Opie the red daily MK1 VRS

[ShoooRn]

So apologies for lurking in the shadows for so long but it's about time I got a project Journal showing on Briskoda.

 

In may this year my diesel daily was giving me grief and it was time to say goodbye, I'd spent far too much trying to get it perfect and cut my losses on a sale.

 

 

I found a dog of a VRS instead! The dealer was dodgy as hell but I knew that the paperwork was ok and the engine was sound. The suspension and tyres however had seen better days and the car hated straight lines, the bodywork was ok - some light chipping around the bonnet, the engine bay needed a tidy and the spoiler was terribly faded. On the inside the car had been used by a painter and decorator, a bit of white paint on the leather and mud on the white carpets - needless to say I nursed it home and got it on the ramps to assess any further damage.

 

 

The LIST:

 

At home I found the following:

 

Broken rear spring (top coil)

wishbones failed

anti roll bar collar smashed

anti roll bar bushes damaged

rear tyres inside edge worn

rear brakes squeaking

 

This did not deter me, the mileage was good, the car was good; it pulled strong... and better yet it was red!

 

I drove back from the garage with a price of two new tyres fitted in a weeks time.

 

My daily driver became my road worthy track car for the week...

 

 

 

I had a major headache from the noise this thing generates most the week.

 

During the week I fitted new LEMFORDER wishbones, new powerflex ARB bushes, a new rear spring, and greased up the rear pads the car then went to CMC for two contis sport contacts.

 

Then it was time to head to Cornwall.

 

New Brembo rear brakes (August):

The car performed as intended but the mooing Brakes were doing my head in! So orderred some new rear brake discs and pads. On removing I noticed the rear pads had alot of life in them but were not chamferred at all! Putting the brakes back together and VOILA sorted.

 

Less flex more power (November):

 

I loved my stiffer mounts on my track car even before it became a track toy so even if the octy was drive by wire it had to be done. ECS Tuning ultimate dogbone mount arrived.

 

 

Stiffened things up a treat!

 

Today... lack of noise:

So for the last few months I felt the octavia wasn't exactly tuneful enough... the octavia is great with the windows down when listening to the turbo but the exhaust was just a tad strangled I always felt. Needless to say this Morning I've finally orderred an 6x4 oval piper system from larkspeed. To say I can't wait is an understatement!

 

 

Thanks for reading guys.... and here's a full shot of the car for taking the time to read.

 

 

 

P.S. Name explanation -  The missus names all my motors - this red vrs is dubbed Opie from Sons of Anarchy. The Saxo is named Bruce or  as I've now changed it to "Landshark" and the focus before the VRS was named Leo.

 

[TomR88]

The last pic really makes me wish I had tried a mk1 Octavia as I think they look really great. NIce to see that another has been resurrected and not sent to scrappy.

[Lloyd55vrs]

Looks nice and tidy mate

Another red joins the bunch hehe

[ShoooRn]

The last pic really makes me wish I had tried a mk1 Octavia as I think they look really great. NIce to see that another has been resurrected and not sent to scrappy.

 

Cheers fella! There's always time! I agree though they're getting harder to find so I presume that most people give up when they see some problem face them... sadly I'm not usually like that and because I'm quite handy with a spanner I tend to get things working again

 

Looks nice and tidy mate

Another red joins the bunch hehe

 

A few cosmetic tweaks are required for sure but nothing that can't be sorted. And red is of course the best colour! :P

[TERKIN]

woop best colour :sun: your love the piper

 

im getting the urge again :no:

[ShoooRn]

Sadly ladies and gents it has not all been sunshine and smiles the last week or so.

 

Went for a drive after Christmas and the rear bulb decided to blow! On changing the bulb the new bulb did not last five seconds and blew again! So presumably it's a bad ground somewhere. I have since received the haynes so will dig into this at the weekend.

 

On changing my water temperature sensor I noticed the breather hose was badly split and oil was everywhere! I bought a red silicone jobby to do the job, on fitting the hose several days later in the pitch black after receiving the package I knocked the retaining clip on the water temperature sensor... on route to work yesterday the car spat out all it's fluid and left me by the road side on the M1 in freezing cold temperatures. 2hours later I was at the garage and asked for full fluid check and pressure check and just a quick check to ensure nothing had cooked in the bay. Lesson learn : Do not rush jobs, do not work in the dark!

 

I picked the car up today and all is well!

 

BUT GOOD NEWS! My piper has arrived and so has my Haynes! Happy days. :clap:

 

Fitting should be this weekend.

 

Oh and I also dewiperred the boot!

Edited 8 January, 2015 by ShoooRn

[ShoooRn]

Stiffening up and servicing.

 

So after a little while of really getting fed up of bodyroll I decided to invoke a little more feel into the octavia - a phone call to Awesome GTI saw me with a new RARB from whiteline - and what a difference it made! The car was so much flatter through the corners and you could invoke a little oversteer when you wanted but the car just gripped and went! Massively impressed with the change.

 

I got back from several business trips and after around 5 weeks of not driving I was looking forward to firing up the VRS and going for a spin - needless to say the car had other ideas and a massive BANG was heard; my left front suspension snapped. I was on route to a rugby game so pulled over and abandoned the car and went with a mate instead.

 

This was around a week and a half ago... I decided to change all four corners and upgrade the suspension at the same time. New dampers and new springs I thought... I checked OE prices and was shocked and compared against aftermarket and a subtle lower.

 

I decided on going for a ST suspension kit from KW. It'll supposedly lower 30mm but I'm manly changing for renewed components and a slightly stiffer ride.

 

Over easter I fitted the rear springs and damper and the front end I just could not get the hub away from the strut. To save more heartache I took the car to be sorted at HI Q.

 

The car is ready today - so I'll pick the car up later and grab some pics. Happy to finally get the car back!

[Paul thornton]

Have a look on you tube at how to seperate your strut from hub using a sissor jack....

You feel such a butcher doing it but it works sooo well

[Zukabak]

New dampers and new springs I thought... I checked OE prices and was shocked and compared against aftermarket and a subtle lower.

 

I decided on going for a ST suspension kit from KW. It'll supposedly lower 30mm but I'm manly changing for renewed components and a slightly stiffer ride.

 

As a fellow Rally Red Mk1 owner with tired suspension, what kind of money was the OEM Sachs stuff coming in at?

I could do with refreshing mine soon, but if it's daft money, then the DP Performance guys will be getting an order in for some new AP kit.

[ShoooRn]

Yeah tried the scissor jack trick and damaged the abs ring like a numpty. Got it all done in the end but a pain in the rear nonetheless!!

Sadly no clue on the suspension prices but I remember the front would have cost me for oem around £350

Just had my MOT failed on stuck rear caliper. Which to be fair I knew about but thought it was the sliders not the piston! I've also orderred brembo max discs (grooved) and mintex m114 pads for any future track work

And a picture for you all!

[ShoooRn]

Oh and my new pressed plates will be on today

[ShoooRn]

I really need to get some proper pictures in here...

 

Anyway - I got back from Russia the other week and after seeing a few interesting cars in St petes I had the urge to work on the octy.

 

I gave it a huge summer wash, polish and wax (with dodo juice orange crush... this stuff is amazing!) and then set about changing the Front brake pads to Mintex M1144 pads and Brembo Grooved max discs.

 

I'm still bedding in the discs and pad combo but what I've felt so far is on another level to the Unipart rubbish that was there before!

 

I'm currently thinking of Decatting but I have a ticking from my indicator relay after the indicator finishes and a squeaking at the rear over bumps.

 

Summer to do list:

 

1. change indicator relay/indicator stalk (ticking!)

2. change exhaust mounting rubber (hanging low)

3. Change badges for Gel (talk to PastyBoy)

4. Spray front grille black (plastidip maybe?)

5. Get Decat (More Powaaa)

6. decide whether to FMIC and then remap or remap and then think about FMIC.

 

 

Cheers for reading.

 

A photo for you all before the brake change.

 

 

 

 

[OutlawKen]

I got a chunky 3" decat I bought n dont want no more due to buying a sports cat if ur interested, has a 2.5" reducer with it but needs welding back on then ud need a 2.25 to get it on standard exhaust

[ShoooRn]

New Year new... Power?

 

So just before christmas I was reversed into by a little old lady. Some time before I had my pink spoiler repsrayed at Old Skool Paintwerks in Northampton who specialise in Vag stuff (check them out if you're local, prices are good). The guys there would repair my bumper for me and spray up the cracked paintwork and today it is just awaiting being flattened back.

 

I also now have a lovely decat fitted and downpipe (made a world of difference to the soundtrack)!

 

I am currently thinking bout remapping but I am just waiting on my outgoings to settle (several holidays and stag do's to plan mean things aren't settled at all) then I can focus on the car again.

 

So a little picture for you all taken this evening before the snow fell.

 

 

So a current spec list:

 

KW ST suspension springs and dampers lowering 25mm on standard (VRS)
Rear whiteline ARB

Toyosport Downpipe

Piper cat back oval exhaust

ECS tuning dogbone mount

Powerflex front ARB bushes

Red silicone hosing in bay

Pressed plates front and rear

Dewipered rear

briskoda front oval sticker

Pasty boy badges to fit.

 

 

Sadly I'm currently looking for a new grille as a stone ripped a hole through mine, so watch this space! I assure you more pics in the near future now I have a new camera!
 

Edited 17 January, 2016 by ShoooRn

[dubDEAN]

LOOKS GOOD whats suspension like on it? sits nice 

[Maddyyarr]

wowiee quite a journey you had with red. Keep it coming...

 

Cheers,

Maddy.

[ShoooRn]

LOOKS GOOD whats suspension like on it? sits nice 

 

It's the ST suspension from KW fella. Drops it around 25mm on standard and rides pretty well. All the VAG tuners in the area that have taken it out have all said that it rides really well considerring it's stance and cornering ability.

 

Personally I'm a fan of either track stiff or supple and refined - the octy is kinda in the middle - it can rebound a little when you are on a very bumpy road and feels unsettled but in town and on a average A road and ok B road it's so much nicer than standard.

 

wowiee quite a journey you had with red. Keep it coming...

 

Cheers,

Maddy.

 

Cheers - things will definitely be changing before the next MOT - I need to get the car to around stage 2 level but that requires some investments. Eitherway I've been getting in contact with R-TECH.

 

 

I'm still hunting for a front grill surround! Everyone on ebay is ignoring my messages it seems...

[DaveMW]

I had to get a whole grill, no one will sell the bits on there own as i hit a pidgon with mine, just keep looking on ebay dont pay the silly prices that some pepole want on there either!

[ShoooRn]

So I have good news the following parts have arrived and expect an update with some pics later... maybe even a vid:

 

R-TECH AUTOMOTIVE CIA kit arrived yesterday.

Compbrake diverter valve to replace the older worn out unit.

New numberplate bulbs - mine have popped.

Rear boot Festoon - 43mm (I haven't had a bulb since I bought the car!)

Fuel Filter (part of service - was done before I bought the car but I have clocked a good few 10k on it now).

 

Will let you know my thoughts on the above later.

 

 

I had to get a whole grill, no one will sell the bits on there own as i hit a pidgon with mine, just keep looking on ebay dont pay the silly prices that some pepole want on there either!

 

Sounds ridiculously similar to the situation I'm in. Alot of people are asking £40! And if I want the VRS logo I'm looking at more :( the sprayer I use has offered to spray the grille in black and fibreglass the hole for me... I'm tempted to be honest but my concern is one slam too many will cause the fibreglass piece to pop out. :(

 

 

[ShoooRn]

When your coils don't work like they used to before...

 

08/03/2016

So I've still got the squeal from the car on boost and on taking it to the Garage their analysis was... "Normal boost noise" which I know it isn't. I'm looking at orderring a oversized TIP and going from there as I believe my OE pipe has a small leak at present.

 

Then to make matters worse this morning I went to get on boost coming off the motorway and the car startered splutterring and vibrating as though it had a violent misfire. I am pretty confident that it's the coils and I'm also pretty confident they're OE so at 113k they've lasted a good while! I've got a set of four bolt down units on order from GSF that I'll grab after work tonight; felt it better to replace them as the car will be mapped this year.

 

In other news I'm looking at getting my saxo track car back on the road again this year. Hell of a lot of work to be done but good regardless and alot of fun!

[dc14]

What part of the grill you looking for? While grill with vrs badge?? I may have access to one in sliver!

Also def take it to Niki at r tech there's nothing he doesn't know about the 20v and my brother is a regular with him and always had positive work/results

[octaviavrs170]

hi bud. loving the RED paint. it looks the buisness. really smart looking car.

 

Im in the process of modding my octy mk1 and tbh i dont know where to start as i have a list for the car as long as my arm: all filters and belts etc plus susp components and brakes etc. I change everything on a car for peace of mind. always been like that. expensive but future proof for a while. the question I ask is where did you get the suspension from and what roughly did it cost you? Did you buy it direct from kw or was it from a third party site

also do you or anyone else have any recommendations and sizes for things like suspension, arb buses, etc. I want my car to handle well and stand proud on the road. Loving the read on this thread. please keep it up.

[ShoooRn]

Hi Guys - cheers for the post. Regarding the grill I actually have a silver grill that I bought from the bay the other week. I just need to spray it up and be happy with it. I'm going to start this at the weekend. Will upload pics when i finish.

Regarding the KW suspension I think I bought it from Awesome GTI or DPM performance. I remember I had to speak on the phone but thats all I remember:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155426088810311&l=d849826caa 

 

Was hoping that image would help.

 

On the road again...

 

So I left work at 4.30pm with the intention of getting to GSF and then getting to my home to fix the car. Sadly this was not to be as the car decided to breakdown on me and become undriveable in a village near work. I called the nice chap from Greenflag and then got him to drive me back to pick up the coils and back to the car again to get it fitted. Once in the car was up and running again and I was a happy chappy! 

Going to fit the other three coils at the weekend in the daylight and will comment if they feel any different.

 

[Evil]

Cool thread, interesting reading..

Love the way you just seem to keep chilled with it.... car breaks, fix car, off we go again... superb. 

[Saints92]

Hi, do you have any photos of the engine bay with the red silicone hoses? 

 

Its vain as hell but I'm posturing over what colour to get, and red really tickles my pickle, but seems rare to actually find any photos of it in place