Old Library

Dear GTI brothers,

All this talk about suspension setups makes me want to share my latest
experience. I've been running Neuspeed/Koni adjustables with Neuspeed Sport
springs on my '98 GTI VR6 for over a year and a half. I am very pleased
with the shocks/springs. My car's handling was much improved and comfort
was not affected. When I say this, you have to understand that the stock
'floatiness' of the car made me uncomfortable. I hated how the car dove on
braking and squatted under acceleration and swayed so severely when turning.

I recently added front and rear Autotech hollow sway bars. The sway bars
were a great addition. The car definitely feels more neutral now. I can
take my 'reference' turns at about the same speed as before or maybe a
little faster, but the big differece is that the car feels much more secure
when turning at a high rate of speed and while the car's ultimate tendency
is to push at the limit, it doesn't do it as bad as before. In other words,
the car only really starts to push when you are overdriving it. Up to that
point, it remains very neutral and of course, very flat. Most of the body
roll is gone now. The sway bars definitely enhanced the car and did not
affect comfort in any way.
.
I also have had a Eurosport rear stress bar for about 6 months now and let
me tell you guys that it is awesome. It has one of the highest
dollar/benefit ratios of any mod I've done to the car, if not the highest.

By the way, I have my front shocks set at 1/2 turn from full soft and the
rears at 1/4 turn from full soft.

To those who have not modified your stock suspension but are not satisfied
with it, I would suggest upgrading your stock tires first! Man, does this
make the biggest difference! Put some good tires on your stock rims. Then,
go for the rear stress bar. Get some money together and get the sway bars
and if you can afford them right away, go for your choice of shocks/spings.
I think that with some excellent tires (I have Dunlop SP8k's on my stock
rims), a rear stress bar and a good set of sway bars, the car's handling
would be much improved and would give you the biggest initial 'upgrade' for
the money than getting the shocks/springs only without changing the tires
like a lot of people do (I did it that way, anyway).

Have fun choosing your suspension setups!

Anthony Leite
'98 GTI VR6
Cool White