Hi,

I have an octavia VRS for over a year now.

The car is OK, I can get quite good MPG (suprisingly only on sport mode)

The thing is that the suspension is really stiff.

Is there anay way to improve tha without loosing handeling?

Only reason I decided to go with L&K instead of VRS was reports I've read on the suspension being too stiff in longer run.

The "stock" suspension I have on my 1.8TSI is quite accurate in my opinion but yet again I would have nothing against more comfort.

I'm guessing the VRS wouldn't loose much handling when put on "standard" springs.

Well this is good news.

 

So the "standard" springs will lift the car by 3mm. Ok for me if the comfort is improved.

 

Thanks, I will check with the dealer when it goes on servicingthis summer.

Some people report that aftermarket springs and shocks help. You may also be able to move to a 17" wheel (if it clears the brakes) that will add a little compliance.

Some people report that aftermarket springs and shocks help. You may also be able to move to a 17" wheel (if it clears the brakes) that will add a little compliance.

A good point - what tyres/rims do you have?

If 19" that is the first thing I would change. May give you more than shocks/springs.

I have 16 for winter and 18 for summer - I would say there is a big difference in comfort.

As I was nagging in few other posts the contis sport contact 2 I have on 18" are not only bloody noisy but also deliver rather mediocre comfort.

I will gladly trade my 17" for some 19"

VRS isn't made for comfort, why waste money trying to change that? Octavia's as a whole are fairly noisy, as they are a cheaper brand. You get what you pay for.

Buyers need to get a good long test drive to make sure they can live with the noise and ride before they buy.

They are good cars but not refined enough.

I'll be getting something more refined next time, maybe a 1-2 year old 5 series, E class or Lexus, for the price of a new Octavia.

I'll be getting something more refined next time, maybe a 1-2 year old 5 series, E class or Lexus, for the price of a new Octavia.

 

Heh...main reason for me dropping the idea of E class was the noise (engine mainly), being miles behind what I had in my last superb. Octavia is not stellar but not bad either. No car in the list you made is rolling on 225/35 R19 tires - all of them roll on balloons with at least 2x higher side wall. That makes difference; try putting comparable wheels and than you may see a genuine improvement in comfort/noise levels.

FYI I run my VRS on 18" wheels in summer and 17" in winter (they only just clear the brakes i.e. they took the paint off on the first run) and the change in comfort is very small, partly because the winter tyres run at slightly higher pressures (+0.2Bar).

Heh...main reason for me dropping the idea of E class was the noise (engine mainly), being miles behind what I had in my last superb. Octavia is not stellar but not bad either. No car in the list you made is rolling on 225/35 R19 tires - all of them roll on balloons with at least 2x higher side wall. That makes difference; try putting comparable wheels and than you may see a genuine improvement in comfort/noise levels.

My SE model (Ambition model in Europe) is running on 16" Michelin balloons, its still got that bad road noise. Its a budget car, lots of toys, but not much soundproofing or money spent on refinement. Its easily the noisiest car I have owned.

Try Peugeot then...and I'm talking 508 in top version. Rolls quietly but adds hisses, buzzes, rattles, vibes, etc, etc on top of it.

Maybe the rear suspension may also contribute to noise in your case. I was really ok when car was on winter tyres. Not as good as superbs mk2 I had, but comparable to previous passat, better than french cars i have driven (R. Laguna 2 / P. 508).

I drove a non VRS hatch a week ago with its 16" balloon tyres and it felt amazing compared to my Wagon. 

 

Just a shame it looked like a taxi.

I drove a non VRS hatch a week ago with its 16" balloon tyres and it felt amazing compared to my Wagon. 

 

Just a shame it looked like a taxi.

 

I live in Germany and have exactly opposite impression - all taxis are combi / wagon.

Almost all my previous machines were wagon and I never used space above the window line, so again - never had real benefit from boxy shape.

I had taken hatch this time and never regretted it.

I have 3 dogs and two kids so the estate was a must for me. Just a shame they resonate so much bloody noise!

My Leon FR on 18" wheels with the exact same tyres as my VRS was actually noisier for me. So much so I actually find the VRS to be 'comfortable'

Edited 11 May, 201610 yr by ExSEAT

I'm really not sure that wheel size actually makes that much difference to the interior noise.

I currently run 17 inch with Dunlop Sports Maxx on my 1.4tsi Ambition Mk3 estate (24k km from new) and road noise is pretty good at lower urban speeds and at highway speeds it varies enormously according to road surface.

A really smooth new motorway surface is eerily quiet and the more typical interstate single lane course tarmac is of course much louder, but just short of intrusive.

Once when I punctured (250 km from home late at night) and had to run on the space-saver spare 16 inch at restricted speeds I was appalled at the additional noise the one tyre made at ALL speeds and surfaces. The space saver is some cheaper Korean brand but the tread does not appear particularly course so I am not sure why it is so bad.

One area the Mk3 seems really bad for noise though is driving at speed in really wet weather. Luckily that has only happened to me once in nearly three years

 

My previous Mk2 Ambition estate suffered from more noise from its 15 Inch wheels, across several brands of tyres.

The 15 inch did give a much more plush ride especially on our corrugated dirt roads although the rear multi-link suspension could take some credit.

 

I don't think I have ever seen a post where someone has changed tyre size without changing the tyre brand (or season type) for a true comparison of what effect the size change made.

They say that, from noise perspective, the optimal profile is between 40 and 55, but I have no way nor experience to verify it; that profile value together with tyre width would dictate optimal rim size for target wheel circumference.

Approved Octy 5E wheel combinations range from 195/65 R15 91H to 225/35 R19 88Y where both extremes are probably not optimal as per above rule of thumb.

Lower speed and load indices mean also less noise; I'm pretty sure rating of my tyres (92Y) is way past optimal for the task and thus contributing to noise; my car is not getting any close to 2520kg and cannot reach 300km/h even in free fall...

 

From the overall comfort perspective though, the other aspect of shock absorption is rather simple - thicker the tyre > softer ride.

Edited 11 May, 201610 yr by wlange

I'm pretty sure rating of my tyres (92Y) is way past optimal for the task and thus contributing to noise; my car is not getting any close to 2520kg and cannot reach 300km/h even in free fall...

If the 230 is fine on an 88 load rated tyre on 19 xtremes then there's no reason why you couldn't run an 88 load rated 18" tyre in place of your 92s.

I ran some 88's on 18" wheels on my mk2 (that also was supplied with 92's from the factory) without any issues - still fine for the axle load requiremetn.

Edited 11 May, 201610 yr by rob_e

Well, so many posts

I am actually running the 17 inch rims withs the sportmaxx and the road noise is horrible with these tyres. 

I may go for vredestein ultrac vorti as they seem to be a lot quieter with softer rubber.

Well, so many posts

I am actually running the 17 inch rims withs the sportmaxx and the road noise is horrible with these tyres. 

I may go for vredestein ultrac vorti as they seem to be a lot quieter with softer rubber.

Sportmaxx do seem to have inconsistent manufacturing quality judging by mixed reports.

As I said above mine are fine for noise, ride, cornering performance and rolling resistance and are wearing well enough for over 40k km of fairly gentle driving.

Others have reported very hard rubber that was poorly performing in most areas except wear (one set thrown away after 65k miles and still with tread) or the other extreme being very soft and flexy with short life.

well mine are 15K and still new even with rought driving, they do in fact trigger the EPS on first gear and second gear.

Anyway, I am thinking about selling it and getting a 308 estate

I think the suspension is what I would expect for a car with sporty pretensions, it is very similar in feel to my previous Mondeo Titanium X Sport in this respect. I think it's the general soundproofing that lets the side down slightly.

If the 230 is fine on an 88 load rated tyre on 19 xtremes then there's no reason why you couldn't run an 88 load rated 18" tyre in place of your 92s.

I ran some 88's on 18" wheels on my mk2 (that also was supplied with 92's from the factory) without any issues - still fine for the axle load requiremetn.

Couldn't agree more, especially taking into consideration the extra weight of Mk2.

I've got 17" winter wheels ony VRS combi and really don't think they improve the ride that much compared to the standard 18" wheels although the steering definitely doesn't feel as positive with the winter wheels.

A friend has an diesel combi and whilst softer is no way near as controlled at the back with its torsion beam and bounces around a bit