8.5 Clubsport and no DCC

[arciere]

Hi all, new to the forum and apologies if variations of this question have already been asked and answered, I promise I've read them all.

I just signed the contract for my new lease and it's the third Golf in a row, but this time a Clubsport 8.5 (I come from an 8 Life and a 8 Style, both 1.5 TSI).

I know that with the CS it is going to be quite a jump in any case, but I'm a bit worried for not having chosen the DCC option. For personal reasons (trip to South Italy) I need the car in time for summer, but the dealer told me that I'm looking already at late June if I'm lucky, the DCC option would've most likely added at least 4 to 8 weeks.

Now, how much am I going to regret this? I live in London, short daily commute of a few miles and the occasional weekend trip to somewhere outside of London. I think the car itself is already way "sportier" than any other cars I've owned, so I'm not too worried about not getting the latest "sport mode experience". What I'm more concerned about is the daily drive and the occasional long trip. Will I notice a massive difference, compared to, say, the Style, in terms of comfort, or is it just a matter of adjusting the driving style accordingly, knowing that DCC is not there and the suspensions are what they are?

My trip to the South of Italy last summer was really enjoyable with the Style, apart from the not so comfy seats and the manual transmission when stuck in traffic, so I'd still be happy with anything vaguely comparable.

[Dav3smith]

The obvious thing to do would be to locate a car with DCC and one without and drive them both and see if there is much difference. There are nearly one hundred clubsports on Auto Trader and over two hundred GTis so I'm certain you could test drive both with and without if you phone around and express an interest.
Well worth the effort if you have it on your mind as it will always be in your head if you don't put it to rest.

[SRGTD]

We all have different perceptions of ride comfort / compliancy so what’s acceptable for one person won’t necessarily be so for another.

Wheel size (and tyre brand) will also be relevant factors when considering whether DCC is something you’d benefit from having so as @Dav3smith has suggested, driving different examples with / without DCC - on 18” and 19” wheels - is the best way to decide if DCC is something you’d benefit from having.

[arciere]

Thanks.

The Clubsport will have the stock 18" wheels, and I'm currently on the 17" on the Style. I did move from the 16" wheels on the Life to the 17" on the Style and I can't say I felt any noticeable difference.

Generally speaking, I think I'm quite "adaptable" when it comes to cars and I know already that the GTI is a different beast compared to the Style, DCC or no DCC. Maybe I just don't want to get the feeling that I've gone backwards 3 generations, in terms of comfort, by not opting for the DCC.

The only other car that I've recently driven for more than 10 minutes (2 weeks actually) was a Polestar 2, which I read is quite on the firm side when it comes to comfort and suspensions. So if the Clubsport is anywhere near that, I'd still be happy.

[ar899]

You should find the seats on the CS more comfortable than on the Life/Style (certainly on longer journeys). As others have noted, we are all different and depends on what you are used to - get a test drive if you can. Also depends (to a degree) on how long you will be keeping the car - easier to put up with something that isn't quite right on a relatively short lease as opposed to keeping it say 10 years+.

[WelshGolf]

This is really down to your personal preference of comfort. I've on the 4th performance golf with DCC and it doesn't bother me, even living in a city centre with bad roads. However most passengers complain about how bumpy it is.

[Hertsman]

Hi all, new to the forum and apologies if variations of this question have already been asked and answered, I promise I've read them all.

I just signed the contract for my new lease and it's the third Golf in a row, but this time a Clubsport 8.5 (I come from an 8 Life and a 8 Style, both 1.5 TSI).

I know that with the CS it is going to be quite a jump in any case, but I'm a bit worried for not having chosen the DCC option. For personal reasons (trip to South Italy) I need the car in time for summer, but the dealer told me that I'm looking already at late June if I'm lucky, the DCC option would've most likely added at least 4 to 8 weeks.

Now, how much am I going to regret this? I live in London, short daily commute of a few miles and the occasional weekend trip to somewhere outside of London. I think the car itself is already way "sportier" than any other cars I've owned, so I'm not too worried about not getting the latest "sport mode experience". What I'm more concerned about is the daily drive and the occasional long trip. Will I notice a massive difference, compared to, say, the Style, in terms of comfort, or is it just a matter of adjusting the driving style accordingly, knowing that DCC is not there and the suspensions are what they are?

My trip to the South of Italy last summer was really enjoyable with the Style, apart from the not so comfy seats and the manual transmission when stuck in traffic, so I'd still be happy with anything vaguely comparable.

Had 9 years of DCC on MK7 GTD, R and MK 7.5 TCR on 19" and now have a 2019 MK 7.5 R without DCC on 19" and unless the MK 8 is somehow very different, which doubt, the only difference would really be felt on the poorest of surface and not in any normal day to day driving.

If I could have had DCC I would have though, as it obviously gives you choice to the ride depending on road conditions, but the R we purchased was just too good a car all around in condition, service history and price to walk past seeking DCC. In summary its nice to have if can secure it, but not deal breaker.

Drive our present R without any thought there is no DCC its a really smooth drive and ride.

Personally used to avoid the comfort setting with DCC as was too comfortable and bouncy, and some passengers used to complain of car sickness, so used to run my DCC in normal.

Think it will be even less of an issue on 18" wheels.

You will find a huge difference to what been driving though, so be interested to read thoughts on the Clubsport in relation to Life/Style.

[fredgroves]

You'll be fine.

I test drove a mk8 with no DCC on 18's and it was fine.

I've had a Mk7.5 without DCC on 18's and it was fine.

19's.... maybe thats a different thing, but even then, probably not.

[Hertsman]

You'll be fine.

I test drove a mk8 with no DCC on 18's and it was fine.

I've had a Mk7.5 without DCC on 18's and it was fine.

19's.... maybe thats a different thing, but even then, probably not.

When we purchased our present Golf R the lack of DCC was my only concern as only ever had DCC on 19" and despite how good all around the car and the deal was, would have walked away from it after the test drive, but as stated above, its only on the poorest surface you would ever notice, outside of that, you would not know if had DCC or not. Nice to have, not a deal breaker.

Actually receiving my Cupra Terramar Friday and it has the new DCC with a 2-valve shock absorber as standard that apparently provides even more control of the surface, and lets see if that translates to real world experience.

[CarbonGTD]

Almost every owner will have their tuppence to throw in to this discussion (understandably) as ride quality is a notoriously personal thing - over-stiff ride for one driver is exactly what the next owner was hoping for (particularly in a GTI).

So clearly the best advice is to drive two different 8.5 Clubsports (one with DCC and one without - same size rims) if that is possible to arrange, before you decide.

I owned two 7.5 GTIs both on factory 19's and neither with DCC - for me the ride in both was firm but no problem at all.

I then ran an 8.5 R Line 1.5 TSI on factory upgrade 18's for a year and again I found the ride to be firm but no problem - interestingly though I noted that I had gone down from 19" to 18" wheels and off of GTI suspension but the ride felt just as firm as the Mk 7.5 GTI's on 19's....

I am now in an 8.5 GTI on standard 18's with standard suspension (no DCC) and the ride is every bit as firm as I would want it - particularly at low speed around town - I am actually binning the OEM Bridgestone S001 tyres early as their hard tyre walls are really not helping this.

So my 2p worth would be beware the harder ride of the 8.5 GTI - I wish now that I had gone for a DCC car.

Ride aside, the new 8.5 GTI is fantastic - goes harder than the 7.5 GTI PP and steering/handling is certainly improved - just watch that ride quality if you want it to handle all of the daily grind jobs for you as well as the weekend fun stuff.