Its official! The Ed30 is soft - and the GTI and R32 for that matter

[Ollieb7]

Well IMO at least.
I mentioned it in another thread and now that i have had more time to experience the 'outer edges of the envelope' i have come to the conclusion that it does need stiffening up a bit.
I think what VW has produced is a car for every man - now as much as i'd like to grace myself as not the average joe  i do like to have a car that gives good feedback. The probelm (hence the post to see if others think the same) is as you enter the corner the car does have a certain amont of roll before the suspesion takes the load and the car 'hunkers' down through the corner. This is fine through maybe one corner but take a couple of left / right corners in quick sucsession and the cars weight is deffo felt by the slight unsettleing motion before the 'hunker'. Now back to the every man bit .. this is obvously designed 'in' to make sure the car rides well (for comfort) hence the loss of cornering performance - but i have bought a GTI!!! Added to this the car has such fantasic composure on the straight that it is well and truely in the licence loosing bracket - this car really shifts but doesn't feel it until the big numbers (on a track of course!) as it is soooooo smooth.
Im obviously on the look out for the magical -20mm drop (for austhetic reasons) but having farted around with cars before i'm well aware that you can mess things up - so not only am i writing to see if im i a bit harder than you soft lot,  i'm also appealing that you spend your money and make your mistakes before i do!
Any opinions welcome!

[bmx]

as i posted in your other thread , i would recomend eibach pro kit springs very oem ride lowered 20 mm
and then h&r anti roll bars 28mm/24mm ones

[TagnuT]

Still running her in at the moment, so I haven't got that far in the "performance envelope".
Mind you compared to my MKiv its like chalk & cheese. Corner>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ROLL.

[Ollieb7]

Still running her in at the moment, so I haven't got that far in the "performance envelope".
Mind you compared to my MKiv its like chalk & cheese. Cornrer>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>ROLL.

Agree the mkiv was appaling!

[Ollieb7]

as i posted in your other thread , i would recomend eibach pro kit springs very oem ride lowered 20 mm
and then h&r anti roll bars 28mm/24mm ones

Thanks bmx although i dont know where you got the -20mm from as i was tolde 10 to 15mm from eibach. You wouldn't think it but all the difference between a good stance and chav can all be within 5mm!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

OK, back to basics.

Ollie, I can't exactly work out what specific area of the handling which is of concern to you?  You mention the need for "stiffening", and "lowering" - yet your only concern, from your post, would seem to be body roll on turn in!  What about "mid-corner" poise - is that OK?   From your "hunkering down", I would actually deduce that it is OK.

The way I read it, if it is only the roll on initial turn in, then uprated anti roll bars would be the most appropriate remedy.  This would not affect the comfort, nor the "speed-bump to front splitter interface", which stiffer and/or lower springs would.  You are rightly cautious about lowering - as this can upset the geometry/wheel alignment.  It shouldn't be too much of an issue on the front, as it has the McPherson struts, which are reasonably tollerant of lowering.  However, the rear has fully independent multi-link suspension, and that type of arrangement does not like being lowered, as it will bu&&er up the geometry.

Give us more detail to your concerns.

[wantmygti]

I think those be wise words of Sean. I would be worried about lowering the car - it is already 15mm down on the standard golf range and there are too many spped bumps round my way for a rock hard ride.

The GTi is supposed to be a compromise between every day car and sports car, and I think it achieves this. If you want it to handle like it's on rails then a 4 seater 1.3 ton VW prob wasn't the best choice.

[Ollieb7]

I think those be wise words of Sean. I would be worried about lowering the car - it is already 15mm down on the standard golf range and there are too many spped bumps round my way for a rock hard ride.

The GTi is supposed to be a compromise between every day car and sports car, and I think it achieves this. If you want it to handle like it's on rails then a 4 seater 1.3 ton VW prob wasn't the best choice.

Wise words indeed. I don't know where this -15mm from a normal GTI comes from apart from Autocars duff assessment - as far as i was aware the suspension height was the same as a GTI.
My previous old mans heavy weight but stiff BMW 330D M sport handled great and had none of the characteristics that i'm talkin about and neither should a 'GTI' imo. Although i totally agree the Golf is the 'perfect' compromise - i knew that before i bought the car (hence i didn't go for the sharp handeling, poorely built, massive depreciation R26 Megane)- but i do think there is room and very good potential for the Golf to be just a bit sharper.

Tha car does have roll - a 'very' approx 2" before the mid corner composuer which, granted is very composed. The roll it's self is not the problem its the way the car handles it's weight (odd timing and spounge like in feedback) during the roll that is slightly unsettling, and as i've mentioed string a few opposite corners together..... This is difficult to mention in words as it is what you feel and they are small increments.
For ref i raced my Caterham in hillclimbs for a few seasons so i'm well aware of how to set up a cars balance and my wifes 182 (sharp to the point of being twitchy but great) has none of these characteristics

The uprated anti roll bars sound a good compromise although i havn't ruled out the 10 - 15mm eibach lowering springs with the correct geometry set up - what type and experince have you got T.T on a MKV Golf especially with the former?

[Hurdy]

SOFT!!!!....SOFT!!!!

I suppose it depends on your perspective and how far you want to push your car.

If I'd just got out of a Caterham...then yes it would feel verrrryyy soft

If I'd just got out of my wifes 1.2 Punto (don't laugh!) then it would feel like the best handling car in the world

For everyday usage on the road I wouldn't alter the suspension. If I were thinking about doing track days then maybe I would.

IMO Golf suspension has been set just right, all you have to do is look at the reviews of dozens of journo's (many of whom have motorsport backgrounds) and the positive responses of how the car handles.

wantmygti sums it up perfectly:-

If you want it to handle like it's on rails then a 4 seater 1.3 ton VW prob wasn't the best choice.

[Hully]

I agree with Hurdy. Compared to my current MkIV GTI, the MkV GTI/Ed30/R32 handles like a dream.  But compared to the 911 I had a couple of years ago, yes the MkV is a bit soft.  Its all about perspective!