Leaderboard

I was fishing around back in October for folks on here with experience of Koni FSDs on stock springs with a petrol VRS without much luck. I wasn't particularly bothered about lowering the ride height and didn't want ride comfort to be at the expense of handling. Well, I went ahead with the plan and had a WALK and an Eibach RARB at the same time. I have had a few thousand miles now and thought I would share the experience: Koni FSD / stock spring combination: I wasn't bothered about lowering springs but my first look impression after the Konis were fitted was "oh ****, the car looks like it has been jacked up, particularly at the rear; Nooo, I should have got the Eibach lowering springs to counteract!!". Thankfully I think a few millimetres can seem a lot when you are used to a certain look, either in raising or lowering ride height, and it only took a few days for the suspension to settle down. I had been a bit skeptical when I heard of dampers settling down but now I really can not see a difference in ride height from before. Phew! On the road, the Konis feel great. I think some of the comments about the feeling of floating over lumps and bumps in the road is exaggerated or a poor choice of words. The suspension feels nicely firm and a tad firmer than stock to me but I can still feel feel every bump. However, both the feel of the bumps and the noise seems to be better dampened by the Konis (well, they are 'dampers' after all). The best example of this is when driving over cats eyes or those painted speed strips as you approach roundabouts etc which now feel like a click, click, click rather than a bump, bump , bump. I can't say I feel a huge difference going over bigger bumps like the sleeping policeman-type traffic bumps. Cornering - difficult to know how much I can attribute to the Konis when the Eibach RARB was fitted at the same time. What I can say is that the combination is fantastic. The improvement over stock setup was very notable and the car feels much more stable around corners. The only downside is my slight frustration at other cars slowing waaay down in front of me to take a corner when the Octy wouldn't 'bat an eyelid' at it. In conclusion, I am very pleased at going for this option. It was personal choice to keep the stock springs but, after getting over the first impression with the ride height before the dampers had settled, I don't regret it for a second. Having had the chance to be in a Oct II with Eibach lowered springs recently, I feel that the ride quality is much the same as with the stock springs and, despite the apparent feeling that a more squat, lowered car would be better 'planted' on the road, I found handling much the same too. In defence of Eibach springs, part of the reason that I avoided them was due to my back problems and a thought that the comfort may be worse - I didn't feel that with the Eibach springs (nor should I as I think they have the same compression rate as stock). If I had a non-VRS to start with, I would most likely get it lowered at the same time as the Konis were fitted but the VRS ride height was already low enough for me. In summary, if you like the lowered look then go for lowering springs but nothing wrong with stock springs and Konis - it's personal choice imho. Eibach RARB: Well worth it! As stated above, it is difficult to know how much to attribut to the RARB vs. the Konis but I suspect it was a lot when it comes to the big improvement in cornering. Perhaps a more controversial point was JKM's recommendation that I fit a FARB to match the RARB which, after consideration, I declined. The Eibach RARB on its own puts the car very nicely just on the understeer side of neutral which exactly where I wanted it. I see no need to 'improve' on that and my feeling is that a FARB would dial back in a lot of the understeer that the standard VRS has. Again, I respect the personal choice that folks fitting a FARB have but my own feeling is that it is just not worth it especially when fitting the RARB is a doddle whereas fitting a FARB means dropping the subframe and a lot more hassle. Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit: A useful addition given that it is not hugely expensive (although still quite pricey for just a couple of lumps of metal) and was done when the suspension was in bits with front alignment being needed anyway. Axle tramp is notably reduced although not totally removed. I see no difference in wheelspin in general though which is to be expected when trying to put 200+bhp through a FWD car. Accelerating in a corner seems less scarey now as both front wheels feel a bit more planted to the road as is what this bit of kit should do, I believe (although I should really stop trying this out for the fun of it before I do it once too often!). Combine this with the more stable cornering in general via the RARB and Konis mentioned above and things are sweet; this is exactly what I was aiming at for the fast, windey roads that I experience in my commute into work. So was it worth it? We are talking just over £1000 with fitting for that little lot which is no small sum for me. However, the proof for me is my daily commute on those fast windey roads where the car's set up is now perfect for this. I think that anyone has to be realistic and grounded with any performance mod i.e. 500 bhp for someone who only drives in the centre of London or track-type suspension upgrades for someone who commutes in a straight-line motorway all the time may not be the best spent money unless you've got pots of it. For me, it was money well spent and I should give thanks to those folks on this forum who recommended sorting cornering and suspension out before 'chasing the bhp numbers' more which is always a temptation. This was some of the best advice that I have taken and I would advise anyone to consider this before going Stage 2 or above.

I think given the performance of a standard VRS (let alone a remapped one) the speed at which the handling issues become a problem is probably too fast for most road situations anyways. I am not adverse to a spirited drive on the Cornish roads around my parents place and never in my previous remapped Ibiza PD130 or in my significantly more tweaked Fabia have i felt the handling wasn't up to it. But on the same roads at probably less speed i have had the tail of a TDI Escort wagging! In a competitve sense though at my last track day at a damp Colerne I spent a good 20 minutes running in front of an M reg Clio Williams and what i made up on the straight and accelerating out of corners he made up under braking and through the corners. My thinking is that generally a driver will run out of talent before a chassis will and while the Fabia will never be an Impreza, Evo or Elise it does an admirable job for 99% of over 99% of the time.

pi3sstt i have give you 2 rep points as i dont think you or anyone deserves bad rep for just having a judgement on something even if you jumped on him a bit we are all friends on brisky and its christmas soon

I could see an event were somebody might say ‘I support the BNP’ and although they are entitled to their views and no doubt would get shot down in flames, they would no doubt end up with a bright red rectangle of ’shame’ on all of their postings. It is a bit like being branded

I might have once dragged a car out of the way (with the help of 5 cylinders and quattro). Allegedly.

Health & Safety and Equality Considerations for Christmas Songs The Rocking Song Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir; We will lend a coat of fur, We will rock you, rock you, rock you, We will rock you, rock you, rock you: Fur is no longer appropriate wear for small infants, both due to risk of allergy to animal fur, and for ethical reasons. Therefore faux fur, a nice cellular blanket or perhaps micro-fleece material should be considered a suitable alternative. Please note, only persons who have been subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check and have enhanced clearance will be permitted to rock baby Jesus. Such persons must carry their CRB disclosure with them at all times and be prepared to provide three forms of identification before rocking commences. Jingle Bells Dashing through the snow In a one horse open sleigh O'er the fields we go Laughing all the way A risk assessment must be submitted before an open sleigh is considered safe for members of the public to travel on. The risk assessment must also consider whether it is appropriate to use only one horse for such a venture, particularly if passengers are of larger proportions. Please note: permission must be gained from landowners before entering their fields. To avoid offending those not participating in celebrations, we would request that laughter is moderate only and not loud enough to be considered noise pollution. While Shepherds Watched While shepherds watched Their flocks by night All seated on the ground The angel of the Lord came down And glory shone around The Union of Shepherds has complained that it breaches health and safety regulations to insist that shepherds watch their flocks without appropriate seating arrangements being provided, therefore benches, stools and orthopaedic chairs must be made available. Shepherds have also requested that, due to the inclement weather conditions at this time of year, they should watch their flocks via CCTV cameras from centrally heated observation huts. Please note, the angel of the lord is reminded that before shining his/her glory all around she/he must ascertain that all shepherds have been issued with glasses capable of filtering out the harmful effects of UVA, UVB and Glory. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows. You are advised that under the Equal Opportunities for All policy, it is inappropriate for persons to make comment with regard to the ruddiness of any part of Mr. R. Reindeer. Further to this, exclusion of Mr R Reindeer from the Reindeer Games will be considered discriminatory and disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty of this offence. A full investigation will be implemented and sanctions - including suspension on full pay - will be considered whilst this investigation takes place. Little Donkey Little donkey, little donkey on the dusty road Got to keep on plodding onwards with your precious load The RSPCA have strict guidelines with regard to how heavy a load that a donkey of small stature is permitted to carry, also included in the guidelines is guidance regarding how often to feed the donkey and how many rest breaks are required over a four hour plodding period. Please note that due to the increased risk of pollution from the dusty road, Mary and Joseph are required to wear face masks to prevent inhalation of any airborne particles. The donkey has expressed his discomfort at being labelled 'little' and would prefer just to be simply referred to as Mr. Donkey. To comment upon his height or lack thereof may be considered an infringement of his equine rights. We Three Kings We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star Whilst the gift of gold is still considered acceptable - as it may be redeemed at a later date through such organisations as 'cash for gold' etc, gifts of frankincense and myrrh are not appropriate due to the potential risk of oils and fragrances causing allergic reactions. A suggested gift alternative would be to make a donation to a worthy cause in the recipient's name or perhaps give a gift voucher. We would advise that the traversing kings do not rely on navigation by stars in order to reach their destinations and suggest the use of AA Routefinder or GSP navigation, which will provide the quickest route and advice regarding fuel consumption. Please note as per the guidelines from the RSPCA for Mr Donkey, the camels carrying the three kings of Orient will require regular food and rest breaks. Facemasks for the three kings are also advisable due to the likelihood of dust from the camels hooves. Away in a Manger Away in a Manger No Crib for a bed Social Services will visit and may remove any child to a place of safety pending further action against parents, or other persons, who may be found to be guilty of neglect by not providing adequate bedding and shelter for a child in their care. Criminal proceedings may be instituted after a case study has been carried out and fully discussed at a full meeting of the appropriate Social Services Committee.

...and lifting a rear wheel! Gets interesting from about 1min 30secs in. If only I could understand what he is saying. tom

That is the problem with the newer DPF fitted engines, DPF costs fuel...

Welcome aboard Morris! I'm convinced this is an Octavia problem. I've had many cars, old and new and I've never had a car that gets so damp inside. My Scout is a 2008. The boot is bone dry, the rear washer nozzle is connected (common cause) and the door seals all look fine to me (another common entry point for moisture on Octavia's). On a morning mine also can take up to 5 minutes to clear the windscreen, I've given up trying to clear the rear. I've even had the heating on its highest setting for a recent long run in the hope it might dry out, but alas the next morning involved the same ardious task of waiting, and waiting! Something is wrong, but I don't know what!

Welcome aboard

Hi Jason, warm welcome to the SMOC & Briskoda. If you don't mind dealing through an internet broker that may be your best bet in terms of discount but also look up James at Allams who advertises on the Forum, I know aerofurb has ordered his from them and appears pleased. From a personal view point having previously owned a Golf V I would go with the Yeti in S or SE spec. I find the higher driving position much better than the sitting on the floor feel you get with the Golf, the interior material quality of the Yeti feels better particularly the seat fabric and you get a reasonable spec. Only thing missing that the Golf has is ESP which I would always recommend having. Regards, TP

I agree with you! I've been flamed and outright abused for it before, but I will at least tell people why I think they're a funking idiot!

Read it through... even if I myself might question the idea of deliberately planning for breaking speed limits I would say that this is a negative example of what the + and - buttons might lead to. I might be illogical, but I don't mind a simple "I agree", or "Thanks" as a slap on the back. But if I disagree with someone I should either ignore him or speak out, not just hit a button and from hiding say "You're stupid".

I'm inclined to agree. There should be a neutral colour for low scores in either direction , then a couple of green and red shades for slightly good/bad and very good/bad. Having a bid red box for a score of -1 seems a little harsh

Posted 15 November 2009 - 14:49 - how much bunnying?........ could have had one installed and working by now..........:-)

It's a software package to run a forum on.

Ah wow , its all fun this isn`t it? Ta much Thank you Amanada , I will give you a + Sarah

Fantastic, cheered me up that one

Easy now, chaps! Next you'll be looking for the "reach around" smiley!

Hmmm... remember the Military Coup thread? Yup, five dots, but look at my reputation :'(

He is an old man and need mollycoddling. If Volvo did F1 cars……..

I would definately say give another ROM a go Steve as it seems that the finger is pointing in that direction! And yes you would have thought that this issues experience in the last 1.5 (Cupcake) update will have been resolved in the current 1.6 (Donut) release. FYI the next software update will be 2.0 (Eclair) but they are currently waiting for Qualcomm to release the 2.0 software drivers for the Dream. Phil Edit: Also forgot to say make sure you have an up to date Radio and recovery image found on this thread on XDA Devs (Scroll down and read through the requirements section. Like I say try the TMO OTA DRC92 - EU Rom. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=538456

How does a person move up from 'neutral' is it a certain amount of + clicks on the reputation or just depending on how high up the management you are? What's the reputation show if you get a few negative clicks then? Brisky Bum? Yes, care needs to be taken so that a person who may have a strong opinion of a certain topic doesn't just get, as you say Lady E, bullied by other members and to have a system where an investigation by the mods can distinguish weather it's a genuine problem with an individual or a member just being nasty (not that we are on here of course, but sometimes there are some heated debates). Just my 2P's worth. Ben

Thanks. Not sure the dealer knew the answer!!!

4X3 = Side air bag front with curtain air bag

The problem is that there are two causes of excess inside edge wear:- 1) Excess camber, caused by radical lowering of a strut based suspension (as the strut becomes shorter, the stub axle rotates around the inner mounting, and the outer edge rises faster than the inner, tending to put t more load on the inner edge of the tyre. This really needs different length bottom arms (not available, and expensive anyway) or adjustable camber bolts (Unless Superpro have made a mistake, not availabel for this chassis) to fix. 2) Excess toe-in, and I'd expect this to apply to both wheels equally if it happens as a result of a change in ride height. That said, it will only happen if the inner ends of the track rods are nearer the inner arm mounts that the outer rod ends are. If you want to play, make some quadrilaterals (Meccano is good if you have access to a set) and fiddle with moving it like suspension does.

I dont see the point either. A sub that size is designed to be used in a space much much larger than a car passenger cabin. We have them that size in a theatre auditorium. The thing is just to big, you may think that it will give you a good bass response, and it will in an auditorium. A car is just the wrong place for something that size, the repsonse will be lazy and it just wont sound right. Then you have the problems of having so much bass in the proximity of windows, welds, and so on.

You are right of course, my mistake - they are 215, still only 20mm different though. I did have a check in the boot this morning and it looks like the floor sits right on the tyre, so even 20mm is going to push it up a bit. Just getting to know the new arrival really, just over 70 miles so far but will post some first impressions later.

Nice job

Pete, Vauxhall use Fiat's engines

Also - despite what some members on here think, I don't think VAG ever intended the Fabia to go around corner like a train on rails.

Just a thought - Amazon charge a fee -some other sites one showing a skull & crossbones on a ship in a bay (possibly something to do with the bay of pirates) offer the same service ,and it's free . So you pay yer monmey ,and get ripped off -or go elsewher ,and if it's crap -aint cost you anything .

Fitted front & rear myself in about 10 minutes (dealer wanted £50 on top of the price of the flaps). Very straight forward if you have the right tools (ratchet handle and Torx bit T25); take out the existing wheel arch liner screws put the flap in place and refit the screws and with the rear set there's a clips to push into place on each side. There is no need to remove wheels as on some traditional cars, plenty of space to work round the wheel in situ. My link

Try clearing the code and see if it comes back. If it does, sensor will be faulty, or wiring at plug has been disturbed/broken.

if you go here http://www.fiat.co.uk/Showroom/#showroom/punto_evo/explore click exterior, then performance than the tag on the engine, then the little box on the bottom left of the popup, it gives the stats. the version of the engine giong in the basic sporting is 1.4 turbo (obviously, but they have deleted the deisel in mine, as this has just as much fuel economy and less emissions, so the 1.9 deisel becomes pointless!) 135bhp, 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, 50.4 average mpg, and 129kgs CO2 so £35 to tax! note: all the evos have stop start, first in class I beleive to be standard accross the range (unless the mini is stop start accross the range... I think its just on some models) , same with the blue & me in mine, they've always had USB / bluetooth connectivity , media centre and voice control, and some other manufacturers are just catching up..... wonder if ford for example will now follow suit and make all fiesta stop/start ect.....

I have the so called sports suspension on mine - factory fit. It is about 1 inch lower than the standard car. Were the ones you drove both on 16 inch wheels, as I have seen a lot of Comfort models with 17 inch wheels on - if the previous owner specified them. With regard to lowering, there are a few people here who have done so, Baker21 and Allclownsarevil (sp?) (I think) - best to talk to them or anyone else who has. Kind regards SJ

i run kw3 and there is no probs atall with the camber and all tyres wear the same have you had it properly set up ??? you really should have a prob unless running them on the very low limit.....!!!!

Both true. But it's a StreetKa. And he's a man.

That'll be babs, then

While the turbo is off, get the garage to remove the oil pipes and check for blockage. The turbo shaft floats on a film of oil but if there is no oil, gravity will allow the shaft to fall down and and damage the bottom of the bearing. It s for this reason too that one should never blip up the engine revs before switching off. My guess is that you have an oil starvation problem at the turbo caused by limited oil flow to the turbo or poor oil pressure. Hope this helps you find it.

Added it to the calender

Its the same on all VAG cars, there is no way to turn the socket power off - just pull the adapter plug from the main socket and you dont have to unplug each adapter

The Superpro parts state that they're for caster increase, not camber, but I don't see how they could do that, since it requires moving the bottom swivel fore o aft relative to the top. Never seen the adjustable ball joint kit before though.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-TURBO-INTERCOOLER-PIPE-PIPING-KIT-50MM-SILICONE-RED_W0QQitemZ350289717992QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item518ee4eae8

I have the Pirelli P-Zero Nero. They are really good, quiet, long lasting, grippy and about £70 a corner from my local tyre man. Support your local businesses!

Not necessary, the standard one are metal lined anyway.....

No - don't be sorry - your entitled to if you like - it's your perogative. :yes: Unfortunately for me I have 19 years of highway design, traffic management, traffic calming, transport planning and traffic/transport assessment experience, much of it including accident analysis and safety schemes etc. so have a fairly detailed knowledge of how roads are designed, speed limits set and safety elements positioned. I therefore have my own personal views on these things which probably don't match yours. I dont want to get into yet another discussion about them - that's all - so no offence taken at this end and I hope none at yours! Cheers

Oh yes it does but as your obviously one of those that are going to bang on about it I'll just leave this thread here.

Nope you are misinterpreting what I said... I said I have two small kids so dont need a new alarm clock so I can get up earlier. I then went on to say that said kids can lead me to being late leaving the house to walk them to school and nursery. This in turn makes me late back from walking them to school meaning I'm late leaving the house in the car to get to work and/or meetings etc. in far-flung places. This in turn means I often go a bit faster than the speed limit to make up time and get there on time. Hence the thought of getting a speed detector to keep me right. Does that clarify and take away your incredulity?