GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: andyb_123 on 05 December 2017, 20:45
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So we've had a bit of time to get used to some of the gadgets the new car came with. Here's my review!
Adaptive Cruise
Good in light motorway traffic (i.e. set your chosen speed and it eases off quite nicely if you have a rare need to slow a little). The best thing about it is it's very sensitive to big speed differential. A couple of times I was wondering why it was easing off so much but then noticed the car in front had slowed suddenly because a lorry was wanting to pull out.
In stop/start traffic, it's quite annoying because while it works, it is as stupid as the driver in front. If you end up with one of those people who just tailgates the car in front and doesn't look beyond, you'll end up lurching between accelerating and braking like they do, so I tend to leave it off even though in theory it would be nice to let it do its job.
Lane Assist
In theory I like the idea - if distracted for a moment and you get close to a line, you find out about it and it nudges the car the right way, but when going through roadworks it would decide a line I was supposed to cross was not to be crossed! Also, you have to signal before you get close to crossing a line to stop it kicking in. Most of the time it was fine, but occasionally I'd indicate a tiny bit too late to stop it doing a correction... which was annoying. So I'm not sure if I'll ever switch it on again...
Dynamic Light Assist
After spending about 3 hours trying to figure out how to go between auto mode and manual, and getting confused about when I'd left it in manual mode or automatic (apologies to some poor bloke with retinal burns in Northumberland), I finally got comfortable with it and it's actually really great. I leave it on all the time and only override it when I can see people's glow coming round a bend, or when travelling slowly through unlit villages or single track road (where it won't automatically go to full beam because you're going too slow). On A roads it was really brilliant, and I also like the swivel feature (I think all cars have that).
Driving Modes
I'm still a bit confused. I thought 'Eco' mode would be remembered from the last time you used the car, but even though it seems to be selected, the freewheel feature (DSG only?) doesn't seem to work till you explicitly cycle through the modes back to Eco. Maybe that's wrong, but it seemed that way. In the end I just left it in "normal" unless doing a boring motorway journey, and I switch the DSG into sport when I want it to be a bit more nippy. A bit of me would prefer not to have to choose any of this stuff to be honest.
Digital Display etc.
A big fan, though still getting used to all the menus. The biggest issue is that we have "satnav stress". Android Auto gives us the google maps we normally use, but I prefer the in-built maps (they look nicer). Now, when either satnav gets us stuck in traffic we end up having a row about using the other one :-)
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Re satnav... have you got carnet active when you use the VW satnav? If you haven't it definitely won't even begin to find you a decent route because its using the (UK buggered up version) of TMC traffic data (works fine if you ever go to Europe!). Better with carnet enabled... but totally sucks compared to google maps nav. Also try loading Waze on your phone... that works with android auto and has speed cameras and more. On the gadget show last week it was rated #1. Free too!
I'm a bit of a satnav junkie as I use it all day everyday.
Lots of other sexy Android Auto stuff out there too, plus all sorts of things it can do that seemingly aren't documented anywhere. Discovered tonight it can get you news headlines just by asking!
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Re satnav... have you got carnet active when you use the VW satnav? If you haven't it definitely won't even begin to find you a decent route because its using the (UK buggered up version) of TMC traffic data (works fine if you ever go to Europe!). Better with carnet enabled... but totally sucks compared to google maps nav. Also try loading Waze on your phone... that works with android auto and has speed cameras and more. On the gadget show last week it was rated #1. Free too!
Thanks for the tips!. We've decided to use the built-in satnav when we don't have any signal to plan a route (happens sometimes as we go to some far-flung places).
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The eco mode freewheel thing will be safety related. If you thought you were going to get engine braking, and didn't, you could be in trouble, or depending on the city driving anti collision system.
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Thanks for the tips!. We've decided to use the built-in satnav when we don't have any signal to plan a route (happens sometimes as we go to some far-flung places).
You can actually download maps to your phone with Google Maps so you don't need internet access at all! If you have them downloaded, google regularly checks (the maps have an expiry date) and asks you if you want to update them. Much more frequently correct map data than VW...
Not sure about Waze, but wouldn't be surprised.
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1 thing anoys me well two.. that's the auto hold not turning off when you try to pull off and the handbrake needing to be turned off manually when it's been activated. i've not used the acc yet as it was only fixed yesterday. i love the eco function cruising etc. the sat nav voice could do with an update for sure but apart from that it seems to be quite good at giving warnings etc.
my lane assist is turned off and will never be activated again, i found it quite dangerous in real world conditions as it would just jerk left right when it pleases with the uk weird road markings. the lights are great too, just push it forward and let it do its thing, brilliant!! as for the display i like it but still figuring how i want it,atm i have distance traveled plus mpg used since start etc :) i don't like how the window buttons are hidden slightly beehind the door handle, and as for the mode button and the auto on off button being on the left is a no no too imho.. :) great car though.
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1 thing anoys me well two.. that's the auto hold not turning off when you try to pull off and the handbrake needing to be turned off manually when it's been activated. i've not used the acc yet as it was only fixed yesterday. i love the eco function cruising etc. the sat nav voice could do with an update for sure but apart from that it seems to be quite good at giving warnings etc.
my lane assist is turned off and will never be activated again, i found it quite dangerous in real world conditions as it would just jerk left right when it pleases with the uk weird road markings. the lights are great too, just push it forward and let it do its thing, brilliant!! as for the display i like it but still figuring how i want it,atm i have distance traveled plus mpg used since start etc :) i don't like how the window buttons are hidden slightly beehind the door handle, and as for the mode button and the auto on off button being on the left is a no no too imho.. :) great car though.
Get it into a dealer, in the thousands of miles I've done I've never had to either turn the handbrake on or off and the same goes for the the autohold. The idea of them both is that you never need to touch them. Even if you do manually put the handbrake on it should still automatically release when you drive off.
What do you mean by the window switches hidden? I can see mine no problem although like most other buttons on a car you can touch them without even looking at them.
You do seem to be having a large amount of problems with your car.
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1 thing anoys me well two.. that's the auto hold not turning off when you try to pull off and the handbrake needing to be turned off manually when it's been activated. i've not used the acc yet as it was only fixed yesterday. i love the eco function cruising etc. the sat nav voice could do with an update for sure but apart from that it seems to be quite good at giving warnings etc.
my lane assist is turned off and will never be activated again, i found it quite dangerous in real world conditions as it would just jerk left right when it pleases with the uk weird road markings. the lights are great too, just push it forward and let it do its thing, brilliant!! as for the display i like it but still figuring how i want it,atm i have distance traveled plus mpg used since start etc :) i don't like how the window buttons are hidden slightly beehind the door handle, and as for the mode button and the auto on off button being on the left is a no no too imho.. :) great car though.
Get it into a dealer, in the thousands of miles I've done I've never had to either turn the handbrake on or off and the same goes for the the autohold. The idea of them both is that you never need to touch them. Even if you do manually put the handbrake on it should still automatically release when you drive off.
What do you mean by the window switches hidden? I can see mine no problem although like most other buttons on a car you can touch them without even looking at them.
You do seem to be having a large amount of problems with your car.
the switches are because i'm used to my mk5 i guess, plus i have to use my left hand to use them due to the disabillity. regarding the handbrake/on-off just for one instance, when i picked the car up yesterday the girl parked it in the dissabled parking(reversed in) so i started it, put my seatbelt on then put in drive and tried to pull off and it just wouldn't let me(even the front end lifted slightly). the person who took me even asked if everything was ok when we got back... the auto hold isn't as bad but sometimes you can feel the brakes not releasing straight away. it only happens withing the 1st 10 mins up to now.. i'll see how it goes.
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Definitely something wrong with the braking system in your car.
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The thing I've noticed regarding the auto handbrake (I've got a manual gearbox) is that if I don't use enough accelerator pedal (IE, just the tiniest bit to stop the revs dropping when I bring the clutch up) it doesn't always release. I'm guessing, but it might be some sort of safety thing that it needs quite a positive input to release the handbrake.
Might be worth trying it with different amounts of 'vigor'. Admittedly I don't know how this would transfer over to a DSG (both testing and how much gas you need to give it) but may be worth a try?
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Sounds like either its faulty or you've not figured out how to use it. Either way, pop back to the dealer and check both things.
The system works flawlessly apart from those two known issues...
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The thing I've noticed regarding the auto handbrake (I've got a manual gearbox) is that if I don't use enough accelerator pedal (IE, just the tiniest bit to stop the revs dropping when I bring the clutch up) it doesn't always release. I'm guessing, but it might be some sort of safety thing that it needs quite a positive input to release the handbrake.
Might be worth trying it with different amounts of 'vigor'. Admittedly I don't know how this would transfer over to a DSG (both testing and how much gas you need to give it) but may be worth a try?
With DSG, you just need the lightest of taps on the throttle pedal to release the Auto Hold, then if the gradient is suitable, the car will creep just like a torque convertor automatic.
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hi all, it looks like i've waisted your time guys SORRY. the reason i say this is because i use a a hand brake (see pic) and although i'm not actually pushing on it when pulling away, i do have a hold of it thus the brake sensor sometimes thinks that i'm braking i think. sorry for waisting your time and to the OP for hijacking his post :)
(http://i66.tinypic.com/ilxibn.jpg)
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The thing I've noticed regarding the auto handbrake (I've got a manual gearbox) is that if I don't use enough accelerator pedal (IE, just the tiniest bit to stop the revs dropping when I bring the clutch up) it doesn't always release. I'm guessing, but it might be some sort of safety thing that it needs quite a positive input to release the handbrake.
Might be worth trying it with different amounts of 'vigor'. Admittedly I don't know how this would transfer over to a DSG (both testing and how much gas you need to give it) but may be worth a try?
That's the way it was in my old CC and I much preferred it that way. In my Golf even if I'm on an upward hill and I don't touch the accelerator the autohold will release with the slightest movement of the clutch and the car will start to roll backwards. Annoyed the hell out of me at first but I've got used to it now and I don't mind it. In a way it is quite handy in heavy traffic on the flat because all I have to do is release the clutch a bit to move the car along.
There is a way to change it to a stronger bite point with OBDeleven to the way it was in my CC and in your Golf.
Btw have you ordered your OBDeleven yet?
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The thing I've noticed regarding the auto handbrake (I've got a manual gearbox) is that if I don't use enough accelerator pedal (IE, just the tiniest bit to stop the revs dropping when I bring the clutch up) it doesn't always release. I'm guessing, but it might be some sort of safety thing that it needs quite a positive input to release the handbrake.
Might be worth trying it with different amounts of 'vigor'. Admittedly I don't know how this would transfer over to a DSG (both testing and how much gas you need to give it) but may be worth a try?
With DSG, you just need the lightest of taps on the throttle pedal to release the Auto Hold, then if the gradient is suitable, the car will creep just like a torque convertor automatic.
We might be talking about slightly different things here - I'm focusing on the Auto Handbrake, not Auto Hold which (I think) work very slightly differently. Does it seem different if the handbrake is on rather than the auto hold? My Auto hold on the foot brake needs way less encouragement than my auto handbrake to release.
Maxie - I don't think you're wasting peoples time, hopefully we can help.
William - not got it yet, probably the new year now anyway as I'm away January-May so a little wait yet for me. Definitely getting one though.
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Ahhh "hand brake" as in the main brakes you operate with your hand and not your foot yes? An adaption for your disability?
I think that is where the confusion came from :D
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Ahhh "hand brake" as in the main brakes you operate with your hand and not your foot yes? An adaption for your disability?
I think that is where the confusion came from :D
yeah sorry again it's confusing with them both called hand brake and handbrake :) but yes i think i've sussed it, the elec handbrake thinks i'm still braking even though i'm not pushing on the dis hand brake. as the sensor for the peddle must be very sensitive, this might bee why my dsg refuses to change gear sometimes too. so not sure what to do as i can't let go of it incase an emergancy breaking situation arises.. i'll figure summut.lol. oh the life of a dissabled driver A..lol :)
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The handbrake always comes off automatically when we move off (either backwards or forwards), so to the person whose car doesn't do that, it does sound wrong. (Unless seatbelts not on perhaps?)
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Never realised the ACC works in stop/start traffic. When I activate it and choose the speed it only drops down to 20mph.
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The thing I've noticed regarding the auto handbrake (I've got a manual gearbox) is that if I don't use enough accelerator pedal (IE, just the tiniest bit to stop the revs dropping when I bring the clutch up) it doesn't always release. I'm guessing, but it might be some sort of safety thing that it needs quite a positive input to release the handbrake.
Might be worth trying it with different amounts of 'vigor'. Admittedly I don't know how this would transfer over to a DSG (both testing and how much gas you need to give it) but may be worth a try?
With DSG, you just need the lightest of taps on the throttle pedal to release the Auto Hold, then if the gradient is suitable, the car will creep just like a torque convertor automatic.
We might be talking about slightly different things here - I'm focusing on the Auto Handbrake, not Auto Hold which (I think) work very slightly differently. Does it seem different if the handbrake is on rather than the auto hold? My Auto hold on the foot brake needs way less encouragement than my auto handbrake to release.
Maxie - I don't think you're wasting peoples time, hopefully we can help.
William - not got it yet, probably the new year now anyway as I'm away January-May so a little wait yet for me. Definitely getting one though.
Yeah I'm talking about the authors Graham but I think it is the same for the handbrake. I'll have to check when I'm in the car again but I've only been in the car twice over the last week because I broke my leg last week but I'll check later.
Away from Jan to May, nice little winter/spring break away :whistle:
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Never realised the ACC works in stop/start traffic. When I activate it and choose the speed it only drops down to 20mph.
I absolutely love the ACC, i will not be able to buy another car without it......
for traffic, It depends whether you have DSG or Manual, in DSG you can effectively drive the car without using the pedals (gets a bit hairy at roundabouts though :laugh:) as it will bring you to a complete stop - it will show a minimum speed of 20mph but it ignores it.
it can be jerky and reacts a little weirdly to cars turning out of its radar sight, but i hope any software improvement in 7.5 onwards, would improve.
Cheers
Rich
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And if you have TJA you don’t even have to steer the car under 20 mph (ok you have to press resume/accelerator pedal if stopped for more than 3 seconds), takes a lot of strain out of traffic jams, don’t think ive shouted at the car in front in the new car
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Does TJA follow the car and not the white lines? It comes part of lane assist, so presumably uses the camera?
And can it work without lane assist active?
Its something I'd consider specing next time, but the information available is vague at best and the only reliable way of discovering what these options is is by using this forum to ask someone with it already!
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It follows the speed of the car in front and the lanes for side to side, you have to have Active Lane Guidence set in the mib,
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So only useful in traffic jams with road markings and definitely no use in motorway road works when you cross over lane markings in contraflow...
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I have used it in contaflow, and it picks up the road the same as at over 20mph, and strangely picked up the road when I was close to the car in front, and again if the road has a sharp bend in it you have to take up steering
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I read all the restrictions for Traffic Jam Assist and decided to change it for Dynaudio. :undecided: I don't often have to sit in traffic jams. It has just occurred to me - traffic jams are probably where Dynaudio works best too. So I didn't really need it either. :rolleyes:
I love having ACC. Our A3 has it so I already had some experience. The Mk7.5 ACC has improved. It just makes driving more relaxing.
I'm still not sure about the dynamic light assist. When it works the lights are fantastic and really help with visibility. Though they do seem to have a mind of their own. Every journey I'm sitting wondering 'why are the lights doing/not doing that!' They appear to work best on A roads. However, they are just an 'assist' technology. On twisty rural roads I often find it best to operate the lights manually to avoid blinding other drivers.
I'm getting used to lane assist. It does have it's quirks too. Can't say that I like or dislike it.
Stop/start is a complete pain in the **** and potentially dangerous. I've had the engine shut down and steering go heavy when rolling up to 'give way' signs = bloody dangerous! 'Looks there's a gap! Oh f**k the car's shut itself down!' It gets switched off when I remember.
DCC - it's probably a combination of new chassis and new DCC, but the car is definitely more comfortable than my Mk6 with DCC. Though changing the OEM tyres made a noticeable difference too. However, it still retains that performance feel that our Audi does not have. Though to be fair the Audi has standard suspension and 16inch tyres and is a lot more comfortable on our bumpy country roads.
Reversing camera - it really comes into it's own at this time of year. Wouldn't buy a car without it. SWMBO didn't want it on her A3 and I hate having to reverse it in the dark. Though I know the parking sensors should pick up anything I can't see.
Love the progressive steering.
Still don't like the look of the Active Info Display. :sad:
Like the SatNav.
All-in-all a mixed bag really. :rolleyes:
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Well the dealer said it hasn’t got TJA and it wasn’t on the spec sheet, but it did come with it so it’s cool coz it’s free 😃
My car also has dynoaudio, so all good there too,