Dynamic / Adaptive chassis control (DCC / ACC)

[WhiteJames]

MOTOR Mag April Issue has the journos collecting their 'Long Termer' 3 door Red Golf GTI with 17" Denvers on std suspension (No ACC). They were hoping for a GTI with ACC and 18" wheels, but delays on delivery of GTI's (them like me) are persisting at VW Wolfsburg.

The journos at MOTOR Mag state that this is the first GTI without ACC they have driven. They claim that the GTI rides on the firm side on std non ACC suspension and 17" wheels. GTI still has the big bump (high speed compression) compliance that puts it a class ahead of the competition like the Mazda MPS3.

MOTOR Mag indicate that the GTI on std non ACC suspension lacks the ACC low speed urban ride in COMFORT, which was expected imo. What was suprising was that MOTOR state that std non ACC suspension also lacks the ACC all-round suppleness when ACC was on NORMAL setting. This may suggest that ACC may be a proactive system that is constantly changing to the varied roadway conditions. If this is the case, this would be great ... talk about having your cake and ....

More info to come from MOTOR on subsequent reviews on this issue with this long termer GTI.

Taking account of the firmish ride of the GTI on std suspension, MOTOR journos would still opt for the 18" Detroits. So would I. The price of vanity.

My opinion on these remarks with limited time in the GTI with similar wheels & std suspension:

I'd say that the journos are close to the mark. I found the low speed compression and rebound rate of the MK6 GTI close to the KW V3 coilovers I ran on my MKV GTI. The KW V3 coilover felt only slightly firmer in this regard travelling on smooth roadways like General Holmes Drive (near Barlowworld VW, Mascot-Sydney). The extra spring rate of the KW V3 coupled with lower ride height and extra spring rate from the aftermarket small solid H&R sway bars aided handling on my MKV GTI, but further detracted from ride comfort versus the MK6 GTI on std suspension.

Having read these initial reviews has me thinking that 'maybe' ACC is proactive in varying the compression and rebound rates of the dampers when they react with undulations on the roadway. This would also back up claims by others that ACC seems to feel softer than the 'one size fits all' std suspension. If this is the case, I'd say ACC would definitely be a worthwhile option to have for $1500. That's still a bit 'IF' as this is not conclusive evidence.

Spring rates for ACC versus non-ACC wouldn't vary imo. No reason for them to vary the spring rate (Manual -v- DSG appears to vary as discussed before).

Audi offer HSV GTS/Ferrari type of magnetic dampers that proactively change the damping rates as you drive in NORMAL mode. Audi charge $2400 for their magnetic version of ACC (VW version does not use magnets). On the other hand, Bi-Xenon lights on the Audi A3 costs only $700 as an option versus $2,000 for the GTI.

Overall - this is good news on the ACC option I'm paying $1500 for. Having said this, I haven't driven the ACC version, but time will time.

Cheers.
WJ

[G-rig]

Everyone made do without ACC on the MK5...

Is this just a money grab (like a lot of the options lately) or is the MK6 Chassis really that stiff?

Also is the stock GTI suspension under dampened like the R32 stock suspension?

cheers,

[STV4SYT]

500km into my ownership and having no ACC and 18's i thought id comment.

Where i live at there are a lot of speed bumps and tram tracks. after reading all the posts about get ACC if you order 18's i was a little concerned.

In the end, its still a comfortable ride, handles speed bumps well and bar the occasional bad bump in the road where its a tiny bit less comfortable than a car with smaller wheels or softer suspension im more than happy with how it behaves.

Save your money...

[Leagle]

I was going to post a response to the ACC debate after I read the Motor article in the April 2010 edition, but Whitejames beat me to it!

I don't own a Mark 6 Golf but recently bought a Passat CC which features Adaptive chassis Control as standard.

Having previously owned a WRX (and yes, I toyed with the idea of a Golf Gti but wanted/could afford a larger sporting sedan/coupe) I thought that I would mainly leave ACC in "sports" mode. Funnily enough though, I now leave it in "comfort" mode most of the time. Blame our substandard aussie roads.

But if I was buying a Golf Gti, I would probably pass on ACC, only because I consider the GTi to be a more focussed - if not slower in a straight line ;P - sportscar than my CC.

If I bought a GTi, I would go 6sp manual, white (or maybe red), sunroof, wouldn't bother with the tech gadgets such as park assist. Funnily enough the CC that I bought is DSG, silver, no sunroof, but is loaded with the tech gadgets. Funny that!

[G-rig]

It's so subjective as everyones comfort levels/tollerance is different. How comfortable does it have to be, you don't want to fall asleep!?

But if I was buying a Golf Gti, I would probably pass on ACC, only because I consider the GTi to be a more focussed - if not slower in a straight line ;P - sportscar than my CC.

If I bought a GTi, I would go 6sp manual, white (or maybe red), sunroof, wouldn't bother with the tech gadgets such as park assist. Funnily enough the CC that I bought is DSG, silver, no sunroof, but is loaded with the tech gadgets. Funny that!

[Escell]

ACC in normal mode is not just "somewhere between comfort and sport".

It stays supple at low speeds and tightens up with spirited driving.

[G-rig]

is there a button to change it or does it change when the speed is greater than 'X'??

[Escell]

I can't tell if it's revs or speed that tightens the Normal mode.
There's no button to change it during normal mode - but you can obviously manually set comfort or sport.

Sport, as I've said before, noticeably tightens the steering and makes it more responsive, not silky and dampened like in comfort mode.

[G-rig]

Cheers, can you change it when in motion and notice much difference?

[WhiteJames]

ACC in NORMAL mode automatically changes setting to SPORT once a certain speed is attained. Issue I'm trying to clarify is whether the ACC has a mind of its own in NORMAL mode and firms & softens relative to the roadway conditions ... like the magnetic dampers in the HSV GTS/Ferrari/Audi's.

That standard suspension in the Mark 6 GTI is much improved over the MKV GTI. Nice mix of comfort & sports. In some areas, I'd like some more sports, esp with throttle and steering sensivity change. Pity you can't set each function individually from one another (suspension/steering/throttle).

As for a gimmick, wait and see. I'm doubting that ACC would be pointless; although any option on the GTI is a marginal improvement on what is already a nicely rounded package.

On yeah ... the earlier comments with the KW V3 coilovers was referring to the KW V3 being set to almost full soft. Anyting more than half way to max becomes very stiff indeed.

Cheers.
WJ