double whammo

[brad]

I don't know about suspension going @ 70K Ks, that's abit absurd. Softening will mean a lower weight rating spring. Most professional suspension shops should know that.
As for Chip, I think you could research into Revo?

Why is it absurd? A damper is a wear part. VW fit a reasonable quality product but (depending on the driver & where / how you drive), it's pretty well a throw away by 100,000km and certainly not working at its' best at 70,000km. If it was a Falcon or a Commodore they'd be totally stuffed by 40,000km.

A mate of mine has a 2012 Polo 77tsi. We changed the dampers out in that for Koni Sports at 10,000km - they were like blamange.

I ran a "professional suspension shop" from 1982 to 1987, and still do occasional work for friends so I think I have a bit of an idea how long suspension components last.

What you need to understand is that (good) dampers have low speed and high speed valving and also different ways of dealing with primary & secondary bumps.

I like Koni over Bilstein because the Koni tuning is very compliant on initial movement. Bilstein tends to be a bit harsh - I assume because they want it to feel "sporty". Some of the Bilstein struts also suffer a bit of stiction (excessive friction that needs a decent bump to get them moving).

By 70,000km I'd also be having a really close look at the amount of wear in the suspension bushes. If they are starting to deform then they won't be as compliant & the suspension components won't move as smoothly as they should.

[brad]

Thanks, any preference and why for CC or DNA (or REVO)? ta

Cheaper but still a good product.

The APR product is very good but a lot of the purchase price is marketing costs.

[brad]

Im getting the feedback from Eurotune that said they have seen MANY like me that are actually trying to make there suspension softer (due to injuries) in my make Polo and have spent thousands with no decent outcome. Mainly due to the car being a short wheelbase , low profile tyres being the key factors. Best advice sell the car and get a bigger wheel base one. Thoughts anyone?

As I mentioned earlier, I have a mate with a 2012 Polo 77tsi. This guy knows how to pedal a car (he's much faster than me) and knows a lot about suspension and vehicle handling. Possibly one of the most gifted amateur mechanics I've worked with. The Polo is the "shared car" with his wife. Before that his wife had a very nicely sorted Ford Fiesta on Koni Sports (fantastic compliant ride but incredibly planted around corners) and his previous cars were a Lotus Evora, Lotus Elise & a Gen4 Liberty with aftermarket bilsteins and custom wound springs to his specifications (and some other suspension trickery).

One of his main criteria is that his wife shouldn't be able to tell the car has been "made sporty". He does about 30,000km/yr and a lot of the roads are fairly crap.

Here's what he had to say when the car reached it's 3rd birthday & 92,000km:

no Polo I've driven rides & handles as well as this little jigger we've got.

Koni dampers, Seat steering weight & offset bushes. Supple, malleable, grippy. I love it!

His setup is:
OEM 15" rims (6" width???)
195/55r15 ContiPremiumContact2 tyres. I think he runs about 36psi - maybe 38...
Koni Sports adjustable dampers - fronts about 1.5 turns from soft; rears about 1 turn from soft. (I think there are 3 turns of adjustment)
Steering weight reset heavier (Seat spec) via VCDS
Front lower control arm bushes replaced with Whiteline Nolathene items with increased caster.
Whiteline W53189 Control arm - lower inner rear bushing (caster correction)
Whiteline W52091 Control arm - lower inner front bushing

And a REALLY GOOD WHEEL ALIGNMENT!!!! (Most shops haven't a clue how to adjust these cars and just do the toe on the front).

I'd get the ride the way you like it & worry about the tune later.

[brad]

Thanks for reply are you saying the standard polo is stiff too? Either way there is no way to swap springs or anything from other models im told. Everyone I have rang (30 at least) "suspension specialists" etc, etc, etc, three have said sell it as soon as I told them what I had and maybe three or four were just as honest and how deep is your pocket with very little guarantee that it would be any better. Short wheelbase, tyres and hard spring/shocky combo ALL hard to overcome especially with very little "soft" options available so unless someone out there has done something similar to the same model as mine Im stuffed and will have to sell down the line.

I get the feeling you are asking the questions wrong.

All the parts are interchangeable - maybe you need to talk to a VW specialist?

Also, if you are asking for a guaranteed result you won't get a straight answer.

Here's the process for a fix:
Have a really knowledgable suspension place inspect all your suspension including bushes & strut tops. If it's Pedders then get them to check the dampers on their machine. You should also find out the spec for the spring height measurement (hub to guard distance) to see if the springs have sagged excessively.

Change to 15" rims with either 195/55r15 or 205/55r16 tyres. Run them at 34psi.

Still too hard?

Change the dampers to Koni FSD or Koni Sport (set 1/2 turn off soft).

Still too hard?

Change the springs - this will require some research but personally, I'd go to a wrecker & get some 1.2tsi springs.

[jimmedy]

The APR product is very good but a lot of the purchase price is marketing costs.

APR price includes a lot of support and helping customers take their tunes off / on again for trips to dealers etc, free upgrades in the case a revised firmware comes out and free upgrades to higher 'stages' if you go the whole enchilada with other mods.

Of course, to some people that will present value for money, to others none of those things will appeal to you whatsoever.

With a 2014 car starting out with the first of many intended mods, all that support from APR appealed to me.
You with an older car, a few years out of warranty and perhaps not chasing further mods might not see the same value.

I'm not super thrilled with the 'sports' suspension on my Audi either, but I acknowledge I bring a lot of that on myself by running 18" wheels and tires @ 40psi. I just ordered a Bilstein B14 kit after a lot of research, but then I'm not trying to solve neck pain, so perhaps not the option for you. Common opinion seems to be that it makes the suspension less 'crashy' though, which is a key part of what I'm after.

Final thought, seeing as you're in QLD - you're not far from APR HQ. Go in and talk to Guy or one of his team. IIRC from the website they actually offer the APR ECU upgrades as a try-before-you-buy for half a day. Maybe that's an option for you?

[jivebug]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies I shall "mull" over them . I suppose the Konis FSD`s with labour would be nudging the 2k mark? Changing rib size is good except I would have to not only buy the rims (any suggestions re style and places to buy?) but would have to let go my specially painted Denver ones (to look like Detroit ones) damn good job to! Are tyre sizes, range, cost cheaper with the measurements you suggested? Ta

[Splashalot]

As I mentioned earlier, I have a mate with a 2012 Polo 77tsi. This guy knows how to pedal a car (he's much faster than me) and knows a lot about suspension and vehicle handling. Possibly one of the most gifted amateur mechanics I've worked with. The Polo is the "shared car" with his wife. Before that his wife had a very nicely sorted Ford Fiesta on Koni Sports (fantastic compliant ride but incredibly planted around corners) and his previous cars were a Lotus Evora, Lotus Elise & a Gen4 Liberty with aftermarket bilsteins and custom wound springs to his specifications (and some other suspension trickery).

One of his main criteria is that his wife shouldn't be able to tell the car has been "made sporty". He does about 30,000km/yr and a lot of the roads are fairly crap.

Here's what he had to say when the car reached it's 3rd birthday & 92,000km:


His setup is:
OEM 15" rims (6" width???)
195/55r15 ContiPremiumContact2 tyres. I think he runs about 36psi - maybe 38...
Koni Sports adjustable dampers - fronts about 1.5 turns from soft; rears about 1 turn from soft. (I think there are 3 turns of adjustment)
Steering weight reset heavier (Seat spec) via VCDS
Front lower control arm bushes replaced with Whiteline Nolathene items with increased caster.
Whiteline W53189 Control arm - lower inner rear bushing (caster correction)
Whiteline W52091 Control arm - lower inner front bushing

And a REALLY GOOD WHEEL ALIGNMENT!!!! (Most shops haven't a clue how to adjust these cars and just do the toe on the front).

I'd get the ride the way you like it & worry about the tune later.

I might send you and Steve some PMs, Brad. You speak sense and cut through the cr@p.

I've been slowly going mad trawling the net reading reviews and speaking to a few mainland suspension places & distributors on the phone. I cannot get a convergence of opinion - every obviously has different requirements/circumstances and an idea of what constitutes good ride/handling. I've exhausted the local suspension retailers' knowledge, and lets just say I seem to know more than they do! And that is damning with the feintest of praise.

Sorry to the OP for the thread hijack.

[OUR6R]

I use the Koni adjustables on my 77 comfortline. My wifes car essentially so when i want to take it for a quick squirt i adjust a number of turns towards hard and the difference is quite noticeable.

[Splashalot]

That would be Koni Sports (yellow)?

How is the rude on full soft? Specifically, is is firm and jiggly, or smooth?

[pologti18t]

If you want hot hatch performance and a compliant ride then the 208GTi is the one to look at (I have one).
Otherwise take the advise about uprated Koni shocks. I had some fitted to my old Astra SRI (koni yellow). That car ride well with the stock suspension... with the Koni it literally glided over crap backroads. Best money I spent.

I would also look tyres (when the old ones wear out) that have a more premium luxury bent than an all out performance tyre.

I'd also get someone to look at the suspension bushes to make sure none are damaged. Replace with rubber bushes.