Wind Buffering / Buffeting via Windows or Sunroof

[Corey_R]

Yeah - my comments about the buffets were in that 'comfort position'. It's worse on the 3dr because of there not being any rear windows to crack.

[Lima]

Yeah - my comments about the buffets were in that 'comfort position'. It's worse on the 3dr because of there not being any rear windows to crack.

I find ours is fine if you drop one (or both) of the front windows by an inch or so.

[cktsi]

Don't mean to state the obvious, but on the Mk4 and Mk5 there is a larger dot about 4/5ths around the dial. That is the "comfort position" or something like that. When driving that is supposedly the best opening position. Certainly opening it all the way back would create the buffeting.

Having said that, in both our Mk4 and Mk5 there is some buffeting. Oddly, though, the Mk4 would buffet at speeds over about 60-70km/h but not below. Our Mk5 buffets a bit at around 40-50km/h but is fine once over that speed.

When test driving S3s I gave the sunroof a good work out and it seemed fine at any speed. Hopefully that wasn't a one off!

I read your comment & took a look at my switch tonight. The Mark 6 doesn't have a comfort marking.

However, what you said correlates with my experience that there's no buffeting until after around the 4th notch.

The buffeting only happens at low speeds <40kph. On the freeway driving at a constant 100kph, doesn't matter where the sunroof position is - no buffeting.

[moniker]

It's virtually impossible to drive at any speed above about 30km/h without SEVERE drumming in my 103TDI.
You can minimise the drumming a little by putting another window down, but this is one big failing of the Mk VI that maybe they don't even test - being driven with the driver's window down.

[Brendan_A]

Easy fix. Drive with the windows up.

[xblode]

I agree. A couple of times, I've been caught out when hoping on a freeway and by the time I close the window or open the others, I feel like my head is gonna explode!

My MK4GTI suffered as well but not like this

[velly_16v_cab]

i know at ford (where i work) we do not test for whid noise with the windows open.

how do i know?
I test our cars and the competitors cars

[Corey_R]

It's virtually impossible to drive at any speed above about 30km/h without SEVERE drumming in my 103TDI.
You can minimise the drumming a little by putting another window down, but this is one big failing of the Mk VI that maybe they don't even test - being driven with the driver's window down.

The MKV wasn't much better. Question is though, in this day and age with so many cars on the road, it's not like you're getting "fresh air" by having the windows open... so why not drive with them up?

But it's no secret that the car manufacturers are designing the cars to be as aerodynamic and sleek as possible to get the greatest fuel efficiency etc. Having the windows open "breaks the surface" and causes the wind buffeting. In the old days the cars were not at all aerodynamic, and so the wind would be "broken" at the front of the car - hence there wasn't any issues driving around with the windows open. (Yes, this is a very simplistic explanation of the situation...)

[MurphyTheElf]

I drive with the windows down all the time - Perth's air is a little fresher than the bigger capitals, you see.

The buffeting occurs only in certain conditions, but definitely not all the time. I find that with only the driver's window down, it doesn't really occur that often. Opening the sunroof changes the buffeting conditions as well. If a rear window and the sunroof is down, it can be pretty bad at particular speeds.

When it does happen, it's quite jarring and annoying, but it's something I can change so it doesn't worry me too much. The acceleration rattling noise bothers me so much more because it happens all the time windows up or down and there's nothing I can do to stop it short of spending 9 grand on an APR Stage 3.

[G-rig]

Does stage 3 fix the rattle?

The wind noise was a bit loud today with two window down slightly but think it was just a windy day.