Modding Questions

[tim_o_boy]

First up, I appreciate a lot of this info is probably scattered around the forums, but it's so big and I'm worried some of it might be out of date. So hopefully nobody minds me asking the same questions again.

So I've had a MkI vRS from new in July 2004. Love the car so much that I plan to keep it (probably) for a good few years to come. I've always thought about going over to the dark side and modding it (particularly a remap), but decided against it whilst it was still under warranty. Plus I had a few 'issues' with my licence that needed to disappear before I hit the insurance company with mods.

Before answering these questions I need to point out I'm 37 with 2 kids and a wife who shares the car with me. From that point of view I'd say the car gets driven 'enthusiastically' only about 5 - 10% of its life. The wife drives real slow and I don't push it with her and/or the kids on board. Plus I'm not as suicidal as when I was younger. So here's the questions:

1. Will giving it a remap shorten the engine's life? The car's only done 14k so far and I'd maybe like to keep it for at least the next 10 years.

2. Will a remap improve fuel efficiency during normal driving?

3. I know we're talking about pushing the horses to about 225 with a remap, but what would this mean in say 0-60 times? I know it's not just about that, but it's an interesting indicator.

4. It seems a remap can be had for around £400 (?) - if I were to spend an extra £600 on extra mods, would it be worth the extra outlay and what would you get? Point being I have about £1000 set aside for this, but it'd have to be worth it.

Thanks in advance.

[Snoopie]

1. The remap won't shorten your engines life, if the full potential is hardly used.

2. During normal driving, that can vary, if you were to overtake etc.

3. About 205-210 with a remap, somewhere in the 7 second barrier.

3. ABD Intake, Exhaust and Remap.

Check out Impossible Performance as there is currently a group buy on a remap.

[KenONeill]

4) Pagid or Mintex fast road pads all round before doing anything to the engine!

[mannyo]

Originally Posted by KenONeill

4) Pagid or Mintex fast road pads all round before doing anything to the engine!

Although standard pads are not that bad. I ran standard pads and disks on my remapped vRS without problems. Depends on the type of driving, and your driving style. My old vRS was still on the original disks and pads @54K when I sold it, this included nearly 200 laps of the nurburgring. When you think about it, your car will still need the same amount of braking power no matter how many BHP it has. More BHP just means you get upto speed quicker.

As someone has already mentioned, a remap if done properly should not really shorten the engine life. Manufacturers play it safe big time with BHP etc, the standard engine can safely manage 225BHP but it must be done properly.

[KenONeill]

Manny, that's the thing I'm not impressed with, is the standard brakes on the Octy. Of course, I was maybe a bit spoilt by the Xantia I had before in terms of just how it stopped.

[tim_o_boy]

Thanks for the replies. Some more Q's:

5. Is 225bhp not going to happen with just a remap then?

6. How much for the ABD intake, where from and is it something I could fit myself?

7. The exhaust - are we talking full thing including manifold (haven't a clue) all within my budget? Where to buy, how much and could I fit it easily enough - done exhausts before, any special considerations?

8. Where to get the best remap and how much?

9. Am I right in thinking I should have the intake and exhaust in place and have the remap after that?

Point taken about the brakes by the way. Thanks for your continued help.

[delcac]

Originally Posted by tim_o_boy

Thanks for the replies. Some more Q's:

5. Is 225bhp not going to happen with just a remap then?

6. How much for the ABD intake, where from and is it something I could fit myself?

7. The exhaust - are we talking full thing including manifold (haven't a clue) all within my budget? Where to buy, how much and could I fit it easily enough - done exhausts before, any special considerations?

8. Where to get the best remap and how much?

9. Am I right in thinking I should have the intake and exhaust in place and have the remap after that?

Point taken about the brakes by the way. Thanks for your continued help.

5. Possible not.

6. Impossible Performance as they are the UK importers for ABD racing.

7. Cat back system wll not give any noticable power increase but will be the cheapest option. Sports cat and system much better but nearly doubles the cost.

8. Impossible Performance are doing a group buy at the moment, see Briskoda promotions.

9. Not really unless you are going for the sports cat or de-cat.

HTH

[JezF1000]

Don't worry at all about the engines, they are fantastically strong, albeit limited in performance by the std turbo in the Octavia. I know plenty of people with 1.8t VAG's in v.high states of tune who also drive them very hard on the track and they perform faultlessly.

Go to a reliable tuner and you won't have any problems. When I buy my Octavia, I plan to head straight to Jabbasport.

[RobClubley]

You'll get loads of different opinions on the best remap - but hardly ever anything negative said about any of them!! JBS did mine and I'm very pleased with it.
The TIP - yes you can fit it yoursel but it's a pig to get on at the turbo end!

Loads of pics on my website of my mods includind them being fitted if you're interested. (Green link in my sig)

[DORU]

Originally Posted by JezF1000

Don't worry at all about the engines, they are fantastically strong, albeit limited in performance by the std turbo in the Octavia. I know plenty of people with 1.8t VAG's in v.high states of tune who also drive them very hard on the track and they perform faultlessly.

With the standard turbo (K03s) one cannot overcome ~240CP because otherwise the turbo will certainly fall. But with a bigger turbo (K04 or GT28) one could reach 300CP even more (and other internals, of course).

[Stuart_J]

If you opt for a decent custom remap performed with the aid of a rolling road you will get the best from the car.

A custom map is where your car is individually mapped rather than someone just uploading a map & hoping its OK. The car will be run on the rollers before its mapped, this checks everything is performing correctly before you start.

Who to use realy depends where you are in the UK. I have always used Jabbasport in Peterbourough & feel its worth the drive from Hampshire.
You shoud see 215-225 bhp after the map but the car will be a lot quicker throughout & when driven normally the mpg should be as good & probably a bit better.
If your wifes worried about the extra power then I know Jabba can fit a boost controller, a small control in the car which enables you to turn down the boost.

The only other mod I would do is to fit better brake pads & better fluid, I personally favour Ferrodo DS 2500 & dot 5.1 fluid (it has a higher boiling point so will stop brake fade)

Re exhausts/Intake kits etc the trade off is often a noisier every day car, some exhausts can drone & become a pain on long journeys, especially for anyone sitting in the back so if poss bag a test ride in a car wityh the mod before you buy. You might also find your wife might not like the noisier car.

If you decide on any intake, Insurance or Engine mods get these done before the cars mapped to get the best out of them

Also check with your insurance co before you start, some have a zero mod policy & others charge various increases in premium

You should have some money left to book a weekend away to try out the improved car.

Have Fun

Stuart

[WW_VRS]

Regarding brakes etc - Although the Fabia vRS has decent brakes, they lack feel, and combined with the standard nose diving it does (sorted with Eibachs & Koni FSDs) it really isn't too great. The performance is there though.

I personally disagree with the 'bhp doesn't impact on brake requirements' to some extent - mainly as you are able to get back up to a higher speed more quickly, say if you are 'between roundabouts' you will get up to say 20-30 mph higher before slowing down again. If you are driving 'hard' you will have the scrub off more speed every time (compared to standard), so more heat to get rid off too.

Personally I've not had brake fade on the Fabia vRS with the standard brakes but I feel more confident with the 312mm uprated ones and they won't fade on me the way I drive. No clue about 'on track' but I would imagine the ability to minimize fade, maximize braking power with maximum control (like say the Brembos give) will gain you valuable time.

Definitely check the insurance etc

[tim_o_boy]

Can't thank you all enough for the input - I'm learning a lot.

Definitely going to check out the insurance before I do anything and I've been reading a few threads about that.

The rolling road remap sounds like the best option for me as I'm not fussed about spending a bit extra. I want the best I can get.

So, best remap and upgraded brakes are top of the shopping list. I'm just wondering about the exhaust and intake from a point of view of power. Are they going to be worth it for me? For instance, what sort of power gains will I get?

To be honest I'd rather keep the car understated from a noise point of view - my days of big amps and the windows down are long gone. But if the power gains are good enough I'd do it.

[Stuart_J]

Originally Posted by tim_o_boy

Can't thank you all enough for the input - I'm learning a lot.

Definitely going to check out the insurance before I do anything and I've been reading a few threads about that.

The rolling road remap sounds like the best option for me as I'm not fussed about spending a bit extra. I want the best I can get.

So, best remap and upgraded brakes are top of the shopping list. I'm just wondering about the exhaust and intake from a point of view of power. Are they going to be worth it for me? For instance, what sort of power gains will I get?

To be honest I'd rather keep the car understated from a noise point of view - my days of big amps and the windows down are long gone. But if the power gains are good enough I'd do it.

re Zorst

My 4x4 (same engine as yours) was running 225 bhp with just a remap, I then changed the exhaust to a full blue flame with sports cat & added a front mounted intercooler, that raised it to 250 bhp, a small gain for the money, the bigger turbo later & a few other bits gave a lot more

I do find the noise a pain at times on long runs when Im cruising but I dont cruise that often

We have the benifit of other cars for family days out etc.

Oh and your not tooooooooooooo old, Im 50 this year & my Octys a mere 356 bhp

[tim_o_boy]

Originally Posted by Stuart_J

re Zorst

My 4x4 (same engine as yours) was running 225 bhp with just a remap, I then changed the exhaust to a full blue flame with sports cat & added a front mounted intercooler, that raised it to 250 bhp, a small gain for the money, the bigger turbo later & a few other bits gave a lot more

I do find the noise a pain at times on long runs when Im cruising but I dont cruise that often

We have the benifit of other cars for family days out etc.

Oh and your not tooooooooooooo old, Im 50 this year & my Octys a mere 356 bhp

Well in an ideal world I'd get the remap done first and think about other add-ons after that. But if you added your exhaust and intercooler after the original remap did you need to get a new remap to reach 250bhp?

356?

Never said too old by the way!

[WW_VRS]

It all depends on how high you want to push the power, lowering back pressure does help, but for petrols my understanding is that it is all about having a balanced package of air/fuel going in and the gasses being able to get back out again.

I'd have a word with some of the tuners to seek advise for your particular demands, they may recommend certain combinations that they've worked with before

Quite sure you'll enjoy the result regardless though

[Stuart_J]

Originally Posted by tim_o_boy

Well in an ideal world I'd get the remap done first and think about other add-ons after that. But if you added your exhaust and intercooler after the original remap did you need to get a new remap to reach 250bhp?

356?

Never said too old by the way!

The car ran better after the exhaust was fitted but I still had it mapped to get the 250 out of it, some tuners wont charge you the full amount again to tweak the map so ask the question if you go that way

[JezF1000]

Originally Posted by DORU

With the standard turbo (K03s) one cannot overcome ~240CP because otherwise the turbo will certainly fall. But with a bigger turbo (K04 or GT28) one could reach 300CP even more (and other internals, of course).

I have a K04 on the Elise, hence 262bhp.

However, I know someone who has 430bhp AT THE WHEELS in their Elise running a 1.8t. Now, that is a lot of power!!

[Snoopie]

Originally Posted by JezF1000

I have a K04 on the Elise, hence 262bhp.

However, I know someone who has 430bhp AT THE WHEELS in their Elise running a 1.8t. Now, that is a lot of power!!

At the wheels? What's been done to that then?

[JezF1000]

Not quite sure, but I know it has had internal mods, including some pretty high lift cams & a massive turbo with plenty of boost, maybe 25psi from memory. I think it's also been bored out to 1.9l. Flywheel power is 550bhp. The guy is Australian and uses it for sprints. Here's a pic.

However, I know several people running 310-330bhp on hybrid turbo's with total reliability. Steve Guglielmi won the Tuner GP at Snetterton a few months ago in using a 330bhp VAG engined Elise.

Jez