A&Q about 350Z
Q:
Hi all,
Decided at the ripe old age of 47 to take the plunge and buy my first GTI - male menopause and all that...
Think I've decided on the DSG box - test driven both that and the manual, and I like it.
However, there seems to be divided opinion out there as to whether the 17" or 18" wheels are best ?
18" seem to look better, but how do they really affect:
- steering
- cornering grip
- ride comfort
And what's the difference between the two in terms of replacement wheel and tyre costs ?
Unlikely I'll be taking it on a track, but not really thought about it - is it worth it in a standard car ?
More likely be taking it touring.
I've seen one thread that contained a bit of discussion a while back but wondered if there's
anyone out there that has driven cars with both types of wheel and can give advice on how they compare ?
Thanks in advance.
A:
18s def will look better
Grip is theoretically increased due to wider/lower tyres
As a result a neglegible decrease in ride occurs
tbh, in reality, the difference will be minimal for above imo, i only noticed a hug difference jumpinig from 15s to 18s
Par for par, the price will obviously will slightly more for the 18s ,but you dont buy that car if you want cheap parts!
Btw, Welcome to the forum.
A:
Thanks for the reply Seraph.
My understanding is that the tyres are the same width - 7 1/2 J / 225, just lower profile - 40 v 45, hence my uncertainty about improved cornering.
A:
oh ok, in that case you're unlikely to get much more grip(in the sense of width of tyre)
The lower profile will stiffen things up a little, but once again, its going tobe negligible imo.
The choice between a good and buy tyre will prob have a bigger influence.
A:
The Mk5 GTI 17" alloys look terrible compared to the 18".
Have you thought about waiting for the 30th Anniversary? Its only £2k more than the standard GTI and comes with a whole host of options, although adding DSG on top will further increase the price.
A:
Thought about the 30th anniversary edition but limited numbers will prob mean waiting list will be horrendous, plus another 2K is not feasible.
A:
I wouldnt have thought there would be a waiting list to speak of to be honest. If you were quick in ordering, im sure you can secure one. However, it comes with 18" as standard + lots of other options you would normally have to pay for, so its really only another £1500 if you were going for 18"s on a Mk5 GTI.
Either would be great though If it were upto me, id go for a 30th Anni without DSG which works out the same price as a standard Mk5 GTI with 18" and DSG!
A:
defo go for 18" mate , are you doing alot of driving around town ? i have heard dsg can be a pain as it makes it a harsh pull away . never driven one but thats what i heard manual is good fun as a driver !