Suspension

[Apophis]

Hi all, just part exed my golf GT TDI 130 51 reg, for a bora sport TDI 150 53 reg. I then went to a main dealer to have a crappy hands free kit removed (ex rep car), and whilst I was there, I asked what suspension it had. I was told it was the "comfort" suspension. I was a bit surprised, as I thought it would have had "sport" suspension. However, I was told that there were 3 suspensions on golfs and boras...sport, basic, and comfort. Is this so? I do know about lowered sports suspensions etc etc, but what can you all tell me about this matter? Is it worth getting the lowered sports suspension put on by VW, (has to be them really as opposed to anyone else so as to keep car "standard" for my insurance)....or am I wrong altogether, in that comfort suspension is the norm for the 150 Sport? Help!

[Eshrules]

Hi all, just part exed my golf GT TDI 130 51 reg, for a bora sport TDI 150 53 reg. I then went to a main dealer to have a crappy hands free kit removed (ex rep car), and whilst I was there, I asked what suspension it had. I was told it was the "comfort" suspension. I was a bit surprised, as I thought it would have had "sport" suspension. However, I was told that there were 3 suspensions on golfs and boras...sport, basic, and comfort. Is this so? I do know about lowered sports suspensions etc etc, but what can you all tell me about this matter? Is it worth getting the lowered sports suspension put on by VW, (has to be them really as opposed to anyone else so as to keep car "standard" for my insurance)....or am I wrong altogether, in that comfort suspension is the norm for the 150 Sport? Help!

not sure about the different fitments etc.... a techie may be able to helop with that one, but im a bit concerned about your 'keeping the car standard'. even if VW change the suspension for you, you've changed the origional spec of the car and suspension is one of the things insurance like to know about, id discuss it with them before you go ahead!

[Apophis]

Too right regarding the insurance part, in fact I have recently advised someone else on here regarding telling the insurance people EVERYTHING! Oh, I see you have seen that eshrules!! The insurance people even look for remapping in certain circumstances!! I guess I am very curious regarding stock suspension, I am aware that it was possible to specify sport suspension when a new car was ordered, but have never heard of "standard" suspension. So therefore, my main question to all you people is, are there 3 suspensions ( sport, standard, and comfort)? Thanks

[Eshrules]

Too right regarding the insurance part, in fact I have recently advised someone else on here regarding telling the insurance people EVERYTHING! Oh, I see you have seen that eshrules!! The insurance people even look for remapping in certain circumstances!! I guess I am very curious regarding stock suspension, I am aware that it was possible to specify sport suspension when a new car was ordered, but have never heard of "standard" suspension. So therefore, my main question to all you people is, are there 3 suspensions ( sport, standard, and comfort)? Thanks

according to parkers

Sports suspension £150 Launch Jan 2004

£155 Jan 2004 Now

from that i can only gather that yours wouuldnt have had the sports suspension fitted as standard, it would appear that you have a differnt type, the comfort perhaps? the sports was obviously an optional extra?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Hmmmm . . .

The insurance issue varies widely, and IMHO, is mainly a money grabbing scam from a lot of brokers, mainly. With my insurer, they don't give a monkies about OEM options - with the Wifes GTI, I told them of the 18" Monzas, and they said as long as they are genuine VW parts, it won't make a difference to your premium, or any claim.

So, the way I see it - if you fit aftermarket parts (and technically, this also means a ********* oil filter, or say Millers oil, or Thule roof bars), then you need to notify your InsCo and wait for the incresed ££££s. If you raid the VW parts department for different springs, dampers, wheels, magic trees, etc, then there shouln't be a problem.

Regarding the actual differences between standard and sports suspension, usually, the sports just has stiffer dampers, but sometimes (but not always) has different springs to give a 10mm lower ride height. This obviously applies for the "normal" model ranges, such as "S", "SE" & "Sport". Specialist models like GTI and R32 are usually quite different.

[Eshrules]

Hmmmm . . .

The insurance issue varies widely, and IMHO, is mainly a money grabbing scam from a lot of brokers, mainly. With my insurer, they don't give a monkies about OEM options - with the Wifes GTI, I told them of the 18" Monzas, and they said as long as they are genuine VW parts, it won't make a difference to your premium, or any claim.

So, the way I see it - if you fit aftermarket parts (and technically, this also means a ********* oil filter, or say Millers oil, or Thule roof bars), then you need to notify your InsCo and wait for the incresed ££££s. If you raid the VW parts department for different springs, dampers, wheels, magic trees, etc, then there shouln't be a problem.

Regarding the actual differences between standard and sports suspension, usually, the sports just has stiffer dampers, but sometimes (but not always) has different springs to give a 10mm lower ride height. This obviously applies for the "normal" model ranges, such as "S", "SE" & "Sport". Specialist models like GTI and R32 are usually quite different.

just a quick note, ive heard about 'millers' are they a good oil manufacturer?

[passat boy]

Hi all, just part exed my golf GT TDI 130 51 reg, for a bora sport TDI 150 53 reg. I then went to a main dealer to have a crappy hands free kit removed (ex rep car), and whilst I was there, I asked what suspension it had. I was told it was the "comfort" suspension. I was a bit surprised, as I thought it would have had "sport" suspension. However, I was told that there were 3 suspensions on golfs and boras...sport, basic, and comfort. Is this so? I do know about lowered sports suspensions etc etc, but what can you all tell me about this matter? Is it worth getting the lowered sports suspension put on by VW, (has to be them really as opposed to anyone else so as to keep car "standard" for my insurance)....or am I wrong altogether, in that comfort suspension is the norm for the 150 Sport? Help!

as has been pointed out spring rate's and lenght give you many types of ride but on lowering your suspension consider those road humps to slow boyracers and wear&tear on your balljoints as well as steering.the undertray does get caught on road humps and every other angled surface.depending on your speed and circomestances,your sump can be destroyed,ive seen a few and it could be a small thing like swerving to avoid a pedestrian and knocking the kerb that ends it all for your engine or suspension.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

just a quick note, ive heard about 'millers' are they a good oil manufacturer?

Hmmmm . . . I know that devonutopia seems to rave about them, and in another thread I asked him to reply to some of my concerns, as yet, he hasn't responded. Do a search to see if you can find it.

Basically, Millers seem to specialise in the Vintage, Veteran, and Classic cars, where lubricants are pi$$ easy to blend to meet the standards of the time. They do list XFE-PD oil, but PD oils are quite a specialised brew, and my concern with Millers is twofold. Firstly, how good is their customer service from an oil analysis and expert reporting of used engine oil. Secondly, their R&D - Millers had fec& all to do with the original development of ANY of the later VAG oil standards. These were done as a sole partnership between VAG and Castrol. So I think you can guess which oil I use myself, and what I would recommend!

Rgds

[Teutonic_Tamer]

as has been pointed out spring rate's and lenght give you many types of ride but on lowering your suspension consider those road humps to slow boyracers and wear&tear on your balljoints as well as steering.the undertray does get caught on road humps and every other angled surface.depending on your speed and circomestances,your sump can be destroyed,ive seen a few and it could be a small thing like swerving to avoid a pedestrian and knocking the kerb that ends it all for your engine or suspension.

Yebut - if you stick with OEM sports springs and dampers, with the 10mm lower ride height, it will have NO effect on increased ball joint wear, nor your undertray. VW wouldn't design a car which kept bottoming out on everyday roads!

The only thing that will wreck your undertray or sump, is if you drive like a fu%&ing ****** - and then, quite frankly, you deserve it!

[BoraTDI]

My Bora Tdi150 has the sports suspension, which does indeed provide a slightly lower ride height and obviously a firmer ride. But if your an enthusiastic driver like myself you will really appreciate the firmer feel on twisting country roads. Motorway work is also fine giving a steady ride at all speeds. I've had my car a couple of years now and every other road in my local area has speed bumps, some of which are quite severe and I have never bottomed out on one, I normally take the bumps at about 20mph which is fine.