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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: PhilMill on 18 June 2019, 18:42

Title: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: PhilMill on 18 June 2019, 18:42
Hi all, so I'm thinking about changing my Mk6 GTI for a MK7 R, how is the road noise on the 7? my 6 is so noisy on most road surfaces, I'm hoping its much improved... Another question, what are the "must haves" on the 7's??

Thanks, Phil

Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Exonian on 18 June 2019, 19:04
New or used mk7?
The only “must have” I can think of is a PedalBox from DTUK or similar importer which you add yourself anyway. Without it you’ll wonder where the extra 100 horses are much of the time.
Spec wise all the essentials are covered in the newer cars. Even the early ones had all the basics. Depends on what you want from the car.

As for tyre noise. If you get Bridgestones they’re noisy! Contis are quite noisy too. There’s a good few of us on here who had mk6’s previously and I’d say road noise was probably similar between them.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: king monkey on 18 June 2019, 19:11
I don’t find my R noisy on the road. Certainly no more than my Gti’s or S3.

As for options, the deal breaker for me was prets. Really not a fan of the Cadiz. Wouldn’t have bought an R without them.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: PhilMill on 18 June 2019, 20:52
Thanks guys, I'm looking at a 2016 R but no leather, heated seats or Rev camera. not sure any are deal breaker.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: mcmaddy on 18 June 2019, 21:15
Didn't 2016 Rs have the winter pack as standard? My December 16 GTi does so maybe better looking for a later 2016 if you want the camera.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Hertsman on 19 June 2019, 07:56
Coming up to 3 years in my MK 7 R and can only make comment based on the set up of 19" Pretoria and Dynamic Chassis Control but road noise is certainly something you do not notice unless on a very poor or concrete surface which all cars suffer from the acoustics through these stretches.

On a decent/smooth road and in any setting really, but normal and comfort are very quiet, in fact its one of the complaints sometimes is that you cannot hear the exhaust note as cabin is so well insulated. 

Everyone has a different must have but same for me as comment below in the R deserves the Pretoria Wheels and I personally would always option the DCC given it genuinely gives you both great comfort and firmer ride when needed (Also as noise is a concern for you, then I would say a must also)

5 Door and DSG are a must for me, as carry passengers a reasonable amount of time and the DSG in combinations with the standard auto hold is perfect for the commute and the sometimes motorway crawl - There is also the paddles for when you want to take over the gear selection

Just as an added note, expect a drop in fuel consumption, you will get circa 40 MPG on a long run, but if do mixed driving you likely at best not creep over 32 and if drive relatively spiritedly more like 28-30 MPG

Personally like the MK 7 R as it keeps its analogue dials and it also has the twin u shaped DRL so you can spot one coming at you readily - the MK 7.5 range all has twin DRL which is nice for the owner but it removed one of the R differentiator - The GTI is the big winner in the MK 7.5 changes as the red stripe always looked a little awkward but its perfect on the MK 7.5

The Golf Performance range comes well equipped as standard so the must have list is small, its more a nice to have list

I have got used to rear camera which never thought use, but do regularly now.

The R will be a very different drive from your MK 6 GTI think you will be surprised just how good it is on comparison.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: dubber36 on 19 June 2019, 08:12
Are you sure your 6 doesn't have 'sawtooth' wear on the rear tyres? Very, very common with them due to incorrect rear suspension geometry. It can sound like your wheel bearings are about to explode. My 6 was as quite as could be on 18" Dunlops. The 7 should be too.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: PhilMill on 19 June 2019, 09:21
Thanks guys, very helpful info. Looks like the one i had my eyes on my not be an option, I now realise it doesn't have Nav either. Although super low miles not sure its the right one. I'll keep looking, plenty out there.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Hertsman on 19 June 2019, 09:25
Thanks guys, very helpful info. Looks like the one i had my eyes on my not be an option, I now realise it doesn't have Nav either. Although super low miles not sure its the right one. I'll keep looking, plenty out there.

If it has car play (you have to check as it was a payable option on the MK 7) that nav is not a must have as you can play google maps, as I am lazy and car is going back soon I tend to use google maps as they are always up to date and it works perfectly well
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Jim_mk7.5 on 19 June 2019, 09:55
Thanks guys, very helpful info. Looks like the one i had my eyes on my not be an option, I now realise it doesn't have Nav either. Although super low miles not sure its the right one. I'll keep looking, plenty out there.

I'd be seeing if you can do a deal with Hertsman to get his!  :smiley:
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: barrym381 on 19 June 2019, 10:18
Thanks guys, very helpful info. Looks like the one i had my eyes on my not be an option, I now realise it doesn't have Nav either. Although super low miles not sure its the right one. I'll keep looking, plenty out there.

I'd be seeing if you can do a deal with Hertsman to get his!  :smiley:

I've sent him a pm  :grin:
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Exonian on 19 June 2019, 13:47
Thanks guys, I'm looking at a 2016 R but no leather, heated seats or Rev camera. not sure any are deal breaker.

I owned a couple of mk6 GTI’s (and two mk5’s which are basically the same car) and have had four mk7’s including 18 months in an R (although I didn’t really use it for the last four months so foolishly sold it).

As always with a used car, buy on condition not what toys it has.

Many early R’s were originally cheap lease deal cars so check them over very carefully.
A lot of them live a hard life and there are also a lot around that look very well cared for. They are very popular cars, I see at least one every day which means there are a lot around as I don’t travel very far!
The reason there are so many around is they are damned good.
What they lose in sporty looks they make up for in sheer dynamic competence and speed.

To elaborate on my previous answer, you don’t *need* any optional extras. Any it has are a bonus.
Rear camera useful but far from essential. It sits too low to be of proper use when using the side mirrors too. I had one but don’t now and don’t miss it one bit.

Nav? How often do you use it? A phone in a cradle and Bluetooth voice instructions will do just as good a job if not better if just occasional use. I don’t rate the basic VW navs. Maybe the Pro is much better. The very late ones in the FL cars seem better than the early ones, my son has one and gets much better use out of it then me, he uses voice control, mine doesn’t have that.

DCC? I’ve had 4 mk7’s, three on 19” wheels and never once felt the need for DCC. It’s a sporty car and rides well considering.

Leather? No ta. The standard cloth R seats are uninspiring to look at but the alcantara bolsters are grippy. The seats are comfy and you don’t need heated cloth seats unless you have a medical condition.

There are two ways of looking at it.
What would I really like? Which means be prepared for a potential wait.
What can I live without? Most extras if you’re honest with yourself. The car comes well equipped as standard. The later the car the better the kit but the more money you will have to shell out.

Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: sjw on 19 June 2019, 14:02

They are very popular cars, I see at least one every day which means there are a lot around as I don’t travel very far!


Maybe you keep seeing the same one!
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Exonian on 19 June 2019, 14:12

They are very popular cars, I see at least one every day which means there are a lot around as I don’t travel very far!


Maybe you keep seeing the same one!

 :grin:
No, I see different ones all the time. I live in a very touristy area with a bustling city just up the road.
Even locally there are quite a lot of them. I live in a road with seven houses and the owner of one of those had an R when I moved in! Where I lived previously there were four white R’s within two miles when I had mine. Considering one and a half miles of that was open countryside that’s quite a few  :grin:
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: TweedsideR on 19 June 2019, 15:55
Like a couple of guys in earlier posts, a must-have for me is Prets as I too hate the Cadiz.

However I have just discovered the down side: due to a recent pothole event I had the rims checked and one of them is badly dented on the inner rim. It doesn't lose pressure but there's a definite vibration so a new wheel it has to be.

Called VW and found that a new Pretoria wheel is £930.00! I guess for that price it comes in a gold-plated box with a silk lining! I'll find out tomorrow.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: PhilMill on 20 June 2019, 11:05
Thanks guys, I've narrowed it down to 2, both very low miles, ones a 16 and the other a 66 with Appleplay. you're right about wheels, but I've accepted these as something I can change later. I saw the kenwood "plugin"unit for the Nav so not worried about that either. Just waiting the one to be prep'd then will go and make the decision, Red or grey.....
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: dubber36 on 20 June 2019, 11:22
Grey.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: SRGTD on 20 June 2019, 11:29
Thanks guys, I've narrowed it down to 2, both very low miles, ones a 16 and the other a 66 with Appleplay. you're right about wheels, but I've accepted these as something I can change later. I saw the kenwood "plugin"unit for the Nav so not worried about that either. Just waiting the one to be prep'd then will go and make the decision, Red or grey.....

If everything checked out on the 66 plate with Car Play that’d be the one I’d go for, as you could use Waze or Google maps via Car Play for Nav.

Don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s a VW accessories 18” version of the Pretoria alloys - available in either Silver or Gloss Black. Significantly cheaper than the 19” factory fit version. They aren’t as light as the 19” Prets, probably on a par with the 18” Cadiz weight-wise. Part no’s of the 18” Prets;

Silver; 5G0071498A 88Z
Black; 5G0071498A AX1
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Jim_mk7.5 on 20 June 2019, 11:37
Thanks guys, I've narrowed it down to 2, both very low miles, ones a 16 and the other a 66 with Appleplay. you're right about wheels, but I've accepted these as something I can change later. I saw the kenwood "plugin"unit for the Nav so not worried about that either. Just waiting the one to be prep'd then will go and make the decision, Red or grey.....

If everything checked out on the 66 plate with Car Play that’d be the one I’d go for, as you could use Waze or Google maps via Car Play for Nav.

Don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s a VW accessories 18” version of the Pretoria alloys - available in either Silver or Gloss Black. Significantly cheaper than the 19” factory fit version. They aren’t as light as the 19” Prets, probably on a par with the 18” Cadiz weight-wise. Part no’s of the 18” Prets;

Silver; 5G0071498A 88Z
Black; 5G0071498A AX1

Definitely cheaper, here's the black ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Wheels-Volkswagen-Genuine-Black-Pretoria-7-5-J-x-18-ET51-5G0-071-498A-AX1/123074241182?hash=item1ca7cbe29e:g:2bgAAOSwyytashrd
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: SRGTD on 20 June 2019, 12:07
Thanks guys, I've narrowed it down to 2, both very low miles, ones a 16 and the other a 66 with Appleplay. you're right about wheels, but I've accepted these as something I can change later. I saw the kenwood "plugin"unit for the Nav so not worried about that either. Just waiting the one to be prep'd then will go and make the decision, Red or grey.....

If everything checked out on the 66 plate with Car Play that’d be the one I’d go for, as you could use Waze or Google maps via Car Play for Nav.

Don’t know if you’re aware, but there’s a VW accessories 18” version of the Pretoria alloys - available in either Silver or Gloss Black. Significantly cheaper than the 19” factory fit version. They aren’t as light as the 19” Prets, probably on a par with the 18” Cadiz weight-wise. Part no’s of the 18” Prets;

Silver; 5G0071498A 88Z
Black; 5G0071498A AX1

Definitely cheaper, here's the black ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Wheels-Volkswagen-Genuine-Black-Pretoria-7-5-J-x-18-ET51-5G0-071-498A-AX1/123074241182?hash=item1ca7cbe29e:g:2bgAAOSwyytashrd

Similar price but slightly cheaper here;
Silver; https://vdsshop.co.uk/collections/mk7-5-golf-r/products/vw-18-pretoria-alloy-wheels
Black; https://vdsshop.co.uk/products/vw-18-pretoria-alloy-wheel-set-18-x-7-5-5-x-112-et51-gloss-black
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: PhilMill on 20 June 2019, 12:15
Interesting info there, very helpful. Thanks.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: Watts on 20 June 2019, 13:00
If it helps, I saw a set of Cadiz where the owner had blacked out parts of the silver sections and they actually looked really good. I think it was a kit he'd bought rather than a one off. Might be worth researching. I do think Prets look great but they are really expensive to replace and 18" tyres are considerably cheaper too. Google VW Cadiz wheel wrap, there seems to be a few options. Much cheaper than a second set of wheels.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: SRGTD on 20 June 2019, 13:26
If it helps, I saw a set of Cadiz where the owner had blacked out parts of the silver sections and they actually looked really good. I think it was a kit he'd bought rather than a one off. Might be worth researching. I do think Prets look great but they are really expensive to replace and 18" tyres are considerably cheaper too. Google VW Cadiz wheel wrap, there seems to be a few options. Much cheaper than a second set of wheels.

Here’s two different designs of vinyl overlays for VW Cadiz alloys;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-R-Mk7-7-5-18-Cadiz-Wheel-decal-Graphic-Logo-stickers-inserts-OEM-/123298918412

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-Golf-R-Mk7-7-5-18-Cadiz-Wheel-decal-Graphic-Logo-stickers-inserts-OEM-/123298953187

I think I prefer the second set.

Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: PhilMill on 20 June 2019, 15:58
That does make a massive difference. Thanks, will defo do that in the short term.
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: david25 on 20 June 2019, 18:37
Hello, what tyres do you have on your MK6?

I think this is the most important factor in road noise. Beyond that both cars can be improved with the Bluemotion / egolf undertrays
Title: Re: Road noise on MK7 R.
Post by: king monkey on 20 June 2019, 19:26
If it helps, I saw a set of Cadiz where the owner had blacked out parts of the silver sections and they actually looked really good. I think it was a kit he'd bought rather than a one off. Might be worth researching. I do think Prets look great but they are really expensive to replace and 18" tyres are considerably cheaper too. Google VW Cadiz wheel wrap, there seems to be a few options. Much cheaper than a second set of wheels.

Here’s two different designs of vinyl overlays for VW Cadiz alloys;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-R-Mk7-7-5-18-Cadiz-Wheel-decal-Graphic-Logo-stickers-inserts-OEM-/123298918412

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-Golf-R-Mk7-7-5-18-Cadiz-Wheel-decal-Graphic-Logo-stickers-inserts-OEM-/123298953187

I think I prefer the second set.

They look so much better. I’ve got their vinyl door sill protectors and they’re really good quality.

(https://i.postimg.cc/15GRv9XB/B47537-A5-C4-B2-4351-AC5-A-3672-B9-C077-F2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7fLy6rgJ)