Or more to the point, how far can you go modifying a car (in this case the MkI Octavia vRS) before you change it so much that the Octy is only an Octy in all but bodywork appearance?

For example (and this aint a dig I promise ) how can Des's car still be classified as an Octy vRS when the entire running gear has been changed from engine to gearbox and everything else come to that?

I posted it in this forum in particular as there are probably more MkI Octavia's that have undergone extensive surgery than any other Skoda model but the same applies to pretty much anything else so I'll ask a simple question, how far can you modify before it's no longer representative of the original model?

Edited 8 July, 200817 yr by Makefish

It depends, a bogo VRS is the package, des has changed alot but still it looks like a VRS the dash is VRS, what make's a VRS a VRS? the engine and running gear? the shell? the chassis?.

In des's case his VRS is deffo a hybrid of something angry!

Still on my long lonely days at impossible it gives me something to look at! and that brings me to the case and point.

At impossible their is a Ferrari! a yellow one only thing is its actuely an MR2 thats been sent away and had all of the panels changed to resemble a ferrari, for me this car is no longer an MR2 or a Ferrari its a hunk of junk where as Des's car is not a hunk of junk but a evolution of an already good car made better.

So IMHO no matter what you do your car is still what it says on the tin, IE des's is still an Octy VRS and that MR2/ferrari is still a MR2.

i personally think once you start replacing engines as thats the heart of the vehicle. you dont take a fiesta and put a burgatti engine in it, just like you dont get a zonda and stick a corsa 1.2l engine in it. once it gets to that stage your basically driving the car the engine is out of with the shell of what you started with.

for sure but when you drive your Zonda down the street with your corsa engine people will say look its a Zonda and same with the fiesta, put a Bugatti engine in it and people will say look theirs a Fiesta just before you warp drive away!

but you see what im saying it basically becomes a kit car like the kids in the early 90's with their cosworth bodykits on their 1.6 gl's and shark fin spoilers.

hehe yea im with you

A list for you Mr Fish.

Non vRS parts

suspension

front brakes

rear discs and pads

front hubs

drive sharfts

gearbox

diff

gear linkage and selector

starter

block

sump

pistons

crank

rods

cams

valves

valve springs

head

FMIC

Intake manifold

injectors

intake and filter

MAF

turbo

wastgate

exhaust manifold

down pipe and exhaust

catch tank

boost controller

DV

pipe work

fuel pump and swirl pot

upper and lower strut brace

n249 bypass

front and rear anti roll bars

bushes all round

seats

steering wheel

seat belts

lights and bulbs

boost gauge

AFR gauge

water temp gauge

oil pressure gauge

EGT gauge

boost controller head unit

power meters

wheel colour

rear wing

front splitter

bonnet pins

Appart from that everything else is from a vRS.

In the days I used to drive Capris, they stopped being true Capris for me when a Cosworth engine or a Rover V8 was implanted. They then turned into something else, not quite Capri enough for me to approve, but still they resembled the original car.

If a vRS still has it's original engine block, then in my small and bizarre brain I can accept it as still a vRS albeit an evolution of the original. As soon as it's 'heart' is replaced it is no longer as God (or Skoda) intended.

If a vRS still has it's original engine block, then in my small and bizarre brain I can accept it as still a vRS albeit an evolution of the original. As soon as it's 'heart' is replaced it is no longer as God (or Skoda) intended.

Going along with your thinking about the heart of the car, if you map an Octy vRS (Mk1 or Mk2), then you alter its heart beat, and make it beat faster than it was designed to do, then even a mapped car must be classed as a non vRS.

Alter the suspension, and you alter the way it walks, so again a non vRS.

Add a Cai and you alter the way it breathes, so again a non vRS.

You can argue this about any car, be it an Evo, Scooby, or even a Fabia vRS.

If its modified, then its modified, but it still retains the shape of the original car, so its still a VRS, especially to people who see it as such, and try to take it on the motorway or the track, and then ring the Samaritans when they fail.

Pontiac - top fuel funny car.

Same body.

i dont know much about the vrs but i want one when im old enuff

surely any skoda cant be made a VRS officially but if in red devils case its better than a standard VRS so it should be given the label for being brilliant

plus when u look at it u can tell its not a standard VRS from the outside with the bonnet pins and rollcage inside

and also the 1.4 badge on the back

good work delcac done a brilliant job with the car

i dont know much about the vrs but i want one when im old enuff

surely any skoda cant be made a VRS officially but if in red devils case its better than a standard VRS so it should be given the label for being brilliant

plus when u look at it u can tell its not a standard VRS from the outside with the bonnet pins and rollcage inside

and also the 1.4 badge on the back

good work delcac done a brilliant job with the car

Blimey, someone that doesn't want to stab me or insinuate that I bat for the other side.

Thanks!!

So would an oil change as being a blood transfusion? Or using a different oil as changing its blood group?

I personally would say no matter what mods if it started out as a vRS, and you can still tell its a vRS, then it still is a vRS.

If I for some reason went to the gym got a bit fitter, and changed my hair, I would still be me!

A car is no longer representative of it's model when you can no longer recognise it... simples!

i think it stops being an octy vRS when people who know what one looks like turn round and ask "what the hell is that???"

I'd like to second that brilliance comment of Shreadings. I think Des has done an awesome job with the car, it sounds like an out & out racer in the 'u tube' vid & one of my reasons for going to my first Brisky meet at Gaydon was to see it!

Also if it brings peoples attention to the brand that wouldn't have paid any interest to a standard Skoda product, surely that can only be a good thing? Good on ya Des!

I agree with Drew, a car is the car despite what you change, its still the same shell and as long as it says on the log book what it is, then it is the original vehicle.

I like the Desmobile too and i think of it as a vrs, albeit a highly modified vrs but vrs none the less.

Ps Des, what driveshafts do you use then?

Interesting question.

Externally Des' car still looks like a vRS, a vRS with a WRC spoiler and a few other cosmetic touches (including nice painted wheels).

Then you get closer and realise it has a 1.4 badge, look inside and think "hmmm, something's afoot here".

My car has the spoiler and badges removed, if you were a real spotter you could tell it is vRS based from the bumpers. When you get closer and see the interior it is pure vRS.

I don't know what I'm saying here, basically I drove into Sherlodge Skoda the other day to get some wheel nuts and one of the staff saw my car in the car park and asked me if it was a real vRS and if I'd like to buy a spoiler for it.

That made my day.

If a vRS still has it's original engine block, then in my small and bizarre brain I can accept it as still a vRS albeit an evolution of the original. As soon as it's 'heart' is replaced it is no longer as God (or Skoda) intended.

If my heart packs up and some nice chap in the local hospital puts a new one in, I'm still me.

Talking of Sherlodge.I heard they charge £90 an hour for labour now. Anyone know if thats true? My local Skoda one charges £60, which I refuse to pay!!

leesman, did i see Beryl at shorne country park about a month ago?

Nice car, like the badge!

You did indeed! Thanks very much Swedish. I'm a part time warden there. If you see her again & fancy a chat. Go in the visitor centre & ask for them to radio Simon. Providing I'm not overloaded with work! Might be able to sort you out some free parking too!.........

cool, I will do Simon, will be good to catch up! I often take my dog there he loves it!

cheers

Luca

Ok Luca, I work one week on & one week off up there. So when I'm on, its the last 2 hours of the day, 8 hours per day at weekends & bank hols. This is my week now I'll be around!

What's your car look like? I'll keep an eye open for it?