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| Road Test Volkswagen Passat R36 |
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Pussycat
It reminds me - in a way I hope will make sense once you've read this bit - of a car that was designed with similar intentions a long time ago. Back when I was a tot, in the days when my prematurely haggard appearance was enough to let me lie convincingly about my age to the extent that I could get a driving licence, I drove the three-litre 32-valve version of the Vauxhall Carlton. It formed the basis of the Lotus Carlton, but given a choice between the two now I would still go for the 32v. The thing that really impressed me about it was that, although it was big car, the faster you went the smaller and more nimble it seemed to become. I've based my opinions about large, high-performance saloons on that experience ever since. And that's why I like the R36. I imagine it's about the same size as the Carlton (probably, haven't checked, can't be bothered) and it's a lot more powerful. Its 3.6-litre V6 engine produces a maximum of as near to 300bhp as makes no difference, which is enough to send it haring towards the horizon when you put your foot down. But it's not enough to cause any grief to the 4MOTION four-wheel drive system, which could probably deal with 50bhp more and still not break into sweat. What on earth would you have to do to get into serious trouble mid-corner with an R36? The mind reels at the thought. The grip levels could be this high and still not make the R36 into a real enthusiast's car. The most important bit is that you can turn its nose into a corner with great confidence that it's going to react the way you want it to. So, adding all this together, you get a precise turn-in, huge grip through the bend and then a rush of acceleration (accompanied by a very satisfying six-cylinder howl from under the bonnet) on the way out. What could be better than that? This is what could be better than that: a car which did all this but was at the same time smooth, quiet, comfortable and relaxing when it's going slowly. That's another thing I learned a long time ago: a really effective high-performance road car is one that is also serene when you're not in a hurry. And the R36 ticks that box too.
If you're familiar with the behaviour of a well-sorted domestic cat you'll know that indoors they never fully let go of the behaviour they showed as kittens, but that as soon as they step outside they show that they are made of the same stuff as tigers. The R36 has the same twin personality. And you know me well enough by now to realise that if I start comparing a car with a cat, it means I'm very impressed. Enough said. Price: £31,015
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