VW Dealers!!!

[Pana]

Here we go again.........

[Rocket36]

No, not here we go again. I won't be drawn into pathetic back and forth blah blah blah nonsense anymore. I have said what I have to say and I have based it on FACTS. All I had was what I thought was a simple question because I was curious as to what would make someone think an option that lowers the sporty dynamics of the R36 was worthwhile. Guess it's not so simple for some. My mistake - and I apologise. I wasn't having a go at anyone or anything like that, I was simply curious.

The "backup of my claim" as it has been referred to, is simple. DRIVE BOTH, HARD!

[R34]

Here we go again.........

Sorry Pana
I'll not discuss the suspension again until I'm provided substantiated fact as claimed.

[Leagle]

I've ordered a White Sedan
Sunroof (of course)
Sat Nav
Adaptive Cruise Control
Lane Assist
Adaptive Suspension
The only option I didn't go for was Dynaudio as I listen to the radio mainly and both dealers said it was a waste for me.
That plus $2000 plus LCT for the audio would buy a few mods at a local HiFi shop or better still some money towards 19x8.5" fat tackies

Congrats R34! Sounds like you have some great toys there! If you listen to radio only, agree the Dynaudio was a waste of money for you, but it is definitely better than the stock audio no matter what anybody says! Definitely worth the $2,000 imho.

Sat Nav was another option which seemed overpriced at first. But believe me, it is an awesome bit of kit. It automatically zooms in and out where you are travelling, has a lane assist feature (i.e telling you which lane to be in) and a compass too. Yes, Tom Toms etc can do the same thing (and more) but (and you will only know what I mean when you get your car) the RNS510 is waay better!

I absolutely love the Adaptive suspension (on my CC) BTW. Having come from a hard core WRX, its nice to be cosseted driving the car in comfort mode.

[zsolt_downunder]

Adaptive Suspension R36 vs Adaptive Suspension R36

Gents,

I guess the only way to put this matter to rest is on a race track. A non Adaptive Suspension R36 (Rocket36) vs Adaptive Suspension R36 (R34).

[R34]

Thanks for the welcome mate
Sort of having second thoughts about the Audio
Is it possible to change my options before the car has commenced the build process.
Yes if I want hard suspension I'll drive my GTR or Classic rally car.
35 years of motorsport has taught me that hard suspension does not necessarily equate to better handling unless it's billiard table smooth surface.

[Rocket36]

Sat Nav was another option which seemed overpriced at first. But believe me, it is an awesome bit of kit. It automatically zooms in and out where you are travelling, has a lane assist feature (i.e telling you which lane to be in) and a compass too. Yes, Tom Toms etc can do the same thing (and more) but (and you will only know what I mean when you get your car) the RNS510 is waay better!

Couldn't agree more! At the time I bought my car, I had a TomTom and until then hadn't seen any factory fitted SatNav that was as good and certainly wasn't worth the money. They're (factory SatNavs) still not worth the money you pay for the functionality, but having a fully integrated unit is good - no tell tale winscreen ring to attract the smash & grabbers. Anyway, I wouldn't have ordered any options on the R36 but the one I bought had SatNav and sunroof so I had no choice (unless I wanted to wait 4 months for a car instead of 4 days). So having had it for a while now, I can quite honestly say it's the best factory SatNav I have ever used and as far as the core task of navigation goes, it's on par with the TomTom I used to have.

Although it still doesn't know how to do some things - like handling the split lanes on St Kilda Rd in Melbourne. I was driving along knowing where I was going so not really paying attention to the SatNav (a lot of the time it's good just for ETAs) but then she caught my attention when she said; "in 400m turn right, then immediately right again, then immediately right again". I laughed when I looked down... "So you want me to do some circle work in the middle of a major intersection on St Kilda Road, or should I just turn left?" I had to snap a pic!

[R34]

My dealer kindly let me test a CC with ACC and a std R36 back to back.
I picked a course that had a mix of smooth and rough backroads.
Obviously the CC was a lot softer in it's swaybar settings compared to the std R36.
But as far as shockabsorber settings I'd say the CC in sport mode felt stiffer than the R36 shocks.
I'd ordered the ACC for my R36 and am glad I did.
Normal seemed to be the best of both worlds.
Just have to wait 6 months now for my car to arrive

[evr]

Adaptive Suspension on R36, Rocket, R34, etc..

My dealer kindly let me test a CC with ACC and a std R36 back to back.
I picked a course that had a mix of smooth and rough backroads.
Obviously the CC was a lot softer in it's swaybar settings compared to the std R36.
But as far as shockabsorber settings I'd say the CC in sport mode felt stiffer than the R36 shocks.
I'd ordered the ACC for my R36 and am glad I did.
Normal seemed to be the best of both worlds.
Just have to wait 6 months now for my car to arrive

It truly pains me to say it but i find myself mostly agreeing with Rocket on the suspension issue at hand here! (No offence Rocket but I often disagree with you but I'm sure you can handle that!). From my understanding (based on advise from a friend that works at VW), the MY10 R36 was introduced with adaptive suspension to tackle the universal criticism by the auto press that the suspension setup was just too hard core for the R36 to be considered as a true premium product comparable to the offerings from competitors (in particular BMW & Audi). Also, many more "normal" users/owners (unlike us the fanatics in this forum), have found the car just too stiff & especially from those more affluent suburbs with less than smooth roads - this was identified as a real problem by VW as the 'money' for cars above the luxury tax threshold generally doesn't come from outer metro areas in new estates with glass smooth roads. A generalisation yes but don't shoot the messenger please...that is part of VW's research!

Anyway, introducing the 'more compliant' adaptive suspension was a means to resolve this market appeal problem. Moral of the story is that VW themselves consider the adaptive suspension option as a 'softer' setup. Draw your own judgements by side by side drives.

Personally, I would have liked the option of dialing in a softer setting when the kids are in the back seat & complaining that they have tummy aches from all the "jiggling" the car is doing.

[R34]

I didn't find the std R36 suspension particularly stiff even over rough roads.
Felt more irregularities in the same section of road with the CC set to sport though.
I can only base my opinion on what I experienced.

[evr]

I didn't find the std R36 suspension particularly stiff even over rough roads.
Felt more irregularities in the same section of road with the CC set to sport though.
I can only base my opinion on what I experienced.

I hear what you're saying. It's a weird situation as when I test drove both the CC & R36 (2009 models) side by side I did find the R36 stiffer but the CC (set to sport) was actually more unsettled over the rough stuff. I initially interpreted this as being stiffer but on reflection it was simply more unsettled rather than stiffer...if that makes sense. In summary, the R36, for me anyway, was firmer than the CC in sports but the CC behaved in a manner which initially made me think it was a firmer ride + the R36 felt like a more "planted" ride albeit less absorbant. I bought the R36 in the end!

[nivek]

I test drove a CC with ACC and R36 (in wagon trim) with "fixed" suspension back to back before deciding on the R36 sedan.

To me, there was more body roll on the CC, whereas the R36 was flatter and gave me more confidence going around a corner. I also thought the turn in of the R36 was better, though I'm not sure if that is possible as the wagon is heavier.

[R34]

Yes I experienced that too
The R36 would have thicker swaybars than the CC I would assume

[Rocket36]

Based on the back to back driving I did, which also made me decide on the R36 over the CC, I would say the ACC uses completely different springs, shocks and sway bars. But it wouldn't surprise me if the bushes are also different too.

[R34]

Just read this in another thread re a GTi with ACC.
I'd imagine it to be similar for a R36 std V's R36 ACC.
Until someone drives a R36 with and without ACC we'll never know for sure.
I think the CC has a suspension tune comparible with the Highline Passat.
I don't believe VW would change bushes and Swaybars from the std R36 otherwise it won't be a R36 anymore.

The Motor Report posted up a review of the Golf 6 with a DSG Box and Adapative Chassis Control.

They have tested a GTI with and without ACC, so it seems good for people who want to compare:

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/499...ad-test-review

"There are two suspensions offered for the GTI – a conventional coil-and-damper arrangement or a similar system with electronically adjustable dampers.

The standard set-up is a bit stiff for regular road use, but the optional Adaptive Chassis Control offers three settings: Normal, Comfort or Sport.

Normal mode is close to the standard non-adjustable suspension tune, but Comfort is softer, less jarring and easier to live with over pockmarked roads.

Indeed, Comfort is perhaps the better mode for a serious backroads blast, the more compliant tune soaking up bumps that would otherwise unsettle a more stiffly-damped car.

Sport, on the other hand, tightens the chassis to a degree that’s suitable for the occasional trackday sprint. However, we don’t recommend it for your daily commute.

On more sedate drives, the GTI’s ride can be a problem. It’s hard - not spine-breakingly so, but hard nonetheless – and unless you opt for the Adaptive Chassis Control system there’s not a lot that can be done about it.

Options like the 18-inch alloys and Adaptive Chassis Control bump up the retail price by $1200 and $1500 respectively, and in our opinion the variable damper technology is a box that should be ticked."