MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: dubfordstyling on April 11, 2011, 11:22:20 am

Title: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dubfordstyling on April 11, 2011, 11:22:20 am
Been thinking about coilovers or just going for it and getting air ride but I use my car everyday to travel into London - about 50 miles a day.  Does anyone else use air ride on their daily?  If so, can it be used just as normal suspension?
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: RedRobin on April 11, 2011, 11:30:46 am
.
Do you want 'Show' or do you want 'Go'?

Show = Air

Go = Coilovers

I'm sure that some guys ride the roads on air, but.
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dan1985 on April 11, 2011, 11:58:49 am
Mine is on air and gives a good ride, not as crashy as the coilovers I had on and speedbump and multistorey car park problems are a thing of the past  :happy2:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: RedRobin on April 11, 2011, 12:11:19 pm

Mine is on air and gives a good ride, not as crashy as the coilovers I had on and speedbump and multistorey car park problems are a thing of the past  :happy2:


....Coilovers shouldn't be crashy if they are set up right (assuming they were a good quality brand in the first place).

I have to take speedbumps very very slowly for clearance but so we all should anyway. Multistorey carparks are a complete no-no - Again for front clearance reasons on suddenly steep ramps. As far as I'm concerned it's a very small compromise to make for the sake of excellent road handling. As always, it depends what the individual wants from their car.
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dubfordstyling on April 11, 2011, 02:11:13 pm
.
Do you want 'Show' or do you want 'Go'?

Show = Air

Go = Coilovers

I'm sure that some guys ride the roads on air, but.

Both really!! 
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dubfordstyling on April 11, 2011, 02:12:45 pm
Mine is on air and gives a good ride, not as crashy as the coilovers I had on and speedbump and multistorey car park problems are a thing of the past  :happy2:

Does your ride get softer the higher you have yours set?  How often do you adjust it day to day?
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dan1985 on April 11, 2011, 03:06:14 pm
No the more psi in each bag the firmer the ride. Mine is set at 65 psi on the front and 60 on rear.Never really needs adjusting but I have the autopilot digital management, it lets you control each corner individually and then there are 3 settings for all down, ride height and all up.

The maximum for each corner is 133psi
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: RedRobin on April 11, 2011, 05:20:20 pm

No the more psi in each bag the firmer the ride. Mine is set at 65 psi on the front and 60 on rear.Never really needs adjusting but I have the autopilot digital management, it lets you control each corner individually and then there are 3 settings for all down, ride height and all up.

The maximum for each corner is 133psi


....I've never driven an air car - Do you feel any feedback at all?
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: keano on April 11, 2011, 05:24:27 pm
I always imagine it as driving one of these:


(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.made-in-china.com%2F2f0j00OvCaguLPnkqN%2FSpring-Rocking-Horse-KXB17-8009-.jpg&hash=855e356c55418ae294c22ac08af398d5171a814e)

(yes that image did take a long time to find)

I'd love to be taken for a drive in a bagged car though
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dubfordstyling on April 11, 2011, 05:27:41 pm
If it handles and rides well at a suitable PSI, then surely it must be the ultimate answer?  Sure its expensive compared to coilovers etc but if its just the same ride quality if not better then it's got to be the best route!?? 
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: RedRobin on April 11, 2011, 05:34:35 pm

If it handles and rides well at a suitable PSI, then surely it must be the ultimate answer?  Sure its expensive compared to coilovers etc but if its just the same ride quality if not better then it's got to be the best route!?? 


....No, not the best route for fast road handling AFAIK because surely the air doesn't respond in the same way for rebound and that's important.

I'm not knocking air nor saying that coilovers are better - It depends solely on what a driver wants to achieve.
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: MR02LOW on April 11, 2011, 05:37:17 pm
i have air on my daily, i like spirited driving occassionally but im not into track stuff and its fine for me.

Air handles better than standard suspension (personal opinion) but not like coilovers, its horses for courses mate if you want to track, coilys it is, if you want good all round suspension, comfortable not harsh and have the ease of moving up and down for bumps etc... and also get good stance air it is.

purely personal taste buddy  :happy2:

BTW air doesn't handly like a springy park toy in anyway shape or form please do not think this as its not the case. im more than happy to take anyone in my car if i ever get my ass to a meet or event and give you a little trip out.  :wink:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dubfordstyling on April 11, 2011, 05:50:00 pm
Do you find it reliable?  I'd be pi$$ed if say the rear or the front got stuck.  Also, how long does a tank of air last?  Sorry to bombard you with questions mate... Just very curious about the whole thing!
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: MR02LOW on April 11, 2011, 07:48:44 pm
i have run it everyday for a year and its never failed. depends on the kit and the fitting!!

i run a full airlift kit and it was fitted by Luke @ plush automotive, he's on here and has done quite a few members on here to, also check his site for more info.. www.plush-automotive.co.uk, there are loads of kits on the market again personal preference....

a tank will last as long as you want it to mate, depends on size of tank, how trigger happy you get with the switches etc... but depending on what kit you get you can have a different ammount of compressors, i run 2 and it fills my 5 gallon tank in about 2 min from empty. my friend runs 3 and 2 tanks and its well fast lol...

no probs on the questions  :smiley:

hope this helps buddy  :happy2:

Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: stealthwolf on April 11, 2011, 08:47:26 pm
more than happy to take anyone in my car if i ever get my ass to a meet or event and give you a little trip out.  :wink:
I call first dibs! :party:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: big al on April 11, 2011, 10:05:50 pm
BTW air doesn't handly like a springy park toy in anyway shape or form please do not think this as its not the case. im more than happy to take anyone in my car if i ever get my ass to a meet or event and give you a little trip out.  :wink:

Same here Craig.
I only had mine fitted last Thursday, so am still in the insane smiling constantly everything is great about my car phase at the moment.
But I am very happy with it, As some here will know, I have run a number of different sets of suspension on my MK5, and apart from the £1400 Bilsteins, air is the most comfortable, not had a chance to try too much spirited driving, but am planning on doing the ring next May.
I am at the forum meet this weekend, so if anyone wants a drive about then I will only charge 50p per 200 metres  :happy2: :grin:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: stealthwolf on April 11, 2011, 10:16:14 pm
I will only charge 50p per 200 metres

I'll give you £1 for 400 metres at Inters!  :evilgrin:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: big al on April 11, 2011, 10:28:44 pm
I'll give you £1 for 400 metres at Inters!  :evilgrin:

OK, that sounds........Wait a minute......... No deal! :signLOL:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: P4ulo on April 11, 2011, 11:18:03 pm
So, for a basic up down air-ride system,
how much would it cost.....I know its a "roughly" question.....
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: stevw1 on April 11, 2011, 11:36:03 pm
Ive been in a bagged car and imo its the way to go. It was a lot firmer than i imagined tbh and was impressed with the way it handled. I have run a car with coilliies which was harsh but not crashy.

Funds permitting i will be going with air on my 5  :happy2:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dan1985 on April 12, 2011, 06:28:52 am
So, for a basic up down air-ride system,
how much would it cost.....I know its a "roughly" question.....

I bought mine from G Werks and it was £2150 for the kit and £750 for basic fitment :smiley:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: MR02LOW on April 12, 2011, 08:43:26 am
^^^^ from G werks the system is airlift, you can run, havair, rayvern, bagyard there are lots of kits, ranging from cheap to expensive, depends on what you want, cheap isn't the way to go TBH dont run it til you have saved a bit more coin IMHO.

there are also lots of management to... all again personal preference.

give plush an e-mail for his prices on fitment and kits this will give you a good idea.

Plush is without a doubt the countrys finest airride installer, thats not my opinion thats a FACT! im sure big al wil also back me up on this, and another 20 cars and there owners on edition 38!

 :happy2:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: dubfordstyling on April 12, 2011, 12:51:46 pm
i have run it everyday for a year and its never failed. depends on the kit and the fitting!!

i run a full airlift kit and it was fitted by Luke @ plush automotive, he's on here and has done quite a few members on here to, also check his site for more info.. www.plush-automotive.co.uk, there are loads of kits on the market again personal preference....

a tank will last as long as you want it to mate, depends on size of tank, how trigger happy you get with the switches etc... but depending on what kit you get you can have a different ammount of compressors, i run 2 and it fills my 5 gallon tank in about 2 min from empty. my friend runs 3 and 2 tanks and its well fast lol...

no probs on the questions  :smiley:

hope this helps buddy  :happy2:



Thanks mate, much appreciated!!
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: MR02LOW on April 12, 2011, 01:57:04 pm
no worries  :innocent:
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: E30Dom on April 12, 2011, 01:59:21 pm

Mine is on air and gives a good ride, not as crashy as the coilovers I had on and speedbump and multistorey car park problems are a thing of the past  :happy2:


....Coilovers shouldn't be crashy if they are set up right (assuming they were a good quality brand in the first place).

I agree, my kw Variant 3's i had on my R32 felt better than stock(less crashy), even though stiffer!
Title: Re: Air ride for everyday?
Post by: Maxi-Mos on April 14, 2011, 09:49:20 pm
Hi

Im running air too, but German air systems instead.
They got 4 versions
V1 up and down
V2 up and down and you can manual adjust the hardness
V3 up and down and electronic adjust the hardness. And thats what I have.  :driver:
V4 Same as V3 but maid of stainless steel. The other ones are powder coated.
v3 and v4 is also connected to the speedometer, that means the faster you drive the harder it gets.  :wink:

G.A.S. has a golf 5 (running V3) as they use for 24-hour race.

Im wrilly happy with mine.

Thomas From Denmark  :happy2: