Wind Buffering / Buffeting via Windows or Sunroof

[Ideo]

My S3 does it bad with the sunroof open above 70km if you don't have the windows down.

Not a car fault. Just a fact of life.

But it is a reason I'm not getting a sunroof. Most of my driving is above 80kmh anyway, so it's not really needed.

[Corey_R]

With the MKV Golf GTI, I never opened the sunroof because of the buffeting. I had a 3door, so no rear windows to open.

Yet with the MK6 Golf R 3 door, I find that the sunroof is ok up to even 80kph. I SLIGHTLY crack the front windows (like so slightly I can't even see that they're open, and I'm good to go. When going downhill, I get noticably more buffeting, but not uncomfortably so...

I'm thinking that the "buffeting" issue is so complex that it really depends on seat position. Not just "which seat you're in", but literally how the seat is adjusted and therefore where your ears are in relation to the car. Then it depends how far the window is down, and which window(s) are down etc.

I have a feeling that if REXman replicated the exact same conditions as yesterday which caused him to revive this thread, but had a kid in the back seat, the kid would probably wonder what he's complaining about. (well.. more than a feeling, cause I experimented on my MKV whilst someone else was driving).

[OilBurna]

o/t slightly but as previous poster commented the B6 Passat is interesting in that if you open the sunroof to the normal position on the dial no buffeting at all even above 100kmh, but as soon as you turn the dial and open it fully the buffeting is shocking. Haven't tried opening any windows to allievate yet. All previous cars with sunroofs with and without wind deflectors never had an issue including wife's Merc which has a full length fabric style one.

[Frankenstrat]

What I *THINK* is happening is that the sunroof is acting like an aerofoil. The air passing over the top creates low pressure in the cabin, so air has to get back in to equalise the pressure. There's a fight between the air moving over the sunroof and the air trying to get back into the cabin, and that creates the buffeting. I'm fairly certain your eardrums are responding to the rapid changes in pressure, hence the discomfort. Cracking open a window allows pressure equalisation and hence eliminates the buffeting. Also any pressure build up due to the slightly open window will dissipate through the open sunroof.

Well, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

[REXman]

It is NOT a fault of the car design.

Probably not, but you can cruise in a BMW coupe at 140km/h (on a track) with all the windows down, sunroof all the way open, or preset position, whatever you want, and no buffeting. Thats just design quality I guess.

The R is only worth $68500 so that is understandable.

PS Yeah Corey, I am replicating the sound like everyday.. Its hardcore man!

[weewilly]

the main difference between the R sunroof and my wife's C-200 is the C-200 has a plastic rail that comes up on the leading edge of the sunroof when the roof is retracted. I don't think the R has one, but will check later.

[ratedr]

Buffeting is unique to golf... All other cars with sunroofs I could drive at 110km on highway and never get buffeting... It was really disappointing test driving R with this problem... It's an old school design sunroof so don't understand why they got it so wrong...

[Ideo]

Buffeting is unique to golf... All other cars with sunroofs I could drive at 110km on highway and never get buffeting... It was really disappointing test driving R with this problem... It's an old school design sunroof so don't understand why they got it so wrong...

No it's not.

I get it in my S3 and had it in my old e36 sedan as well.

It's annoying, but it's not unique

[pologti18t]

Buffeting is unique to golf... All other cars with sunroofs I could drive at 110km on highway and never get buffeting... It was really disappointing test driving R with this problem... It's an old school design sunroof so don't understand why they got it so wrong...

Right.... clearly this is not true.

[Corey_R]

Yeah.... I've noticed it in all range of cars over the years. Some great, some bad.
I personally like the current Merc sunroof design which has the material baffle which pops up substantially higher than the Golf's plastic "spoiler". In the few I've been in, it's worked a treat.