2013 JSW Roadfeel?

[Dadskier]

So my new JSW (~1000k miles) came off the lot with a wheel that needed balancing. I have the 16" wheels. I was planning on putting snows on soon so just let it go until I could make the switch. Had them swapped over and the wheel was still out of balance and took it to the dealer to have checked since I've read a few threads about folks having bad wheels, etc...

They fixed the wheel and said there was nothing else wrong with the car. I drove off and still feel a lot of vibrations on the road, but not really any shake in the steering wheel. Went back and told them it was still a prob, tech went for a ride with me and didn't think anything was wrong. So I asked to drive another one. Mine is 6sp, but they only had a DSG to drive. It had pretty much the same feel as mine on the highway, so I guess this is just something I'm going to have to get used to and chalking it up to the engine and lots of road feel coming from the suspension.

Does everyone have a similar experience or am I just feeling extra sensitive about this? Or did the demo have a prob too? This is the first diesel I've driven since my dads 84 Rabbit ...

 

[DubFamily]

Road feel and vibrations are a very subjective thing so it's tough to comment on. If you didn't get all 4 wheels checked/balanced I would start there (a rear wheel out of balance can cause vibrations through the chassis).

Alignment can be another culprit; and tires themselves. I'd also suggest trying another dealer and see if you can test drive one of their cars in a manual.

 

[Dadskier]

Don't have a lot of time to go around getting all this done. I've got a friend with a 2012 so I'll see if he'll let me take his out for a drive.

 

[noobTDI]

I've only had mine for a couple weeks and I can't get over how smooth and solid it feels and how little it drifts/positive it tracks, simply a pleasure to cruise the highway during my 50 mile commute. ...but I came from driving more 'raw' vehicles, I might think different it I came from luxury/touring type cars.

Neil

 

[Dadskier]

I've only had mine for a couple weeks and I can't get over how smooth and solid it feels and how little it drifts/positive it tracks, simply a pleasure to cruise the highway during my 50 mile commute. ...but I came from driving more 'raw' vehicles, I might think different it I came from luxury/touring type cars.

Neil

yeah, it's not feeling smooth at all to me. I'm going to make an appt to go back next week and have them look closer. I think my problems are concentrated in the rear end somewhere. In the mean time I'm taking my friends 2012 out for spin this weekend to see how his drives. Let him drive mine too to see if he can feel the same thing I do.

I came from 2005 Outback, so not luxury, but also not a sport suspension. But this feels almost like an offroad 4x4 suspension they way bumps and road imperfections seem magnified and bouncy/wobbly.

 

[Diesl]

Sounds odd. Did you get it resolved?

 

[bannister]

I got rid of mine because no amount of wheel & tire replacing, balancing, aligning, cv shaft replacing, steering rack replacing, subframe bolt replacing, pontificating, "it's the way it's suppose to feel", "you've got a bad tire", "they all do that", "hmm, odd never seen one do this before", "characteristic of low profile tires", "don't drive it over 65", "the regional rep can't feel it (but we can)" could fix the vibration that felt like a wheel out of balance.

 

[Newbie21]

My 13' jsw no complaints. So comfortable driving through the crappy roads in toronto. My old wrx in the other hand was fun to drive but suspension was stuff even on stock Form.

 

[Analogeezer]

Mine (with 1400 miles on it) is very smooth and planted, a wonderful combination of compliant ride yet buttoned down and controlled. At speed it is very smooth, almost serene.

My frame of reference is a bit skewed though, my other rides are a Mazdaspeed Miata, the wife's MINI (base with base suspension but still not a pillow ride kind of car), and a modded Integra (Eibach springs, KYB 3 way adjustable shocks, etc.), in comparison the JSW is like riding a magic carpet

Analogeezer

 

[not2shabby]

My '10' with 92k miles rides almost as nice as the wife's 06 BMW 525 after swapping tires. It had Michelin Hydroedges when we got it a few weeks ago and they were the noiseiest tires I've ever heard. They didn't ride bad though...maybe it's just the tires.

 

[TDIAustin]

Dadskier, this is a long shot but, as I understand it, these cars are shipped with the springs clamped so they don't bounce around while being transported. Sometimes the dealers forget to remove these clamps so the cars handle like crap until they finally figure out what's going on. Might be worth checking.

 

[Diesl]

Also, it really is a vibration, and not say drone from the rear windows being cracked open? My 2012 feels fine and handles very nicely, but can be loud on certain (ribbed) sections of pavement.

 

[JM1]

I got rid of mine because no amount of wheel & tire replacing, balancing, aligning, cv shaft replacing, steering rack replacing, subframe bolt replacing, pontificating, "it's the way it's suppose to feel", "you've got a bad tire", "they all do that", "hmm, odd never seen one do this before", "characteristic of low profile tires", "don't drive it over 65", "the regional rep can't feel it (but we can)" could fix the vibration that felt like a wheel out of balance.

I'm so close to this same situation. I drove off the lot in 2012 with a new TDI Sportwagen with the 17" Portos. I called the dealer that day to say there was a problem. 9000 miles later another dealer that helped me greatly (thank you Seacoast VW, FU Gene Langan VW) found a bent rear wheel. But 3 years and 45000 miles later, switching back and forth between the 17s and new 16" steelies with snows from TireRack I still have this issue.

It sucks because otherwise the car is great. But man does this really grind my gears.

 

[TDIAustin]

^^^I say you still have some sort of wheel problem, possibly another bent wheel. My 2011 JSW with over 50K has been smooth as butter since I purchased it.

It would drive me nuts to have to put up with vibrations from the suspension like that. It's just not supposed to be like that and any dealer who says it is is just being a hack.

 

[SwimmerDave]

My '06 had an annoying road vibration. Then, 2nd gear completely failed. It was covered under warranty, repaired/replaced, and the car was then as smooth as glass.

My 2013 and 2014 JSWs - both bought new - were very smooth from day 1. I've taken them on long trips and the entire family - save the driver ! - has happily napped away the time.

 

[piper109]

I have a relative in UK with a VW Tiguan and a Skoda Optima. They have had ride problems causing back discomfort and it turns out to be the 17" wheels whereas the ride with the 16" is really good.

 

[SwimmerDave]

I have a relative in UK with a VW Tiguan and a Skoda Optima. They have had ride problems causing back discomfort and it turns out to be the 17" wheels whereas the ride with the 16" is really good.

I've had 16" factory wheels on all of my TDIs...5 in total now:

'02 Beetle
'06 Jetta
'09 Jetta
'13 JSW
'14 JSW

Total mileage around 300k. Sold/traded for various reasons. No wheel problems from any of these.