Do these quirks happen to your LCR?

[Colonelk]

I've had my LCR 8 days now and I've noticed some quirks that I wanted to check with other LCR owners. I have no base of reference with the LCR so I need some feedback please.

Things I have noticed:

• At high speeds (over 100mph) the steering feels very light and I find myself correcting with the steering wheel from side to side at times
• At even high speeds (over 110+) the car/steering vibrates slightly and makes my keys jangle !! If I recall correctly it goes away at about 130Mph.
• The turbo spools up quickly from about 2700RPM but the lag is noticeable in the higher gears (4th,5th,6th) if trying to pick up from below that 2700rpm so it feels sluggish till it kicks in (like a mule).
• My front suspension creaks over speedbumps most of the time now. Not really noticeable on the open road, unless its really bumpy and I'm going slow!
• The radio/CD gets louder when I increase speed (too loud at times). Is there any way to turn it off!
• The aircon is bloomin noisy when the fans spin at full whack. Also when the aircon is on properly I notice a reduction in the car's power (it feels sluggish with it on at low revs)

Thats about it for now.

How common are these quirks? Does the car have a problem (its under warranty so I can get it sorted if it is)

Thanks for feedback

CK

 

[honeyman]

I'd say it seems normal apart from the creaky suspension you might want to let the dealer look at that

 

[Ruddmeister]

I've had my LCR 8 days now and I've noticed some quirks that I wanted to check

[*]The radio/CD gets louder when I increase speed (too loud at times). Is there any way to turn it off!

Read your handbook it's meant to do that although you can alter the settings. It's the gradus or similar adjustment for background noise....

My front suspension creaks over speedbumps most of the time now. Not really noticeable on the open road, unless its really bumpy and I'm going slow!

Plenty of posts on creaking suspension, doubt the dealer will do much but worth a mention as it under warranty

At high speeds (over 100mph) the steering feels very light and I find myself correcting with the steering wheel from side to side at times
At even high speeds (over 110+) the car/steering vibrates slightly and makes my keys jangle !! If I recall correctly it goes away at about 130Mph.!

Std Pirelli tyres by any chance? if so get rid ASAP and get some Goodyear Eagle F1's. Vibration is odd maybe just a balancing issue Also lots of LCR's pull left again could be the tyres

The turbo spools up quickly from about 2700RPM but the lag is noticeable in the higher gears (4th,5th,6th) if trying to pick up from below that 2700rpm so it feels sluggish till it kicks in (like a mule)..!

Engine usually feels torquey and no lag particulalrly at cruising speeds......could be 100 problems though.....DV maybe??

 

[Colonelk]

Rudd

Thanks for your reply.

There are 2 Pirelli's at the back and Dunlop Sport Maxx at the front. The fronts are quite worn and will need replacing probably within the next couple of thousand miles anyway. The rear tyres are better, and one of the Rosso's in new (dealer changed a faulty tyre).

I'm not sure about the lag. It could just be the way I was driving it yesterday (with the missus and sister in law in the car). I'll give it a bit of beans today and see how it performs.

 

[Rick 01]

I notice my suspension creaks a bit over speed bumps, particularly in wet weather. In fact almost entirely in wet weather so dunno if we have the same problem.

Apart from stereo getting louder and the aircon (typical of any VAG aircon system) I'm not too sure about the other issues though.

 

[SteveaB]

When i go over speed hums with mine sounds like it's pushing air out of the springs? sounds strange but thats how it sounds!

Your aircon being on and making the car feel sluggish is normal on any car as the aircon compressor runs on a belt thats on the engine some how so when that come's on your loosing about 5-10bhp, like i said thats normal for any car!

 

[Lee M]

"My front suspension creaks over speedbumps most of the time now. Not really noticeable on the open road, unless its really bumpy and I'm going slow!"

My suspension creaks............dealer stopped it for a bit by spraying lube on the bushes (I think), apparantly replaced but did not look like it to me.
Creaks came back a week or so later............

Its not there all the time though

 

[Reg]

When i go over speed hums with mine sounds like it's pushing air out of the springs? sounds strange but thats how it sounds!

That will be the dampers then - perfectly normal.

 

[Jonny]

Having gone from a Leon FR to an LCR, I did notice the ride was firmer & felt more planted at higher speeds.

However, over the last few months I've found rather than simply riding over bumps, ruts & uneven surfaces, it kinda crashes over them - almost feels like someone's removed the suspension! It tramlines terribly (noticeably worse than before), on a particularly bad stretch of road it feels like the car is being tugged from side to side.

Also at higher speeds it doesn't feel quite as planted, even in straight line a slight amount of correction is needed.

Is this:

a) normal
b) steering related
c) suspension related
d) alignment
e) other

By the way, it's a 55 plate (Nov. 2005) LCR with 19k on the clock. Running Dunlop Sport Maxx with good tread all round.

 

[speedsix]

Having gone from a Leon FR to an LCR, I did notice the ride was firmer & felt more planted at higher speeds.

However, over the last few months I've found rather than simply riding over bumps, ruts & uneven surfaces, it kinda crashes over them - almost feels like someone's removed the suspension! It tramlines terribly (noticeably worse than before), on a particularly bad stretch of road it feels like the car is being tugged from side to side.

Also at higher speeds it doesn't feel quite as planted, even in straight line a slight amount of correction is needed.

Is this:

a) normal
b) steering related
c) suspension related
d) alignment
e) other

By the way, it's a 55 plate (Nov. 2005) LCR with 19k on the clock. Running Dunlop Sport Maxx with good tread all round.

Check your tyre pressures, I find anything over the stock 33psi makes the car skittish and increases tramlining.

 

[Colonelk]

Gave the car some beans over the weekend and its performance seems fine. I guess it was the way I was driving with the wife and sister in law in the car!

There is definately no noticeable lag if I drive it properly through the gears.

Definately going to see the Seat dealer about the suspension creaks. If they lube it then great, if something needs replacing at least it will be done under warranty!

 

[Colonelk]

Also at higher speeds it doesn't feel quite as planted, even in straight line a slight amount of correction is needed.

Thats what I was trying to describe in my opening post. Minor corrections needed at high speed. Steering really light etc.

I'm going for a country drive today on my day off to check it all out.

 

[Cowie]

looks like you have to laggy issue sorted mate but maybe worthwhile doing an ECU reset, this could give you a bit of difference too.Its easy to do,after you've had the car out and about and up to running temp park her up,remove -ve from battery and let it sit for 20-30 mins,reconnect battery,reset radio code(check you have it before disconnecting) and take it back out for a spin taking it easy till back up to temp then give her a good blast going through the gears,know it made a big difference to mine (LC) but others have done it to good effect too.

 

[Number86]

I haven't noticed anything like that on mine. No pull, and no correction needed at high speed either.

Steering vibration which only appears at certain speeds is almost definately going to be a balancing issue with the wheels/tyres. Most likely slightly uneven wear or possibly a chunk out the wheel. If wheel damage isn't too bad, normal wheel balancing will sort it.

 

[speedsix]

The volume correction at speed is way off I find, must look into changing it.

I also notice a power drop with the aircon on, some have mentioned the compressor cuts off when you floor it but I don't think this is the case.

 

[Number86]

You'll always get a power drop with air con on. Though it shouldn't really be noticable on a 200+ BHP car as it only takes a a few BHP to run.

 

[dj_hektik]

You'll always get a power drop with air con on. Though it shouldn't really be noticable on a 200+ BHP car as it only takes a a few BHP to run.

About the aircon, don't forget, you are more than likely to use it in hot weather, so that in itself would make any turbo car reduce in power...

plus its not a good idea to drive hard with the AC on anyway as you risk damaging the AC compressor clutch

 

[Number86]

Can't drive hard with aircon on? I never knew that. Sounds like a bit of a cack flaw to me!

 

[Colonelk]

Also noticed something else about the suspension creak. It doesn't happen if the car is cold (or external temperature is cold)

Go figure!!

 

[dj_hektik]

Can't drive hard with aircon on? I never knew that. Sounds like a bit of a cack flaw to me!

its not a flaw really, its just something you can do to prevent long-term damage ... here in Saudi Arabia the aircon is the most critical part of the car se we know trust me ...

also try not to turn on the AC when the engine speed is above 2000 rpm ... again, the compressor pulley clutch engages and repeated engaging at high engine speeds will damage it ... imagine jumping on a treadmill at full speed