Never normally one to complain about a bigger power:weight ratio, but today got me thinking. In our previous mk2 Superb absolutely nothing bothered it, even (literal) gale force winds on exposed country roads or high elevation motorways. It always felt totally planted, and just never let on it was being battered by side winds. Today on the motorway in our S3, the car was very much affected by the strongish winds. I was having to fight to keep the car on the straight a lot of the time with lots of little steering corrections, and there was very noticeable body lean when the wind was at its worst. I can imagine that being very tiring on a long distance drive, not to mention potentially nasty if you were really 'pressing on'... 

 

What do you all think? The S3 is definitely lighter than the old model, but is it a good thing really? In our case I'm pretty sure 220+ps wouldn't be too unduly affected performance-wise by an extra 100KG or two, and the car is after all a mile munching barge not a sports saloon. It would have made for a much more stable ride (a la mk2), but I'm not sure what to think. Maybe the heavier diesels and the 4x4 isn't as bad? It's certainly not horrendous, don't get me wrong, but compared to the mk2 the difference was surprising.

 

Over to you guys...

My experience of owenrship of a '71 VW Camper is that tracking, tyre attributes such as sidewall stiffness have a huge affect on stability in sidewinds.  I wouldn't necessarily blame vehicle weight - there may be other factors affecting sidewind stability.  I haven't noticed much of a difference between my S2 Combi on 16" wheels and my S3 on 16" wheels other than that the Hankooks and the horrible Continentals. They were both diesels though... 

Edited 29 September, 20169 yr by Legacy

My experience of owenrship of a '71 VW Camper is that tracking, tyre attributes such as sidewall stiffness have a huge affect on stability in sidewinds.  I wouldn't necessarily blame vehicle weight - there may be other factors affecting sidewind stability.  I haven't noticed much of a difference between my S11 Combi on 16" wheels and my S111 on 16" wheels other than that the Hankooks and the horrible Continentals.

 

True, and since this is the first real wind we've had since I took delivery I can't compare, but the Primacy 3s (235/45/r18) don't seem to have particularly soft sidewalls and they're also low profile. *shrug*

I find when the car is empty, it is light compared to other cars I have owned, does feel light at speed and is affected by side winds.. . (Previous car was a 5 series BMW)  - Guess this is the price the emission police are forcing upon us.

 

However, when mine was loaded to the max coming home from Holland, it was solid as a rock and felt stable at speed.. (it did have loads of beer and wine in the boot too!! )

 

 

 

 

The only thing i think is needed on the SE Business model is wider tyres... when fully loaded the fronts lacked acceleration traction at times at lower speed.

Edited 29 September, 20169 yr by RickTT

So wait, you're saying to fix my car I just need to drive to France and buy loads of cheep booze and fags? I like this game.

So wait, you're saying to fix my car I just need to drive to France and buy loads of cheep booze and fags? I like this game.

 

Sort of....dont limit yourself to just France     Holland supermarkets are cheaper for pils beer, Belgium supermarkets are cheaper for the Belgium strong beers and France for the wine.... 

 

Time for a road trip !

Edited 29 September, 20169 yr by RickTT

From my perspective, the weight obviously affects the towing capability of the vehicle and I'm interested to know what people tow and how they find it in the lighter car.

 

At present I have a tiny caravan... as a novice caravanner I'm a little nervous of upsizing I must admit!

 

Oh - and hill starts with the caravan is that a weight consideration due to the weight on the towbar taking traction away from the front wheels or is the torque more important? - I do 'balance' the van so I don't exceed the weight on the towbar.

Hi Rainmaker,

I have just started a thread on the disappointing ride quality of the car. Not had the experience of a strong crosswind yet but the car never feels planted on the road unless in sport mode with DCC and the rest of the time bounces and sways around like a pogo stick, especially in comfort mode.

I wonder if the general slack in body control is also having an adverse effect.

Ours is shocking in strong wind. I find the best solution is to open all the windows for a couple of minutes ;-)

Crosswind stability is largely a question of aerodynamics (and I'm not going to re-type the book that explains how); if you're having problems, try cracking both front windows half an inch to move the centre of pressure back.

I have noticed that the car is affect by wind but no more so than my previous A6 though only really notice it on higher parts of the M6 and M74.

Sort of....dont limit yourself to just France     Holland supermarkets are cheaper for pils beer, Belgium supermarkets are cheaper for the Belgium strong beers and France for the wine.... 

. 

Time for a road trip !t

Go for it!

 

You can do all 3 countries in a day trip from Dover / Dunkirk, nip up the A16 to the Belgian border, turn left at the next exit into DePanne, 2 decent supermarkets there.

 

Head back out to the A16 & use the st nav to get to Sluis & Oostburg in Nederland. (Market day in Oostburg is Wednesday).

 

If you can leave by 4pm you've plenty of time to head back to Dunkirk on the same motorway, & turn off to the right for the Auchan Hypermarket before you head back to the ferry terminal.

 

Easy-peasy.

 

DC

Go for it!

 

You can do all 3 countries in a day trip from Dover / Dunkirk, nip up the A16 to the Belgian border, turn left at the next exit into DePanne, 2 decent supermarkets there.

 

Head back out to the A16 & use the st nav to get to Sluis & Oostburg in Nederland. (Market day in Oostburg is Wednesday).

 

If you can leave by 4pm you've plenty of time to head back to Dunkirk on the same motorway, & turn off to the right for the Auchan Hypermarket before you head back to the ferry terminal.

 

Easy-peasy.

 

DC

 

Did Holland Germany early this year in the Superb - not a day trip, but a week trip

Did Holland Germany early this year in the Superb - not a day trip, but a week trip

Cool, where did you go?

 

My late wife was Dutch, so we used to visit family about 3/4 times per year & we would start or finish a road trip with a weekend with her parents.

 

Been down to Bavaria & Austria, the Rhineland & the Mosel, & up to Hamburg then into Denmark twice.

 

Usually in cars unsuitable for Autobahns too........

 

DC

 

I've remarried last year & have taken new lady to das Bodensee & Austria, + basing ourselves in Zuid Limburg, near Maastricht & nipping in & out of Belgium & Germany too.. 

I've never driven in Europe, but plan to hire a Porche when we're in Majorca in a couple of weeks so I can hit the mountain roads early doors before the lycraists get out of bed. Maybe when the babies are a little older a trip into Germany would be in order.

I've never driven in Europe,

You live in Europe!!!. Unless the NW of the UK left Europe and I never noticed.

Sounds like the answer will be a great big spoiler!

Can't say I have noticed mine as being bad in a crosswind unless the extra weight of the 4x4 system makes a difference?

I've never driven in Europe, but plan to hire a Porche when we're in Majorca in a couple of weeks so I can hit the mountain roads early doors before the lycraists get out of bed. Maybe when the babies are a little older a trip into Germany would be in order.

Scenic Germany is great fun, & hotels are baby friendly too.

 

When in Mallorca, try the old road from Palma to Soller rather than the new road through the tunnel in the mountains, it's twiddly.....

 

Did that for the 1st time in '69 in a Seat 600, later years in a Set 124, Still have the Std. 8 movie film shot from the passenger seat.....

 

DC

According to the Skoda information your MK3 220 DSG has a total weight of 2050kg, the closest MK2 FL is the 2.0TFSI 200PS DSG which is 2193kg, or 143 kg heavier (or 22 1/2 stone in old money). Obviously this will make some difference to stability, but there could be more to it than that, different wheelbase, tracking, tyres, weight distribution, different aerodynamics etc.

Your 220 is still a bit heavier than the MK2 FL 1.4 petrol and I don't recall anyone saying that felt unstable. Maybe the wind was stronger than you realised.

The nirvana of better economy forces Skoda to make the new models with lighter materials, thinner glass with more road noise and subsequent feeling of cheapness in comparison with the MkII.

According to the Skoda information your MK3 220 DSG has a total weight of 2050kg, the closest MK2 FL is the 2.0TFSI 200PS DSG which is 2193kg, or 143 kg heavier (or 22 1/2 stone in old money). Obviously this will make some difference to stability, but there could be more to it than that, different wheelbase, tracking, tyres, weight distribution, different aerodynamics etc.

Your 220 is still a bit heavier than the MK2 FL 1.4 petrol and I don't recall anyone saying that felt unstable. Maybe the wind was stronger than you realised.

Quite possibly mate... And I know we live in Europe you nugget. For now at least. You know what I meant...

DC I've always had travel in my veins and I'd happily cover hundreds of miles a day, every day. Nothing beats experiencing new things and new places. Unfortunately Mrs Rainmaker disagrees, mostly due to a major spinal problem and having two demanding babies under 2... I live in hope.

According to the Skoda information your MK3 220 DSG has a total weight of 2050kg, the closest MK2 FL is the 2.0TFSI 200PS DSG which is 2193kg, or 143 kg heavier (or 22 1/2 stone in old money). Obviously this will make some difference to stability, but there could be more to it than that, different wheelbase, tracking, tyres, weight distribution, different aerodynamics etc.

Your 220 is still a bit heavier than the MK2 FL 1.4 petrol and I don't recall anyone saying that felt unstable. Maybe the wind was stronger than you realised.

Umm....

 

The 2.0 TSi wasn't sold here in the FL Superb 2, & your quoted weights seem to be a little high...

 

Possibly maximum all-up weights fill off passengers, luggage, fuel etc?

Umm....

 

The 2.0 TSi wasn't sold here in the FL Superb 2, & your quoted weights seem to be a little high...

 

Possibly maximum all-up weights fill off passengers, luggage, fuel etc?

My mistake, I'm so used to putting the FL bit in as I have an FL. Meant MK2. Weights based on estate models here, first shown as 'total weight', then kerb weight (I think my earlier weights were for the 280).

 

2090kg for the MK3 220 DSG estate and 2140kg for the MK2 2.0 TFSI DSG estate (total weights), so very little difference between old and new models. 50kg = just under 8 stones.

Kerb weight for MK2 1502kg and the MK3 1450kg, 52kg difference, again not too much difference.

 

 

I have got the 220TSI Sedan with 19' wheels and it's perfectly planted on the road even in normal mode.

Australia, NSW is not known for it's great roads in the country. Some of them are basically a "goats" track sealed (I am being polite here). Never mind the dirt roads....

But my understanding is that the suspension was custom calibrated by Skoda for Australian conditions.

Maybe they did a better job tuning the suspension for Australia then for England.

Our Sedan feels planted like a rock, even with fairly strong side wind and you are certainly not fighting the steering wheel.

 

But my understanding is that the suspension was custom calibrated by Skoda for Australian conditions.

.

I have never seen anything to suggest the VAG group do any special suspension tune for Australia, particularly not for Skoda as sales are so low here they would not see much return on the investment and they do a pretty good job anyway.

The really high tune models are sometimes knocked down by a few Kw for our hot conditions and we don't get some of the options/models available in other countries.

Hyundai and Kia do have a local Australian establishment for suspension tuning of their models sold here but that is because the Korean and US based suspension tunes are particularly bad. They also make a really big thing about it which is fair enough considering the large investment required and the Koreans sell a lot of vehicles here.

Could be the sort of thing a certain type of salesperson would have said to you though.