I have a real nice car, it only has 23,000 miles on it and is in great shape. Yesterday I put new wheels on (check out my signature).

The one thing that has always bothered me is the open differential. I've always wanted LSD. I should have checked that box when I ordered it. Of course, LSD was so new back then that there was a box but the price was N/A.

How much would it be to get an LSD on my car, including installation?

Am I crazy for having a nice car but not loving it because it does not have a limited-slip?

 

We are all like that (I guess)...
Unless you auto-cross and always drive to the limits, I will rather have a 15% s/c pulley and 19 mm rear anti-sway bar.

 

~2K$US

 

yeah, to get the factory LSD I believe you would have to replace your tranny with an LSD equipped tranny. Adding the Quaife LSD would be your best bet if you really want LSD.

On a side note, you have any pics of your car with the 16" OZ's? I'm thinking about getting 16's but have no idea how it would look.

 

I don't think you are crazy at all. I think you should go to the dealer and test drive one with an LSD (if you haven't already) then decide. I don't have an LSD myself, so I can't speak to their effects on a daily driver. I have read a couple of things about them though:
> SOME say that they are well worth the $ for a car that is tracked, but not so imporrtant for a street car. GREAT for autox.
> SOME say the OEM MINI LSD is not as effective or reliable/durable as the Quaife.
Just what I have read/heard. Recommend -- if you have not already -- you do some more searches to get various points of view.

WARNING: I am not writing based on personal experience!!

 

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Are you crazy? No.
Do you have $1500-2000 burning a hole in your pocket?
Do you often spin the inside tire when cornering?

If the answer to the two previous questions is 'no', then don't worry about it. If yes, then go for it.

 

that's bery good advice Eric....a lot of performance modifications will go entirely unappreciated by most drivers...if you don't drive the car as fast as it will go now, why do you need something else?

 

If it's your DD, LSD is probably way overkill, especially aftermarket install. IMO it's overkill even as an option. (If you're gonna seriously race it you'll aftermarket it anyways, and if not then you won't get much out of it.)

My suggestion, put in a nice stiff rear sway bar, leave the front stock. Reduces understeer and you get better wheel load in the front in hard corners. And it's cheap in comparison.

Take the money you save and buy an iPod+kit and find yourself some really good 'driving' music. Dollar for dollar that'll change the 'feel' of your car more than anything!

-/flea

 

I had a Quaife on an overpowered A2 1991 GTI (170hp from a normally aspirated 2.0 liter race motor).

Comparing that to the Mini S OE LSD, the Quaife had a more positive "locking" effect in hard corners - if anything the Quaife was TOO effective. Hard on the gas in a hard corner, it'd route a bunch of torque to the OUTside front wheel, which meant the steering wheel didn't self-center as much and had to be "driven" out of the corner. While this resulted in a lot of speed and traction, it required some getting used to (ever feel oversteer in a FWD car? ). Some who race VWs actually prefer the Peloquin, which has a more evenly distributed "locking" effect.

The Mini OE LSD seems to spin both front wheels equally, and still allows some inside wheelspin, resulting in a more "normal" exit routine in a corner (the steering wheel self-centers better than the GTI with the Quaife did). A little left-foot brake drag seemed to help reduce understeer on exit...

Understand, I'm comparing different chassis, but fairly similar cars in size/weight/configuration.

Advice FWIW: The R sway ($200-ish) may be your best bet to improve rotation in a corner, then a set of light-and-sticky 15-16" tires/wheels ($600-1200ish) to improve exit traction. Both of these together wouldn't cost as much as an installed Quaife ($1200 Quaife + minimum $800 install, roughly).

Don't obsess...

(now if only I'd listen to my own advice!)

 

Checking my box for the dealer LSD was probably the best option ever.


Didn't mean to rub it in, but for the price and for the lack of hassle, it was a no brainer.

Also, don't hate your car for not having this option. You even said "I have a real nice car" so enjoy it like the nice car it is.