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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: Bellend on 25 February 2014, 22:32

Title: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Bellend on 25 February 2014, 22:32
Unfortunately the car has 160 odd K miles so yes the shocks and springs will be well worn. All suspension bushes bar antiroll bar has been done but my goodness the car is like a flipping moose.

It's somewhat quicker than standard now, flying past GTI's like anything but just accelerating on the slightest bend or even doing 80 odd down the lanes to my house and it just bloody bounces everywhere!

Never had a car like it, the MK3 and Clio are pretty planted. The trouble is is when you're putting your foot into the metal work, in third and even just about in fourth the thing just starts spinning up if the road is even slightly bumpy.

First and second are practically useless anyway.

Just don't know whether it's worth investing in a spring and shock combo and a good rear antiroll bar to try and encourage a bit of oversteer.

I'm sitting on a very big fence.  :grin:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: brewey on 25 February 2014, 22:40
I noticed mine was a bit better when I fitted s3 strut braces but how much of this was placebo effect I don't know. It's beginning to feel like a barge again now though.

I hear a rear ARB is the thing to help plant the mk4. It's something I ideally want to do but we've just bought a house so I have other priorities ATM.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: GTi_James on 25 February 2014, 22:47
I noticed mine was a bit better when I fitted s3 strut braces but how much of this was placebo effect I don't know. It's beginning to feel like a barge again now though.

I hear a rear ARB is the thing to help plant the mk4. It's something I ideally want to do but we've just bought a house so I have other priorities ATM.

+1
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: brewey on 25 February 2014, 23:13
There was a guy selling a full eibach kit in the classifieds might be worth a punt.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: the beans on 25 February 2014, 23:32
Edit - you've got until midday today to translate this into English otherwise it will be deleted.

Second Edit - Too late - sorry!
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: GTi_James on 25 February 2014, 23:50
come again?
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Wazzzer on 26 February 2014, 03:05
Text speak innit
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: sharki786 on 26 February 2014, 05:37
Badman talk star. Bludclat :grin:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Nino on 26 February 2014, 06:34
You get me blood?
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Prawny on 26 February 2014, 07:49
a stock mk4 handles pretty terribly yes. Really not a great car to drive!

get some decent suspension on there, and pay to have it setup properly, and you'll be amazed.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: navmk4gti on 26 February 2014, 09:18
A stock fwd..handles sh1t yes..not all mk4s...dont see a lowered one with all the arbs etc being any good as a fwd with lsd or a 4wd tho. They should have made them all with the haldex system  :evil:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: GTi_James on 26 February 2014, 12:24
i murk soopa cars man dem ent got nuttin on me on b roads trus had a gtr otha nite

Edit - you've got until midday today to translate this into English otherwise it will be deleted.

BAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :laugh:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: mcgee9t2 on 26 February 2014, 12:48
anyone else shocked by the fact that is wheel spins in 3rd and 4th. id say you have sh!te tyres on...
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: daz veedub on 26 February 2014, 13:42
Deck it
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Organisys on 26 February 2014, 14:06
I'm not trying to be an arse here, but if I owned a Mk4 and I wanted my car to handle, instead of squanderign money on bushes, ARBs, shocks, springs, Coilovers, whatever.. I'd just save up my money and buy a Mk5. The difference in handling is frankly astonishing.

 :smiley:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: sharki786 on 26 February 2014, 14:46
Edit - you've got until midday today to translate this into English otherwise it will be deleted.

Second Edit - Too late - sorry!
i murk soopa cars man dem ent got nuttin on me on b roads trus had a gtr otha nite

Edit - you've got until midday today to translate this into English otherwise it will be deleted.

Edit - you've got until midday today to translate this into English otherwise it will be deleted.

Second Edit - Too late - sorry!
BAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! :laugh:

Blud dis evn funier!!
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: GTi_James on 26 February 2014, 15:46
i fear for the future generations  :lipsrsealed: :laugh:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Bellend on 26 February 2014, 17:51
anyone else shocked by the fact that is wheel spins in 3rd and 4th. id say you have sh!te tyres on...

Michelin's but it's only over bumpy roads.

Definitely needs a stiffer rear. I think some sort of 30mm shock and springs set will do with some bigger brakes and ARBs.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: D1andonlyantman on 26 February 2014, 18:40
I'm not trying to be an arse here, but if I owned a Mk4 and I wanted my car to handle, instead of squanderign money on bushes, ARBs, shocks, springs, Coilovers, whatever.. I'd just save up my money and buy a Mk5. The difference in handling is frankly astonishing.

 :smiley:

I haven't come here to slag off mk4's because i did love mine and had plans for it, but it was only after I got the LCR I realised how badly the golf handled. I had it through the winter so conditions weren't ideal a lot of the time but the understeer was insane. It probably wasn't on the best rubber from the PO either but the money you're going to spend sorting out the handling on the mk4 could be put towards a car that has half decent handling from the start. If it's a labour of love then none of that matters, obviously :)
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Scott D on 26 February 2014, 18:54
I found fitting purely an anti rear roll bar made a massive difference then combined with rear axle bushes, 40mm suspension kit and good summer tyres handling massively improved.

Changing dogbone mount and stiffer engine mounts helps with wheel hop and I rarely have issues putting power down in corners by partly down to linear throttle mapping and not mashing the foot down.

MK4s's as standard aren't great handling cars but do respond well to basic handling upgrades
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Prawny on 26 February 2014, 20:52
They should have made them all with the haldex system  :evil:

I'd disagree with that pretty strongly, seeing as the first thing Audi and Seat did with all their 4wd cars was remove the Haldex and rear driveshafts when they went racing  :evil:

As far as this thread goes, it sounds like it's down to setup issues.

I run 380bhp in a front wheel drive mk4 chassis, and in the dry I get full traction through second gear and upwards.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Bellend on 26 February 2014, 21:30
Well it's just a bit more powerful. It used to do it standard anyway. Just nowhere near as bad.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Prawny on 27 February 2014, 08:30
Like I said, it's a setup issue.

power is only a very small part of the car as an over all package.

As a road car, mine felt quite lairy with 230bhp from a ko3S. As I developed the chassis to handle more power, that 230bhp started to feel really rather slow as the chassis was more well equipped to deal with the power.

At 380bhp now I can use all the power in 2nd pretty much. You have to remember that driving is still a skill, you can't just mash your foot to the floorboards and expect it to do everything for you, you need to drive to suit the conditions of the road / track.

Handling wise, one of THE best things you can do on a mk4 is to fit LCR wishbones and hubs. These behave far better than the stock items with a much better camber curve through the range of movement, as well as giving more static camber and caster. Fitting a quicker steering rack from an LCR also does wonders for steering feel, and in turn, driver involvement.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Bellend on 27 February 2014, 10:13
Yeah I understand that.

I think I want too much from a diesel tbh. They just aren't quite the same, I'm sure they can be made to be much better but it's not worth it.
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 27 February 2014, 10:48
I'd disagree with that pretty strongly, seeing as the first thing Audi and Seat did with all their 4wd cars was remove the Haldex and rear driveshafts when they went racing

AHEM!  Nothing to do with the regs specifying no 4WD then?  :huh:
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Prawny on 27 February 2014, 13:29
I couldn't care less, you're spoiling my argument Thomas   :tongue:

As far as haldex equipped cars go, you're better of with FWD for fast work. The haldex system fitted to this generation of car is too slow and unpredictable.

Proper 4wd with a solid connection is of course a different story.

Still, I have to disagree with those saying high power and FWD is pointless. It depends how you use it, and what you use it for :)
Title: Re: Is the handling genuinely this sh!t?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 28 February 2014, 11:35
Proper 4wd with a solid connection is of course a different story.

Or with a dumb-assed viscous coupling that just reacts.  :tongue: