capable car, and in some areas, an exceptional car but don't expect to see many on the road cause the reviewer couldn't understand why anyone would buy one. Huh? Admittedly it was a review from the UK where I think the $ differential between VW and Audi is not as significant as it is here, but just the same, if you like the car then just say so without the obligatory sting in the tail.

[gregozedobe]

The R36 doesnt have the power of the Audi but its also a smaller car(feels a lot smaller) and I still think one of the best bang for your buck wagons going.

Just to head in the opposite direction to the supercars .......

I liked the "bang for your buck" ratio of the Skoda Octavia vRS wagon (2.0 TFSI). Like the Audi S3, the R36 has a lot of the good gear I'd like, particularly AWD (and so it should, the R36 costs 68% more than the RS).

Despite being able to afford it, I just wasn't prepared to spend over $50,000 on a "asset" that depreciates as quickly as a new car.

I suppose if we all purchased cars totally with our heads rather than our hearts we'd all end up buying 2 year old ex-rental Toyotas or something, thus reducing our depreciation costs significantly.

I'm very happy with my choice. The vRS is an excellent, roomy all-rounder, and hard to beat at its price point. I'm sure everyone here is equally happy with their choices (and if you aren't, who can you blame ? ).

"Vive le difference"

[jamesatfish]

I must say after tooling around with an RS6 for the last few years thanks tot he family its a nice car to drive a bit heavy though (but damn when you put your footdown it sounds mean and throws you back in the seats).

Bennobee,

Did you get a chance to spend any time looking at / driving the new RS6?

I'm considering picking up an RS6 Avant and I'd be interested in your opinions about the new and/or previous model. It'll be used as a daily driver so a Benz or similar is out as that's too 'flashy' to take to client appointments, but the Audi seems pretty understated in relation to the price & performance.

Thanks!