Ride Quality Concerns - T6 Multivan

[Martz250]

Hi Guys,

Very close to purchasing my first Multivan, so quite excited about it.

Last week I test drove the vehicle, (ex-demo 2,700ks), and on smooth road it drives very well, but I have a concern that is isolated to ride quality over poor road surfaces.

I test drove it for a second time today, as I was concerned about knocks/noise from the front suspension that I heard in my first test drive last week. This occurred when driving at slow speeds, over bumps or crappy road surface, and I think it happened primarily when I was on the brakes too.

What is the general consensus on the front suspension in the situations as described here?

Really appreciate your advice. Thank you.

 

[chriscroft]

Hi Martz250, Welcome
Did it have the DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) option(If so did you play with the settings or sport-normal-comfort)?? What was the wheel/tyre option?
What are you comparing it against?
Mine (Vel Exec=Multivan) has DCC and 17" tyres 235/60/17 (not the stock van tyres); and also Dynamic lowering (20mm drop)
It's Brilliant, and makes a huge huge difference, and a bargain at around £850 option - remember you should get around 10% discount off any option (California&Caravelle); 12% off Vans
I had a T5 Caravelle, and its was 30mm lower from standard; its ride was rough; compared against a Mere V-class
Not true of the T6, especially with DCC
There are also other options; many on here have fitted Bilstein b14 coil overs to replace stock shocker/springs; people love them, but not sure you will get the limo ride in the rear you may be after (After Market fit). If you where to fit them, you can leave them in the high position to ensure max axel travel on rougher roads
The real comfort aftermarket solution is a full 4 channel automatic Air system. The springs are replaced with Air bags, and new shockers; plus an air compressor (fitted underneath); later this year/early next VB will be offering a combined Air and Active suspension (Air bags with Electronic shockers), this will give a suspension set up similar to say a range rover (not as much wheel travel)
Full air suspension 4C » VB-Airsuspension
or soon to be released
VB-ActiveAir: the latest product from VB-Airsuspension » VB-Airsuspension
These options start at around £4500 fitted, there are members on this site who have it and love it, there are other similar makes that are very similar, with a very similar price. It you think you may want this, see the note on the VB site about having the interface option factory fitted at the order stage.

My recommendations, try a Multivan with DCC (in the soft/comfort setting) the ride is very good, even over bumps in the road. But given this cannot be retrofitted, your options are to find one with DCC (if the one you test drove didn't), or consider an aftermarket solution; if you think things need improving.
And if you need a little background reading on VW DCC
Volkswagen DCC Adaptive Chassis Control – Design and Function | my-gti.com

 

[Martz250]

Hi Chris

Thank you for your detailed reply, most appreciated.

The one I'm looking at is a Comfortline SWB, so it doesnt have the DCC option you mention.

It does have the 17 inch "Devonport" rims as an upgrade over the std 16 inch "Claytons."

I have just driven another one, at a different dealership, since my last post on the forum. It had 16 inch rims, and only 150ks on the clock. Noticed the same sensation over some bumps from the front struts. Definitely not so "clunky" but still there nonetheless. I guess its just a factor of the standard struts internal action, and hopefully there is nothing malicious in it...

Welcome any further feedback you might have. Cheers.

 

[chriscroft]

Hi Chris

Thank you for your detailed reply, most appreciated.

The one I'm looking at is a Comfortline SWB, so it doesnt have the DCC option you mention.

It does have the 17 inch "Devonport" rims as an upgrade over the std 16 inch "Claytons."

I have just driven another one, at a different dealership, since my last post on the forum. It had 16 inch rims, and only 150ks on the clock. Noticed the same sensation over some bumps from the front struts. Definitely not so "clunky" but still there nonetheless. I guess its just a factor of the standard struts internal action, and hopefully there is nothing malicious in it...

Welcome any further feedback you might have. Cheers.

Not sure I can add much more, as I have no personal experience of the Bilstein B14, but many on here do, so their comparisons may be useful.
Have you seen the B14 tread in the suspension section of this forum?
The T6 Vel/Mutivan is a lovely thing imo. I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

 

[Keeff]

Is this your first van designed vehicle ? If you normally drive cars then it will crash and bang also what tyres did you have on it as I find vw are happy to use some very bad tyres for ride quality . I have the devonports on my combi with standard tyres and it's not good compared to my last ford and renaults. I have dropped the pressure down to 45 psi and it is much better but I think a good set of normal tyres would help . It would be a good idea to find someone with the same spec van running non vw spec tyres. Mine have the all weather on them.

 

[Martz250]

Hi Keeff

Thanks for your reply mate. Last van i had was a Vito, but that was more than 10 years ago.

Since then a GTI, Golf TSI118, and now an Amarok. I appreciate the Multivan is a completely different beast, so I expect some adjustment in expectations etc.

Interesting your comments re tyres - this one Im looking to buy has Bridgestone Turanza's all round, but as to the PSI I have no idea. Not the sort of thing I generally check before a dealership test drive.

re: dropped yours to 45 psi - where were they before that?

And the All Weather tyres you mention, what brand are they?

Thanks again.. Marty

 

[former member]

Those Bridgestones are a bit useless; took ours off (they wore prematurely) and stuck good AT tyres on.
I find ours remarkably comfortable on long trips; we had one very bumpy stretch where it got a bit lively but other than that, I find the van a great mile muncher.

Maybe the Multivan is sprung firmly to take a heavy load?

 

[chriscroft]

My all weather tyres Nokian Weather proof SUV 235/60/17 are 106 load rated, I run at 45psi and it really helps, and can still carry the full load.
Mine is 20mm lowered (standard for Vel Exec). but there plenty of options if you buy it, and feel like it needs a tweek.

 

[Scruffy]

Its such a shame that we have to fanny around and spend a small fortune to get an acceptable ride in the T6s (well when relatively lightly loaded) when you don't in other vans. My 59plate Vito have a lovely ride, and never once thought about changing the setup. It did though rust, breakdown, use way too much fuel, and the front brakes seized on a regular basis until eventually falling off (really!), but as I say, lovely ride.

 

[chriscroft]

Its such a shame that we have to fanny around and spend a small fortune to get an acceptable ride in the T6s (well when relatively lightly loaded) when you don't in other vans. My 59plate Vito have a lovely ride, and never once thought about changing the setup. It did though rust, breakdown, use way too much fuel, and the front brakes seized on a regular basis until eventually falling off (really!), but as I say, lovely ride.

No prop shafts?, I think I got lucky with DCC, as ride is very very good, if fact the only thing I didn't like about our T5 vel was how hard the ride was (if came standard with eibach 30mm dropped springs as standard), really I should have changed the whole suspension as we put around 180,000 miles on it.
Our T5 Vel, against our friends V Class; to travel in the back of theirs was massively better than ours, infact if you traveled in the 3rd row in ours it was awful. Always wondered if Titan Tours fleet of Vels had a suspension upgrade?
I wonder if that is why in London you see so many black V-Class or Viano's?, and virtually no Vels?

 

[former member]

We stayed in Paris for Christmas 2015; a fully decked out Velle Exec to our town house, a top end Merc back. Both were nice, neither struck me as particularly superior.

Our California ride is spot on; no issues at all, no pretending it needs upgraded shocks when it usually just means trying to look cool, no ponsy adjustable suspension to go wrong.

It just works; quiet, relatively rapid, comfortable. It's our most comfortable vehicle.

 

[DPS]

We stayed in Paris for Christmas 2015; a fully decked out Velle Exec to our town house, a top end Merc back. Both were nice, neither struck me as particularly superior.

Our California ride is spot on; no issues at all, no pretending it needs upgraded shocks when it usually just means trying to look cool, no ponsy adjustable suspension to go wrong.

It just works; quiet, relatively rapid, comfortable. It's our most comfortable vehicle.

Is the California standard suspension identical to a Kombi (Highline T6) standard suspension?

 

[chriscroft]

We stayed in Paris for Christmas 2015; a fully decked out Velle Exec to our town house, a top end Merc back. Both were nice, neither struck me as particularly superior.

Our California ride is spot on; no issues at all, no pretending it needs upgraded shocks when it usually just means trying to look cool, no ponsy adjustable suspension to go wrong.

It just works; quiet, relatively rapid, comfortable. It's our most comfortable vehicle.

I think the T6 in general is a big step up from the T5 suspension wise

 

[former member]

Is the California standard suspension identical to a Kombi (Highline T6) standard suspension?

I think its based on the T32 but not certain.

 

[DPS]

I think its based on the T32 but not certain.

I'll soon find out, I take delivery of a T32 Highline Kombi next month (factory order) for a camper conversion. Hope it rides well because like you I don't like messing about too much with the VW spec.

 

[former member]

I'll soon find out, I take delivery of a T32 Highline Kombi next month (factory order) for a camper conversion. Hope it rides well because like you I don't like messing about too much with the VW spec.

Excellent! The T32 is the best base for a camper conversion IMO.

 

[Martz250]

Those Bridgestones are a bit useless; took ours off (they wore prematurely) and stuck good AT tyres on.
I find ours remarkably comfortable on long trips; we had one very bumpy stretch where it got a bit lively but other than that, I find the van a great mile muncher.

Maybe the Multivan is sprung firmly to take a heavy load?

Hi again, perhaps the sound I am hearing/noise I am feeling beneath my feet, is a factor of the spring rate without any genuine load in the vehicle?

Love to hear from someone who acknowledges the noise in the front strut action...

 

[Scruffy]

I drove a basic Shuttle in Germany a few months ago. The ride was way better than my T32, I'd love to know what, if any, the differences are in setup.

All that said, a ton of logs in the back made a huge difference for the good, but didn't leave much room for anything else, oh and a lot of spiders.

 

[chriscroft]

I have only driven two T6's my vel exec, and a LWB shuttle, both driven on very poor B roads and I did not detect that which you have described. Both Vels and Shuttles have a good dead weight due to their seats etc etc so they are never really empty.
Do you think the T6 you have tried had lowered suspension at all?