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Best 'everyday' handling package for TDi estate?


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Hello everyone, I'm really warming to the Mk1 Fabby estate, as a family car (Wife's pregnant) and I'd like one with a diesel engine (which is best 1.4, or 1.9?)

 

Now, as you know, it's hard to not 'fettle' a new car when you get it, so what's the best way of dropping the car, tidying up the ride, whilst keeping it supple and compliant? (I do a lot of town driving, with speed humps etc)

 

I would like to put a set of  vRS "Spider" 16" alloys (205/45 tyres) on it, as well (Would this make the ride too hard?) 

 

Very grateful for any assistance with this :)

Edited by GeneralDogsbody
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Yes, 16" alloys will make the ride firmer, I use 15" for that very reason even though I have a set of 16" spiders. I fitted a Bilstein B12 pro-kit and the ride is firm even with 15" wheels, in your situation be aware that my setup would probably be too firm for a wife and child as well.

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What's the budget?

 

That's a very good question, Tech1e (and to be fair, one that I should have answered in the opening post!) Well, as the car no doubt wouldn't be more than 2k, I'd not want to spend more than £300...........As I'd like uprated brakes and pads, as well - And the other 'toys' I have planned for it! 

Edited by GeneralDogsbody
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never had a complaint on the braking of mine on MOT/ from garage folks, but if going for the 1.4, If i was a lot younger when I used to shove a car around, I'd be looking at upping the front discs and perhaps changing rear drums to discs. No real reason, except that at times I've felt that car is underbraked. Especially if any idea of ( if it's possible and feasable) of mapping to something like 100 BHP.

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If you want only diesel take 1.9TDi. But if you looking for great family car with minimum and low-cost maintenance I recommended petrol 1.4 MPi. I was owner of both of this engines.

Odoslané z SM-G900F pomocou Tapatalku

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Thanks for the replies. Would it be worth buying the 1.4, getting it remapped, then upgrading the brakes? Or, is that a lot of flaffing around? What sort of options do I have on the lowering side? Will the different engine change the handling of the car much? (weight-wise etc) 

 

EDIT: And as a few of you have owned the diesel-engined variants of the estate, is there anything I should look for when buying one? (faults)

Edited by GeneralDogsbody
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Regular estate springs, vRS dampeners, rear anti roll bar, front strut brace, front console and rear trailing axle bushes in poly. 15" Wheels is the best all round every day set up in my opinion.

Edited by ickleginge
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Thanks for the replies. Would it be worth buying the 1.4, getting it remapped, then upgrading the brakes? Or, is that a lot of flaffing around? What sort of options do I have on the lowering side? Will the different engine change the handling of the car much? (weight-wise etc) 

 

EDIT: And as a few of you have owned the diesel-engined variants of the estate, is there anything I should look for when buying one? (faults)

 

Get the TDI 100, perfect for a family car, remappable and economical. With your budget I'd fit Eibach springs and fresh standard Bilstein B4 shocks and replace the console bushes with PSB's, 15" alloys (standard on Elegance spec.) with 195/50/15 tyres. Perfect combination of speed, economy, ride and handling on a budget.

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Thanks, sepulchrave. Is this set of B4 shocks, the correct ones for the MK1 'combi'? 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/331283265052?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=1006598&poi=&campaignid=207297426&device=c&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=aud-133395220866%3Apla-146652033906&adtype=pla&crdt=0

 

And which springs are the correct ones for the 6Y5? 

 

And what are console bushes? 

 

EDIT: Any decent vented front brake kits for the 1.9? 

Edited by GeneralDogsbody
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Don't worry about the brakes yet, you'll have to change the hub carriers to fit bigger brakes, the 256 brakes are good enough for regular family use, it's not a racing car.

 

Those shocks aren't right for a TDI, the TDI has a heavier engine and will have different front dampers.

 

The console bushes are the front wishbone bushes fitted to the back of the wishbone, as standard they are appalling and changing them for polybushes will make a huge difference to handling and stability.

 

Edit: I have Audi A3 15" alloys and they look great on the Skoda without the hideous Audi centre caps, they're also easy to get since Audi owners hate them.

Edited by sepulchrave
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Thanks again. Sorry about the dampers. I'd noticed my error, after I posted that link. Here's the correct ones (I think!) 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bilstein-B4-Full-Kit-4x-Shock-Damper-SKODA-FABIA-Combi-6Y5-00-07-1-9-TDI-/231302160098?hash=item35daaedee2:g:ub0AAOSwa81XRqjK

 

And are these the correct bushes?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-2002-05-Powerflex-Big-Wishbone-Bushes-PFF85-602-/120861488844?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AFabia&hash=item1c23e7f6cc:m:mpdFf4eWkl7Ug4LmrSOh3-Q

 

And I really fancy some decent rotors on the Fabby (I'm sick of my crappy brakes on the Hyundai I currently have.....) And as the missus is worried about our little'un's safety in an older car *wink*

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-1-4-1-9-TDi-FRONT-REAR-Drilled-Grooved-Brake-Discs-BREMBO-Pads-/291532364418?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AFabia%7CCars+Year%3A2006%7CPlat_Gen%3A6Y5%7CCars+Type%3A1.9+TDI&hash=item43e0aeda82:g:rgoAAOSwHnFVwitG

 

Any good? (Are there any other cheaper/better brakes for the Fabby 1.9?)

One last question.........do you have a picture of your car on the Audi wheels? (Or a picture of a Fabby with the wheels on?)
 

 


 

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All that stuff looks good, you don't have a link for the springs I note. I haven't got a picture of the car but there are plenty of others on here with pictures if you search.

 

At least I know now that all the stuff I found should fit! Is it a hard job to do the bushes? I've got a mate at a Skoda specialist garage, but he'll charge me at least £50 an hour.........

 

Are these the right springs?

 

http://eibachloweringsprings.pumaspeed.co.uk/Eibach-Skoda-Fabia-6Y5-Estate-1.9-TDi-Pro-Kit-E10-79-001-02-22_16913_19_713_4240.jsp 

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At least I know now that all the stuff I found should fit! Is it a hard job to do the bushes? I've got a mate at a Skoda specialist garage, but he'll charge me at least £50 an hour.........

 

Are these the right springs?

 

http://eibachloweringsprings.pumaspeed.co.uk/Eibach-Skoda-Fabia-6Y5-Estate-1.9-TDi-Pro-Kit-E10-79-001-02-22_16913_19_713_4240.jsp 

 

It's moderately tricky to fit them unless you can get the car in the air, not much of a mate at £50 an hour, maybe get him to price fitting the lot for cash. Eibach Pro-Kit is correct.

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Thanks again, Sep. You've been a great help. Is there anything else I should look for when buying a diesel-flavored Fabby estate? Cheers :)

 

Elegance spec. is favourite, Comfort spec. is ok, Classic sucks.

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Bohemia is a UK importer custom spec. like Blackline, Silverline and Blueline, Ambiente is what Comfort was renamed as, it's a twitch better.

Face-lift is a very generous interpretation, more like some false eyelashes and a different coloured lipstick than a face-lift.

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vRS seats. Tech1e? Nice. Does the Bohemia come with parking sensors? (I'm a clumsy sod!) I'll need Isofix points, as well...... 

 

And I love your write-up on the facelifted Fabby, Sep. Bloody funny. Is there a list of the specs and what they have? Thanks :)

 

EDIT: Tech1e, can I ask you a question? What's the things to look for on a Mk1 Fabby estate when buying one? As you're the man in the know :)

 

EDIT EDIT: Found the specs of each model:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/skoda/fabia/estate-2001/specs/

Edited by GeneralDogsbody
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Only the Elegance has parking sensors as standard, you can have mine, drive me bloody mad, it's like having a hysterical woman hanging out of the boot screaming as I reverse.

 

Thanks for the offer Sep, but I already have an hysterical women in the front seat! 

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