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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Hawaii-Five-O on 14 January 2014, 20:06
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After driving my new GTI for a few months I wanted to post up my thoughts on the cars level of grip.
I'm finding that in the wet (or damp) the grip levels aren't as good as my previous car – a Scirocco. I'm wondering why this is given the supposed superior chassis on the Mk7? My GTI came with Conti Sport 2's but my Scirocco had Dunlop Sport 01's which many people don't rate. Could the slightly superior grip levels on the Scirocco be attributed to the wider tyre widths? Or is it my mind playing tricks on me? Maybe I'm actually pushing harder and faster through bends than I'm giving the car credit for. I just can't tell.
Has anybody else experienced this, and if so, offer any insights.
Thx
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Again this could link to tyre's, but I'm interested in the difference in chassis/weight and driving style approach. (Never driven a Sirocco :( )
The GTD at present in 0-2 degrees C, I'm constantly short on grip, however when not accelerating it is awesome :)
So going round corners - no problems. Accellerating from scratch... slippy as buggery. (Conti's too).
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After driving my new GTI for a few months I wanted to post up my thoughts on the cars level of grip.
I'm finding that in the wet (or damp) the grip levels aren't as good as my previous car – a Scirocco. I'm wondering why this is given the supposed superior chassis on the Mk7? My GTI came with Conti Sport 2's but my Scirocco had Dunlop Sport 01's which many people don't rate. Could the slightly superior grip levels on the Scirocco be attributed to the wider tyre widths? Or is it my mind playing tricks on me? Maybe I'm actually pushing harder and faster through bends than I'm giving the car credit for. I just can't tell.
Has anybody else experienced this, and if so, offer any insights.
Thx
Probably more to do with your GTI having significantly more torque than your previous car.....it can get pretty slippery out there with these low temps.
I found mine (with bridgestones) to be terrible for the first 1,500 miles but actually seems a lot better now and the grip out of tight corners with the PP diff is very impressive for a FWD car
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Scirocco grip massively superior to GTD on my 2 Sciroccos with Dunlop SP01, Pirelli P7s and Michelins. 5 door GTD is same weight as Scirocco (30kg weight of 5 doors negates GTDs weight savings). Scirocco was lower (more downforce?) with slightly wider tyres. MK5 170TDI also suffered tramping. I drove my 170TDI Scirocco a lot harder around the bends, especially after activating XDS via VCDS. The Scirocco was a limpet in the bends, wouldn't dare drive my GTD the same way in wet or dry with Bridgestones. Gotta be the tyres.
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Downforce not an issue on a road car at legal speeds...
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I drove my 170TDI Scirocco a lot harder around the bends, especially after activating XDS via VCDS.
Is this thing on the Mk6 GTD automatically or must something be done?
I would put it down to the tyres. Neither of the sets of tyres on the 18s seem to be much cop, and I wouldn't expect such a drastic difference between the two cars - placebo effects aside. I found it very easy to be doing naughty speeds after enjoying the boost a bit too much. :tongue:
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I drove my 170TDI Scirocco a lot harder around the bends, especially after activating XDS via VCDS.
Is this thing on the Mk6 GTD automatically or must something be done?
I would put it down to the tyres. Neither of the sets of tyres on the 18s seem to be much cop, and I wouldn't expect such a drastic difference between the two cars - placebo effects aside. I found it very easy to be doing naughty speeds after enjoying the boost a bit too much. :tongue:
Should be on automatically but no doubt set to Medium/Normal, you can put it to Strong like it is on mk2 Cupra's
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XDS was a £280 option on the Scirocco, unsure whether it was standard on the GTD/GTI MK6.
If not then a bit of VCDS activation is in order.
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XDS was a £280 option on the Scirocco, unsure whether it was standard on the GTD/GTI MK6.
If not then a bit of VCDS activation is in order.
How d'ya mean monkeyhanger? I though the Mk7 GTI/D came with XDS+ as standard therefore doesn't need activation via VCDS?
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Again this could link to tyre's, but I'm interested in the difference in chassis/weight and driving style approach. (Never driven a Sirocco :( )
The GTD at present in 0-2 degrees C, I'm constantly short on grip, however when not accelerating it is awesome :)
So going round corners - no problems. Accellerating from scratch... slippy as buggery. (Conti's too).
Experienced the same on 19's (dunlop ) in the damp running sport settings , 3 things ,backed the throttle off to
normal ,checked tyres ,Way under Inflated , there was much Improvement ,the rest is down to the power and
Torque , In the Dry great ,plus the temp factor don't forget :wink:
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XDS was a £280 option on the Scirocco, unsure whether it was standard on the GTD/GTI MK6.
If not then a bit of VCDS activation is in order.
How d'ya mean monkeyhanger? I though the Mk7 GTI/D came with XDS+ as standard therefore doesn't need activation via VCDS?
He's talking about the mk6 and yes it was standard on them but could be turned up!
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XDS was a £280 option on the Scirocco, unsure whether it was standard on the GTD/GTI MK6.
If not then a bit of VCDS activation is in order.
How d'ya mean monkeyhanger? I though the Mk7 GTI/D came with XDS+ as standard therefore doesn't need activation via VCDS?
He's talking about the mk6 and yes it was standard on them but could be turned up!
Incidently gents, you can also turn it to Strong on the mk7 as its on Normal on our GTI's and GTD's. First VCDS mod I did
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Incidently gents, you can also turn it to Strong on the mk7 as its on Normal on our GTI's and GTD's. First VCDS mod I did
That's cool Graham. What does turning XDS up to strong do the the handling characteristics in everyday driving?
Thx
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XDS is the electronic locking diff and these settings adjust how severe the intervention is analogous to how much slip is allowed on a normal LSD... Earlier intervention should mean better traction out of slow corners but could result in more power understeer...
I don't think that the GTD/GTI lacks grip - at least not laterally - and is reasonably well balanced, I've even noticed that the rear can be provoked into playfulness, which given Tiff's review, was slightly unexpected... I'd like to try the XDS set to strong to see if it helps...
There are traction limitations but you are always going to get those with relatively powerful/torquey front wheel drive cars... I've had a few that were much worse ('90 Saab 900 T16S, Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo, spring to mind)
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Incidently gents, you can also turn it to Strong on the mk7 as its on Normal on our GTI's and GTD's. First VCDS mod I did
That's cool Graham. What does turning XDS up to strong do the the handling characteristics in everyday driving?
Thx
Everyday driving would be feck all difference mate, the only reason I ever started changing this setting on the cars ive had with XDS is that i have always had the warmer sort of hatches and the steaming hot ones have this setting as Strong from Standard, so if its good enough for them its good enough for me imo!
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A Sunday night drive through slippery mountain roads (Man-stuff) revealed me the way the differential works in the GTI PP. Right-hand turn, pretty tight and (you guessed right) VERY slippery. No ESP lights on the dashboard, the car tightened its line the moment I felt understeer in my pants. Great go on exiting, I couldn't justify where the hell it found so much traction! Well impressed indeed!