Dynamic / Adaptive chassis control (DCC / ACC)

[G-rig]

So would the stock setup of a Golf R without ACC be similar in feel to any one of the three setups or is it completely different again.

You would have to drive both, but Normal Mode ACC isn't the same as no ACC as it monitors and adjusts the dampening 1000 times per second.

[hooba]

You would have to drive both, but Normal Mode ACC isn't the same as no ACC as it monitors and adjusts the dampening 1000 times per second.

Agreed, drive both and ask yourself what is wrong with the no ACC car. VW's chassis tuners seemed to have gotten the right answer even without the benefit of ACC.

[Prodigy]

Agreed, drive both and ask yourself what is wrong with the no ACC car. VW's chassis tuners seemed to have gotten the right answer even without the benefit of ACC.

I've already ordered mine without ACC, unfortunately none of the dealers i visited had a demo to drive with ACC fitted and up until reading this never thought i would really benefit from it.

However, i was still very impressed with the overall handling and ride quality with the cars i drove without it, was just curious to know if it was similar to any particular one of the ACC settings.

[WhiteJames]

Pics

Pictures of Golf R -v- Golf GTI - Audi A5 Coupe 2.0TSI Sportline:

WHITE JAMES: Suspension & Wheel Reviews - Page 13 - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum - Golfmkv.com

Have a friend with all three vehicles under consideration. Audi wins hands down in the looks dept. Second pics is screw that Volkswagen discard in top of inner front guard when optioning 19" wheels on the new Mark 6 Golf R. Plastic tab is folded under the metal flange. Still another up to 10 screws holding inner linning in place. Still believe that with 235 X 19" on any golf will have the screw or screwless tab rubbing on harder hits with loaded suspension in downhill tight corners. Love the black Golf R headlight cradles and factory tinted rear windows - not sure about the 19 x 235 series combo. The non-DCC -v- DCC Golf GTI ride very similar - pretty much the same in normal DCC. DCC covers damping for all occassions - reducing the likelihood of a low speed stiff-legged ride or lack of damping when the going gets tough or at higher speeds.

Cheers
WJ

[ccoops79]

Hi WhiteJames,

Have you had the opportunity to test drive the Golf R with the manual gearbox rather than DSG?
With your superior extensive knowledge i am very interested to read your views on the Golf R and how it rides/drives/handles/power delivery etc etc with the manual gearbox, thank you.

[hooba]

Hi WhiteJames,

Have you had the opportunity to test drive the Golf R with the manual gearbox rather than DSG?
With your superior extensive knowledge i am very interested to read your views on the Golf R and how it rides/drives/handles/power delivery etc etc with the manual gearbox, thank you.

I have, and if you can get the search to work for you (I think it was on page 4 of the GTI V R thread), you can read my thoughts on it based on my inferior limited knowledge.

[ccoops79]

I have, and if you can get the search to work for you (I think it was on page 4 of the GTI V R thread), you can read my thoughts on it based on my inferior limited knowledge.

Hey Hooba,

Thankyou very much for your write up. Nice little read. Do you think you will make the transition from the GTI to the R anytime soon?

[G-rig]

I think it's good either way unless you live somewhere with bad roads.

I'd like to know how to lower by 1" or so with ACC/DCC, while still taking advantage of the technology. Assume lowered springs only is the answer but probably not recommended. Although it may be possilbe to adjust the limits of the travel settings apparently.

[HPSOV]

My thoughts on ACC after a month.
The difference between normal and comfort is pretty minimal, the car 'wallows' a little in comfort mode, but in terms of how it handles potholes/poor road surfaces I cant feel much difference.
Sport mode does stiffen it up, but again the difference isn't huge. You really need to drive the same route in each mode to be sure of the differences. Driving over a pothole in Sport mode causes a very loud crash. I've 'attacked' a few corners and sport mode does assist in keeping the car flat.
In terms of steering feel, I notice no difference between comfort and normal, and it is heavier in sport. Coming from a WRX I find the steering heavy to start with so dont feel the added weight in sport to be of any benifit.

To those who aren't getting ACC I wouldn't be too concerned, I've done 95% of my driving in normal. The reason I got the ACC is for track days where I feel sport mode will definately add to the handling of the car.

[logger]

Interesting feedback HPSOV. I test drove a tsi118 with ACC and did not see enough difference between the settings to warrant me coughing the dough for it. I am sure the settings differ - but to my liking they did not differ enough for me. BTW with a username like that you'd have to have a cousin called PRV?

[HPSOV]

Interesting feedback HPSOV. I test drove a tsi118 with ACC and did not see enough difference between the settings to warrant me coughing the dough for it. I am sure the settings differ - but to my liking they did not differ enough for me. BTW with a username like that you'd have to have a cousin called PRV?

My point was partly that the difference in ACC modes is quite subtle and for normal road use will be of limited benefit to most people. For track use however I feel ACC to be a good investment (assuming you aren't planning other suspension upgrades).

Haha, yes, me and PRV work closely together!

[G-rig]

Agree ACC/DCC is probably not essential but wouldn't say it's a gimmick... No point ticking every option box or you're overcapitalising and never get the money back.

The changes in the modes are subtle but seem to be more to do with dampening than handling (although could be related i guess and comfort mode the handling does suffer).

On an R with 18" i wouldn't bother but may do with 19". The MK6 chassis is a lot stiffer than MK5 but seems like it's less underdampened than my R32.

All modes may not vary much however the standard mode does compared to a non-ACC car (probably can't tell the difference on a 5min test drive).

Bit of a tough one, but if you're wanting to lower the car i obviously wouldn't get it.

[Prodigy]

My point was partly that the difference in ACC modes is quite subtle and for normal road use will be of limited benefit to most people. For track use however I feel ACC to be a good investment (assuming you aren't planning other suspension upgrades).

Thank's for that info, eases my concerns a fair bit as i have no intention of tracking the car.

[WhiteJames]

To DCC or not to DCC? Manual -v- DSG?

The ride in the Golf GTI exhibits more bounce than the Golf R, reason being (1) Its lighter; (2) Being more of a lead tipped arrow, the springs must have enough spring rate to accommodate a full complement of passengers & luggage. When there are no rear passengers or other type of load to weigh down the rear of the GTI, it feels a bit like a Ute with no load in the rear – a bit bouncy. The GTI is more adjustable on the throttle with the lighter rear end and slightly softer tune of suspension – it’s still harder work or more challenging to extract the best from it from a driver’s point of view ... slow in and a wide apex is the style of driving the GTI favours.

The Golf R on 18” with non-DCC STD suspension that I sampled in the Golf R –v- Golf GTI thread was extremely well sorted as an OE suspended vehicle. Golf R has a fine compromise between comfort & handling. You can feel the extra weight in the tighter corners & it takes a bit of going or a few gear down-changes to get it going, but overall a very well balanced vehicle offering a fluid ride. DCC on the Golf R will add a bit more dynamic polish when desired coupled with firmer steering when in sport mode – vice versa when DCC is in comfort mode. Overall, I wouldn’t be too concerned if your Golf R doesn’t have DCC. Like Bi-Xenon lights, nice to have, but not essential.

For the serious track day enthusiast – I’d run the same or similar suspension as Guy Harding is doing with his Golf R: Competition type coilovers, aftermarket solid adjustable sway bars, Whiteline polyurethane bushes in lieu of OE rubber bushes; and if the budget allows – lightweight wheels, twice piece brakes, lighter callipers. This set up may be a bit taxing on ride comfort for everyday use or long country trips.

Haven’t driven the MANUAL Golf R. See this thread for Nik Petroff’s comments on his Golf R. Bear in mind that Petroff has apparently owned a few M-Power BMW’s and Audi RS4.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4956280-GTi-vs.-R

I was looking at a manual GTI, but decided against it after a few test drives.

Reasons:

GTI doesn’t have a S2000 or MX5 shift.
Electronic throttle overrides driver’s commands.
Throws between gears are too long.
Motor revs to quickly causing driver to incessantly row gearbox in the lower gears (not so bad on a faster flowing roadway) – probably a bigger issue with the Golf R as the tacho moves very fast between 4,000rpm – 6,500rpm.
DSG Golf apparently has stiffer front springs, making for a better country drive, with some trade off in slow speed city comfort.

Cheers
WJ

[logger]

My point was partly that the difference in ACC modes is quite subtle and for normal road use will be of limited benefit to most people. For track use however I feel ACC to be a good investment (assuming you aren't planning other suspension upgrades).

Yeah that all makes good sense.

..with a username like that you'd have to have a cousin called PRV?

Haha, yes, me and PRV work closely together!

Thought so, tell him logger says hi. Last time I saw you blokes was with MEL a while back. I recall MEL bailing me up and telling me unless at least one of you blokes fronted for work that day, he wasnt going to let me leave. Small world aint it.