Sports suspension pack with Charleston 18" rims

[spiff]

Hi,

To those who know or opted for the 18" Charleston alloys with the sports suspension pack, do you know the details of the sports suspension pack? The other thread on the forum doesn't really reveal much.

I'm going to ask the dealer tomorrow, and I'm wondering what type of info would be useful. Should I ask the parts they replaced in the sports suspension pack, what type of data would be useful?

My aim is to compare it with some of the aftermarket stuff available and see how worthwhile it really was, and whether I should consider changing that in the mid-term. I also want to know if it's possible to lower it a little more. Apparently, it's lower 15mm already. I wouldn't mind it going another 10-15mm more I guess. Would that be a problem? Has anyone done anything to their stock sports suspension pack?

cheerio,
spiff

[spiff]

*bump*

Because I'm still curious and I wrote to VW Australia and they haven't a clue and asked me to contact my dealer. I - obviously - contacted my dealer a number of times but they seem quite clueless. I might need to go in and speak to the principal..or maybe try another dealer.

But, in case someone knows.

I'm thinking of putting the sports suspension & 18" charlestons up for sale at some stage.

spiff

[maca]

I can't comment on how it changes the shocks, but I lowered my car with H&Rs for $900 through a local mechanic. If you're only doing it for the look, go the cheaper option.

[spiff]

I can't comment on how it changes the shocks, but I lowered my car with H&Rs for $900 through a local mechanic. If you're only doing it for the look, go the cheaper option.

questions, questions, so many questions.

are these h&r springs? did you change it ater you got the 'sports suspension' or from stock? how much lower did you go? i'm wondering if i've got the 'sports suspension', whether i can change something else to go lower, or whether i need to dump what i've got and go for something else.

[Dubdabest]

I'm surprised not many here can give you some helpful info on this?

I would have thoughts many owners of Golfs/Jetta MK5 in this forum lowered their car?

Maybe you can try PM the OP here.. http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...t=40291&page=6

[spiff]

Mmm. I went back in and saw the guy who sold the car to me and he's going to ask VWA. Their tech guys don't really know as well except the dampers have been changed. Apparently, they just plug it into their vagcom and if there's a problem, they know.. if not, they don't. cookie-cutter.

Well.. if I find out the technical details, I"ll post here.

[Dubdabest]

My only guess for Jetta's optional sport suspension pack is the one they fitted as standard to the Jetta 147TSI (15mm lower) so if you want to go lower you better off go for after-mkt kit.

Maybe post your q's in the Specialist section (wheels & suspension) in this forum.

[blutopless2]

i would think the same as ^^^ the sports suspension option would be whats standard on the 147TSI. as for what's changed etc i'm very surprised that VW cant give you that info.
I have the charlestons on my jetta and dont feel it needs to be lowered further. but that depends how low you wanna go.

[maca]

questions, questions, so many questions.

are these h&r springs? did you change it ater you got the 'sports suspension' or from stock? how much lower did you go? i'm wondering if i've got the 'sports suspension', whether i can change something else to go lower, or whether i need to dump what i've got and go for something else.

The springs I got are H&R. I'm not sure what brand the sports pack is equipped with.

My Jetta was standard height (it's a TDI), so the total drop was 35mm (3.5cm). But bear in mind, I didn't change the shocks.

I'm just saying that if you're only wanting the look and not the handling; leave the car at stock height and change the springs aftermarket. You can always get the Charlestons but at least you won't have the added cost of the suspension.

[bazzle]

It may help this thread if you ;

1. Post a pic of your car from the side.
2. Measure from the centre of rims to lip of guard so others can compare.

Bazzle

[spiff]

It may help this thread if you ;

1. Post a pic of your car from the side.
2. Measure from the centre of rims to lip of guard so others can compare.

Bazzle

Is this for me? I know the marketing material says it's a 15mm drop (when you get the sports suspension package). I will measure the next time I get around to the car for others to compare, but I'm after other info not just how much drop.

FWIW, The information I'm after is technical information. Sorry if I wasn't clear. The reason is two-fold. One, if I want to go aftermarket, I want to know data I should compare. I don't want to just say, I'll go with this because it's Brand X. (e.g. with wheels, I know I should be looking for material, weight, rim size, # of bolts, offsets etc) I'm learning about suspension mods, and I guess this is one part of my learning curve. I still don't quite know as some manufacturers list their specifications quite clearly and some don't, making me think these might not be all that important? Two, if I want to sell it, wouldn't someone buying want to know what I'm selling apart from 'VW OEM Sports suspension package'? Plus if I didn't know what they changed, how would I know what's stock and what's not?

So, when VW say "you've got 18" charlestons with the sports suspension package", and I read a lot about H&R, Koni, Eibach, APR, Whiteline gear, I start to wonder..if I want a futher upgrade, what do I look for and how do I know one of the 'aftermarket' products don't already perform as well? The last thing I want to do is plonk money down for something I think is better, only to find out later that all I've done is bought something similar or worse, but only a different brand. heh.

So, this is more like a noob question (to people on here: what details to look out for because often I have to be specific to VW about what I want to know) + to VW: what the actual details are.

My problem thus far has been VW themselves don't seem to know the answer to what changes they made from stock when they upgraded to the sports suspension package.

The hunt goes on...
spiff

[Jetz01]

My Jetta has the 18's and factory lowered suspension. I would suggest going aftermarket. The 18's I have to replace one single rim from VW is like $800 for one wheel!... For that price, you could get some nice 20's on it. The suspension, although lowered is still very soft.