Adaptive Chasis Control - Worth £815?

[Mr Savage]

Hello guys.

Drove an R the other day without Adaptive Chasis Control and was surprised to see you still get Race Mode in the driving profiles and the suspension in race mode wasn't harsh at all.

After speccing this on my GTI I've never felt any difference in any suspension setting (maybe very slight when being pushed) and ive asked all my passengers if they feel any difference while I switch modes, to which they say "no" so...

Adaptive Chasis Control, a bit crap for £815? I'd say so...will not be speccing this again.

[fredgroves]

Opinion is very much divided on this one.

Personally I like it and would spec it again...

PS its "dynamic chasis control" (DCC) - ACC is the cruise control

[monkeyhanger]

Very divided….

But most that splashed the cash are loathed to tell you that it didn’t do much for them.

After having it on 2 Sciroccos (as standard equipment), I didn’t feel the need to spec. Someone is bound to chip in and say the 2 systems aren’t quite the same – the newer version on the MK7 is a little better, not much. The Scirocco and MK6 Golf benefitted from DCC because the standard ride on the MK5/6 Golf was so much crashier than it is on the MK7 (and I’m assuming it would’ve been just as bad on the Scirocco if it didn’t come with DCC as standard.

Unless you’ve got back issues, or are speccing it to stop your great Aunty Maud moaning in the back when you take her out for Sunday lunch 4 times a year, I could easily do without it on a ride as comfortable as a MK7, on 18” wheels at least. Hopefully mine on the 19” wheels won’t be much less compliant than my current 18” Nogaros on Flintstone tyres if it comes with decent rubber or I swap out early days.

It can be a little confusing that VW used to call it ACC, but now call it DCC as they now call the radar/cruise system ACC.

[mcmaddy]

If you can't feel any difference at all then I'd be checking if it's actually working properly. I can definitely feel the difference in mine especially between comfort and sport mode.

[kevinm]

If the car does not have DCC then the modes will not change the suspension, only other systems in the car (engine, sound generator, gearbox etc..)

It is a lot of money and if I had to give up one option in the car I would give the DCC up. Having said that, it makes the ride with VWR springs very comfortable. I run the suspension in comfort 95% of the time and I do notice when I select ECO in the drive modes as this brings normal firmness in the suspension. Sport mode make the ride very rough over sharp bumps.

[fredgroves]

Thinking about it just now, its not like say not having a sun roof or two bar - if you don't have a sun roof or tow bar, you don't have a sun roof or tow bar.

With DCC you still have suspension.

Its also not like not having 19" wheels or metallic paint, because you can see those things externally.

Its like all of the convenience electronics - lane assist, parking, keyless or even the rear view camera - its stuff that you can still do but maybe not as conveniently and electronics does help.

That's how I would describe it and you either love convenience technology or you don't.

[wigit]

Do not compare the system on the 7 to the Scirocco and Mk6, the 7 system takes this on a level

Was woeful on the Scirocco and why I never had it on the Mk6, the flaw was the steering could not be adjusted separately from the damping, so comfort meant lighter steering

Our mike 5 always road better and had far better steering feel

I had a 7 GTI on loan with this and actually liked it so much it has been specced on both Rs

The individual setting is what makes the difference as you can set the car how you like, also with the lowering springs its damping set to comfort for most of UK roads

[Hawaii-Five-O]

I have similar views to 'monkey hanger' on this. I had DCC as standard on my Scirocco. You could feel the different settings but the ride was always very firm, noisy and crashy even over fairly minor bumps in the road. This was mainly due to the wider spec tyres and the older platform it ran on.

This experience is why I decided not to spec DCC on my new GTI. And I don't regret it one jot. The ride, noise suppression and ability to cope with large bumps and poor road surface are night and day compared to the old Golf platform. This MQB platform has brought the car up a level.

I say save yourself £815.

However this topic will prove very divisive

[mullermn]

We've discussed this quite a few times before.

Being now 15 months in on my GTI my opinion is still the same - DCC makes a noticeable difference but not enough to be excited about. I would probably rethink having it again.

[GolfTi]

Comfortable cruiser, everyday hatch or go kart - the choice is yours.

Worth every penny to me. I had it on my last GTI, I have it on this one and will have it on the next.

To me it's about the flexibility it adds, it's very much a mood thing.