VW Dealers!!!

[R34]

My dealer kindly let me test a CC with ACC and a std R36 back to back.
I picked a course that had a mix of smooth and rough backroads.
Obviously the CC was a lot softer in it's swaybar settings compared to the std R36.
But as far as shockabsorber settings I'd say the CC in sport mode felt stiffer than the R36 shocks.
I'd ordered the ACC for my R36 and am glad I did.
Normal seemed to be the best of both worlds.
Just have to wait 6 months now for my car to arrive

[evr]

My dealer kindly let me test a CC with ACC and a std R36 back to back.
I picked a course that had a mix of smooth and rough backroads.
Obviously the CC was a lot softer in it's swaybar settings compared to the std R36.
But as far as shockabsorber settings I'd say the CC in sport mode felt stiffer than the R36 shocks.
I'd ordered the ACC for my R36 and am glad I did.
Normal seemed to be the best of both worlds.
Just have to wait 6 months now for my car to arrive

It truly pains me to say it but i find myself mostly agreeing with Rocket on the suspension issue at hand here! (No offence Rocket but I often disagree with you but I'm sure you can handle that!). From my understanding (based on advise from a friend that works at VW), the MY10 R36 was introduced with adaptive suspension to tackle the universal criticism by the auto press that the suspension setup was just too hard core for the R36 to be considered as a true premium product comparable to the offerings from competitors (in particular BMW & Audi). Also, many more "normal" users/owners (unlike us the fanatics in this forum), have found the car just too stiff & especially from those more affluent suburbs with less than smooth roads - this was identified as a real problem by VW as the 'money' for cars above the luxury tax threshold generally doesn't come from outer metro areas in new estates with glass smooth roads. A generalisation yes but don't shoot the messenger please...that is part of VW's research!

Anyway, introducing the 'more compliant' adaptive suspension was a means to resolve this market appeal problem. Moral of the story is that VW themselves consider the adaptive suspension option as a 'softer' setup. Draw your own judgements by side by side drives.

Personally, I would have liked the option of dialing in a softer setting when the kids are in the back seat & complaining that they have tummy aches from all the "jiggling" the car is doing.

[R34]

I didn't find the std R36 suspension particularly stiff even over rough roads.
Felt more irregularities in the same section of road with the CC set to sport though.
I can only base my opinion on what I experienced.

[evr]

I didn't find the std R36 suspension particularly stiff even over rough roads.
Felt more irregularities in the same section of road with the CC set to sport though.
I can only base my opinion on what I experienced.

I hear what you're saying. It's a weird situation as when I test drove both the CC & R36 (2009 models) side by side I did find the R36 stiffer but the CC (set to sport) was actually more unsettled over the rough stuff. I initially interpreted this as being stiffer but on reflection it was simply more unsettled rather than stiffer...if that makes sense. In summary, the R36, for me anyway, was firmer than the CC in sports but the CC behaved in a manner which initially made me think it was a firmer ride + the R36 felt like a more "planted" ride albeit less absorbant. I bought the R36 in the end!

[nivek]

I test drove a CC with ACC and R36 (in wagon trim) with "fixed" suspension back to back before deciding on the R36 sedan.

To me, there was more body roll on the CC, whereas the R36 was flatter and gave me more confidence going around a corner. I also thought the turn in of the R36 was better, though I'm not sure if that is possible as the wagon is heavier.

[R34]

Yes I experienced that too
The R36 would have thicker swaybars than the CC I would assume

[Rocket36]

Based on the back to back driving I did, which also made me decide on the R36 over the CC, I would say the ACC uses completely different springs, shocks and sway bars. But it wouldn't surprise me if the bushes are also different too.