Improved steering feel ?

[dazbcos1969]

2 hours ago, Mr Pete said:

The R comes out of the factory with lifeless steering (ironic bearing mind it shares the same rack as the GTI, which is a joy in that car).

 

Kind of annoying that Mr VW decided the R would be better with no steering feel, when it’s less powerful brother is full of life!

 

Its also kind of annoying that to make the steering have more feel, owners like you and I have to try and improve it!

 

Putting the steering into Race just makes it heavier, instead of giving the steering feel which is what needed.

 

It’s yet another reason why I’m unhappy with my R. I just think the whole car is boring, not just the steering.

I took the R on as a Project, like I do with all my cars, takes a couple of years to get the car how I want it, I think the car has great tuning potential, I just think VW wanted a car  that even the  Neighbours next door could drive out of the box 😁 I also think you can take it to stage 1 for little cost with an exceptional return for your money 👍I've spent around £10.000 on upgrades up to now, it's very close to being a superb drivers car, still good now but not perfect 🤪

 

More to like than dislike me thinks 😉

[Mr Pete]

On 18/03/2022 at 00:28, dazbcos1969 said:

I took the R on as a Project, like I do with all my cars, takes a couple of years to get the car how I want it, I think the car has great tuning potential, I just think VW wanted a car  that even the  Neighbours next door could drive out of the box 😁 I also think you can take it to stage 1 for little cost with an exceptional return for your money 👍I've spent around £10.000 on upgrades up to now, it's very close to being a superb drivers car, still good now but not perfect 🤪

 

More to like than dislike me thinks 😉

Yes, there is more to like. I suppose.

 

But for a £40k performance car, it’s odd that it’s built (stock) with no decent (real) engine/exhaust noise and lifeless steering.

 

It could still be easy to drive AND have better driver engagement. It’s lesser brother does.

 

I’m all for tuning a car, if you want more. But you shouldn’t need to tune a £40k performance car to get something it should already have. I think 🙂

[Gus Fring]

1 hour ago, Mr Pete said:

Yes, there is more to like. I suppose.

 

But for a £40k performance car, it’s odd that it’s built (stock) with no decent (real) engine/exhaust noise and lifeless steering.

 

It could still be easy to drive AND have better driver engagement. It’s lesser brother does.

 

I’m all for tuning a car, if you want more. But you shouldn’t need to tune a £40k performance car to get something it should already have. I think 🙂

In fairness it’s a fast Golf that is fine for 85% of driving situations driven at 8/10, price is irrelevant really as it isn’t designed to be a precision drivers car, also it certainly isn’t alone in modern cars when it comes to lack of engagement and steering feel. 
 

 

[Deano]

12 hours ago, Mr Pete said:

Yes, there is more to like. I suppose.

 

But for a £40k performance car, it’s odd that it’s built (stock) with no decent (real) engine/exhaust noise and lifeless steering.

 

It could still be easy to drive AND have better driver engagement. It’s lesser brother does.

 

I’m all for tuning a car, if you want more. But you shouldn’t need to tune a £40k performance car to get something it should already have. I think 🙂

The counter argument to that is that you don’t have to buy it

[Mr Pete]

12 hours ago, Gus Fring said:

In fairness it’s a fast Golf that is fine for 85% of driving situations driven at 8/10, price is irrelevant really as it isn’t designed to be a precision drivers car, also it certainly isn’t alone in modern cars when it comes to lack of engagement and steering feel. 
 

 

Lots and lots of cars lack that certain something, for sure.

 

But I think R it is a precision car of its type (hatchbacks). Not a Porsche or McLaren, but still a quality thing. And the GTI is it’s lesser brother, but has the same positives yet brings engagement that the R has had engineered out of it.

 

Proof that the R could be engaging without the need to tune (unless you personally want more).

[Mr Pete]

1 hour ago, Deano said:

The counter argument to that is that you don’t have to buy it

Agreed and when I test drove mine it was busy traffic everywhere. Added to that, I didn’t own it, so I was really careful. In other words the lack of steering (what this thread is about 🙂), was not that obvious - nor my other gripes.

 

i may well not have bought mine, if I could have had it for longer. I don’t hate it and it IS a great car. But the lack steering feel, engine and exhaust noise is a big disappointment to me.

 

I hope you love your R 🙂

[dazbcos1969]

So Gents

                 I had the Golf Lowered on Eibach Pro springs, fitted superpro LCA 1 degree caster and 0.5 camber, Neuspeed wheels Rse102 et45 a couple of months ago, car felt floaty at the front and light steering feeling, I've since done 500 miles of driving, and ive had the hunter wheel alignment done and wow what a change in how it feels 👍I was told this would take time for it all to bed in, I'm now very happy with how the cars steering feels and handles, I'm still on the stock rear sway bar, cars an estate, back end turns in just right  feels neutral, for a road car I've not had any understeer to speak about, MPS4S rubber.

 

I have the haldex set to increased traction 

 

Cheers 

 

Daz B