Golf R Observations and Questions

**REXman** · 09-12-2010, 05:27 AM

Originally Posted by adzy

I would leave it as is mate, unless you are going to buy a complete kit which includes the shock absorbers as well which are matched to the springs. You will just screw up what engineers spent hours to perfect.
If you go lower the shocks will just be destroyed a lot quicker also.

Hey just noticed you are running stage 2, and ran a 13.81 quarter mile. Awesome time! is it DSG or manual?

As for the engineers perfecting.. its not necessarily perfect to FAB, and it is a compromise of comfort and performance from the factory. Always is with production spec. I dont think stiffening lowering the ride a little will affect much. I had a car lowered 2 inches and had no problems for the life of ownership.

**halojump** · 09-12-2010, 09:18 AM

It’s been a week today with the R and I have some questions, all fairly minor things...

Map Updates – when does the Map in the RNS510 get updated? For parts of Brisbane the inbuilt map is almost two years out of date. I understand that VW is at the mercy of the map data provider (Sensis or NavTeq I assume) but my TomTom is more up to date.

Boot Liner – I went to grab the genuine VW boot liner from the dealer. With the R boot being shallower it does not fit. Has anyone had any success with getting a rubber\foam style boot line that fits the R?

Alarm System – The R comes with the factory alarm system. Does it use a separate siren or just the horn? Can I set (I assume this is a VAGCOM thing) for it to ‘bleep’ when I lock the car?

Front Storage Tray – the little tray under the climate control (in front of the gear shift) has a lid that you puck to open. It is a bit sticky and fails to open sometimes. I was thinking of popping it out over the weekend to see if it can be fixed (I say this with no actual knowledge on how to do this). Is there any trick to making it work?

**Ryan_R** · 09-12-2010, 09:24 AM

The horn beep when locking the car is in the VCDS but doesn't work for all models/years. I can't rememeber the specifics though.

**bcm** · 09-12-2010, 10:35 AM

Fab I think you're better off leaving your ride height as it is if it's a day to day car. You can go to far modifying dailies and end up with something that is worse as a day to day driver than the stock car.

Cosmetically the car looks fantastic as is. And whilst you will change the way the car handles it's not necessarily going to be for the better for what I assume is it's primary use which is to get you around town. VW's ACC seems like a great compromise.

Just my 2c. I've been down the path you're headed before and ended up with a car that ripped up the track, but was very tiring to drive on the road. YMMV.

**Mr_Bob** · 09-12-2010, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by REXman

As for the engineers perfecting.. its not necessarily perfect to FAB, and it is a compromise of comfort and performance from the factory. Always is with production spec. I dont think stiffening lowering the ride a little will affect much. I had a car lowered 2 inches and had no problems for the life of ownership.

This is more about conflicts with the ACC.
I was expecting to go the coilover route, which is why i didn't tick that option.

I know with some foresters, lowering the rear was an issue as it had self levelling struts.
didn't matter what springs you put in, the height remained the same...

ACC wouldn't do that, however the programming is mapped and this may be matched to suit the stock springs,
swapping to a different spring rate, with a potentially different spring profile may reduce the benefits of ACC
On the other hand, it's dynamic nature could result in automatically stiffening the shocks to match the springs...

$1100 is alot of money to test this...
especially when you look at the coilover options for $1500-2000

**Fab_R** · 09-12-2010, 08:44 PM

Thanks for all the advice guys.
All very valid points for and against.
I have decided to leave it the way it is.
I was just a little bothered by the ride height.
Regardless, its going to stay the way it was intended by VW.

**DDTW** · 09-12-2010, 10:50 PM

One of my mate's colleague ordered an R on novated lease but was not given a firm delivery date. As "compensation" for the wait VW gave him a Golf 90TSI to drive in the meantime. Is this possible? Or am I missing something?

**REXman** · 09-12-2010, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by DDTW

One of my mate's colleague ordered an R on novated lease but was not given a firm delivery date. As "compensation" for the wait VW gave him a Golf 90TSI to drive in the meantime. Is this possible? Or am I missing something?

Thats pretty good going there.. First of that I have heard..

**adzy** · 10-12-2010, 03:43 AM

Originally Posted by REXman

Hey just noticed you are running stage 2, and ran a 13.81 quarter mile. Awesome time! is it DSG or manual?

As for the engineers perfecting.. its not necessarily perfect to FAB, and it is a compromise of comfort and performance from the factory. Always is with production spec. I dont think stiffening lowering the ride a little will affect much. I had a car lowered 2 inches and had no problems for the life of ownership.

Yeah cheers bro I was quiete happy with the time. That time was done on totally screwed Conti's too (30 laps of Sandown), I should do a run on the Re070's now as I think there is a tenth or two in it still and yes it is a DSG... of course

Originally Posted by Fab_R

Thanks for all the advice guys.
All very valid points for and against.
I have decided to leave it the way it is.
I was just a little bothered by the ride height.
Regardless, its going to stay the way it was intended by VW.

Wise move Fab and by the way.... your R looks tough as fkuc bro! Just enjoy it until you can grab a complete suspension kit.