GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk6 => Topic started by: Carl Fredricksen on 06 August 2009, 08:33
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Would appreciate any thoughts or comments on the following:
I've ordered a GTI MKVI - but given that it's in Hong Kong the dealership have done a batch order so the specification can't be tailored, at least not for the forseeable future. My question to all you dudes and dudettes who have experience of both - is the ride really firm compared to the MKV when driven without ACC?
Cheers
Mr Fredrickson :undecided:
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The ride on ours is firm without ever being harsh. I personally think the suspension is a very good trade off between sporty and comfort. The ACC probably improves things but I'm not dissapointed that we don't have it.
The car is my wifes and I have a Saab 95 Aero(company car no jokes please) which costs more and is almost as fast as the GTI yet the ride is nowhere near as composed as the GTI.
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I had ACC on my Scirocco and I don't have it, or miss it in my GTI.
The ride is firm but smooth and it doesn't get ruffled.
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from memory of driving in hk the roads there are pretty good and lack the speed bumps and potholes you get in the uk. for these reasons i think you'll be fine.
:cool:
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Thanks for the replies....certainly helps to make one's mind up :grin:
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Thanks for the replies....certainly helps to make one's mind up :grin:
Hi, Carl, I am in the same shoes as yours...me in HK and have ordered the Mk VI GTI. It was a huge disappointment when the salesman told me that ACC is not to be included as standard! The car is for my wife and kids, so I am a little bit concerned about the stiffness of the lowered sports suspension.
So you have made up your mind to take on the GTI without ACC?
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Hi there you guys in Honkers, I have ACC on my mk6 and I really like it. The sport setting gives a really hard ride but not an uncomfortable one and then there is the comfort mode which softens things up nicely which is great on those bumpy old roads that we have a lot of in the UK.
Whatever you decide you are gonna love the car when you get it as it is absolutely sublime, much better than any write ups give it credit it for.
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When I test drove the Mk VI, the test car didn't have ACC, so I've never felt what it's like. I asked the salesman and he said it wasn't a huge difference to be honest. Nevertheless I ordered it, because the car will have to transport my elderly mother who complains about the bumps almost on a repeating loop.
Some people say it makes a very significant difference, others disagree. I noticed several of the car reviews going on and on about how good it is. So I'll be interested to find out what it's actually like. I'll let you know, next month!
The really interesting bit will be which setting I choose as my own default, when not carrying elderly relatives.
Rolfe.
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Rolfe
When in normal you get a decent all round ride, pop her into sport and you feel your seat go firmer, it's difficult to explain but you will notice the difference and then you'll push for comfort and the whole thing softens up. Seriously it is a clever thing and I'm glad I went for it, I think you will be too.
Any news on your car yet? :huh:
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Build week 35, starting 24th August.
Might start hoping for an actual delivery around 7th September.
Rolfe.
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you'll be lucky to get it within 2 weeks rolfe but you just never know with VW - sometimes their systems say its still being built when its actually on the boat!
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That was exactly my thinking. About the 7th is probably the earliest it's reasonable to start hoping that it might be going to turn up earlier than the schedule might suggest. :smiley:
Rolfe.
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Hi et997 et all,
First of all, for all the non-hong konger's the spec, roughly speaking over and above the UK basic includes the following non-exhaustive list:
Leather Seats, 18 inch wheels, parking sensors front and rear + camera, tyre pressure monitoring, RCD510, bi-xenon's, sunroof, dsg....BUT NO ACC!
et997 - how can you possibly say "The car is for my wife and kids"!!!!!!
yeah I was so bummed when I found out there was no ACC. Who needs a rear parking camera or a tyre inflation monitor that only tells you after it's reduced by 10psi! I made enquiries as to a separate order for a car with ACC....but not for the forseeable future. I've driven the MKV and found that it's a bit hard....particularly when you've got the olds in the back! I had a very short test drive of the MK VI in the UK but not long enough to get a real feel for the suspension. I know it wasn't as hard as a MKV though.
On balance I'll probably go for, it's a bit of a steal for the price (similar to the basic 5 door UK price) :smiley:
What colour are you opting for?!
CF
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no way! that spec is awesome!
but don't you have to pay really high car tax?
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Hi, Carl, I just had a test drive with my friend's Mk V GTI over the weekend. Surprisingly, the suspension (in Mk VI, it should be the similar but modifiied sports suspension that's in the Mk V?) was better than expected. Not too hard at all. So if the suspension in the new car is better than Mk V's, I would be happy with it. So guess for me it will be a GO.
I actually bought my wife a new Honda Jazz last year. So I am letting it go to free up the space for the Mk VI. Yes, the car is still mainly for my wife's purpose but you will see my hidden agenda! :rolleyes:
Hi, Keelaw, the spec. Carl mentioned above is priced at HKD 318K, with the current exchange rate (13:1), it's about GMP 24.5K which includes all tax required. Is it good?
BTW, I am taking the Candy White. What about you?
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yes, considering the spec thats a pretty good price, though it isn't a million miles away from UK prices. I did think that car tax was higher though, especially for imports from Europe.
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I have ACC, but only so that I can leave it on Comfort all the time. The difference between the 3 settings isn't immense, but Sport is definitely slightly more jiggly.
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Yeah the hkg price was including the First Registration Tax......
et997....similar thoughts, it's not as harsh as the MKV so I felt it was acceptable to go ahead.....just trying to sort out delivery times as they already have stock but need to sort parking out! White is my preferred colour for this particular car despite the cleaning issues, I felt it brings out the shape of the car more and coupled with Xenons....pretty cool looking.
CF
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et997 - how can you possibly say "The car is for my wife and kids"!!!!!!
Mines the same, the wife loves Golfs and couldn't resist the GTI. 95% of its time will be spent driving the kids to school and the wife to work, the remaining 5% though....... :wink:
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Actually re-reading the hk spec listed earlier, that's something like a 30k car here in the uk. Even with the top discount people are getting (9%) that's still 27k....
Perhaps I should move to hk after all... (My parents and in-laws live there). Then again there aren't many places to drive it and parking costs a bomb. Petrol is also pretty expensive.
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Ah well.....we don't live in a perfect world....
Actually re-reading the hk spec listed earlier, that's something like a 30k car here in the uk. Even with the top discount people are getting (9%) that's still 27k....
Perhaps I should move to hk after all... (My parents and in-laws live there). Then again there aren't many places to drive it and parking costs a bomb. Petrol is also pretty expensive.
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Yeah the hkg price was including the First Registration Tax......
et997....similar thoughts, it's not as harsh as the MKV so I felt it was acceptable to go ahead.....just trying to sort out delivery times as they already have stock but need to sort parking out! White is my preferred colour for this particular car despite the cleaning issues, I felt it brings out the shape of the car more and coupled with Xenons....pretty cool looking.
CF
Same here...I was able to get mine from the very first batch of cars (ETA Aug 7) which will be registered and ready for pick-up by next week. But I have to defer a little so that I could sell my current car first. Guess I will get mine by end of Aug then.
Candy White for me too!!
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So Carl, you are getting it without ACC?
My desire of getting ACC starts to grow in me again....I need help!!
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et997,
as far as i understood from the dealer.....acc will not be an available option as they batch order.....
i need a car in the next 2-3mths so i don't wish to wait any longer! it's already been about a year since rumours of the new model were floating around! i already put a deposit down!
any ideas where to get some place in hkg to "seal" the paint? some years ago the vw dealership in the UK offered Sureguard....car looked new for years....all i ever did was wash it with car shampoo! the vw dealership in hkg doesn't seem to know anything about that....
cheers
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et997,
as far as i understood from the dealer.....acc will not be an available option as they batch order.....
i need a car in the next 2-3mths so i don't wish to wait any longer! it's already been about a year since rumours of the new model were floating around! i already put a deposit down!
any ideas where to get some place in hkg to "seal" the paint? some years ago the vw dealership in the UK offered Sureguard....car looked new for years....all i ever did was wash it with car shampoo! the vw dealership in hkg doesn't seem to know anything about that....
cheers
Hi, Carl,
Just an update for you...ACC is confirmed to be an HKD15,000 worth option. It will be available in the Dec build orders and will be delivered in Feb 2010. So they will be 09/10 cars. And later in 2010, it will become a standard equipment.
I have arranged a test drive on the coming Mon. Just need to get a first-hand experience in the conventional suspension. My friend who assisted Car-and-Driver HK in the test drive with the Mk 6 GTI, commented that the suspension is stiffer than that in Mk 5.
My deposit has been put down as well, but I can defer my deal and pick a car from a later build order if I will.
I will check on the paint-coat and revert back with some info later on.
Cheers,
Ellis
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et997,
best thing of all i forgot to mention....i gave my mother a ride in a friend's mark V....i popped the question "do you think this is firm" ...the response...."no not at all, firm is good!" :smug:
CF
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et997,
best thing of all i forgot to mention....i gave my mother a ride in a friend's mark V....i popped the question "do you think this is firm" ...the response...."no not at all, firm is good!" :smug:
CF
Carl, tell you what, I did a similar thing...I borrowed my friend's Mk5 GTI for a weekend test, asked my lady to ride in and listened to her comments (after all, she's the primary user of the car). She at least didn't complain about the ride.
The same guy who lent me his GTI, went with C&D for the Mk6 GTI test drive, commented that the new car has a stiffer suspension. So I guess it's better to check it out by myself, and give myself an own judgement.
I hope it won't be too harsh as a daily driver.
Cheers,
ET
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et997,
many thanks.......correction - Supagaurd.....
obviously connections help :wink:
i was told no test drive for the GTI is available - what strings are you pulling or have a just got a not so helpful salesman....15000HKS for that option sounds a bit high to me given that the UK price is only around 700 squid...but if it's to become standard equipment for the same price I'd assume - surely that is going to annoy a heck of a lot of 1st batch buyers??
that requires more thought....
They could have made it simpler!
Cheers
CF
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et997,
many thanks.......correction - Supagaurd.....
obviously connections help :wink:
i was told no test drive for the GTI is available - what strings are you pulling or have a just got a not so helpful salesman....15000HKS for that option sounds a bit high to me given that the UK price is only around 700 squid...but if it's to become standard equipment for the same price I'd assume - surely that is going to annoy a heck of a lot of 1st batch buyers??
that requires more thought....
They could have made it simpler!
Cheers
CF
VWHK's actually organized test drive activity today (Sun) and yesterday (Sat). People can just walk in and test drive will be arranged. Read the paper, I think they have done some ad on the major paper in town. Or call your salesman, it's his responsibility to keep you informed.
I called my salesman the other day and asked if I could do a test drive. He didn't hesitate for one bit and said it's better to do it on Mon/Tue when time is more flexible. So I guess I will do it tomorrow.
Hope this helps!
ET
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Pls pls pls let me know what you think of the ride and what roads you test drove on after you're done....
Cheers
CF
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Yes, mate, will report back.
Please check your PM. Thanks!
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hmmmm either my arse is too fat or I cant tell the difference between sport, normal and comfort... I have driven the car more than an hour on the highway today and tried all 3 modes.... my passengers could not tell the difference either... ha ha ha maybe the 3 of us have fat arses... :cool:
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hmmmm either my arse is too fat or I cant tell the difference between sport, normal and comfort... I have driven the car more than an hour on the highway today and tried all 3 modes.... my passengers could not tell the difference either... ha ha ha maybe the 3 of us have fat arses... :cool:
what are your roads like? driving around london today, roads here in the city are pretty poor. too many potholes, poorly repatched roads (after roadworks) and big speed bumps. I think ACC in comfort mode will be ideal for the city.
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Dutch roads are in general quite good. Very smooth and no potholes. Of course there are tram lines and some uneven roads here and there but the highways are as good as the autobahns in Germany. Only problem is that there is a speed limit of 120km/h. Am going on a holiday in Germany next week and I will comment then... he he he hmmm need to run in the car still.... only 651km today...
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Anymore takers!?!?
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Try my thread
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0)
The upshot is that I thought the MK6 without the switchable dampers both handled and rode better than the MK5....just slightly.
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Try my thread
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0)
The upshot is that I thought the MK6 without the switchable dampers both handled and rode better than the MK5....just slightly.
How old is your Mk5? Maybe your suspension is nicely 'worn in', whereas the demo Mk6 will still have tight suspension. A similar thing occured when some peeps swiched from the std Mk5 GTI to a newer Ed30 - they innocently thought it had different to the std GTI - when they are in fact identical.
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Try my thread
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0)
The upshot is that I thought the MK6 without the switchable dampers both handled and rode better than the MK5....just slightly.
How old is your Mk5? Maybe your suspension is nicely 'worn in', whereas the demo Mk6 will still have tight suspension. A similar thing occured when some peeps swiched from the std Mk5 GTI to a newer Ed30 - they innocently thought it had different to the std GTI - when they are in fact identical.
It maybe that i agree with you i have the same feeling going from our high milage company GTI mk5 to my own low miles one.
Are you saying the mk5 GTI and the mk6 GTI are identical? or simply tacking onto the end of that that the ed30 and GTI mk5s are identical? If so may i ask have you checked up that the mk5 and mk6 GTI suspension are identical with identical components and use exactly the same rates? I thought i read in a VW press release from germany they had changed something but cannot remember what for sure now it maybe was the rear antiroll bar? but i cannot remember for sure.
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Try my thread
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0 (http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=123938.0)
The upshot is that I thought the MK6 without the switchable dampers both handled and rode better than the MK5....just slightly.
How old is your Mk5? Maybe your suspension is nicely 'worn in', whereas the demo Mk6 will still have tight suspension. A similar thing occured when some peeps swiched from the std Mk5 GTI to a newer Ed30 - they innocently thought it had different to the std GTI - when they are in fact identical.
It maybe that i agree with you i have the same feeling going from our high milage company GTI mk5 to my own low miles one.
Are you saying the mk5 GTI and the mk6 GTI are identical?
Yes, well within the usual weight-range differences. The Mk5 and Mk6 have identical front and rear subframes, identical suspension arms and wishbones - which will all indicate identical geometery (again within the usual range of adjustments). The actuall spring rates also appear to be identical, as do the dampers. The only real difference is if you spec the ACC, or whatever its called - which substitutes the conventional 'analogue' dampers for the electronically controlled dampers. These are exactly the same as the Audi TT.
or simply tacking onto the end of that that the ed30 and GTI mk5s are identical?
An that too.
If so may i ask have you checked up that the mk5 and mk6 GTI suspension are identical with identical components and use exactly the same rates?
The 'hardware' (apart from the optional elec dampers) are identical. The rates are more difficult - all I can say is that the full range of springs and dampers available for the Mk5 (variable due to the 'kerb weights') are the same offerings for the Mk6. But weather say a Mk6 GTI with a kerb weight of say 1435 kgs has exactly the same rates as a Mk5 of 1435 - that I don't know. :undecided:
I thought i read in a VW press release from germany they had changed something but cannot remember what for sure now it maybe was the rear antiroll bar? but i cannot remember for sure.
Hmmmm . . . I don't always take 'press releases' as 'gospel'. Even some of the official 'Technical Data Sheets' get things wrong - the gear ratios for the DSG gearbox are a classic example! :rolleyes: But maybe they have increased spring and damper rates, along with beefier ARBs - and the ARBs are something I haven't checked! :embarassed:
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ARB's? What's that in layman terms?
Cheers
cf
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Take a look at the part of my post he quoted it may give you a clue :wink:
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ARB = Anti-roll Bar?
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Nice one, Teutonic_Tamer, thanks! Finally someone can confirm that the suspension "hardwares" are identical for Mk5 and Mk6. And it sounds reasonable if I jump from an aged Mk5 to a brand new Mk6, I could have the "hard feeling" at my butt!
Anyone has any idea the difference in kerb weight between the two cars?
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Thanks Snoopy - bit jet lagged wasn't fully awake!
Even though the components are the same, after a test drive I'm pretty sure the MKVI is not as hard as the MKV. Seems strange that there are a number of conflicting reports going around!!
Cheers
CF
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This might help :wink:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxtcVek7Ees
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Thanks.....not sure how a difference of 3 decibels from the new vs old Golf equates to a 20% difference! Scooby was more helpful though!
Cheers
CF
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Thanks.....not sure how a difference of 3 decibels from the new vs old Golf equates to a 20% difference! Scooby was more helpful though!
Cheers
CF
It's all to do with psychophysics. I aint gonna explain that, I'll let TT do that :grin: But the important things to note is that 100db is not twice as loud as 50db. It's quite hard to translate db into loudness, you need a masters for that, but basically 60db is like 4 times as loud as 50db and 50db is like twice as loud as 40db. So a basic 3 db difference could very easily equate to the mk5 being 20% more noisey.
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Thanks.....not sure how a difference of 3 decibels from the new vs old Golf equates to a 20% difference! Scooby was more helpful though!
Cheers
CF
It's all to do with psychophysics. I aint gonna explain that, I'll let TT do that :grin: But the important things to note is that 100db is not twice as loud as 50db. It's quite hard to translate db into loudness, you need a masters for that, but basically 60db is like 4 times as loud as 50db and 50db is like twice as loud as 40db. So a basic 3 db difference could very easily equate to the mk5 being 20% more noisey.
^^
Logaritmic innit :nerd:
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This might help :wink:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxtcVek7Ees
So that highly respected 'pillar of automotive journalism' - iMotor (who? :rolleyes:) can read the offical VW press releases. And WTF were they on about with the windscreen? :rolleyes:
Like I repeatedly state - the Mk6 has exactly the same access to the suspension 'parts bins' as the Mk5 - EXCEPT for the ACC.