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.
OK, just to confirm the "official" VW suspension figures. The GTI and Ed30 are 15mm lower than the rest of the Golf V range, and the .:R32 is a further 5mm, at 20mm lower (probably due to its' extra lard - I mean weight!
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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.
Yes, but you missed the crucial point. Park the GTI alongside the BMW, or even the Astra VXR, and you will notice just how much taller the Golf is. The Golf has a higher centre of gravity, defined by the overall height of the bodyshell, and it is that very reason why the Golf appears to roll into corners more!
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.
But you could say that about anything, just as Ron Dennis or Frank Williams would always like a little extra!
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.
Hmmm - whilst I'll stand by my initial suggestion of uprated anti-roll bars, you also seem to be describing a tyre issue - lack of tyre pressure actually. What tyres, exactly, are on each corner, and what pressure are you running.
As you may remember, I have the Dunlop SP SportMaxx, and I hate them. But one thing I did to improve the "jelly" like cornering feel was to tweak the tyre pressures - the standard pressures for "normal" loads are 35 psi front and rear. After some considerable experimentation, I now run 43 psi in the front, and 37 psi in the rear. The "squidgyness" has nigh-on disappeared, and the tread is still wearing consistently evenly.
If you are on the same Dunlops, try using my amended pressures, and see how you get on. If you are on different boots, you can still experiment with tyre pressures, maybe upping the fronts by 4psi and giving it a try!
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
Ahh, but hillclimbs are relatively low speed corners, whereas you seem to be complaining about high speed cornering. Whilst the fundamentals may be similar, the remedies are quite different. Also, a Caterham only weighs about the same as two of my Wifes cheese sandwiches, and has no sheet metal above to keep your hair dry!
- and the GTI has eaten a few too many pies!
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?
I personally don't have any MkV Golf experience, regarding lowering. However, with the Golf being a hatchback, rather than a saloon, the "high" part of the weight is mainly carried over the rear axle - so this would make sense to actually lower the rear. However, as stated in an earlier post, the multi-link rear suspension, irrespective of vehicle make, can be seriously upset by lowering - just ask any Vectra owner who lowered it - the front end was fine, but the rear geometery was seriously bu&&ered up.
So, my personal advice would be to refrain from lowering, UNLESS, you actually get it done by someone like RSD, who would have already gone through the "teething" problems with alignment, and subsequently developed their own revised geometery settings.
