softening the suspension

[kevin118]

In the absence of ACC, and the presence of the Sports Pack, I'm enjoying our new car alot but wondering whether it is a simple / sensible / cheap thing to consider getting the suspension softened a little as the hard suspension that comes with it is harder that we want.
I've read a few similar comments on the suspension - some wanting it harder, some softer but other that choosing the ACC up front I've found little info on what it would take to fix it post purchase. Thanks

[elisiX]

I didn't order ACC with my GTI but I have gone with the 18" Detroit wheels. I am also interested in changing to some 19" wheels down the track once the car is actually in my hands.

That being the case, I feel I too will need to look into suspension options. Something that I am thinking very seriously about is a Bilstien PSS10 coil-over system with 10 points of adjustment for damper.

[elisiX]

I mean to also say that they are about $2000 USD before shipping.

[gregozedobe]

People that are looking for a more comfortable ride often fit Koni FSD shocks and seem happy.

[Corey_R]

@elisiX - the best thing you could do is just not put the 19" wheels on :p

@kevin118 - what PSI are you running in your tyres? What tyres and wheels are they? If you're on 18's you could change to 17's. If the PSI is around 38 etc, you could change to 32. Lowering the PSI affects the handling of your car, but then, so does softening the suspension (unless going for high end options like suggested above, and then it's kinda evened out a bit).

[elisiX]

lol but Corey that would mean leaving the car stock

I hadn't thought about the Koni FSD. I dont know how much they would soften the ride up, but they would provide a little tighter damper at speed.

[Corey_R]

Nothing wrong with that man. Is it really worth it to spend ~$2 to $4k on rims, then ~$1500 on tyres and then ~$3k on suspension (including shipping and fitment) to total $6,500 to $8,500 to reduce the profile of the tyre by 0.5" ?

I could think of WAY better things to spend the $6,500 to $8,000 on!

[elisiX]

You make a good point - but the reason I would spend the money on suspension (coil-overs and not just FSD shocks for example) is to have the car riding quite low (looks) on those $2500-3000 of rims (inc. tyres). So yes to do this all up you would be in the $5k range or thereabouts. I guess in the end it's all about the look and maintaining some form of comfort. The advantage of making such a drastic change to the wheels and suspension is also better handling.

I'll wait until the car arrives of course before making any decision or purchases, but 19" wheels is something i've always added to my car's (except the current Mazda) and the ride has never been an issue. With the TT, it was an expensive exercise to change wheels, tyres and suspension but it was worth it for the incredible look and stance it had as well as the riding on rails handling. It may not prove to be as much of a sound move on the GTI so I would certainly investigate further when the time comes.

Hopefully by then quite a few of you guys have either modded your cars or left them stock and I can go for a ride on a GTG or two to determine the options available. The majority of my driving is by far the commute to work. For me that's from down SE Sydney to the City. That drive is basically main road or highway which is smooth. I rarely hit the back streets other than the odd evening or weekends. So I am not shy to a little firmer suspension. Also, more than likely the first mods I would do are the Stage I + intake and move up-to Stage II within a short period of time. The 18" Detroit's are not a bad wheel by any means.

[Corey_R]

I think you're budgetting too low on the wheels / tyres. The cost of any good 'euro' 19" tyre in Australia would be up around the $2400 mark for the 4 corners anyway, so the only way you're going to get the Conti CSC's, Michelin PS2, or Goodyear F1 Asymmetric (best option) in 19" for only $1500 is from tirerack.com in the USA. That would then only leave $1000 to $1500 for the wheels, which means $250 to $375 a wheel. They'd have to be VERY bodgy copies to get them for that much... even from somewhere like Tempe Tyres

Edit: Lol... seems you could get some 19" wheels from Tempe for that cheap including tyres... they refrain from listing what the so called 'top of the line' tyres are though, but unless they've changed in recent years the tyres have always been so bodgy friends I've had who have enquired about them in the past have refused to accept the 'package deal tyres' and have gone elsewhere for them.

[elisiX]

You are right on the Tyrerack tyres. Goodyear F1 as you mentioned. That is with VMR 710's.. which are a HRE Rep wheel. Very good.

All landed for about $2200-2500 AUD.

There was a recent thread about "what wheels should I buy - which was locked" which went into detail about this combination.

[Corey_R]

why was that thread locked?
Oh yeah, that's good then

[elisiX]

Actually my apologies, it wasn't locked. http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newf...ad.php?t=39176

So yes, you can get Goodyear F1's + VMR710's landed for about $2500 AUD all in.

Add the $2000 USD ($2300-2500) for Bilstien PSS10 and you have a pretty damn good quality setup.

You would be running on 19's, lowering the car to look shiz hot and having enough damper settings to find something comfortable.

It'd look just like this. $5k is still a hell of a lot of money to spend .. but to each their own. Stage I first, then worry about this.

[Corey_R]

The thing is though, the rims in that picture are at least 20"
This is the VW press shot for the Golf R with 19" Rims (the resolution is high enough that you can actually read that these are 235/35 tyres) and there is clearly much more profile on them than the picture you've posted

http://www.ausmotive.com/images/VW-Golf-R-12.jpg

The other thing about having the car that low is the tyres hitting the wheel arches when going over a bump during cornering... this would even happen in my MKV GTI on standard springs and 235/40R18 Oettinger wheels (with 50mm offset). You'd have to have the suspension MUCH tighter to avoid that issue if you lowered the car to that level.

[elisiX]

Those wheels are 19". I've read the thread where the owner of that car posted the pictures. I think the photo was played with in Photoshop.

As i've said - I've gone through this process a few times before (with the TT and also an HSV Coupe), so I am not new to any of this by any means.

The wheels wont rub with the correct offset/spacing and with a fully adjustable coil-over suspension, you can select the ride that suits accordingly.

.. so that it wont rub.

[elisiX]

Also, just because I would like the car to sit low, doesn't mean i'm talking about making it look ridiculous. It's all about performance + looks.. not just looks.

I'd never set mine up as low as it seems to be in that picture, but low enough to close out most of the wheel gap from the fender.