Golf Gti Mk5; What suspension is best for road use?

[shoestring7]

I've got a 50k mile 2005 Gti DSG on 17"s. It does me well as sensible daily transport and I've decided to keep it for at least a couple of years more.

However the dampers are already tired; the ride is the wrong combination of low speed harshness and high speed wallow. I have to manage the weight carefully through the bends, straight line stability isn't that briliant, the ABS kicks in early in the wet and traction isn't all that good either.

I beleive I can sort a lot of this with a good quality aftermarket suspension set-up. I've had previous experience of Bilsten B7(?) on a VR6 which transformed it, and a Koni Sport set on a Porsche 968CS that improved the car immeasurably.

I want good body control combined with good compliance for the sort of WW1 battlefield that passes for a 'B' road in West Sussex - I want a more-or-less standard ride height for the same reason.

I'd be happier with Koni or Bilstein over a certain purple marketing-led brand, but I don't need a £1500 fully adjustable track set up either.

Does anyone have experience of the Koni FSD or Sport kit, of Bilstein B12 kits? Any other mods (ARB, bushes) worth doing at the same time?

thanks


SS7

[V6RUL]

Eibach is not a bad compromise.
Mine was £900 fitted.
Steve

[the-photographer]

Try the specialist forums e.g.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=...

This stuff just got a mega review in VW driver mag.

http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/products/vws-m...

[shoestring7]

the-photographer said:

Try the specialist forums e.g.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=...

This stuff just got a mega review in VW driver mag.

http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/products/vws-m...

Thanks T-P. So a specially set up £1500 system gets a rave from a driver looking for race-car handling from his hatchback. Oh well I guess its a start!

Not sure about the monomaniac fora, but this seems pretty mature. I can't find a 'search' function either - maybe I have to register.

Mind you, they seem to have taken umbrage at the DVLA for classifying their DSG cars as automatics!

SS7

[the-photographer]

shoestring7 said:

the-photographer said:

Try the specialist forums e.g.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=...

This stuff just got a mega review in VW driver mag.

http://www.roadandtrackbyohlins.com/products/vws-m...

Thanks T-P. So a specially set up £1500 system gets a rave from a driver looking for race-car handling from his hatchback. Oh well I guess its a start!

Not sure about the monomaniac fora, but this seems pretty mature. I can't find a 'search' function either - maybe I have to register.

Mind you, they seem to have taken umbrage at the DVLA for classifying their DSG cars as automatics!

SS7

Try Bilstein for a more road friendly setup;

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,...

However if your going to spend over £1000, get a copy of this months VW Driver mag and check out the ohlins stuff. They claim it was way better than typical coilover upgrades.

Lastly, use google to search that site,

http://www.google.co.uk/advanced_search

[baz1985]

I would go KW V3 or Blistein PSS10 with H&R Anti-Roll Bars (probably £1600 fitted). Or Koni FSD dampers and Eibach Pro-Kit springs.