plastermaster
Passed Driver's Ed
- Location
- Gualala
Hi All,
First post here, and not sure I am on the best forum for the question, or if I should be on the wheels/tires/brakes/suspension forum..
I have been doing some searches to improve some handling issues with my new Golf and pretty much all results come back for GTIs.
Anyways, I just bought a new 2018 golf to replace my old prius that finally used up its hybrid battery. Pretty much all my driving is on the twisty HWI up the coast north of the CA bay area (for those familiar) Great road to drive. I used to have a 73 Karmann Ghia that I did extensive engine work on and minor suspension upgrades. I figured the Golf being much newer technology would handle even better, but I guess you can't beat gravity. The car weighs an extra 1000 lbs and feels it.
I'm not looking to auto cross or even drive it all that hard, but at the same time, I would like more ease in the corners. Currently I am sensing a good bit more body roll than I would like, to the point that I had to pull over to get out of the way of a Ford Cmax, (but maybe the guy was crazy LOL). It actually doesn't feel like the car is leaning as much as just shifting laterally, and also there is a delayed feeling between turning and the sense of lateral shift, both entering into turns and coming out again.
Possible useful info: Everything is stock. I'm probably not a skilled driver for taking the turns hard. I am not pushing to the point of any traction loss. I have the tires inflated to 40 PSI as came from the dealer. Tires are Hankook 205/55/16, basic all season radial, (don't remember the specific Hankook).
I had good luck with adding swaybars to my Ghia, but I was able to increase both the front and the rear. I am not really set up to tackle replacing the front swaybars, so I am not sure about beefing up the rears and upsetting the balance. Any ideas on that would be appreciated. Perhaps with the stability control it wouldn't matter if I stiffened up the rear a good bit?
If I were to go after some suspension mods that I am not set up to do myself, is it possible to just have the dealer swap out for GTI suspension? I also don't want to screw with my 6 year warranty so not sure what I can get away with, which is another reason I might want to turn to the dealer.
I know there is a lot of info if I look for it but like I said earlier it seems search results all point to working on GTIs and I am not sure how much overlap there is with the standard Golf.
I'm not really looking to have the best g rating or slalom times, but rather just more ease through the turns, without feeling thrown around as much.
Sorry for the long winded post, but I wanted to provide enough general information.
Kinda wish now I had gotten a GTI instead! I did test drive one but wasn't able to really get to know it or the golf on the roads I drive. I opted for the golf based on it being quieter, and more economical. Seemed to handle pretty well on the test drive.
Thanks for any ideas!
First post here, and not sure I am on the best forum for the question, or if I should be on the wheels/tires/brakes/suspension forum..
I have been doing some searches to improve some handling issues with my new Golf and pretty much all results come back for GTIs.
Anyways, I just bought a new 2018 golf to replace my old prius that finally used up its hybrid battery. Pretty much all my driving is on the twisty HWI up the coast north of the CA bay area (for those familiar) Great road to drive. I used to have a 73 Karmann Ghia that I did extensive engine work on and minor suspension upgrades. I figured the Golf being much newer technology would handle even better, but I guess you can't beat gravity. The car weighs an extra 1000 lbs and feels it.
I'm not looking to auto cross or even drive it all that hard, but at the same time, I would like more ease in the corners. Currently I am sensing a good bit more body roll than I would like, to the point that I had to pull over to get out of the way of a Ford Cmax, (but maybe the guy was crazy LOL). It actually doesn't feel like the car is leaning as much as just shifting laterally, and also there is a delayed feeling between turning and the sense of lateral shift, both entering into turns and coming out again.
Possible useful info: Everything is stock. I'm probably not a skilled driver for taking the turns hard. I am not pushing to the point of any traction loss. I have the tires inflated to 40 PSI as came from the dealer. Tires are Hankook 205/55/16, basic all season radial, (don't remember the specific Hankook).
I had good luck with adding swaybars to my Ghia, but I was able to increase both the front and the rear. I am not really set up to tackle replacing the front swaybars, so I am not sure about beefing up the rears and upsetting the balance. Any ideas on that would be appreciated. Perhaps with the stability control it wouldn't matter if I stiffened up the rear a good bit?
If I were to go after some suspension mods that I am not set up to do myself, is it possible to just have the dealer swap out for GTI suspension? I also don't want to screw with my 6 year warranty so not sure what I can get away with, which is another reason I might want to turn to the dealer.
I know there is a lot of info if I look for it but like I said earlier it seems search results all point to working on GTIs and I am not sure how much overlap there is with the standard Golf.
I'm not really looking to have the best g rating or slalom times, but rather just more ease through the turns, without feeling thrown around as much.
Sorry for the long winded post, but I wanted to provide enough general information.
Kinda wish now I had gotten a GTI instead! I did test drive one but wasn't able to really get to know it or the golf on the roads I drive. I opted for the golf based on it being quieter, and more economical. Seemed to handle pretty well on the test drive.
Thanks for any ideas!