306 GTI-6

[Tim Cognito]

Limited100 said:

Yes correct. Also had new OEM top mounts and Eibach Pro springs.

Hmm, I had b6s which are the same as b8 but for lowered cars and they were lovely.

What size are the tyres? If they are 50 profile they will make the car look high. Can't quite tell from the photos, could be the correct 55 size.

[Limited100]

Tim Cognito said:

Hmm, I had b6s which are the same as b8 but for lowered cars and they were lovely.

What size are the tyres? If they are 50 profile they will make the car look high. Can't quite tell from the photos, could be the correct 55 size.

50 profile, as Pilot Sport 3s aren't available as 55, so this is what GTI-6 owners typically get. I don't mind it sitting a little high, just want it to handle as well as they're supposed to as stock. A little better than stock would be a bonus.

[never_thought_id_buy]

I only had an XSi - poor man's GTI-6. The handling was 'different'. It really did take some getting used to. At first it felt very wallowy - there's was a lot of vertical movement and the rear was very mobile. Tied down it wasn't.

But once used to it, it was highly exploitable. Once the suspension was loaded up, you could just put your foot down and it would go around corners at ridiculous speeds, the passive rear steer making it very neutral. But it would understeer if you weren't on it - higher speed corners were ok but lower speed required trail braking and some steering input to keep the front tyres gripping and then get the rear moving to get the neutrality or oversteer.

Yours does look a bit high for a lowered car. Mine was only ever on factory suspension and I never really felt the need to change it.

[Limited100]

never_thought_id_buy said:

I only had an XSi - poor man's GTI-6. The handling was 'different'. It really did take some getting used to. At first it felt very wallowy - there's was a lot of vertical movement and the rear was very mobile. Tied down it wasn't.

But once used to it, it was highly exploitable. Once the suspension was loaded up, you could just put your foot down and it would go around corners at ridiculous speeds, the passive rear steer making it very neutral. But it would understeer if you weren't on it - higher speed corners were ok but lower speed required trail braking and some steering input to keep the front tyres gripping and then get the rear moving to get the neutrality or oversteer.

Yours does look a bit high for a lowered car. Mine was only ever on factory suspension and I never really felt the need to change it.

Rear axle is only 15mm lowered vs stock, and fronts are 30mm lowered. I think it was 60mm lowered when I bought it. I guess it's good to have some ground clearance to avoid bottoming out on B-roads.

Took the 6 for a drive the other day and it seems to be handling really well now, not sure if the new tyres and dampers needed some time to settle in. Was really good fun hooning it around the Vale of Belvoir. However, on returning I noticed a pretty severe coolant leak, so it's now being treated to a new NRF radiator.

I realised I could do with a daily driver for longer distances, and had been looking for a 3-litre diesel of some sort.

I initially looked into an XJ 3.0d, as I love the look of them, but wasn't sure about tuning potential, and reliability.



This 87k E61 535d LCI popped up and I bought it yesterday. They're 282 bhp 428 lb-ft stock, and with some mods it should be good for around 370 bhp and 590 lb-ft.

[PhillipM]

Limited100 said:

The springs are Eibach pros, which are 30mm lower than stock. Which springs were you using? Rear axle was lowered by 15mm, perhaps they need adjusting. I'm thinking something is up with the rear axle and Imaxl have used parts not fit for the GTI-6. The handling is very uninspiring, awful.

Easy check, just measure the torsion bars, and pop the rear arb out from the caps and check the diameter of that too - should be easy after the axles had a refurb.

Should be on 20mm torsion bars and a 24mm arb.