Some advice needed

[Duggie]

Right folks, as some of you may know, I've recently fitted Weitec lowering springs and some VRS alloys onto my standard 1.4 MPi, in my opinion my catr now looks (and corners) awesome! Anyhow... I was brought back to earth today when i was taken at the lights by a 9 year old Citroen Saxo VTR... not a plesant experience. So, my question to you guys, how can i go faster? Not just in terms of power, I'm talking quicker shifts and stuff like that, Is there an uprated clutch i could get? (although a little extra power wouldn't go a miss). In the future when i'm slightly better off i might think about dropping a bigger engine into it... i really don't want to say goodbye to that car... it's just so great!
Any help or comments would be a great help!
(not a boy racer just want to have a car to torque about)

Duggie

[WW_VRS]

As for quicker shifts, you could go for the 'short shifter' mod, which I guess would be the same on yours as on the vRS.

Try this one:

Guide: DIY Fabia vRS Short Shifter Mod - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community

[Duggie]

Thanks dude, this look like a quality mod... i'll give it a go!

[Duggie]

Ok, to add to this, i am now looking for power mods too, what can i do (bar transplanting a bigger engine) to get more power from the measly 68Bhp i'm getting at the moment?

[mluton]

I had a VTR, he he.

[WW_VRS]

On the power side of things, I honestly don't know. Another option is weight saving, you can take out rear seats etc etc etc to make it more power/weight ratio. Dunno if you can do a great deal tuning that engine as such as there is no turbo on it.

[Duggie]

I've just got off the phone to a mate who seems to know what she's talking about... She says a new high flow air filter, or filtercharger should help. She also gave me the number of a few people who do exhausts and said i could get one custom made... sounds expensive to me.

[anewman]

Originally Posted by Duggie

I was brought back to earth today when i was taken at the lights by a 9 year old Citroen Saxo VTR... not a plesant experience.

Is this pedal to the metal taking the revs up to around 5k before gear change?

[Duggie]

5K? Was kinda redlining it all the way... then when I realised that i had lost i eased off... the 1.4 is known for head gasket problems... I'm seriously thinking about dropping a 1.8T in there... would anyone like to help?

[vrswhite]

this sort of thing is always pointless if you want to keep up with faster cars buy a faster car get the vrs fabia it'll be cheaper in the long run

[Johnny50]

Why not just buy an older Octy vRS ?

The cost involved in dropping a 1.8T in your Fabia, plus insurance would be very high !

[VeeKar]

If it makes you feel better Duggie the VTR has same power to weight as Fabia VRS.
I "experimented" with a C2 VTR the other week and it pretty much has the same in gear acceleration (for a couple of gears, then I left him behind)
Can you get a performance cam for yours? Is that head gasket friendly?

Lighter wheels? I know you only just fitted them and you got them for a good price but you could lose upto 12kg if you get some 6kg (each) wheels as VRS weigh in at 9kg This is definitely not cheap option. Feel like you just opened a can of worms?

Up-rated dog bone mount can help with quick changes and get more power down, dont spend daft money like I did, do Basil's home made one.
DIY Fabia dogbone mount stiffening trial

[RichB86]

tbh i wouldnt bother with any performance mods as for what itll cost in you parts and insurance and loss in vaule when selling youd be better off just buying a vrs to begine with. (this is all my opinion and not meant as a dig to you)

however lightened fly wheel, improving the air flow, smaller wheels, stripping the car out will all help but gains will be minimal. youll never keep up with a VTR unless you spend a lot of money in which case youd be better off buying a fasster car.

[ScoobyChris]

I think you're approaching it the wrong way. The 1.4 is fairly hard to modify without actual engine work, free flowing exhausts, etc which will be costly in parts, labour and insurance and not buy you a whole lot in terms of performance. You're better off trying to strip out any unnecessary weight in your car, eg spare wheel, rear seats, trim, etc to improve the power to weight ratio. Won't cost you a penny either.

As for starts, you want to set the most revs you can without lighting up front tyres and then just sidestep the clutch. Not very comfy for passengers and not especially good for the life span of the clutch (expect to smell a bit of burning! ) but very effective at getting you off the line. Then just change gear as you feel the power running out.

Ultimately, you're unlikely to beat a VTR as it already weighs less than a fag paper and also has more power, but driving quickly isn't all about beating people off the lights

Chris

[anewman]

I'm qute amazed at how well my car does for a 1.3 estate off the lights. The 1.4 8v fabia is based on the same engine block so I'd have thought that would be quite good too if pushed hard, certainly compared with other 1.4 cars around.