Koni FSD

[flywalker]

Has anyone fitted  koni fsd shocks ? Volkswagen driver mag seemed to be well pleased with them. Just wondering  has anyone else
tried them . Recently  traded my Gti on 17 '  alloys for a new Gti on 18 ' . Grip is great and love the look but
comfort has suffered. The roads around here are pretty rough.  Any feed back would be great.

[aahgolf]

I was about to post the same question. Seriously thinking of having them installed given the write-ups I've read, esp. in VW Driver. And I'm only on 17" but the ride quality at low speed particularly is very poor.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I'm only on 17" but the ride quality at low speed particularly is very poor.

What tyres do you have?  Different make tyres can dramatically alter many aspects, and one aspect is low speed ride quality.

Another issue which can dramatically affect ride quality is low ambient temperatures!

Ride quality on the GTI with the standard 17"s was never described as anywhere near poor!

[aahgolf]

I have ContiSport 2s, second set on the front as the first set lasted 28K with 3mm left.

You may well be right that different tyres will improve things, but a new set would cost the same as the new dampers really (around £500). The standard dampers don't deal with the secondary modes that you get from rough surfaces, which Koni FSD claim to. I'm also a good bit older than many GTI drivers and probably less tolerant! Everyone who's been in the car has noticed how bad it is though, including people under 20...

What I would say is that on the super-smooth tarmac on French autoroutes the car is fine!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I have ContiSport 2s,

Ahh, there is the answer to your probs.  As you mention below regarding autoroutes, the Conti SportContact2s were optimised for superfast, rock steady cruising along German Autobahns and the like.  As a downside, they are well known for their lack of low speed ride and comfort!

second set on the front as the first set lasted 28K with 3mm left.

  Strewth - 28K - miles I presume, or kilometres???  Without rotation???

You don't exactly "lean" on your tyres do you???  I'll be lucky if I will get 8k mi from the fronts on the GTI, but I am trying to wear them, as I hate them (Dunlop SportMaxx)! 

You may well be right that different tyres will improve things, but a new set would cost the same as the new dampers really (around £500).

Yes, but tyres are a consumable item anyway!  Dampers are not.  If £500 is too much, then just replace an axle set of different tyres, and see how you get on.

The standard dampers don't deal with the secondary modes that you get from rough surfaces, which Koni FSD claim to.

Huh . . . that "secondary modes" sounds like some simplistic marketing waffle!  I am very conversant with detailed damper operation; including compression, rebound (both high and low speed), heat degredation, remote resevoirs, gas charging, adaptive, cross linking, etc, etc.

I personally never find the slow speed comfort poor on my GTI (which has the 18"s), or any of the numerous demonstrators which had either 17"s or 18"s.  OK, the ride isn't limo smooth, but then that is not what the GTI is about!

I'm also a good bit older than many GTI drivers and probably less tolerant! Everyone who's been in the car has noticed how bad it is though, including people under 20...

I'm no spring chicken either, and have a medical injury, which places specific demands on cars I buy and use!  I can honestly say that my wifes previous Mk4 Astra had worse slow speed handling, and my fathers C-Max (and his two previous A classes) is utterly, utterly, agonisingly awful around town!

What I would say is that on the super-smooth tarmac on French autoroutes the car is fine!

Mentioned above. 

At the end of the day, if you choose to replace your dampers with the Koni ones, that will be classed as a modification, and you will have to notify your insurance.  Some insurers actually refuse to cover modified cars, others will load your premium.

If you choose a different make of tyre, keeping the same size and load/speed index, then it is not a modification, and therefore will have no effect on insurance!

Some of my recommendations for "comfier" tyres (dependent on availability of OEM sizes, and your "estimated" useage from getting 28k from fronts!) would be any Michelin, but paricularly the Michelin Primacy HP http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=20060301144632, or the Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=20060301144538.  The Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=20060215151339 is the ultimate tyre for performance and handling, though I fear it may be slightly over-specced for your personal needs! 

Of other makes, Conti PremiumContact2 http://www.contipremiumcontact2.co.uk/ may be better that the SportContact2, though it too is more focussed for high speed handling, rather than low speed comfort.  I would avoid Bridgestone at all costs, there are pleanty of reports at how useless they are in the wet!  Avon ZV3 http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/?page=tyres&method=detail1&tid=3 may be a possibility, but I have no personal experience of these.  Fulda, http://fulda.tiremanager.com/main.asp?&dum=732656173160220071209241 another German manufacturer might have an offering, and are well regarded, but again, I have no personal experience.  Yokohama are quite a comfortable tyre, but you'd probably attract all the baseball-cap wearing chavs every time you park up! 

I hope i've given you some other options to chew over, any more Qs, then ask away!

Rgds

[aahgolf]

Well what a very comprehensive reply! Thanks for all that.

I'm a mechanical engineer (by degree) so the secondary modes thing does resonate with me (pls. excuse the pun), and as that is what Koni FSD claim to deal with with their oil bypass valve, then it all kind of makes sense!

But having said that, maybe I will try some new tyres on the rear first (now at 35K and 4mm left).  I was amazed that I got 28K from the front tyres (I don't drive that slowly!), and the only reason I changed them at 3mm was that it was coming up to winter and I went to the Alps in the GTI at Christmas and didn't want to have marginal tyre tread depth for that trip. And perhaps the point that they lasted so long has something to do with ride quality as well, as you suggest.

Noted the point about modifications and insurance, I did check with my insurers and their answer was that they didn't know, but I left it as something to do if I go ahead.

Thanks again for the suggestions:)

[flywalker]

Thanks for info . I guess the request for feed back from someone who has experienced the FSD shocks was to establish if VW driver & Koni s claims are  justified or just " marketing waffle". Are Bridgestone s  ill regarded for comfort ?  Anyhow any feedback  on FSD shocks would be well received .

[RobGTI]

Hi. Not posted on here for a while since I had my Mk3 16v, anyway I've now got a Leon FR TFSI which while is not a GTI is not far off Anyway I find all aspects of the ride harsh (low and high speed) the car seems to take a while to settle, and is quite jarring. (Even compared to my last car a Mini Cooper with sports suspension). I have the optional 18s with Pirelli Rosso P Zeros and was thinking of the Koni FSDs as other people on the seatcupra forum have recommended. Anyway reading this thread I see the comments abouts tyre brand effecting low ride speed, anyone got an opninion on these tyres??

Also anyone tried the Konis yet and what results did you get?

[Phil mcavity]

i agree with the ride quality of the SEAT,I nearly traded my GTI for a ALTEA FR, loved the looks but got out the dealership carpark to realise the SEATS ride quality was poor, very loud cabin noise, and wasnt a mark on the VW although the salesmen in the stealership were bigging up their Cars and Slating VW in comparision, so my ALL DAY  test drive lasted 15 minutes!!!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

I have the optional 18s with Pirelli Rosso P Zeros and was thinking of the Koni FSDs as other people on the seatcupra forum have recommended. Anyway reading this thread I see the comments abouts tyre brand effecting low ride speed, anyone got an opninion on these tyres??

I have tried a car, an RS4, with P Zeros, but havn't been able to compare back-to-back - yet.  Can't say that I noticed any ride harshness - but then I had my mind on other things - like I want my own RS4!

My own RS4 is due within the next two weeks, and it looks like they are coming with ContiSportContact3s.  Now I know the ContiSportContact2s were quite harsh, and also suffered with tram-lining.  Swapping to Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s gave noticeable improvements in many areas of the Contis, including comfort, stability, lateral grip, wet grip - so at the moment, my vote would go to the Mich Pilot Sport PS2s.

Ping me, or bump the thread in three weeks, and see what fresh info I have!