I had the 3.2 DSG TT (Old model) and must admit it handled like a go cart....I was also a member of the TT owners club which came with loads of useful mods and hints and tips, just like this place.
Yeah, they are a good bunch in the TTOC - a really helpful and friendly forum - even for someone who never owned a TT!
The Haldex is, as mentioned, not "technically" a 4 wheel drive. As its monitors grip vs rpm vs wheel speed and ensures power is delivered to the four wheels correctly.
Sort of. The Haldex cannot alter the drive to the permanently driven front wheels. These are always driven, irrespective of the actual grip they can handle.
If required, it will put power to the rear wheels to ensure maximum traction.
Fully agree. But it is this very bit where some peeps get confused. Whilst the Haldex clutch may be able to lock at 100% clamping force, the actual torque distribution remains at exactly 50:50.
However, if pushed hard you can really notice the shift in ratio. its a noticeable change in noise and is actually quite brutal. Which can actually cause more instability....as its not "predicatable". I got caught out a few times on wet roundabouts and exiting corners....you stick the power down, and you can feel the car start to slide and then *BANG*...the haldex changes power delivery and the car snaps back...it certainly gives the handling "character".
Mirrors my own experiences. And certainly feels very rough and unrefined when compared to a Torsen 4wd. Whilst owners
may be able to get used to the quirkiness of the Haldex handling, particularly if they don't own any other 4wd cars, for me, it was just too much of a compromise. I am absolutely certain that had I have not gone for the GTI, and instead went for the R32 instead, I'd have been forever whinging about it, especially when comparing it back-to-back with my RS4.
You can install the Haldex performance controller which changes the ratio and also the levels of tolerance in which the 4wd system will operate. This makes the car more predictable and therefore can push it harder.
Never experienced the HPC, but many who use it seem to think it is an agreeable solution.
A similar system is used on the R8 but with a maximum of 30% of the power to the front, as its setup differently. But essentially its the same technology.
Yes, agreed. But the crucial difference between the R8 and the R32/S3/TTq is that the R8 is a predominantly rear-wheel drive car, and only sends drive to the fronts when needed. The R32/S3/TTq are the opposite, being primarily a front-wheel drive car, and dumping drive to the rear when the fronts protest. This "opposite" approach from the Audi R8 is what makes it such a potent car.
The Bugatti Veyron is another example of utilising Haldex, but the Veyron needs to use two Haldex units, which work in unison. Two are required due to the limitations in torque handling, not dissimilar to the DSG clutch limitations.
I have to be honest, and say I've pushed my GTi and actually think in most conditions and driving speeds, its pretty comparable to my TT. I actually think to be honest, the steering is sharper and more precise than my TT. (You can see I'm a Gti convert).
Was your TT the orginal 8N model, or the latest 8J model? And I do agree with the GTI having very sharp steering, but tyres play a crucial part in steering feedback and accuracy.
The R32 has the same running gear as the TT, but has slightly different ARB's which aid stability. And that is often a good mod if you want to push the envelope of the Quattro performance.
Don't forget that the Golf, in all guises it quite a bit taller than the low-slung TT - which will affect the height of the centre of gravity!
