1 minute ago, cheezemonkhai said:

Super pro and then a bolstering b12 kit improved the mk2 no end.

 

oddly the super pro wishbone bushes were no more harsh than own in my eyes.

 

the b12 didn’t just improve the ride, but the eibach springs in that kit made the ride much much better and more compliant on poor roads.

 

i think that probably says more about the factory set up than anything else.

 

The Mk2 doesn't have the same issues the Mk3 has though.

I'd like to know if a set of "OEM" ish dampers would make an improvement.

 

I'm not wanting to go down the insurance for a modified car route for a family estate car. 

I would say that both the 2 and 3 feel over sprung and under damped.

 

as for the mk2, it suffered from vague steering too.

28 minutes ago, cheezemonkhai said:

I would say that both the 2 and 3 feel over sprung and under damped.

 

as for the mk2, it suffered from vague steering too.

It feels as if the Mk3 has too much compression damping on the small corrugations, although it could be over sprung too. The estate carries a full load without sagging too much. 

 

A friend's Mk2 estate used to drag its rear almost along the floor when fully laden, until I fitted some helper springs to it. 

Mine is not very representative being a Multilink 4x4 but with a light petrol engine, but I feel mine is damped just fine. I still feel like it is under-sprung round corners.

 

There was a massive miss-match on the ARBs Having a 24mm bar on the front (same as a Golf R) and an 18mm rear bar (4mm less than a Golf R) It left the back end wallowy and twitchy round bends and roundabouts. The extra 4mm at the back makes all the difference but it is still under-sprung.
 

I don’t want to lower it as it clears speed bumps at speed but I would like to correct the slight rearward tilt as you can feel it lift the front when the air gets under it. Just needs front lowering 15mm with 10% stiffer springs and it would be fine.

10 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

I would say that both the 2 and 3 feel over sprung and under damped.

 

as for the mk2, it suffered from vague steering too.

 

Mk2 was a bit bouncy with numb steering but it wasn't crashy like the Mk3 is and doesn't transmit imperfections into the cabin.

 

The Mk2 was all IRS and the suspension was better insulated.

Indeed, but some of those faults (vague steering, poor surface performance) come from similar areas.

1 minute ago, cheezemonkhai said:

Indeed, but some of those faults (vague steering, poor surface performance) come from similar areas.

 

The point really is what worked on the Mk2 may not work on the Mk3. You could stiffen things up on the Mk2, improve the damping and still not introduce crashyness and noise into the ride. The Mk3 has an entirely different starting point.

The "vague steering" issue may well be resolved by stiffer bushes, as suggested, although if that was at the further expense of ride it would not be desirable. 

 

I have noticed that the car doesn't always hold a line for a given, minimal, steering input (tyre pressures are slightly above book). Cars in the past did this to a greater extent, but my cars of the past 20 years have held a line more consistently through a bend.

 

 

Today I drove home comfortably and quietly on smooth, twisty ,wet roads and my all seasons Vredesteins gripped and steered just fine even when I went round a large roundabout in 4th gear.

44 minutes ago, gregoir said:

Today I drove home comfortably and quietly on smooth, twisty ,wet roads and my all seasons Vredesteins gripped and steered just fine even when I went round a large roundabout in 4th gear.

Congratulations 

Driving along a slightly, but consistently, rough motorway earlier, it became apparent that the road induced vibration (not a wheel imbalance oscillation) is also transmitted through the steering wheel. Releasing the hold of the wheel reduces the experienced vibration. The seats having a damping effect. It would appear that the driver experiences more of the buzz/vibration than passgeners do. 

Edited 25 October, 20196 yr by MC Bodge

1 hour ago, gregoir said:

Today I drove home comfortably and quietly on smooth, twisty ,wet roads and my all seasons Vredesteins gripped and steered just fine even when I went round a large roundabout in 4th gear.

 

Driving gently on smooth roads the Octy 3 is competent.

Throw in some mid corner bumps, some potholes, a few ridges and some broken tarmac and that's were the less sophisticated setup becomes a pain.

I have scanned through so apologies if you already have, but at the start of this thread, you mentioned you were potentially going to be needing some new tyres.

 

Have you replaced the tyres at all?

38 minutes ago, tunedude said:

I have scanned through so apologies if you already have, but at the start of this thread, you mentioned you were potentially going to be needing some new tyres.

 

Have you replaced the tyres at all?

Yes, 4 Rainsports. Much better grip in all conditions. 

15 hours ago, logiclee said:

 

Driving gently on smooth roads the Octy 3 is competent.

Throw in some mid corner bumps, some potholes, a few ridges and some broken tarmac and that's were the less sophisticated setup becomes a pain.

Today I drove a route I often drive. Urban, suburban, semi rural, rough and smooth tarmac, a few potholes and surface changes. 

 

Everything was fine.... As I was driving a smaller, lighter, uncomplicated, torsion beamed, 60K mile 56 reg Fiesta Zetec. The ride quality difference between it and a 40K mile 66 reg Octavia 1.4TSI estate is huge. The Fiesta also rolls less and handles and steers better too. The electronic gadgets and the engine are better in the Octavia, but the chassis is Inferior. 

Edited 26 October, 20196 yr by MC Bodge