R32 Understeer

[sir_camel]

For the R32 drivers out there, how badly does an R32 understeer? Don't think i'm going to be able to get that out of a test drive. Would appreciate some honest owners opinions.

Cheers

[Golf Houso]

It doesn't lol... well not compared to most cars, it sticks VERY well around corners and you will find that the point at which the car will begin to understeer is far far beyond what most people are usually willing to take the car. Thats from my one experience driving one anyway...

[JVLR32]

To be honest...the car is a good all rounder,i was wrapped with my car led 4 porsches at supersprints

[gutta]

I guess it all depends on how hard you brake or how fast you enter a corner. From my limited experience (if 10/10 is full throttle), up to 7-8/10 throttle with ESP 'on' I find it hard to understeer. I rarely go beyond that cos I'm too darn scared but at times when I did, I felt it coming early enough to adjust. But with ESP off, I feel the understeer point at about 7/10.....if that makes sense. In general, it is hard for the R32 to understeer under normal 'spirited' driving conditions. Even in the wet the R32 feels grippy but then again, I don't dare to push it more than 6-7/10. Having said all this, I do have Koni suspensions and that makes a noticeable difference.

Hope this helps.

[sir_camel]

Thanks for your points guys. Appreciated

[Treza360]

What I found is that with the esp on it will understeer more as the esp cuts in and tries to take control a whole lot more whilst not giving the Haldex awd system time to send more drive to the rear.

With the esp off you will get less understeer as the Haldex will kick in and you will feel the thing neutral up but understeer will still be the end result if you keep on pushing too far.

That was stock. Now with the Haldex upgrade, adjustable Konis and stiffer swaybars it's a much different beast. Just goes on rails around the place I like to test at and then shoots out the other side.

However suspension upgrades should be done with caution as if you get the settings wrong you can end up with lift off snap oversteer. It hasn't happened to me but I've seen it done.

Cheers,
Trent

[sir_camel]

However suspension upgrades should be done with caution as if you get the settings wrong you can end up with lift off snap oversteer. It hasn't happened to me but I've seen it done.

Cheers,
Trent

That was a feature in my 205! Luckily only happened to me on a racetrack not on the road. Yea i am looking forwrad to owning a car that is stock for as long as possible. Literally just said goodbye to my jeep which i threw SO much money at. Learned my lesson there.

[thekraut]

Ah there's some understeer when you're really on it, but only minimal and can depend on the road surface too. You'll learn how to adjust the car and drive around the problem in no time

[Manaz]

The Bora has a similar drivetrain/layout, and there's a little bit of understeer in the car (not unusual) when you're pushing it. This is pretty standard - even RWD cars will by default understeer if you go into a corner too fast (throttle-induced oversteer in a RWD occurs for a different reason).

The blue haldex controller makes a difference (once you switch the ESP off - I find the ESP to be rather annoying at times, especially when it misinterprets a bumpy road as loss of traction and cuts power...)

[Yevvy]

The Bora has a similar drivetrain/layout, and there's a little bit of understeer in the car (not unusual) when you're pushing it. This is pretty standard - even RWD cars will by default understeer if you go into a corner too fast (throttle-induced oversteer in a RWD occurs for a different reason).

The blue haldex controller makes a difference (once you switch the ESP off - I find the ESP to be rather annoying at times, especially when it misinterprets a bumpy road as loss of traction and cuts power...)

yep, even in a stock bora 4motion there is reletively little understeer. i usually cure it by giving it more throtle so the power gets sent to the rear and even the car out. i get some small 4-wheel drift action on my bold tyres

[balkanac]

compared to my friends 325ci it understeers a lot!! its barely quicker too.

[geoff_gti]

compared to my friends 325ci it understeers a lot!! its barely quicker too.

but that's because your car doesn't like you, allegedly...

[Manaz]

compared to my friends 325ci it understeers a lot!! its barely quicker too.

I'd guess the R32 is substantially heavier than the 325ci (just checked - not by much, 1477kgs for the R32 vs 1445 for a 2003 BMW 325ci). 3-series BMWs are beautifully set up for handling, but you should be able to outhandle one in the wet though!

[balkanac]

1477kg? Is that the MK5? im pretty sure mine is around 1450. Doesnt really matter.
I can get a much better launch off the line and in the wet he gets a lot of oversteer but i get even more understeer so it doesnt make any difference. Rolling starts are a bit different, i still cant leave him behind. The only thing that is better is the exhaust note. If i knew this when i was buying the R, i'd have gone for the 325ci. Its a much better drivers car than a golf on steroids

[sir_camel]

1477kg? Is that the MK5? im pretty sure mine is around 1450. Doesnt really matter.
I can get a much better launch off the line and in the wet he gets a lot of oversteer but i get even more understeer so it doesnt make any difference. Rolling starts are a bit different, i still cant leave him behind. The only thing that is better is the exhaust note. If i knew this when i was buying the R, i'd have gone for the 325ci. Its a much better drivers car than a golf on steroids

I don't want to know that just after i have bought my R32!