Road noise

[bahnstormer vrs]

Hi,

I drive a OctyII VRS which is -by the way, the worst car I have ever had I think.

Done 40K miles in 18miles and got rid of the factory fitted Continentals after 3K miles because of the absence of wet grip/traction.

Since I have had 4 X Toyos and the traction/grip was much better. Noise still INCREDIBLY loud on most surfaces.

I have since downgraded the 18inch standard wheels to 17inch with 45 profile v 40 profile on 18inch. Tyres are Eagle F1s. Handling is better on most surfaces because the car doesn't bounce of very road detail anymore but noise is still awful!

I guess the issue -as raised by many members, is the actual type of surface we get given in this country...no tyre will help. I guess SKODA could help by fitting better wheel hubs and bearings but then again it may only help on the most dramatic circumstances...

The car will be gone the day the 3 year contract expires...and I won't look back...

It seems a bit harsh to pan your vRS completely on the basis of tyres/road noise. Are there other factors involved?

[achristo]

yes there are other factors. Like any other Golf the car understeers far too much for my liking, it is really front heavy and despit fitting Koni-FSD/Eibach springs it still understeers far too much. A bigger rear anti-roll bar would help or just a different car now.

Also, the front seats are just so narrow that it hurts to drive after a while (1hour+). I am of average size but my wife is petit (47Kgs, 1m63) and she barely fits her bum in the flat section of the seat. Are they made for under-10s?

Finally, the seats (again) offer very poor shoulder and mid-back support which tends to pull on the neck and shoulder muscles making long journeys very tiring unless "sank" in the seat ( I just need a cap and a subwoofer then) which then makes the lower back suffer. Just can't win with that car.

We also own a FIAT Marea and frankly that understeers less and offers better seats. I had a Mondeo 2l (basic trim, unsure of model) at an Airport not long ago that was much more dynamic and just a better drive.

Looking back, any new test drive for new cars will have to involve a day or two at my usual rate i.e 300-500 Miles because the 15 min I had with the dealer just gave me a great experience for the best features of the car but no time to suffer the harsh reality. The car just isn't great.

[Leec]

I had Bridgestones on my Octy, very noisy. Changed to Millenium (made by Avon Cooper) much better handling and noise reduced by 95%

[ednmra]

I had Bridgestones on my Octy, very noisy. Changed to Millenium (made by Avon Cooper) much better handling and noise reduced by 95%

Interesting. There's a place in Worthing doing those for £51 fully fitted. Not too bad!

[spencel]

What cars have you come from to think the Octy is loud?

I've had a Clio dCi and a Tdi Focus previously and I think they were both as loud or louder than the VRS.

Audi A4 Avant. Very quiet car but the front suspension was made of cheese!

[achristo]

We had (and still have) a FIAT Marea Weekend 20v as well as a Fabia something diesel or other:

FIAT with Yellow Koni, Red Eibachs, large front sway bar, stiffened bushes etc (for crap track days, but super cheap) less noisy (especially road) and less crashy that the Octy.

Skoda Fabia diesel, very noisy to get going like most diesels but once going quiet, road noise there but nothing like the Octy.

For the record we also have the use of a Smart City thing (2 seats, looks like a ball cut in 1/2) and at 80 Mph that is also a LOT less noisy that the Octy...maybe you should get one, see by yourself?

[humsk]

Just had Event Tyres change my original Bridgestones Turanza ER300(205/55 R16) to Kumho Ecsta KU31. The difference is tyre noise is significant. The Kumho's were the quietest in Auto Express's tyre test but aquaplanning is their pit fall - I'll just need to be careful in the wet.

[JohnMorr]

We had (and still have) a FIAT Marea Weekend 20v as well as a Fabia something diesel or other:

FIAT with Yellow Koni, Red Eibachs, large front sway bar, stiffened bushes etc (for crap track days, but super cheap) less noisy (especially road) and less crashy that the Octy.

Skoda Fabia diesel, very noisy to get going like most diesels but once going quiet, road noise there but nothing like the Octy.

For the record we also have the use of a Smart City thing (2 seats, looks like a ball cut in 1/2) and at 80 Mph that is also a LOT less noisy that the Octy...maybe you should get one, see by yourself?

Yes, we have a Smart City Thing and it's quieter than our Octy 2 and the seats are far better. It also does the same mg as our Octy 2 - 42mpg. But the ride is cr*p and the auto gearchange pathetic. But we love our Smart (Whir to those in the club) to pieces and have just decided on his 6th birthday that we're going to run him forever.

Isn't it funny how people get so het up about their cars? Yes, they all have good and bad points, but some commentators come on as serial changers who will never ever be happy with anything. We're very happy with our Octy 2 L&K with all the bells and whistles and can see no need for a change in the foreseeable fututre.

Mind you, quieter tyres would be nice.....

[cheezemonkhai]

Just had Event Tyres change my original Bridgestones Turanza ER300(205/55 R16) to Kumho Ecsta KU31. The difference is tyre noise is significant. The Kumho's were the quietest in Auto Express's tyre test but aquaplanning is their pit fall - I'll just need to be careful in the wet.

I wouldn't touch any tyre with an aquaplaning issue, regardless of how quiet they are sorry.

[ednmra]

Did the Autoexpress test have any comments on Millenium tyres?

[bahnstormer vrs]

Did the Autoexpress test have any comments on Millenium tyres?

NO; the were not included in the test. Full details can be read here;- Tyre test | Total Tyre Guide | Products | Auto Express

I wouldn't touch any tyre with an aquaplaning issue, regardless of how quiet they are sorry.

Point appreciated; but we each have our own priorities and it is all relative.

The Khumos scored 75% (against the 'best' tyre given 100%) but the Pirelli only got 51% in the straight line aquaplaning test. However, they were 5th in the Wet Handling test; so not all bad in the wet.

[achristo]

Yes couldn't agree more, the Smart and the FIAT (not sure about the Fabia...) have far better seats, one car was 8,000 Euros and the FIAT £1,700 before mods...madness compared to a brand new "modern" car that should have benefited from much more ergonomics design, one would have thought so anway.

[SusanS]

I wouldn't touch any tyre with an aquaplaning issue, regardless of how quiet they are sorry.

Me neither! Just turn the music up!