Mk7 Golf R Discussion Thread

[Lammiwinks]

Nope. It is fully synthetic (or fake) engine noise, being reflected by the front screen.
IMHO it sounds like a badly out-of-tune 2 stroke lawnmower.
Soundaktor = 0% is perfect.
YMMV

However, Daryll Harrison, Volkswagen Brand Public Relations Manager, says these claims about the Soundaktor are false. "The Soundaktor amplifies actual engine sound in the cabin of the car. It does not re-create nor utilize pre-recorded sound," he told The Huffington Post via email.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/fake-engine-sounds-car_n_6533596

Soundaktor - Wikipedia

So not false engine sounds - just relaying your existing engine sound into the cabin digitally. It's just the modern version of the old school sound pipes!!!!!!

[SteveMc]

Things are a bit quiet here. Here's more of my likes/dislikes after 4 months of R ...


- I'd like a transmission setting between Normal and Race, but bumping the lever down for some aggro and back later is pretty easy.
- I'd love the exhaust flaps open when I want - not just in Race
- I'm still wondering about those bloody 19's. Even the Mrs noticed now much the R dislikes all the speed reducing humps in our area. And that was in "comfort" mode.
- The Mrs wasn't as impressed as I thought she might be during her drive last night. Might have something to do with Normal mode being a little reluctant to change down, and the turbo not being at spool threshold at suburban speeds. She called it "lag", I then explained the difference. Her Ladyship might be more impressed with a GTI around town. She also complained the brakes were too "bitey".
- I keep moving music tracks forward and back when reaching forward.
- I'm actually Ok with the poverty-pack sound now - maybe the people in charge of audio at Wolfsburg know something about speakers. The treble at low-mid volume is fine with me using FLAC files on an SD card, so a compact, combo amp/sub did the trick. Or maybe I've just got Dynaudio Denial Syndrome.
- Also now OK with my res-delete. After expectations were a bit high, I can hear some good stuff with the windows down now. And I also like the soundaktor. Shut up. Anyway, a recent review said the R had the closest sound to a WRX of all the hot hatches. I think even some devoted Dubbers will admit that offset exhaust manifold of the boxer sounds the goods.
- I'm nearly certain I got an on screen warning when I didn't bother indicating during a very slow, tight left hander on a deserted road last week.
- I'm not missing gear changing at all anymore for anyone still stewing over the manual vs. DCT dilemma. And loving the radar cruise benefits that come with the dual clutch.

[WallySimmonds]

Thanks for the write up SteveMc. I'm pretty sure the audio is standard across the range and previous models, and I actually think the audio in my '15 Golf is pretty good. It's interesting because my wife said the same thing about the Golfs brakes when she first drove it too - I also think they're pretty grabby.

I actually really like the sound of the R, even if it is a bit artificial. When you've been living with the 1.4 for a couple of years anything burbly sounds awesome.

I think if you haven't driven a DCT before it can take some time to get used to. My biggest issues are a bit of hesitation from standstill (which is a bit crap coming up to roundabouts). I haven't noticed too much jerkiness outside of it taking off when auto-hold is engaged - I'm not sure if that's fixed with the 7.5's.

Coming from a manual 86 though, I have to say that I don't really want to have a manual as my daily again. Although I do want a manual ND MX5 at some stage though!

[gregozedobe]

- The Mrs wasn't as impressed as I thought she might be during her drive last night. Might have something to do with Normal mode being a little reluctant to change down, and the turbo not being at spool threshold at suburban speeds. She called it "lag", I then explained the difference. Her Ladyship might be more impressed with a GTI around town.

Get yourself a PedalBox+ and you (and the Mrs) will be much happier with the way your R responds to the first bit of accelerator pedal movement. It doesn't alter the maximum power and torque, but it does greatly reduce the doughy feeling when you are just cruising (which some people interpret as lag). Mine is much more enjoyable to drive now

[Hole46]

Get yourself a PedalBox+ and you (and the Mrs) will be much happier with the way your R responds to the first bit of accelerator pedal movement. It doesn't alter the maximum power and torque, but it does greatly reduce the doughy feeling when you are just cruising (which some people interpret as lag). Mine is much more enjoyable to drive now

Or get yourself an OBD eleven and change the throttle response and adjust the auto hold to early release.


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[bgroper]

However, Daryll Harrison, Volkswagen Brand Public Relations Manager, says these claims about the Soundaktor are false. "The Soundaktor amplifies actual engine sound in the cabin of the car. It does not re-create nor utilize pre-recorded sound," he told The Huffington Post via email.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/fake-engine-sounds-car_n_6533596

Soundaktor - Wikipedia

So not false engine sounds - just relaying your existing engine sound into the cabin digitally. It's just the modern version of the old school sound pipes!!!!!!

Are you suggesting we should trust everything VAG tells us ? Have you heard of dieselgate ?

As for the cabin noise, and the soundaktor, it all depends upon your definition and perspective of fake vs. genuine.
IMHO, artificially amplified and/or digitally enhanced engine noise is fake, regardless of the original source of the sound signal.
Call me a purist if you wish.

Here's another reference to add to the collection.

America’s best-selling cars and trucks are built on lies: The rise of fake engine noise - The Washington Post

"Volkswagen uses what’s called a “Soundaktor,” a special speaker that looks like a hockey puck and plays sound files in cars such as the GTI and Beetle Turbo."

[gregozedobe]

Are you suggesting we should trust everything VAG tells us ? Have you heard of dieselgate ?[/I]

I see two very good reasons to be sceptical:

1 The source is a professional PR person - the whole profession is based on making a living out of not telling the unvarnished objective truth.

2 The source is an official spokesman for VW, a company which has raised the art of deception to previously unseen heights. And I'm not just talking about dieselgate either. Ever been told one of these porkies ?

"They all do that, it isn't a fault", it's a characteristic"
"Sorry, I can't hear that (deafeningly loud) engine noise you are complaining about"
"The computer hasn't recorded a fault so there is nothing wrong"
"Gee, I've never seen that fault before" (when they have a whole fleet of Golfs out the back with blown 1.4 twincharge engines, waiting for spares/replacement engines, and you've seen dozens of mentions of exactly the same fault on 3 different on-line forums"
"The automatic gearbox in your transporter is sealed for life and will function perfectly forever without needing an ATF change or filter clean"
"There is nothing wrong with an engine that burns 1 litre of oil every 1,000Km, that is perfectly acceptable"
"There is no filter on the haldex pump of a Mk 7 or 7.5 Golf R that needs cleaning"

I'm sure people can come up with some others if they have a think for a moment

[Benz]

The soundakator actually is a device that sits at the base of the windscreen and vibrates at similar frequency to the rpm of the motor. It does not transmit the engine sound as claimed.
I had mine turned off within a week of owning the car and never regretted it.
With just 17k on the car now the exhaust sound has deepened and to me is a delight to give a gut full.

VWA rarely, if ever tell the whole truth or even part of it! Sadly they never learn either, they just keep doing it even though they must know it is so easy these days to check what they tell us is BS.

[bgroper]

I had mine turned off within a week of owning the car and never regretted it.

+1
Same with mine. Only a week of mild irritation. Now gone.

[slin]

Can’t stand the natural sewing machine sound of my R , I honestly thought something was wrong with it from delivery.... soundakator is lovely to my deaf ears. My wife hears the car coming and parking, gives her the heads up to hide the lollies, lol! The cabins in our cars are beautifully sound-proofed, to the point where I like a bit of drama in the cabin. Would wish to be the person behind my car to get the real sound of the car cos I am not getting much as the driver. Just my 10 cent

[toggle]

Or get yourself an OBD eleven and change the throttle response and adjust the auto hold to early release.

First I've heard obdeleven can adjust throttle response. Something you've confirmed on the 7.5R and if so got instructions?

[Hole46]

First I've heard obdeleven can adjust throttle response. Something you've confirmed on the 7.5R and if so got instructions?

Not on Golf 7.5 r, but I have done both on my Tiguan 162 & it’s been done on Golf 7r, I don’t think much would have changed on yours. Just do a search in all VCDS & OBD eleven threads.



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[toggle]

Just do a search in all VCDS & OBD eleven threads

Did, didn't find any references.

[Hole46]

Did, didn't find any references.

I think I found it on GOLF MK7 forum (American)

DIRECT ACCELERATION _THROTTLE RESPONSE
1. POWER STEERING MODULE 44
2. Adaptation
3. Select -switch driving profile
Choices: A- gradual, controlled by time
B- directly controlled threshold value (linear throttle
response)

It seems strange that it’s in power steering module, but?



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[bxpressiv]

So my dealer (Who has been excellent to work with) has swapped the Golf R i first ordered for a MY18.5 Golf R White Silver DSG with DAP and Dynaudio.

I rang the local dealer back who left me a message after seeing him this past weekend, then he asked me what car I was interested in - I would have thought in terms of notes a dealer would take along with my details is what car I looked at. Anyways...I was telling him people are ordering Rs with Dynaudio already and he says probably not arriving in Australia until third quarter 2018 and can't order it now. I might need to speak to someone else...