GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: ksuk2009 on 30 May 2018, 21:47
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I noticed on the US forum a lot of people complain about changing gear, saying its sloppy.
Can't say i feel the same way. Been driving manuals for the last 30. Could it be that in the US they simply don't have many manuals, and the ones they do are that American long slotted type ?
Anyway curious on your thoughts. Have you noticed the shifting as something that 'sucks' lol or just normal like any other European car.
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I have always found the gear change to be fine. Much better as standard than my previous car, Astra J Vxr, which really was very sloppy. Having said this though I recently fitted an Audi shift bracket. The number was kindly provided by another forum member ! This has made the changes that bit more enjoyable and slightly shorter as well.
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The manual box on my R is the only disappointment I have in the car.
It feels rough and gravelly, especially going 2nd to 3rd 4th to 5th and 6th to 3rd for some hard acceleration. It almost feels as though the cogs are rubbing slightly against each other as you are changing gear. It has been that way from day one, but seems to have improved a little very recently.
There are occasions where I've come to a stop in traffic, knocked it into neutral and let the stop-start kick in, only to find when I go to start up again that it doesn't seem to want to slot into first. I don't force it in that situation, I put it into 3rd with the clutch dipped, and then into 1st.
Similarly, dropping from 6th to 3rd it has happened maybe once a month, feeling as though if you were to force it, you would probably cause an almighty crunch
Happens far too irregularly for the garage to pick up on a road test. I bring the issue up every time the car goes into the garage for a service or warranty work, the technicians say that the "agricultural feel" is due to the box needing to be a bit basic to handle 300ps. A colleague's manual R has the same feel to it.
In 7 VWs and an Audi I have owned from new, I have never had a gearbox feel this coarse in use, previous boxes mated to TDIs have been far smoother, including the wife's current A1 1.6TDI.
I'm assuming the R's manual box is the same as that employed in the CS/CSS, but perhaps not the standard and PP GTI (which I am led to believe has slightly taller gearing than the R).
There are a few others here that have reported similar issues with their manual Rs.
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I have fitted the Audi short shifter too and it really sharpens up the change. An excellent upgrade for a low cost and little effort :smiley: The standard change is pretty good but definitely improved by the upgrade.
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Think your're lucky, true story...first car mk1 escort 1100L ...changing gear into 3rd next thing gear stick left the gearbox and was in my hand!!!! now that's sloppy!
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Mine feels pretty good really, no complaints from me :smiley:
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Think your're lucky, true story...first car mk1 escort 1100L ...changing gear into 3rd next thing gear stick left the gearbox and was in my hand!!!! now that's sloppy!
That happened to my Dad... in his Marina. :embarrassed:
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Americans... yes well...
Anyway, I've found both the Mk7.x GTD's I've had in the last 4 years to have a nice slick gearbox.
Certainly better than the other cars we have in our household by a country mile.
Maybe I think that because I don't have an Aston to compare it to or something?
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Fred: My GTD's box was slick too, making the gravelly feel of my R's box all the more disappointing - i've never had a box like it on a VW. Feels like the box on a 2.5d transit van from the ealy 90s (I drove a new one for a year in 93).
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Fitted one of these recentlyhttps://www.sico-developments.co.uk/products/volkswagen-mk7-golf-gti-short-shift-transmission-adapter?variant=27419652232 (https://www.sico-developments.co.uk/products/volkswagen-mk7-golf-gti-short-shift-transmission-adapter?variant=27419652232) Much smoother and more precise feel compared to standard. :smiley:
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So consensus is that these various short-shift kits don't just decrease throw distances, but make the change feel smoother (ie less "gravelly")?
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^Or that only the R (possibly CSS too due to same output) has a gravelly manual box.
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Fitted one of these recentlyhttps://www.sico-developments.co.uk/products/volkswagen-mk7-golf-gti-short-shift-transmission-adapter?variant=27419652232 (https://www.sico-developments.co.uk/products/volkswagen-mk7-golf-gti-short-shift-transmission-adapter?variant=27419652232) Much smoother and more precise feel compared to standard. :smiley:
I've got one of these fitted and makes a very nice improvement, I've also removed the clutch delay valve and clutch spring which helps improves the feel massively.
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I have always found the gear change to be fine. Much better as standard than my previous car, Astra J Vxr, which really was very sloppy. Having said this though I recently fitted an Audi shift bracket. The number was kindly provided by another forum member ! This has made the changes that bit more enjoyable and slightly shorter as well.
Nice ! i'd like to know more about the Audi Shift Bracket. Is there a pic or part number so i can research it a little more ?
The only thing i'm not really liking is the gear stick itself, with all the indentations. (it trying to be a golf ball) but & i'll be the first to admit, that really is a petty quirk of mine ! Would rather it be a solid leather shift, that would feel nicer in the hand.
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I have always found the gear change to be fine. Much better as standard than my previous car, Astra J Vxr, which really was very sloppy. Having said this though I recently fitted an Audi shift bracket. The number was kindly provided by another forum member ! This has made the changes that bit more enjoyable and slightly shorter as well.
Nice ! i'd like to know more about the Audi Shift Bracket. Is there a pic or part number so i can research it a little more ?
The only thing i'm not really liking is the gear stick itself, with all the indentations. (it trying to be a golf ball) but & i'll be the first to admit, that really is a petty quirk of mine ! Would rather it be a solid leather shift, that would feel nicer in the hand.
The part number was 8J0711046E (ignore the 051 on the image below as 046E includes the attachment for the cable) and cost £37.26 +vat.
(https://s6.postimg.cc/a5bf73ez5/20171102_135054.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/mwpldlor1/)
As for the gear lever, how about fitting one from an R? The only problem would be the white stitching instead of the red.
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I have always found the gear change to be fine. Much better as standard than my previous car, Astra J Vxr, which really was very sloppy. Having said this though I recently fitted an Audi shift bracket. The number was kindly provided by another forum member ! This has made the changes that bit more enjoyable and slightly shorter as well.
Nice ! i'd like to know more about the Audi Shift Bracket. Is there a pic or part number so i can research it a little more ?
The only thing i'm not really liking is the gear stick itself, with all the indentations. (it trying to be a golf ball) but & i'll be the first to admit, that really is a petty quirk of mine ! Would rather it be a solid leather shift, that would feel nicer in the hand.
The part number was 8J0711046E (ignore the 051 on the image below as 046E includes the attachment for the cable) and cost £37.26 +vat.
(https://s6.postimg.cc/a5bf73ez5/20171102_135054.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/mwpldlor1/)
As for the gear lever, how about fitting one from an R? The only problem would be the white stitching instead of the red.
Where was that from mate?
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Just from my local Audi dealer. Just took a couple of days to get it in :smiley:
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I've found the mk7 gearboxes to vary a bit.
My PP GTI gearbox had a slick enough change but I never quite fully got on with it for some reason. I can't put my finger on why.
It had a metallic feel to the change which was pleasant enough but I could beat the syncromesh at times when 'on it'.
Mind you my brain to hand coordination is pretty shocking at times.
When I jumped in the R immediately after signing a few bits of paper the improved gear change was one of the first things to hit me. The gearing was a little too low in the lower gears on the R but the actual change was really nice. I did add a bump stop to the clutch pedal (which I forgot to remove when I sold the car) which made a little bit of difference to things. The engine was so much more responsive once the turbo was on song making gear changes a frequent thing and I never had cause to complain (that I remember).
The GTD gearbox must've been ok as I really have no recollection of it! I only had the car for a very short time and did sub 1000miles so... yeah.
The Clubsport hardly gets driven (someone will get a bargain one day when I sell the thing) but does seem to have quite a slick change. I really enjoy changing gears in that car.
I'm sure there are people on here who are familiar with the different gearbox codes that will know the differences between the boxes themselves and clutches etc.
For all i know all four of those gearboxes might be nigh on identical and it's merely my perception and manufacturing variations that have made the difference :undecided:
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My PP GTI gearbox had a slick enough change but I never quite fully got on with it for some reason. I can't put my finger on why.
It had a metallic feel to the change which was pleasant enough but I could beat the syncromesh at times when 'on it'.
This rings true with me and my PP. There was nothing wrong with the gear change as such, pretty smooth with a mechanical feel as the lever slotted home. But I just wasn't quite satisfied and felt there was room for improvement. The Audi part being oem and very reasonably priced (I do like my pocket to be happy too :wink:) seemed well worth a go and I'm so glad I did. It has really sharpened up the changes feeling tighter and what I expect from a more performance orientated car. It may not be to everyone's taste and it certainly isn't an essential mod but I still appreciate the difference on every drive. I also removed the assistor spring on the pedal and added a bump stop both of which have made minor but worthwhile differences.
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All I can say is that IMHO it is ok. Sometimes it feels the good side of that, sometimes it feels pretty damn average, so the wrong side of that. However, the clutch feels untrustworthy (think mine might be having issues, unless something else that appears quite similar to clutch slip) & for an engine with supposedly lots of low down torque, that side feels less than good as well.
The big thing for me is having had a Honda R in the past. Yes it doesn't have the torque, but different planet in terms of a manual 'box.