This seems relatively simple, but I've seen a decent amount of confusion all over VWVortex and Reddit about how these features actually work, so I thought I'd put together a brief explanation of everything to clear up any confusion people may have. This will be specific for US spec cars, we have less options to choose from than you Euro guys.
Posted by4 years ago
Archived
30 30 150 stone sour lyrics. Driving Modes
This is the button located on the top left near the shifter, and the currently selected mode is indicated in the top left of the entertainment screen.
Normal - Well, it's normal. The 'soundaktor' sound enhancement gizmo runs at a lower volume, the throttle response is normal, the power steering assistance runs on full to provide a lighter feeling steering wheel, and if equipped with the lighting package, the lights turn at a lower speed.
Golf R 7.5 Faster Without Traction Control System
Sport - The 'soundaktor' is cranked up to 100%, the throttle response is sharpened (I have seen a lot of debate over whether the throttle response is actually affected, the corporate detail sheets in this thread clear that up: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=263720.0), power steering assistance is reduced to provide a heavier wheel, and the headlights respond more quickly to steering inputs.
If the vehicle is equipped with the DSG, and the car is in 'D' when Sport mode is selected, the DSG will also switch into it's Sport mode. However, the transmission sport mode and the sport driving mode are mutually exclusive and either can be used without the other.
Individual - This is a nearly useless feature for the US guys since we have so few parameters to fiddle with compared to the Euro guys, but it allows you to individually select Normal and Sport modes for the Steering, Engine (affects response and sound) and the Lights.
Transmission / Shift Modes
As previously stated this is entirely separate from the Driving Modes, and is indicated by the icon in the top right corner of the MFD screen between the gauges. You can cycle between modes by pulling back on the shifter.
D - Intended for normal driving situations to maximize fuel economy.
S - For all intents & purposes, this will hold the lowest possible gear for the given road speed. Sometimes I'll put it in sport and coast down the highway just to see if I can make it give up and upshift, but I usually chicken out after a couple minutes.
Should you select the Sport Driving Mode while in D, you can revert back to D by pulling back on the shifter. The Engine will stay in Sport, but the trans will go back to good behavior.
Also, if you park the car in the Sport Driving Mode, then go back to the car later, the Driving Mode will still be in sport, but the trans will go directly to D when you shift out of park. I find it annoying that the car assumes I want 'batshit crazy redline shift mode' whenever I select the driving sport mode, so I'm glad it at least doesn't make you keep switching out of D every time you start the car in sport.
M - Pull on one of the paddles or push the shifter over to the right and you're in 'Manual' mode. This is the best option for mixed/enthusiastic driving, as D will always have you two gears from where you want to be, but S will annoy you between the corners.
Traction Modes
On - This is the standard setting with ASR (your traction control and ESC (all your braking and stability assistance features) fully activated.
ASR Off - Press the bottom right button near the shifter for a couple seconds. The MFD will display 'ASR Deactivated' or something like that. This switches off traction control but leaves your stability features fully active. This is most useful if you need a little wheel slip to get started in the snow, if you're trying to rock the car to get it unstuck from snow or mud, or any other reasons you need the power wheels to be able to spin.
ESC Sport Holding down the button for longer will bring up something like 'ESC Sport Activated: Driving Control Reduced' in the MFD screen. This reduces how aggressive the stability control features are and will allow you to have a little more fun before they intervene. This mode also switches off ASR, so be prepared for lots of tire squeal if you're still on all seasons.
So there you have it, all the ins and outs and whathaveyous of the MKVII driving, trans and traction control modes. Hopefully it clears up any questions a new owner might have.
16 comments
Posted by5 years ago
Archived
Sorry this is longer than I thought.
I’m writing this to document my experience with doing this to help others considering this upgrade. I’m writing it here because I found this forum to be a great source of information for VW enthusiasts about these upgrades and I just wanted to add my 2-cents to this base of knowledge.
A TL:DR for other MkVI Golf R owners considering a similar tune; DO IT!
My background: This is my third turbo-charged AWD car, I’ve previously owned a MY98 Subaru WRX and a Mazda 6 MPS (or Mazdaspeed 6), both have been wonderful cars and I enjoyed them immensely. Both were bought new, as was the Golf R.
I bought this car with knowledge that I’d regularly having two passengers, and I wanted it quickly so instead of getting exactly what I wanted – a nine month wait - I got one “off the boat”, that is, a car a dealer had order speculatively. I’ve owned the R for almost two years but until recently it was a lease car and I kept it as stock. Never once in my time of owning it did I ever see the traction control light go on.
The Original car: I ended up with the R with the 19” wheels (I wanted the 18’s – Sydney roads are terrible), Magnetic suspension (a must have; see Sydney roads) ,the leather interior (I was alive in the 70’s and it is still too soon for plaid), DSG (an agonising choice), and the standard sound system (hey how bad can the sound be on a 50K car). It was a car I respected rather than loved. It was very fast, faster than my WRX and MPS 6, but it didn’t seem to want to involve me in the drive. I both loved and hated the DSG, it was great in traffic, but again, seemed to take out my involvement. I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to keep it or not, but due to various shit (passenger capacity now not an issue) I ended paying out the lease and owning it outright.
The Upgrades: firstly I hated the sound; I didn’t have the Dynaudio, which I’ve heard is excellent, I had the standard, which is woeful in the extreme. So the old shitty speakers were cut out and new mid-priced speakers were installed (along with sound deadening) and they were a revelation! A mere $1300 could transform my car audio from shit to great and spend a little more and it will only get better!
I caught the mod bug.
Next I read about the various tunes applied to VWs, all of this was a mystery, but reading this forum and others and checking out websites and what was available locally I decided in the APR Stage 1 tune. I would also note the advice I got from this forum; wait until the sales are on. A sale happened to be on right then.
The APR Tune: I checked it into a local APR dealer, who was a VW specialist, it was done in a few hours.
The APR Stage 1 tune: Wow, just wow. General chemistry department of peer tutoring. This car is quick! There are no issues with drivability, which was my main concern, I’d driven the first unlimited edition WRX STi in Australia and it was a dog, no boost before 4000rpm, then a beast, a useless piece of kit off a racetrack. No this APR tuned car was just as tractable as the stock below 3000rpm, but above that it was a different car. From that day on the traction control light has been a regular light on my dash.
I know we’ve all seen this written before but it is now the engine it should’ve been out of the factory. To think all of this grunt and power could be unlocked by simply changing some software setting is amazing. And they didn’t lie about the fuel economy either; even after gunning it frequently I’ve found my fuel consumption is lower!
Pros: Everything. It’s the car it should’ve been out of the factory – for me anyway. Increased power, torque and better fuel consumption. The DSG now makes a lot more sense as the times between shifts are much shorter.
Cons: You do now get the odd tug on the wheel from torque steer, the Haldex system isn’t quick enough to get all that torque to the rear wheels. Honestly I think this is why the factory dialled back the engine, to maintain the flawless chassis behaviour.
Power does tend to die off over 6500rpm. I’m not certain whether this is just an impression or really genuine, or a marketing ploy. I do know then next stage has the intake and fuel pump as the next additions and we know what that will help.
My Conclusions: Do it as soon as you can. It transforms the car from a quick appliance to something that feels like it wants to go hard. I like the fact that it twitches occasionally now and that it sets off the traction control in second gear, it now feels more like there is a beast lurking the engine bay willing to go harder, not an appliance. I love driving it every day.
I’m getting the air intake and fuel pump next year.
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