Sport and Comfort settings for dampers

[Lance B]

I test drove the sedan version of the V6 Highline and it had "Sports" and "Comfort" settings for the dampers. Is this standard for all V6 Highline Sports Packs? I forgot to ask the salesman and I can't find it anywhere in the brochure.

[EricTheViking]

Hey Lance,

There is actually "Sports", "Normal" and "Comfort" settings (normal is when nothing is lit - the 'in-between' setting). And this is standard on all V6 Highlines. It is not part of the Sports Package. The Adaptive Chassis Control, as VW call it, is an option for the 118TSi and 125 TDi models.

I hope this helps.

Eric.

[Lance B]

Hey Lance,

There is actually "Sports", "Normal" and "Comfort" settings (normal is when nothing is lit - the 'in-between' setting). And this is standard on all V6 Highlines. It is not part of the Sports Package. The Adaptive Chassis Control, as VW call it, is an option for the 118TSi and 125 TDi models.

I hope this helps.

Eric.

Thank you very much, Eric.

[wind]

Hey Lance,

There is actually "Sports", "Normal" and "Comfort" settings (normal is when nothing is lit - the 'in-between' setting). And this is standard on all V6 Highlines. It is not part of the Sports Package. The Adaptive Chassis Control, as VW call it, is an option for the 118TSi and 125 TDi models.

I hope this helps.

Eric.

Picked up by 125TDI (fruit salad approach - had Sport Pack + Adaptive Chassis Control selected). On the day that I was to pick up the car (just over a week ago!), the dealer said "we have some bad news - you cannot have a Sports Pack with Adaptive Chassis Control".

As you can imagine, I was less than thrilled at the 30 seconds heads up (i.e. before I passed the bank cheque over to them), they were nice enough to recalculate the contract based on the removed option.

They told me that VW said that the reduced ride height of the Sports Pack does not let the Adaptive Chassis Control work properly. Personally, I think this is BS and sheer laziness on the part of VW . . . especially considering that it is a likely and reasonable foreseen combination.

Oh well - moral of the story: Make sure UP FRONT that they Sports Pack AND adaptive chassis control can be gotten in the same vehicle (in case it changes in the future).

Cheers.


P.S. It is a great car! AM enjoying it even though ti does not have the adaptive chassis control.

[Lance B]

Picked up by 125TDI (fruit salad approach - had Sport Pack + Adaptive Chassis Control selected). On the day that I was to pick up the car (just over a week ago!), the dealer said "we have some bad news - you cannot have a Sports Pack with Adaptive Chassis Control".

As you can imagine, I was less than thrilled at the 30 seconds heads up (i.e. before I passed the bank cheque over to them), they were nice enough to recalculate the contract based on the removed option.

They told me that VW said that the reduced ride height of the Sports Pack does not let the Adaptive Chassis Control work properly.

??? Seems strange as Adaptive Chassis Control is standard on the V6 Highline and therefore also comes with the Sports Pack for same.

[John66]

Picked up by 125TDI (fruit salad approach - had Sport Pack + Adaptive Chassis Control selected). On the day that I was to pick up the car (just over a week ago!), the dealer said "we have some bad news - you cannot have a Sports Pack with Adaptive Chassis Control".

Hi wind,

When they are saying ADC and Sports Pack are not compatible, is the "sports pack" the one that includes sports seats, Vicenza 18" wheels, paddle shifters, factory rear window tints, etc (not sure about lower ride height though)? If it is it sounds a little strange to me.

I took delivery of a 125 TDI wagon a couple of weeks ago that was optioned with the combination "Sports Package" and adaptive chassis control. I can confirm that it arrived fitted with both options as ordered. Not sure if yours is a Sedan or Wagon, but I wouldn't have thought that would make a difference.

if it's any consolation I would pick the Sports Pack over the ADC if I had to pick one or the other, as it handles pretty well in "normal" mode anyway and in fact after a couple of weeks driving I'm not sure I'd order the ADC again (I know a lot of others may disagree but just my opinion)

John

[wind]

Hi wind,

When they are saying ADC and Sports Pack are not compatible, is the "sports pack" the one that includes sports seats, Vicenza 18" wheels, paddle shifters, factory rear window tints, etc (not sure about lower ride height though)? If it is it sounds a little strange to me.

I took delivery of a 125 TDI wagon a couple of weeks ago that was optioned with the combination "Sports Package" and adaptive chassis control. I can confirm that it arrived fitted with both options as ordered. Not sure if yours is a Sedan or Wagon, but I wouldn't have thought that would make a difference.

if it's any consolation I would pick the Sports Pack over the ADC if I had to pick one or the other, as it handles pretty well in "normal" mode anyway and in fact after a couple of weeks driving I'm not sure I'd order the ADC again (I know a lot of others may disagree but just my opinion)

John

Got the TDI Wagon. I agree with you that it should not matter if wagon/sedan.

Yes, sports pack is as you have in your first paragraph - 18" Vicenza rims (fantastic looking on the car BUT a scrath magnet for the nearest kerb! - so am taking extra care until I get 100% comfortable 'knowing' where the wheels are as I would hate to rub them against a kerb), lowered height, sports seats (very nice, comfortable and a solid fit for me - I am on the big and solidly built side!), steering wheel paddles for gear shifts, dark glass on the rears).

First thing I did when I got the car was have the front windows tinted to match the factory rears and also put clear UV (security) tint on the factory tinted windows (as they do not have UV protection - just dark glass!) - a very good job (had it done by Reflect Effect in Parramatta). Car looks seriously good with purpose and strong presence - though I suspect the Candy White brigade will say that the Icelandic Grey is a subtler impact than the full-on white (which is what I was after).

Re Adaptive chassis control - agree with you that the car is very nice, as is, with the sports pack so do not miss the adaptive chassis control - main reason I selected that option is that I was afraid the suspension would be too hard in the sports pack and wanted the option to go 'soft' when I wanted my kidneys to recover. Have no complaints on the suspension - absorbent (even for Sydney roads!), comfortable ride and quite sporty when needed in the one.

Great to hear that you managed to get both the Sports Pack and ACC. How does it go? Does it make a difference? Or do you leaving it on the one setting . . . Though I am not missing it, still would be nice to get some opinion on how it works and how often you would use it (either some envy or a sigh of relief depending . . .).

With the sports pack you do get a slightly lowered ride (by about 15 mm compared to non-sports pack std car) - I feel that this makes the car sit better on the road and gives it a more purposeful stance. Re last minute change in plans: ended up getting a 'refund' on my purchase (for the adaptive chassis control) as they had to remove the option literally at the last second from the contract.

From what you say, I am not sure if it was 'dealer ordering efficiency' at work or a stuff up somewhere else along the line () that managed to lose that option along way . . . all I can report is what the dealer told me (in my post above) - cannot give you anything other than an opinion re veracity of their statement.

Will be taking the car for a few long (interstate) drives in the near future and am looking forward to see how that car goes (have some twisty non-standard routes in mind!).

[Riker]

G'day fella's....

OK, Sport pack & Adapt chassis control can be ordered together but here is the rub. If both are optioned (125Tdi only) the car will not have the lowered suspension that is normal with the Sport pack. The suspension setup will be the same as it is on a V6 highline ordered with the Sport pack.

I have the V6 Highline with Sport pack (standard adapt chassis control) & the susp is not lowered as such, however I think VW use different springs & dampers in the V6 so due to that it does naturally ride a bit lower than a standard 125Tdi would.

That is it in nutshell, if you order Sport pack & Adapt chassis control (125Tdi) the susp will not be lowered......

[wind]

Thanks Riker,

That makes sense.

Cheers

[John66]

Thanks Riker, I'd read and been wondering about the sports pack lower ride height, now I get it. Unfortunately the dealers I visited when I was buying had no detail at all on the sports pack, other than what I could have read for myself in the glossy brochure.

Had I known the Sports Pack had the suspension change to be more "sports" oriented, I may not have bothered with the ACC. Having said that, in the couple of weeks I've had the car I have used sports mode a few of times and I notice that when my wife drives it she tends to put it in Comfort mode, so we will probably use the ACC.

[FSI 220]

Great to hear that you managed to get both the Sports Pack and ACC. How does it go? Does it make a difference? Or do you leaving it on the one setting . . . Though I am not missing it, still would be nice to get some opinion on how it works and how often you would use it

I play with the ACC a little... general it is in normal, i occasionally put it in comfort over the concrete seamed roads or gravel, sport maybe 30% of the time...

A better description is over-damped on sport, neutral on normal, under-damped on comfort (and thus wafty). In all modes it seems to dial itself to the conditions somewhat... eg hitting a speed hump at 5kmh in sport doesn't react like hard springs and dampers, and hammer it in comfort the car squares up... seems like in sport the damper adds to the spring rate a little...

When i started with it it was comfort or sport, I wondered what the point of normal was (you are either cruising or bruising!) then after while you get sick of reaching for that rather awkward button unless you specifically want the setting... you end up just leaving it in-between...

I wouldn't want the suspension any lower than it is IMHO...