ghost

[flame suit on] Have you thought about a SEAT Ibiza, there are plenty of 100bhp variants around for reasonable money, similar quality, just a bit unusual in the styling stakes which isn't necessarily a terrible thing [/flame suit off]

One thing to watch in just fitting a rear ARB is that if it is thicker than the one on the front you will get very tail happy handling. A bit like a Capri or early 3 series Beemer. Fine if you know what you are doing and expect it but as we've heard of a few mishaps with Fabias on here just a warning to be careful out on the roads especially with such a set up. It may surprise a few people in the wet especially how quick the rear can step out after the initially superior feeling entry into a corner/roundabout. Still on a lighter note - it's a cheap way to improving your handling without the discomfort of lowering springs!

Lupo GTIs are not super quick but they have a very very revvy engine with a close ratio six speed (not an economy ratio six speed like the TDI) gearbox on the later ones, and they also have aluminium panels to keep the weight down. They do drag race very well up to a point, so don't feel too disheartened! However they would require a lot of money spent on them in mods to make them much quicker than standard as they're only N/A and they only produce 112lb ft torque so you would have them on in gear acceleration no problem and more so on the early 5 speed ones.

Started up doing Minis actually, believe it or not as they used to race them. Then discovered the delights of the GTI engine (in a Jetta!)back in the '80s and the rest is history. Well established company, Revo only a plug in anyway so nowt to worry about but they'll have all the diagnostic gear if something does go amiss. They're nestled away behind a second hand car dealership now IIRC (used to be just down the road from the VW dealer).

I've known these things drag on for months, as it's very hard sometimes to diagnose which axle the vibrations are coming from never mind the cause. Wheels won't be swapped diagonally if they're directional tyres or they'd be facing backwards! Most cars will pull to the left a little so don't worry unduly about that. If it started as soon as a new tyre was put on and not before, there is a distinct possibility that the actual tyre case is faulty and needs replacing. Many tyre fitters are a bit hit and miss with wheel balancing and many 'operators' don't actually know how to use the equipment properly. You really need to find a specialist who knows how to use his equipment, ask your local dealer who they use, assuming they don't have the stuff in their workshops already. Good Luck!

As it's now past 60k the warranty is dead, so you may as well find a decent local garage to do the work. Only needs and oil change and check over really at that mileage.

Or is it the paint bubbling? Or baked on brake dust?

Thanks for the replies guys, and more imporantly for the measurements (well at least most of them Jason!) Thing is I was having a look around the Ibiza/Fabia/Polo interiors and noticed that the Fabia felt the most 'airy' despite all the black trim, guessed it had the deepest windows and hence the best all round visibility. General bugbear of some of the very latest car designs is that they have increasingly bad visibility towards the side and rear and on many the bonnet is invisible once inside - no wonder parking sensors are becoming a 'must have' accessory! Got in a new Audi A3 the other day and it was like being in a black hole, nice car though! Told you it was a strange request! Ta.

Bit of a strange request but here goes - Could someone please nip outside to their Fabia with a tape measure, and open one of the front doors. I need the height of the drivers window glass (closed) from the top of the door trim panel (by the lock pin) to where it disappears into the rubber seal at the top. So basically the height of the glass that you can see out of at the B pillar. That make any sense? Thanks in advance....

One of those horrible Max Power phrases that everyone seems to use.

An 8valve of that age has hydraulic tappets and they are basically suffering oil starvation. They indeed all do that and there have been many suggested cures over the years, but I'm not sure if any have been successful long term. Try clubgti.com/forum to see if any one can help, I bet they will come back with loads of suggestions!

UPsolute can also offer OBD re-maps but not in conjuction with the switch afaik. UPsolute are much cheaper than other options, excluding discounts.

Having had a few ECUs opened in my time I can tell you there is a sticky tar like seal around the perimiter of the ECU which re-seals itself when you close it back up again and my educated guess would be that it's to keep water out of the box.

Perhaps VW are getting a bit edgy with the Polo GT weighing in at over